JAS-
I am not saying that the ACL shops are or are not a "good deal." The article and then-CEO do not opine on this one way or another. The then-CEO did make a suggestive statement: “I’d certainly take a lower amount if someone was paying for the nice meal I’m eating out with my wife. And I’d be happy to spend another 15 minutes writing up a report of our experience.” I would suggest that this is the essence of what most dining shops offer and a fair statement - though, I also do question the "15 minutes" for the report for a great many dining shops. I've yet to see a "family" or "fine" dining shop than can be written up in 15 minutes.... Fast food or counter service, yes. Sit-down restaurants, no.
I am agreeing with the statement: "The better the perk to the shopper, the lower amount of money we have to pay them." This is absolutely true: Look at all the available lifestyle shops: Shoppers will spend hours upon hours on reports **if** the perk is truly fantastic, even if they walk away without taking home any money. The better the perk, the less payment shoppers need in order to be motivated to complete them.
I would then suggest that every shopper has a different perception of the value of "perks." Shoppers who find the "perks" worth their while, do the shops. Shoppers who don't simply don't do the shops...
@JASFLALMT wrote:
MFJ? Have you ever done an ACL shop? Obviously the previous CEO has not. I too would not mind writing a 15 minute report in exchange for a meal. However, even their simplest shops take longer than 15 minutes, and the fine dining shops are significantly longer. I have spent up to 2 hours on an ACL fine dining shop report.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.