Ardent services !
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either no one has heard of them...or they are everyone's cash cow and they are keeping quiet. 
personally... never heard of 'em. Did ya sign up? Get some good jobs?
personally... never heard of 'em. Did ya sign up? Get some good jobs?
I have "heard" of them, but I have never worked for them. Dat's all I got. :-)
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
No association here with them either.
Ardent Services has been around for quite a few years. They are based in Colorado and work very hands on with shoppers. Tracey and Mike own the company. They have one major client and they send the shoppers on the same rotations monthly. Rarely do they have openings, so if you get a chance to work with them take it. They pay very nicely for the work they request.
President of the Independent Mystery Shoppers' Coalition.
If you live in a state having stores of the one major client they have and like the food the client offers, it might be well worth signing up with them. I have been signed up with them for three years, but since that client is not in my market, I cannot say much more. I do like the food served by their major client though, and on their website they offer a list of MANY metropolitan areas across the country in which they are seeking shoppers at this time.
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
I have worked for them and they only have one client that I know of. So, unless I want Mexican food, I opt out.
Ardent Services is a top notch company. I have worked for them regularly for the past 2 years, performing between 7 and 12 shops a month for them. Since their main client is a food shop, I sometimes get a bit tired of the food, but my kids love it! Reports are lengthy but easy. Pay is above average and always timely. As said above, they do not have opening very often, so if the job is offered to you, take it as it may not come around again for quite some time!
I have applied with them a while ago. I really like their client's food. They have a location right near my work. It would have been nice if they accepted me, but so far no luck.
Great company to work with! They have one client and do inperson training of shoppers when they recruit in a new area. The pay is very fair, if you like Mexican food. The form seems long the first time that you do it, but after you've done about 3 you can breeze through it. Good narrative is required!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2009 03:01PM by walesmaven.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2009 03:01PM by walesmaven.
OOOH, has PIC returned in a new body? Sounds so much like her post I can't help but believe it...
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
What is PIC, please?
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I registered a couple years ago, as I like there Mex restaurants here in L.A. Never heard back, very difficult to get in......
Live consciously....
Warning: This User Has Been Banned or Is No Longer Active
I did a few shops for them, honestly maybe its me, but I don't understand what they want. I've Mystery shopped for over three years with very few problems, but these folk want something I don't understand. Don't make references to race, age, color, ethnic origin but give us detailed description. I went to a shop I swear the three girls behind the counter could have been triplets except one was slightly darker skinned and the other two were exactly alike. I think we have mutually parted ways.
Big George,
All they want is what they say they want. If the servers are all "female, 5'2" black ponytails" that's all they want, and you will get top marks for descriptions. Don't try to do the MSG's job for them. The report is very straightforward and, as long as it is on time and descriptive of the mood of the people and the place, you will do very well with them.
They want info about the food and the tone of the interactions.
All they want is what they say they want. If the servers are all "female, 5'2" black ponytails" that's all they want, and you will get top marks for descriptions. Don't try to do the MSG's job for them. The report is very straightforward and, as long as it is on time and descriptive of the mood of the people and the place, you will do very well with them.
They want info about the food and the tone of the interactions.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Love this company! They pay a flat fee which includes the cost of your meal, but the reporting and narratives do take some time to enter. They definitely like the "creative writer." If you get offered to train with them and like Mexican food, it is well worth it.
Okay, got the chance and took it. Well, not yet, but I'm about to dive in. Training ahead -- just hope I'm not daunted by the reportedly long forms!
How long are the forms? We are talking about a place where you have to stand in line to get your food...
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
No idea. Just angsting a little because of Walesmaven's post. But then again, I always angst before I perform a new shop or work for a new MSC!
They want two short paragraphs of narrative, rich with descriptions of your interactions with everyone on the serving line. But, your training will help you with all of that. The form looks longer than it really is to fill in. Once you have done 2 or 3 it's no problem at all. The key is to concentrate on the state of the food on the service line and then watch the servers and manager while you eat. Dee, since there may be as many as six or seven people on that service/checkout line, you could have a lot of descriptions and interactions, as well as any comments on negatives where the foods in the warming tables are concerned. Fortunately, you can usually sit and watch the line from your dining table and use that time to make description notes. There are no name tags, so you don't have to cope with that issue. If you have a notebook computer you could probably eat lunch and finish the report on site.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
It sounds very similar to the steak sub, which I do from time to time, but the report annoys me for the meager compensation offered.
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
The Ardent shop pay is fair, I think. I always take half of my meal home and have a second lunch later in the week.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I agree that the pay is fair and they're a good company to work for.
Their narratives were too long for my taste, though. I write plenty for my full-time job & I MS for fun & a little extra cash. The reports always frustrated me & I no longer work for them, but the issues were all mine.
I have nothing but respect for the company.
Their narratives were too long for my taste, though. I write plenty for my full-time job & I MS for fun & a little extra cash. The reports always frustrated me & I no longer work for them, but the issues were all mine.
I have nothing but respect for the company.
I am mad that their client is not in my area. I love their food.
I completed their training in May and four assignments in July. The assignments are easy except for their lengthy narratives. I am yet to experience their payment track record.
They opened another close to me, and I re-applied at Ardent months ago...still haven't heard a word. Went there for lunch yesterday (on my $$) and loved it, want to do it, how do I get in.
Live consciously....
As far as I know, recruitment for this shop is handled solely by KSS.
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