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ACL CEO explains how they lowball shoppers

April 13, 2020 07:43PM
Did we read the same article? I didn't read anything that was offensive or dishonest.
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April 13, 2020 07:43PM
Did we read the same article? I didn't read anything that was offensive or dishonest.
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April 13, 2020 08:24PM
@samshopper wrote:

They also usually get the full reimbursement and cap the shopper meal at a low dollar amount, this way they make money both not paying the shopper a fee, getting the full reimbursement from the client AND getting paid from the client to do the shop.

That is the offensive part. I can't say that it's dishonest since they don't even seem to hide the fact that they do it....but it's the main reason I stopped working for them.
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April 13, 2020 08:44PM
MrsChaney posts--Did we read the same article? I didn't read anything that was offensive or dishonest.

Bob's comment--Neither did I. I quit due to an unacceptable work:pay ratio. ACL is wise to be upfront and list the voluminous assignment requirements, as it, at least, partially eliminates considerable cancellations.
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April 20, 2020 05:00PM
@MSF wrote:

LOL, exactly!

@NinS wrote:

On the othe hand, I've had reports with so many photos that it took 15 minutes just to upload and label all the pictures.

And don't forget the 15 minutes it takes to try to calculate out what combination of food you can order at the cheap end of the high end menu and still stay within the reimbursement.
But don't get me wrong, I choose to do them if I like the restaurant. And I don't mind staying up til 2 AM after a nice meal writing a report.
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April 20, 2020 08:33PM
How do we know they do this? So, meal shopper pays $100, gets $80 cap for the shop, but ACL bills the client $100.

"They also usually get the full reimbursement and cap the shopper meal at a low dollar amount, this way they make money both not paying the shopper a fee, getting the full reimbursement from the client AND getting paid from the client to do the shop."
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April 20, 2020 10:00PM
That's not how it works re the reimbursement. They get the amount oc thr meal, which is then passed on to the shopper.
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April 20, 2020 10:14PM
I would say the comments were strategic, not dishonest but 'offensive' is in the eye of the beholder. Candy Kane - MSC's have long billed a flat rate to a client for expenxes incurred on property and paid a lower flat rate (which may or may not include a shopper 'fee') to shoppers. Generally, it is up to the shopper to decide if the reimbursement and/or fee is 'worth it'....I value my time and experitise more, but some want the free meal, or the disounted meal....to each his own, I suppose.
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April 20, 2020 10:17PM
There are a number of shops with low caps on food reimbursement, but requirements for 3 courses and/or other items that make it difficult to stay under budget, and it's rumored that ACL often bills the client for the full check amount.

When I have pushed back on spec shops or hard-to-fill assignments for them, I have always received approval for higher reimbursement, so that leads to me to believe it's true.
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