Shopper Update
MEET SENTINEL
Sentry’s report quality check is rolling out to shoppers — here’s what to expect
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We’ve spent the past year building Sentinel, Sentry’s own report quality check. It reviews every submitted report against the standards our clients expect — catching missing details, unclear narratives, unanswered questions, and formatting problems before a report ever reaches an editor.
Sentinel has been running behind the scenes for a while now. Starting next week, we’re rolling out the next step: when Sentinel finds issues that need your attention, it will return your report to you for revision before it moves forward.
This is a gradual rollout. Not every shopper or every shop will see returns right away, and we’re expanding it deliberately so we can keep the feedback accurate and useful.
- You submit your report the same way you always have. Nothing changes about how you complete or file it.
- Sentinel runs the first quality check. If everything meets standard, your report continues through the normal process — you may never notice Sentinel at all.
- If something needs attention, the report comes back to you with specific notes on what to fix — for example, a question left blank, a narrative missing key detail, or a required observation that wasn’t addressed.
- You revise and resubmit. You make the corrections in your own words and send it back. Once it passes, it moves forward as normal.
- A human editor reviews your resubmission. Upon resubmission, a member of our editing team reviews your report. If any additional information is needed, they will contact you directly.
Sentinel points out what needs work — it does not write or rewrite your report for you. The revisions are yours to make, in your own words. That’s the whole point.
Shoppers have always had the chance to revise — a human editor would return a report that needed work. What changes with Sentinel is speed and consistency. Because it runs around the clock, you’re not waiting on business hours for that first look, so returns reach you faster and you can fix and resubmit sooner. And as we keep improving Sentinel, that first check gets steadily more consistent from one report to the next.
- Faster turnaround — Sentinel runs 24/7, so you’re not waiting on business hours for a first review
- More consistent evaluation — every report gets the same thorough first check
- A head start on fixes — issues surface right after you submit, while the assignment is fresh
- Improving over time — as we refine Sentinel, its assessments get more consistent
Wait — why can Sentry use AI when I can’t?
Fair question, and the distinction matters. The rule for shoppers is about who writes the report: your narrative has to be your own firsthand account, in your own words, because that’s the product our clients pay for. Sentinel doesn’t write reports. It checks the reports you wrote and tells you what needs fixing — the same way a spell-checker or an editor flags an issue without putting words in your mouth. You still do all the writing and all the revising. Using AI to generate or rewrite your narrative crosses the line; using a tool that reviews your own work and hands it back to you does not.
Does Sentinel rewrite my report or fix it for me?
No. Sentinel identifies what needs attention and returns the report to you with notes. You make every correction yourself, in your own words. It never generates narrative text on your behalf.
Is a returned report the same as a rejection?
No — it’s the opposite. A rejection ends the assignment with no pay. A return is a chance to fix a problem before it becomes a rejection, so you can still complete the shop and get paid.
How will I know if my report was returned?
You’ll be notified by email, and the returned shop will be visible in ShopMetrics or Gigspot — the same place you already manage your assignments. The email will include specific notes on what needs to be revised.
Will every report I submit get returned now?
No. If your report meets the standard it passes straight through — you may never see a return at all. Reports come back only when something needs your attention, whether Sentinel flags it or a human editor catches it during the final check. This is also a gradual rollout, so it’s expanding to shoppers and shops over time.
Do I have a deadline to fix and resubmit a returned report?
Yes — the deadline for resubmission is specified in the return email. Revise and resubmit by that date, since the assignment can’t move forward until it passes. If you have questions about timing, contact your scheduler with your Job ID.
I think Sentinel flagged something by mistake. What do I do?
Review the notes first — most returns point to a genuine, quick fix. If you’ve looked and believe the flag is wrong, include a clear explanation in your resubmission.
Does this change how I should write my reports?
Not at all. Keep writing accurate, detailed, firsthand narratives in your own words — the same standard we’ve always expected. Sentinel simply helps make sure nothing slips through before your report reaches the client. Our Writing Reports resource page covers those standards.
Questions About a Specific Report?
Reach your scheduler before resubmitting, or use the guided support system.
