@wrosie wrote:
After each employee interaction text yourself their name/description, don't rely on memory.
I also text timings like drinks, order, appetizer, entree, manager visit etc. to basically get timings. So if they ask, if you got the appetizer within x minutes you can subtract the order time from the appetizer text time.
Be ready to describe all negative interactions.
Be ready to type in "This did not apply to my shop" or something similar for every N/A answer, it's required to fill in the text box on every question.
The question about first time visitors is probably to check if they offer you a sampler of their sides or something similar for first time visitors.
This should get you started.
The survey seems pretty straightforward--similar to others I've done for other companies. There's not a lot of narrative, which seems to be where Coyle does the "gotcha." Although I'm pretty comfortable with narratives....@salisburync wrote:
Birdy - My experience only, so YMMV, but be prepared for a data entry slog, with pushback and requests from Coyle for more info....You will probably find that the whole process is acceptable IF they assign you the fine dining shops you covet! If they don't, well, you'll become yet another "anti-fan" of Coyle!
@Maryanne J wrote:
It's an easy survey, as long as you have unlimited patience, and really like the back-and-forth with all of their editors. Typing for several hours till they finally accept whatever you wrote. For me, they SUCK! Never again...
@DRJ wrote:
Good luck Birdy. I"m really surprised you haven't done a Coyle shop given the number of years you've been shopping.
I did a half dozen Coyle fine dining shops years ago, but found it hard to enjoy the dining experience because I was so nervous about not missing any observations. And then the write ups where a bear. I think I spent 5 or 6 hours writing up the first one and still only got an 18 out of 20 score. But I did get some great meals and one shop required a bottle of wine that cost a minimum $100.
Let us know how it went and what you think. I might go back and try one again.
@BirdyC wrote:
I've been signed up with Coyle for a long time, but most of their shops are at minimum 45 minutes to an hour away. I'd like to do some fine-dining shops, but have been looking for a simpler shop to get my feet wet. So.... I found one, applied, and was accepted. It's a long way to go for a $30 reimbursement shop with a minimal fee, but I figure if I do it and do it well, that'll better my chances for an upscale dinner shop.
This is at a chain that has takeout and in-restaurant scenarios. I'd asked about the take-out one and the feedback here was that it was pretty easy. Never got that one, but snagged the order-at-table one. It's noted as "condensed," which I assume means a shortened survey?
Do they score these as tightly as they do their upscale shops? I'm a bit worried about the observations (four employee names & descriptions, in particular, but my son can help me since my old brain only has so much capacity), and also they're supposed to ask you if you've been there before. Telling them it's your first time there is critical to the shop, but if they don't and you just volunteer the information, does that seem odd?
I've applied for a fine-dining one for later in August--so I'm hoping if I ace this one, I'll get that one. My husband and I can't afford a $200 meal out, but we'd sure like one! LOL.
@shopperbob wrote:
Far in the past, I completed a single job for Coyle. The food does not exist nor could it be imagined, that would, in the minute sense, ever tempt me to consider an encore assignment.
@BirdyC wrote:
Food was great, but the location didn't do quite a bit of what it was supposed to. I hope my report won't be adversely viewed because of that. Fortunately, I thought to take a picture of one of the things that resulted in half of the required steps not being taken!
@BirdyC wrote:
About how long does Coyle take to review shops? Mine was more than a week ago, and it's still pending. It was a simple shop with a short survey. I made notes after the shop, but if they get back to me in two weeks with questions, I'm not sure I'll remember everything! I'd rather have it still fresh in my mind if they kick it back to me.
Also, do they typically take a long time to accept or reject applications? I had one in for days on a shop that was due last weekend, and it was still pending as of the day the shop was due. So I deleted my application
It's not a matter of, "If they kick it back to me", It's WHEN and HOW MANY TIMES they kick it back to me. Cause that's what they do...
.
@BirdyC wrote:
Pleasantly surprised today. My shop was accepted as is. I truly was expecting it to be sent back with questions or requests for clarifications.
@BirdyC wrote:
Pleasantly surprised today. My shop was accepted as is. I truly was expecting it to be sent back with questions or requests for clarifications.
@Zek wrote:
Yay, bet that was a wonderful feeling ! Congrats.
@BirdyC wrote:
Pleasantly surprised today. My shop was accepted as is. I truly was expecting it to be sent back with questions or requests for clarifications.