Thanks for the kind words, rofl.
I think I did sign up with Coyle and several other "upper tier" companies; they accepted my writing sample without a quiver. Frankly, I just don't have the financial resources to complete any of their shops.
I guess I've never done a "difficult" or "hard" shop. Some shops are physically difficult for me (I hate the big box stores; it's so hard to walk from one end of the store to the other!). The ones I find to be difficult are where the guidelines are not clear. I've done the testing center (boring!), home improvement stores, "white glove" hotel inspections, cosmetics, gas stations, and and zillions (LOL!) of fast food shops, grocery stores, retail, purchase & return (not a joy), and probably some others. I have done a couple "integrity" shops; didn't like them much. I've done a couple of restaurants, nothing high end. They were all "easy" shops. I probably overthink them, and work too hard on them.
At one point, I did aspire to hotel stays, resorts, and cruises. That was before I got injured at work (May, 2015) and lost all my financial assets.
Last week, I drove over 1000 miles in two days to complete 7 shops; got home about 8 PM on day 2, got up at 2 AM, submitted my reports, and hit the road for another 700 mile route.
I didn't make enough on either route to make them worthwhile.
Two months ago, I could have called any of my schedulers at MF and picked up anywhere from $400 to $700 in MF shops. I would just call and say "I'm in Concordia, KS -- you got anything within a hundred miles of here? Oh, yeah? What does that pay? OK, I'll take it -- what else you got in eastern Nebraska? Oh, good, yes, I'll do the fast food, the hardware store, and all 5 gas stations. Thank you! "
It was a win-win -- they got shops done they really needed done, and I made money.
I guess now this IS a rant, LOL!
I'm just so tired......