Hey everyone - new to the board. I have been shopping on/off for the past 7 years, but been more serious about it this year. I've looked through the MSC list but still haven't really come across many that offer fine dining. I know Coyle does, as I've been with them for a long time, but besides them I really don't encounter that many. Would you be able to help point me in the right direction?

Look at ACL

Where I live, Intelli and Ann Michaels have some nice clients. Sadly though, many places that were shopped before Covid have not resumed their shopping programs.

Thank you both!
Intellishop and Ann Michaels don't have much where I am (NY / LA)

Yeah, definitely noticed the same Mert. I really miss North Fork Research, even though they went under before COVID.

Although they are starting to pick up, and fast food is rocking, there doesn't seem to be quiet as many higher end restaurant shops as there were before covid. All of my top MSC recommendations have already been mentioned. As also mentioned, the offerings seem to be very regional. These days, I don't see more than a couple (at most) fine dining shops a month in my area. That is across all of the MSCs I shop for, and they get snapped up fast.

Kern schedules for several different msc and they have some fine dining.

Coyle has fine dining also but the reports can be a bear.

I recalling seeing a couple on gigspot, but they didn't seem like good deals. Fee $10 with a reimbursement of up to $75. Not sure what kind of work is involved, but I don't want to have up to $75 out there for one stop, so that I can get that back plus 10 bucks 50 days later.

What do those jobs typically pay? To be fair, the jobs I've seen on gigspot are not the highest paying.. A $10 gas mystery and $15 storage shops that go unfilled for months. I was finally able to get get them to more than double the fee, but they said no money for the required store purchase.

Perhaps fine dining shops are not for you. Most, if not all of the companies reimburse you a month or two or sometimes three months later so you will have your money tied up for a while. And the fees are not usually huge. They consider the what they call a free meal to be most of your pay. You also take the chance of your shop being denied and then you will not be reimbursed for the cost of the meal. It does not happen regularly but before you do a fine dining shop and put out your own money you should do some less risky shops first and make sure you have great ratings before taking the plunge on a job where you spend $100 or so up front.

@heywave wrote:

I recalling seeing a couple on gigspot, but they didn't seem like good deals. Fee $10 with a reimbursement of up to $75. Not sure what kind of work is involved, but I don't want to have up to $75 out there for one stop, so that I can get that back plus 10 bucks 50 days later.

What do those jobs typically pay? To be fair, the jobs I've seen on gigspot are not the highest paying.. A $10 gas mystery and $15 storage shops that go unfilled for months. I was finally able to get get them to more than double the fee, but they said no money for the required store purchase.

I see a lot that don't even cover the required purchases. And they sit forever.

You can tie up a lot of money with the fine dining shops.

I got a notification of a fine dining shop last night. It was not in my area, but since it was a chain, I thought I'd do the math on it. Right after I said the fine dining shops go fast in my area, I remembered the one that would sit and and sit. The reimbursement didn't come close to covering the shop requirements.

The one that came though last night was just as dubious. After studying the menu, going through the requirements and tacking on tax and tips, you could easily go $50 over budget, as in out of pocket. And it could be a whole lot more than that if you don't keep a tight rein on your choices. I am a foodie through and through, but if I am going to spend $50 or more on a meal, I don't want to have to be on full alert while I eat, and I don't want to have to go home and spend two or three hours on the report. It is one or the other. Fine dining shops tend to be very labor intensive. I don't mind shelling out an extra five or ten on a good restaurant shop, but when they start going $50 or more out of pocket for some of these places, I tend to pass.

Also, as ShopperGirly mentioned, you are going to be tying up your cash until you get reimbursed, and as Sandyf also mentioned, the risk is always there that a shop will be declined, and you won't get a dime back. That said, at times, I have done a fair number of fine dining shops, however, I try to step carefully and know exactly what I am both getting into and risking if whatever shop doesn't go though. Despite it all, pre-covid, the holiday season was always a good time for fine dining shops, and I wouldn't mind picking one up for the season.

I'd rather eat McDonalds with a fork/knife as my fine dining experience, than to fill out some of these reports that take 2 hours to complete with tedious details. I have better things to do with my spare time.

I well recall my last fine dining shop. It was for Mercantile, required me to spend $8+ of my money and wait 101 days for payment. I side with Ginny and Daddy, as the work:pay ratio does not conform to that of which I consider acceptable. For me to consider such work would require a fee of at least $50+ two meals, as a harpist, multiple forks, servers in a tuxedo and platters with small servings have zero value to me..

Much of the consideration of taking these shops for reimbursement depends on your irs and local tax rates combined with the ability to get easy shops with a bonus. If you are in a high tax bracket you are saving by not using after tax earnings to pay for a meal. In addition in my large city most shops go for base rate. I would have to spend many, many more hours doing fast food shops and their shorter reports at base rate for those shops to be able to afford a nice restaurant meal with after tax money.

We love fine dining! As long as the restaurant is one to our liking or one that we have interest in. So many other factors such as reimbursement and who my guest will be. I just about cut DH out as he is a PITA and orders whatever the heck he likes. Defeats my purpose, LOL. Reports are no problem for me.

Mine will order a cheeseburger or chicken strips every time.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2022 02:51AM by ShopperGirly.

My husband & I love fine dining shops. There is one that we did several times over the years & we have eaten there on our own dime if the shop isn't available. Went there last Saturday.... $350 for dinner, no alcohol.... my husband likes a good steak.

The one I was studying on the other day had $150 reimbursement, plus $10 in pay, but from what I could see, it would take some serious budgeting to get out of there under $200. So I could easily see luckygirl's $350 tab, and I appreciate her sharing since I was also contemplating similar. If I go to that nice of a restaurant, I don't want to order the cheapest of every single requirement either. That kind of takes the joy out of the whole concept of fine dining. So I tend to go over budget on such as well, how much I am willing and/or able to go over on any given is a definite consideration.

I tend to balk at shops where I am going to go way over budget, not come close to ordering what I really want and still have to do a lengthy report. As much as I love fine dining, the shoppers are getting short changed on a lot of them. That is not to say that I won't ever do another one, but I tend to step very carefully with such.

My son is a good shopping partner, and knows the ropes. The scheduling can be iffy between us though. My last gentleman friend was pretty much a PITA shopping partner, as in added stress with such, and such does make a difference in both the amount of work and making sure the whole thing doesn't get botched. I wouldn't mind, as in really occasionally need another well-seasoned shopping partner who knows the shopping ropes, as in makes things easier instead of harder. That could help since a lot of various requires two people.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/2022 01:16PM by GinnyLynn.

@GinnyLynn. Exactly. Since the pandemic, my MS activities have decreased immensely; due to many personal reasons as well as the slim pickings MSCs offer. Last weekend, DH and I spent a bit over $300 at our own expense. So enjoyable with delicious food and service. We had a great time and had a glass of wine each. Now when I see a fine dining shop I am interested in, I check with my ladies to see if they would like to accompany me. Schedules clash and it's not easy or often when they are able to go. However, my ladies will help me and eat lady like when they do and know and follow the guidelines, ha ha ha. DH will go so much over reimbursement, I ask myself "Why bother?" I would rather pay on our own. He also has a bad habit of going for the food before I take a pictures. I needed to hit him. His days are about over.

I miss Consumer Confidentials fine dining shops. I think they are known by the "Jack Network" now? Not sure. Haven't seen any in a long, long while. Never received one from Intelli-Shop other than an email asking if I could do a personal favorite of ours. Our schedules took precedence. Never heard from them concerning that venue nor did I ever see it on their website..

To keep down costs back before the pandemic when there were more of these shops I would always ask and get permission to order soup as the appetizer which was generally $10 or more cheaper than the ones on the app list. Also I always would start my shop during Happy Hour for the bar part and save the extra cash on both of these choices to spend on the main dish.

I love the fine dining! I'm a huge foodie, but I also find ways to make the most of it through credit card rewards. Case in point - last week I went to a "new to me" place that had an amazing view of the city. I've been meaning to check that place out forever but never got around to it. The MSC only reimburse for the meal, but my AMEX had a dining offer of "Spend $75+, get $25 cash back". And because I spent $160 total for the shop (of which all will be reimbursed by MSC), I also received $50 back from AMEX!!

The report on the shop after was a pain, but overall a huge win for me!

Yeah I mean I mostly work with Coyle so the reports don't even bother me anymore. I also do a lot of business travel and my company has a really generous reimbursement policy for meals...so I essentially receive the moneys back for the meals as well. In my mind, that's worth it. Plus I also utilize the AMEX offers.

What may sound ridiculous and a rip off to some of you could also be a worthwhile option for others. It's all circumstantial.

Thanks for the suggestions~

@OEShopper, are you sure it's not $25? Never saw an AMEX offer that pro-rated the reward provided you spent the minimum required for it. It is a wonderful perk when the timing and venue is right. I have only been able to use that once or twice if I recall correctly with MS job. Have used it for our own dining expenses however.

@Madetoshop wrote:

@OEShopper, are you sure it's not $25? Never saw an AMEX offer that pro-rated the reward provided you spent the minimum required for it. It is a wonderful perk when the timing and venue is right. I have only been able to use that once or twice if I recall correctly with MS job. Have used it for our own dining expenses however.

I asked the server to split the check in half and run the same card twice. The $50 was credited to my amex within 2 days. I was so happy that worked!

@ChicagoShopper wrote:

@Madetoshop wrote:

@OEShopper, are you sure it's not $25? Never saw an AMEX offer that pro-rated the reward provided you spent the minimum required for it. It is a wonderful perk when the timing and venue is right. I have only been able to use that once or twice if I recall correctly with MS job. Have used it for our own dining expenses however.

I asked the server to split the check in half and run the same card twice. The $50 was credited to my amex within 2 days. I was so happy that worked!

Smart! I have found the same offer on my SOs card and split the check for the rare instance where the stars align and we have been able to use AmEx offers too. Definitely a nice perk!

@ChicagoShopper wrote:

@Madetoshop wrote:

@OEShopper, are you sure it's not $25? Never saw an AMEX offer that pro-rated the reward provided you spent the minimum required for it. It is a wonderful perk when the timing and venue is right. I have only been able to use that once or twice if I recall correctly with MS job. Have used it for our own dining expenses however.

I asked the server to split the check in half and run the same card twice. The $50 was credited to my amex within 2 days. I was so happy that worked!

Yup! I do the same.

^^^^ I see. Very clever. If on a MS job, I assume you did not have any issues submitting 2 receipts and having the job approved?

@GinnyLynn wrote:

as Sandyf also mentioned, the risk is always there that a shop will be declined, and you won't get a dime back. That said, at times, I have done a fair number of fine dining shops, however, I try to step carefully and know exactly what I am both getting into and risking if whatever shop doesn't go though. Despite it all, pre-covid, the holiday season was always a good time for fine dining shops, and I wouldn't mind picking one up for the season.

I did a fine dining breakfast shop at a boutique hotel several years ago. I was required to pay cash, and I had $120 cash in my wallet that I got from an ATM on the way to the location. The restaurant had no web site, so no way to check a menu or prices in advance, and the hotel's site did not have the menu either. We had to order two different entrees, along with sides, coffee and juice. I figured maybe $30-$50 apiece for two; breakfast in NYC is generally the cheapest meal of the day.

Once we get to the restaurant, however, not only was the food overcooked and awful, the prices were screwy and out of sync with the market. (It was also one of those places that didn't have all the prices on the menu.) Long story short, the bill for two came to $155 and some change.

Since I didn't have it all, I had to use a credit card. Naturally the MS company would not accept the shop, and while I expected they would not pay my fee, they would not reimburse what I paid for the food, either, despite the circumstances.

I learned several lessons that day--including don't take shops where I have to buy something unless I'm fully prepared to eat the cost if something unexpected happens. Also, if the guidelines are incomplete, or essential info is unavailable, I don't assume. If it can't be resolved quickly, the shop's a no-go.

I never shopped for that MS company again.