It's definitely easier to write up when you have one server and a standard three course meal, but I think it's fun to take on a challenge once in a while.

I've done a few Michelin 3-star restaurants for Coyle and while it can get overwhelming with the amount of people coming over to the table, you actually don't need that much information from the interactions. The receipt usually lists the items ordered and just about every restaurant I know has their menus posted online.

For high-end restaurants, it's also a bit easier because everyone is good at their job, for the most part. If one person does not smile and make eye contact, it's obvious and memorable. Writing a narrative with a pissed off and underpaid server from a diner is much more work.

I've also never heard of a restaurant evaluation being challenged based on runner or busser descriptions being inaccurate, so I usually just give it my best guess. I have some narratives with up to 5 servers that all have identical descriptions and it's never been an issue.

One restaurant in particular that I know of has the server come to the table and announce the dishes while two separate runners reach over you from behind and set the plates down. The first time I went there I spent the first half of the meal watching other tables to get descriptions of the food runners, and I realized that they are trying not to be seen. The server draws your attention and the plates magically appear! Since this is what the client obviously intended, I explained it that way and everyone was happy with it. If a runner dropped a plate of fiddlehead ferns in your lap, it would probably require a further description and be more memorable.

The thing that I like most about the narrative is that special circumstances can be explained. You are not forced to put an experience like a tapas restaurant into a box meant for 3-course meals (although there are still questions about appetizer and entree timings).

My problem with Coyle is the ETT questions. I do upscale places where 99% of the staff smiled, made eye contact and had a pleasant tone. How many different ways can you say this in a review without sounding repetitive?

I usually say, "They smiled and nodded and asked pleasantly...". I've been reminded not to say that so much. But that is true! It's what they do.

I've stopped trying to be creative with the ETT thing. I wrote 'smirked' and got questioned about it. Now I just enjoy the meals and write a repetitive report.

They have an issue with certain words. I don't think it's written anywhere, but change all instances of "pleasant" to "warm" and the issue will probably go away.

Sounds like you need a copy of Roget's Thesaurus in your lap as you're doing your reports so that you don't use the same adjective twice in your reports.

I have been taking a break from Coyle. Goldtiger, I do not see how one of their reports can take 30-45 minutes. Are we talking about the cafeteria shops, not the restaurant.

Mine take at least two or three hours.

I have applied to Coyle Hospitality but have not heard back why?

They send you an e-mail saying you made the cut, if you have been selected.

I was accepted to Coyle shortly after applying, but I think it was because they have a few hard to fill restaurants in my area. Well, it took me a long time to get up the nerve to try it. I finally did the restaurant last month. I have to say, I will not be knocking other shoppers over to get more of their shops. It just took me toooooo long to do the reports. Plus, this particular restaurant had a max reimbursement that didn't cover the entire meal cost. I was pleased to get an "18" on my first report and I suppose any future shops would be a bit easier now that I know how they go, but geesh, it was time consuming. They have some great golf resorts that I have personally visited in my past life when we could afford a lot more than we can now, but I can't imagine myself struggling through all that writing and enjoying myself. I would love to go back to some of them though...so who knows....like childbirth, I will forget the pain and do it again..LOL

Has anyone done any resort or cruise shops for them? Casinos? How long were THOSE reports?

Is there a cruise shop somewhere that doesn't require a detailed narrative?

If you don't like writing, cruise and resorts shops are not for you. If you don't mind following the shop scenarios and submitting a detailed report in exchange for a free trip, then you may be a good match. It's that simple.

That's why evaluators start with restaurants. If you find that painful, you most likely will have trouble with the larger formats.

MsJudi, I'm sorry to hear that the max reimbursement was short for your shop, though. In the past, Coyle was always very fair with covering any reasonable meal. Lately some of the clients have been tightening up the reimbursements. I do feel that if you put in that much work and do a good job, you should be covered for 100% of your expenses.

I found Coyle to be a good company. The reports are long, but the restaurants are great. Their report are the same length as the other companies that do 5 star restaurant.

I would like to hear more about the shops handled through an outside scheduler and entered via Prophet as I'm in that situation right now. But I find neither the shop itself nor my assignment appears on the home Coyle site. Are there two different Coyle Hospitality Groups? Who am I working for?

There are 2 Coyle websites - one is for lower end and one for higher end shops. The lower end shops are done by the scheduler.

Maybe that is where the confusion is.

sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are 2 Coyle websites - one is for lower end
> and one for higher end shops. The lower end shops
> are done by the scheduler.
>
> Maybe that is where the confusion is.

I think you mean the lower end shops are handled by the outside scheduling company. They are assigned via Prophet.

The shops on the main Coyle site are scheduled by the Coyle schedulers.

Can someone tell me Which scheduling company schedules for their prophet site?

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can someone tell me Which scheduling company
> schedules for their prophet site?


The email I received includes this note at the bottom:

***

Quality Scheduling Group LLC

To be notified about future shops in your area, register on our website:
[www.qualityscheduling.com]

***

But the sender is identified as Coyle and the sender's address is Support@archondev.com -- a Prophet addy.

I had not registered with Quality Scheduling before. They obtained my name & email from Coyle itself. So I presume the two are closely linked.

sbrahma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There are 2 Coyle websites - one is for lower end
> and one for higher end shops. The lower end shops
> are done by the scheduler.
>
> Maybe that is where the confusion is.


I suspected some such arrangement. Yet the shop I got -- dinner for two at a yacht club -- is not exactly lower end. I think rather the "lower-end" aspect has to do with Coyle's fees. The guidelines suggest that the client is a cheapskate: neither I nor my guest are allowed to order the lobster, nor the filet mignon. And we're required to order dessert, but we must order only one, and share it.

Also the blank form, which I have printed, is not near so daunting as the general gist of this thread suggests Coyle reports are.

Likewise, while neither site has any other shops available in my area, I find on the Prophet site quite a few shops in New York City that are indisputably "high end." Yet these same shops do not appear on the Coyle site. This reinforces my perception that it is not the relative expense of the establishment itself but rather the establishment's relationship with Coyle that dictates which site it may be listed on.

D'Agosto,

The dining requirements are the same for just about every Coyle shop. In the beginning with Coyle, no such rule existed, but almost every shopper ordered steak or lobster, so that's how it ended up. The rule is mostly due to greedy shoppers rather than cheapskate clients

The prophet forms are simpler and generally are offered for the less extravagant outlets. That often means the 'lesser' outlets can be found there, but you may find some nice clients that just don't want a ton of narrative.

SteveSoCal Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> D'Agosto,
>
> The dining requirements are the same for just
> about every Coyle shop. In the beginning with
> Coyle, no such rule existed, but almost every
> shopper ordered steak or lobster, so that's how it
> ended up. The rule is mostly due to greedy
> shoppers rather than cheapskate clients
>
> The prophet forms are simpler and generally are
> offered for the less extravagant outlets. That
> often means the 'lesser' outlets can be found
> there, but you may find some nice clients that
> just don't want a ton of narrative.

This is good to know. I would like some Coyle style shops with a smaller report. I do not need the highest of high end. My palate prefers great food and I am fine with one nice server who handles everything. I don't eat lobster anyway. The only shop I have done for Coyle (accepted to get my feet wet with them) was for the Coffee boutique. Pay was $15, nothing to purchase but a very long and involved report. Seems like that one should be on the prophet site based on reimbursement but not on narrative.

I LIKE THIS WHERE CAN I APPLY

Most of the FD shops allows one appetizer to share, 2 entrees and one dessert to share depends on the restaurant. I have NEVER seen any FD that allows two desserts.

Does anyone have any experience working for Coyle?

Hi, Patricia, welcome to the forum. The forum has a good Search function. If you select "Search" from the top line, put in "Coyle" and change the date field to search for "all dates," you will see a lot of discussion on Coyle.

Thank you very much, this is the first time I have joined a forum.

Yes, I do and after 2 shops, I am done with them for more reasons than I can count on 2 hands.

I am finishing one with them right now and I am about to pull my hair out...I have one more shop with them and I am done.....

Did two identical shops, just different locations. Two different editors. Two different nit-pickers. Two different sets of answers. There is no consistency. Depending on the editor one can ask for one thing, the other will not ask for it.

dlsnyder65 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am finishing one with them right now and I am
> about to pull my hair out...I have one more shop
> with them and I am done.....

Are you new to mystery shopping or just new to the forum.

If you're new to mystery shopping, Coyle is hardly the place to get your feet wet. Have you tried MarketForce yet?

Coyle is VERY detailed. The reports take hours for me. I have completed two shops for them.

Try Bare International, Beyond Hello, or JM Ridgway. The reports are not very exptensive and shops are easy to do.

I agree... I started about a month ago and my second or third shop was what should have been a VERY easy shop for Coyle... It was tough. They have very high standards and expect lots of grammatically correct narration. The trade off is the pay a little better than some others. Hope this helps...