A Closer Look

Does anyone have problems finding open shops with them? There are quite a few sit down restaurants that is listed in my area, but they are always taken. I check the site everyday and never seen one where I can assign. I always do the waitlist but that never pans out. Just curious to know if this happens to others.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More Discussions About A Closer Look (All Companies)

It'd too annoying to sort through the sub shops.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2025 02:22PM by JimmyP.

I think when I was new they limited what I could self assign. I did a shop that I could get and then I could assign anything that showed up on the site for me. But, there are also shops they don't post (or that I can't see), because I get an email or text and would need to respond that way.

None of this stuff is simple and the "really good" jobs are few and far between, I am sorry if you were misled that it was otherwise.

You have to earn a good reputation with them before you can see their shops. But if you can't see their shops, how can you do that?

exactly!

I have soooo many open shops in my area. Mostly sub places and frozen yogurt. Have done quite a few restaurant shops for them and assisted living shops.

I have gotten shops off the waitlist before, it is rare but I did receive an urgent text with a bonus offered if I could do it that night. I happen to be free so it was a win.

There seem to be quite a few in my area. I also pick up a variety from them when I travel.

They have lost a lot of their good accounts since 3 years ago.

I have not been able to get a nice restaurant shop for them in quite some time. I check two or three times a day and the good ones are already taken. I have been shopping for them for 26 years and this is the first time that the nice places have been unattainable for me.

@JimmyP wrote:

It'd too annoying to sort through the sub shops.

OMG YES!! Can't wait for that sub shop to leave.

@wrosie I asked a scheduler about this and they debunked it - there is no 'secret list' (though I sure feel like there is when a certain steakhouse is always full when I first see it - i NEVER see it available to grab until it's filled).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2025 06:30PM by non sequitur.

@non sequitur wrote:

@wrosie I asked a scheduler about this and they debunked it - there is no 'secret list' (though I sure feel like there is when a certain steakhouse is always full when I first see it - i NEVER see it available to grab until it's filled).

So, what they used to do, and I'm not sure if they still do this, is have you do a less desirable shop in order to get one of the more desirable shops the following month.

@joanna81

What you are saying makes sense. A few other MSC do this too when they are not set up on self-assign. The scheduler knows who the shoppers are that help them out and don't just cherry-pick the sweet shops.

When they had the stuffed animal client, they would pair it up with a not very desirable shop and require the shopper to take both. I agreed to it so my child could have an experience.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2025 12:55AM by gigishopper.

As an IC, and to the best of my recollection, of the 4.3K shops I have completed, I have not the slightest memory of ever "taking one for the Gipper."

@non sequitur wrote:

@wrosie I asked a scheduler about this and they debunked it - there is no 'secret list' (though I sure feel like there is when a certain steakhouse is always full when I first see it - i NEVER see it available to grab until it's filled).

The shops just go fast, that's all. If you are seeing the shop, it was available, but just got filled quickly.

I am a previous editor for ACL and it IS true that new shoppers do not see the higher end shops. It's only after receiving a certain reputation score internally that shoppers can view the higher end shops. These are fewer than they used to be and some people might not see them because they arent located in the shopper's area.

@Jusa wrote:

@non sequitur wrote:

@wrosie I asked a scheduler about this and they debunked it - there is no 'secret list' (though I sure feel like there is when a certain steakhouse is always full when I first see it - i NEVER see it available to grab until it's filled).

The shops just go fast, that's all. If you are seeing the shop, it was available, but just got filled quickly.

I am a previous editor for ACL and it IS true that new shoppers do not see the higher end shops. It's only after receiving a certain reputation score internally that shoppers can view the higher end shops. These are fewer than they used to be and some people might not see them because they arent located in the shopper's area.

Thanks for confirming that (so there is actually a 'hidden' view but only for new shoppers, which makes sense). It is pretty remarkable how prescient some shoppers are in knowing EXACTLY when to spam-refresh the board to nab those shops so reliably though - almost like they have 2 alt accounts and just eat free steak on a regular basis. I wish ACL would be a little more random in when it posts it to give others a shot at it, or a 6-month (or even 1 YEAR, like Coyle) time out between shops for that client.

@joanna81 wrote:

So, what they used to do, and I'm not sure if they still do this, is have you do a less desirable shop in order to get one of the more desirable shops the following month.

I don't remember ACL doing this, but Coyle definitely did, and I was fine with it.

I wish there was a way to filter out clients, so I wouldn't need to wade through all the sub shops to see something I might actually do (also wish they'd just pay for the sub shops - there are SO many near me, but $0 bonus, ever).

Years ago I did lots of shops for them as they had nice dining shops worth it to me for just reimbursement however for the past several years, except for the sub and juice most of the ones in my area have only a few locations that are snapped up quickly.
The BBQ shop I used to do pays the same reimbursement now that it did a decade ago but prices have gone up. I have been there over 30x and have never seen a single diner With a guest its just a coupon shop but also grabbed before I have a chance.

ACL definitely did this. I did not play. It's really sad as they were one of my favorites; no fees but then again I don't care about fees. Haven't done anything shops for them in a long time.

I am an active shopper for Coyle. I have never encountered take a bad and then we'll grant you a good.

@joanna81 wrote:

@non sequitur wrote:

@wrosie I asked a scheduler about this and they debunked it - there is no 'secret list' (though I sure feel like there is when a certain steakhouse is always full when I first see it - i NEVER see it available to grab until it's filled).

So, what they used to do, and I'm not sure if they still do this, is have you do a less desirable shop in order to get one of the more desirable shops the following month.

I am able to pick subs shops in my area. About 2-3 each months. They are sending me shops that are far away from my area. I have 3 to do in July.

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009

@gene wrote:

I am able to pick subs shops in my area. About 2-3 each months. They are sending me shops that are far away from my area. I have 3 to do in July.

Yeah, the sub shops are plentiful in my area as well. They texted about one "in my area" pleading for help so I responded to find out which one in case I would be near there. The shop they offered was not super far as a crow flies but because there is a body of water, driving there is 45 minutes each way and there was no bonus or anything attached. I said sorry, that is too far and got a terse suggestion on response that I change how far I am willing to travel on my profile. Their tool isn't smart enough to communicate that I would happily drive 45 minutes each way for a desirable task with great pay or even pick up a sandwich near another activity that falls into that category. But as a solo shop? Absolutely not.

@non sequitur wrote:

@joanna81 wrote:

So, what they used to do, and I'm not sure if they still do this, is have you do a less desirable shop in order to get one of the more desirable shops the following month.

I don't remember ACL doing this, but Coyle definitely did, and I was fine with it.

I wish there was a way to filter out clients, so I wouldn't need to wade through all the sub shops to see something I might actually do (also wish they'd just pay for the sub shops - there are SO many near me, but $0 bonus, ever).

They used to do it when they had a build your own pizza restaurant where you had to give really specific timings. Time entered the line, time greeted , time the first ingredient was put on, etc. The pizza restaurant name was similar to "fire". Then you would get a "good shop" like a massage client or the teddy bear ones.

@joanna81 wrote:

They used to do it when they had a build your own pizza restaurant where you had to give really specific timings. Time entered the line, time greeted , time the first ingredient was put on, etc. The pizza restaurant name was similar to "fire". Then you would get a "good shop" like a massage client or the teddy bear ones.

I remember that pizza place. They also wanted us to get the names of everyone who built or cashed out the pizza--and at one point the crew members started wearing name badges with fanciful words instead of names. They wore their name badges on their caps, making them hard to read. And we had to provide photos of the top and bottom crust of the pizza.

$5.

These pizza shops were the last ones I did for them. Several times I had 1 person who built the entire pizza. I liked that better than 5 people touching it. It wasn't often enough, but with only 1 or 2 people touching, it made it so much better.

if these shops returned with them, i doubt i would bother doing them again. i don't waste my time for "free" subs either. I like JM, but not enough to hassle with the requirements to get a "free sandwich" Would rather do a chinese fast food and use the $ I make from that to buy my own JM if I want it that bad.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

A Closer Look

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine