The only shop I have ever had rejected was for Papa Johns. I decided this week to take them on again- month end and quarter end bonus, a new MSC and I figured its been over a year and I would prove it to myself that I could do it. Well I was wrong. I took the call from their "new" MSC and agreed to do two shops in one fell swoop- a two topping and a cheese pizza. The person I talked to made it sound so simple. So, two hours later I printed off the directions for the two toppings and headed out the door to get my pizza. BIG MISTAKE. I assumed that the rules and photos would be the same. I was just getting two pizzas, from the same place, at the same time. So I carefully took my photos (which is why my previous shop had been rejected), ate my pizza and proceeded to do my reports.

So...the new MSC has two completely different set of photos that they want for two toppings than they do cheese pizza. COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I submitted my shop for the two toppings (which I completed correctly) and didn't bother wasting my time on the cheese shop since I didn't have the right photos.

Mad at myself, yes. I get that I should have printed both sets of directions, but really? They are still ridiculous to shop for. At the end of the day it doesn't matter what bonuses they offer if they are looking to reject a report, they will find a way.

I have learned to always look over the shop instructions before I do a shop, even if I've done a gazillion of that kind before. That way I have caught myself before I made a mistake that would invalidate my shop, because they changed a part of the shop or I almost didn't catch that, for example, I am supposed to special order, or ask a particular question.

dmh, you are totally wrong to say <one of apparently quite a few MSCs> will find a way to reject a report. You are at fault for not reading the directions as we are instructed to do. I have shopped for <that MSC> for a long time and find them to be fair.



Mod note: Please remember to not directly link client and MSC. Thanks!

dmh426 Wrote:
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>
> Mad at myself, yes. I get that I should have
> printed both sets of directions, but really? They
> are still ridiculous to shop for. At the end of
> the day it doesn't matter what bonuses they offer
> if they are looking to reject a report, they will
> find a way.

I don't understand this. "If they are looking to reject a report, they will find a way." How does this relate to the earlier part of your post, where you say that you didn't follow the directions for the cheese pizza. Are you claiming that they should have accepted the report, even though only one third of the photos, (the top-down photos) were what they asked for?

I realize that slicing the slices in half and standing them on edge can start to feel as though someone's playing an elaborate practical joke on you, but the reason they want the photos is obvious.

Standing them on edge?

I've never done this shop, nor do I want to.

I have read about SO many problems.

Anyway, standing the slices on edge and taking a pic? That would be interesting.

Canuck Wrote:
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>....Anyway, standing the slices on edge and taking a
> pic? That would be interesting.

Believe me it is...and messy. By the time the pictures are done, the pizza is cold and spoilt. I did this one once and never again. It also put me off buying their product on my own dime, even though the store is less than a block from me.

Standing them on end is actually the original requirements from years ago returning again.

Because I agreed to do the shop, was told in detail over the phone the photo requirements, printed off the directions for one which matched the directions I was told. I was picking up the two pizzas at the same time. Would you seriously have expected the shop directions to be completed different because of a difference in toppings? If so, you are far more experienced than I. Oh and I stand by my comment that this particular client will find a way to reject reports. Just look at their reputation on the boards, no matter which MSC has them listed.

For the record, their flipped photos were also different. They wanted four slices flipped on a cheese pizza and only two on the toppings pizza.

This was the only shop that I have had rejected. Never again - the pizza sucks, is overpriced and the pictures are ridiculous. I could have got a Digorrno with a coupon for $3.99 and would have at least had a decent pizza.

Hahaha...unbelievable!

CANADAMOMMY Wrote:
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> Standing them on end is actually the original
> requirements from years ago returning again.

Bena Wrote:
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> Believe me it is...and messy. By the time the
> pictures are done, the pizza is cold and spoilt.
> I did this one once and never again. It also put
> me off buying their product on my own dime, even
> though the store is less than a block from me.

Glad somebody else felt the same way as me about this shop. My scenario with the old MSC called for ordering a cheese pizza only, which upset me, as I hate cheese pizza. Then there were problems standing the slices on edge. By the time I was done the pizza was cold. It made me sick when I ate some of it. I threw the remainder to the grackles. I felt like the MSC and the Client could have cared less about me, after I had to shell out $12 for it, and I'll never buy their pizza again.

That's why I stopped doing them when they left the MSC that would actually pay more than adequate fees for the shop. There is not even value in that pizza warm and no way to take the photos unless it is cold.

Doing Papa Johns is a big waste of time. They not only want you to be an ms but a professional photographer as well. And as many other ms's have said they can and usually are very very picky and at the drop of a hat they'll reject your shop.
Pop

In my area, I have seen PJ's offered by three different MSPs in the past month or so. Perhaps the MSPs end their contracts quickly since invalid shops based on difficult client requirements can cost them money.

Good point. If the client is rejecting the shops after they are submitted, everyone is losing out. A smart MSC would then cut their losses.

Should they pay you for the shop, for NOT reading the guidelines?

If you hired me to paint your fence yellow and I painted it purple, should I be paid?

I have done about 40-50 of these shops and did have one rejected. In the end it was my fault because I cut the cheese pizza in half and flipped it the wrong way. I bugged them until they told me exactly what I had done wrong and now I know what to do. It is sad that I have to mutilate the pizza so bad but that is what they want. The pictures are not hard once you figure out the right position and lighting to get them in. I find it more annoying how long it takes to download all the photos and receipts images. I have explained to the schedulers that I don't do this shop for the pizza--I do it for the money. I will do it for a reasonable cash bonus. I eat one piece to check the flavor and give the rest of the pizza to my neighbors and co-workers. Last month I did almost every location in my city. I now call one of my neighbors ahead of time and ask if they want a pizza. If they do, I order what they want to have. There are not a great number of shops in my city so I will take the money I can get.

I take responsibility for the fact that I didn't print off the second set of directions and assumed that the shops would be the same, because I was told that by the scheduler, and wouldn't be different because of the addition of a topping or two.

My point is that this particular client is difficult. Read the boards. They are looking for a reason to reject the shop more than others I feel. So they get the benefit of the report minus a couple of photo discrepencies, even though the other 12 photos I submitted will give them a clear pciture of the shop. If my photos are good enough for the toppings pizza, which was accepted, then they are still getting the benefit of the cheese pizza shop, with identical photos, without having to pay the shopper.

As a somewhat new shopper, I learned two lessons: 1) Read the instructions for all shops, even the ones I have done before and even the ones that appear identical to another shop I am conducting simultaneously; 2) NEVER SHOP FOR PAPA JOHNS AGAIN.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Good point. If the client is rejecting the shops
> after they are submitted, everyone is losing out.



Everyone but the client who has essentially gotten a free mystery shopping report.

But hey, Papa has got to pay for the bad Botox and plastic surgery some how!

I did 8 shops this month all with bonuses for one of the msc and just got an email I was IDed no more bonuses for me

Don't fret, there's still multi MSCs who have this same shop.

Wait, you were banned from all of the PJs or just one that ID'd you?

(heart)

I was removed from all papa johns by this one mac

I've done about 20 of these in the past; maybe 1.5 years and earlier ago? My kids love their pizza; go figure. They were easy, but a pain in the butt with the signage, pictures, etc. and I have never had one rejected. I was NEVER offered a bonus and thank these boards for alerting me to this. I have recently done 3 of these for 2 new MSC's. One was a Slice 'n Rise Cheese pizza and the usual 2 topping. The other one was for the usual 2 topping. Both MSC's called me personally so I guess they were desperate. Not doing them again unless a bonus is offered. Sorry my children, LOL.

I never quite understand why an employee would say they knew who the shopper was. Wouldn't it be better to just give them really good service every time? LOL Even so, by the time you are "made"--it is too late to change the results.

I just did a PJs and about a week later I was told that the pictures were "too blurry and pixelated." I re-submitted the exact same photos (they looked clear as a bell to me!) via email and they were accepted. I'm wondering if it was the MSCs site or did they think I had deleted the photos and were looking for a way to reject? Hmmm....

It was probably the one place that charged me 19.26 for 3 large 1 topping pies as normal price.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> There is not even value in that
> pizza warm and no way to take the photos unless it
> is cold.

This. Their pizza is disgusting when it's fresh from the oven, and by the time I finish mangling it for my photos, it's even more completely worthless. The shop fee (not including reimbursement) has to be upwards of $30 now for me to even consider doing one of these, and even then, I usually regret accepting the shop by the time I finish taking my zillion photos. Fortunately, the MSC who is presently offering these in my area is notorious for their low shop fees, so I won't even be tempted to pick one up for a while.

Regarding these new/old photo requirements: standing up on edge? As in, balanced on the edge of the slice? Seriously?

That part is not too hard - you slice the piece of pizza in half, and then tent the two halves together.

Never did Papa Johns and never will.
Been reading these horror stories now for several years along with the dreaded IKEA shops.