Regal Hospitality

I completed a shop in March and received a 10 on the shop but no payment. I contacted the scheduler who put me in touch with someone in the office, I immediately received a response that I would be receiving a $75 check for the shop. I was so happy to find a company so receptive. Years ago I used to do move and dinner shops with them and was always paid. This must have been an oversight. It restored my faith in humanity!!

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 Regal Hospitality Group (All Companies)

I also, in the past, completed work for Regal. Out of the blue, I was informed their net 45 payments were being changed to net 90. As there are only two reasons for taking 90 days to pay, their use of my money or financial problems, I immediately cancelled our agreement.

How would the company 'use your money' for their own use when your actual cash was actually paid to the hotel outlets? The hotel would have the money, not the MSC.

The assignments I completed for Regal were reimbursement only dining shops. I and my guest ate the food, I paid the check and the money I spent, with a max., was sent to me. I do not recall the manner of payment, as it was approx. 15 yrs. ago. By doubling the time required to await my pay, the MSC was using my cash. Said money was due me for my time, effort, expense and report. Contrary to what some in this business expound, shoppers do not receive free food, free gas, free movie tickets or free anything.

I stick to my statement that when any MSC doubles the term of payment, they are either experiencing a cash flow problem OR they desire to use my money as an interest free loan. Such an action is definitely a company's prerogative, just as it is mine to terminate our agreement. I did not in the past, I do not now in the present nor have I any intention in the future of waiting 90 days for my money. I do not, though, criticize any shopper for whom such a situation is acceptable.

But the fees for their jobs are only $50 or $75. You're spending much more than that at the hotel, performing all the bar, dining and possible activity evaluations. That cash stays at the hotel, not the MSC. Since I have heard others make the same claim, I am trying to make sense of how the company would be "using" the money as a loan, when the substantial amount stays with the hotel? Once the client pays the MSC, don't they send payment to the shopper?

@Luv2Travel123 wrote:

But the fees for their jobs are only $50 or $75. You're spending much more than that at the hotel, performing all the bar, dining and possible activity evaluations. That cash stays at the hotel, not the MSC. Since I have heard others make the same claim, I am trying to make sense of how the company would be "using" the money as a loan, when the substantial amount stays with the hotel? Once the client pays the MSC, don't they send payment to the shopper?

My thought would be, let's say the hotel (or whatever) is paying the MSC $100 for the job fee. The shopper is getting $50 of that. The hotel pays the MSC within a month of the shop being approved.But the MSC is holding on to that $50 for two more months, and can accrue interest on it during that time. It's not a ton of interest, but, it's still there.Same thing with the reimbursements. Say the hotel costs are $300, the hotel reimburses the MSC, but, again, the MSC holds on to that reimbursement for another couple months to accrue interest before sending it to the shopper.

Luv, I only completed work at eateries. There were not any bar, room or activities involved. I checked my log; the reimbursements were $35 a meal for two. My last work for the company was 16 yrs. ago.

As to the when the client pays the MSC, who knows? With companies such as Ipsos, I am certain they are fronting shopper fees. If Regal needed to double the time of payment, that is covered in my statement of financial problems.

@Luv2Travel123 wrote:

Once the client pays the MSC, don't they send payment to the shopper?

I think this is Bob's point. What's the time differential between when the client pays the MSC to when they forward that to the shopper? Are they waiting 90 days to get paid too?

If you are doing a dinner shop, there's potentially a few hundred dollars you are out for that one shop, and often they require cash payments, so this does essentially become an interest free loan. If you are charging that meal to your credit card and waiting to get paid before paying it off, then you are the one paying interest on their loan!

If the client is waiting 90 days to pay the MSC, the relationship is just as hazardous and likely to go south.

@mysterioso412 wrote:

Say the hotel costs are $300, the hotel reimburses the MSC, but, again, the MSC holds on to that reimbursement for another couple months to accrue interest before sending it to the shopper.

I think most of the hotel offer a reversal instead of reimbursing the stay, so the money for those is limited to usual cash outlay for food, tips and the shopper fee.

It may seem like a small amount for one shop, but when you consider the number of shops they do each month, it becomes a larger sum.

And if you think the MSC is only charging $100 for the hotel evaluation, and splitting it with the shopper, you are WAY off!

@shopperbob wrote:

If Regal needed to double the time of payment, that is covered in my statement of financial problems.

We posted at the same time, Bob, but it's either bad cash flow, or just a disrespect for the shopper. They have been in operation for a while so I think perhaps the later.

My reasons for walking away from Regal were mainly the payment terms, but also the fact that they want you to pay cash for generic cocktails, and you are not allowed to specify a brand of liquor. It's a bit petty. If half the payoff is getting to stay at the hotel and enjoy the food/drink, I just didn't feel like suffering well vodka in my drink when another company pays in 30 days and lets me order whatever I want at the bar!

Duh....because the MSC ALREADY got paid by the client....

Luv...no, they don't....some clients are notoriously slow in paying MSCs....Most are timely, based on their contract or agreement with the MSC....More MSCs are stingy with payment to shoppers (fees and reimbursement) than you would believe.....buyer beware!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2024 03:59PM by salisburync.

What do you think the MSC is charging for the hotel shop? This is interesting!

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@Luv2Travel123 wrote:

Once the client pays the MSC, don't they send payment to the shopper?

I think this is Bob's point. What's the time differential between when the client pays the MSC to when they forward that to the shopper? Are they waiting 90 days to get paid too?

If you are doing a dinner shop, there's potentially a few hundred dollars you are out for that one shop, and often they require cash payments, so this does essentially become an interest free loan. If you are charging that meal to your credit card and waiting to get paid before paying it off, then you are the one paying interest on their loan!

If the client is waiting 90 days to pay the MSC, the relationship is just as hazardous and likely to go south.

@mysterioso412 wrote:

Say the hotel costs are $300, the hotel reimburses the MSC, but, again, the MSC holds on to that reimbursement for another couple months to accrue interest before sending it to the shopper.

I think most of the hotel offer a reversal instead of reimbursing the stay, so the money for those is limited to usual cash outlay for food, tips and the shopper fee.

It may seem like a small amount for one shop, but when you consider the number of shops they do each month, it becomes a larger sum.

And if you think the MSC is only charging $100 for the hotel evaluation, and splitting it with the shopper, you are WAY off!

@LindaM wrote:

What do you think the MSC is charging for the hotel shop? This is interesting!

First, let's dispense with the concept that a major MSC works for anywhere near the rates that shoppers get, or splits their fee 50/50 with shoppers.

They pay for schedulers, editors, salespeople, account managers, software, accounting and the general overhead of running a corporation. Even those employing virtual office space have considerable operational overhead.

A basic search will tell you that a single outlet shop will cost a client $30-150. I'd put a drive-thru that only requires timings with no narrative at $30 and an upscale dinner with narrative closer to $150. With all the components involved in a hotel evaluation, I would say the low end for check in/out and a few interactions over a 1 night stay would start around $400, with $600-800 being more of the average, and fees for larger resorts with spas, golf and multiple food outlets MUCH higher than that.

I know small MSCs who split their fee with their shoppers and pay $300-500 per hotel, because they require a lot more of their evaluators, and have almost no overhead, so they are undercutting the larger MSCs at $600-$1,000 per shop.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Regal Hospitality

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine