Sooooo, I applied to do a simple, 1 photo shop today at a Papa John's 1/2 mile away from my home. I have done carry-out and delivery there once a month or so for the past 5 months for this MSC. Today, the scheduler tells me they know I'm a shopper and I cannot do this location anymore. I asked her how they figured it out. She tells me she doesn't know but it happens frequently. I used different phones to call and my shops have been a combination of carry out or delivery. It is so silly as they ask you to order one pizza and I think that's a red flag. I would order more but I have no idea how much one pizza costs as their pricing is not straight forward and the labels on the box do not separate costs. Comments?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/17/2014 04:30AM by Madetoshop.

I was also identified as the shopper. I wonder if the manager sees the date of purchase. If so, he/she can see who ordered a one topping pizza delivered for instance and then narrow it down. I have no idea. We also take a photo of box label which is a DEAD giveaway.

I think I'm confused. You think that only ordering 1 pizza is uncommon enough to be a red flag?

Not necessarily, but if I order a one topping pizza with Canadian bacon to be delivered a half of a mile from my house and pay full price, that could raise a red flag. The location I shop can be slow during a weeknight. I don't think it would be that difficult to figure out.

Who pays $18 with delivery fee and tip for a one topping pizza? THE SHOPPER DOES!!!

Really? I often do and I don't do this shop. I mean I *have* done this shop, but only a few times and the order isn't drastically different than what I order normally. The only difference being that I order thin crust.

Yes, GIGI. I have commented to DH that we just ordered one pizza with delivery and tip for $18. Who does that? When I carry out, it's $11 but most of the shops are for delivery. I was busted by another MSC for the same thing 2 years ago. They never told me so but this location would not show up as an option after 6 months straight of performing the shop (same local location). I've always given an honest, good report for this locale deservedly so. Why would they report me as a shopper?

bgriffin Wrote:
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> Really? I often do and I don't do this shop. I
> mean I *have* done this shop, but only a few times
> and the order isn't drastically different than
> what I order normally. The only difference being
> that I order thin crust.


Thin crust? I am not allowed to order anything other than original crust, 14".

This is only a theory based on my experience and observations. I was discovered as a shopper and I suspect most people use coupons.

bgriffin Wrote:
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> Really? I often do and I don't do this shop. I
> mean I *have* done this shop, but only a few times
> and the order isn't drastically different than
> what I order normally. The only difference being
> that I order thin crust.

Madetoshop Wrote:
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> Thin crust? I am not allowed to order anything
> other than original crust, 14".


Right. I normally order thin crust, that's the only difference between my normal order and what I have to order on the rare occasion I do the shop.

My instructions are for regular crust ONLY. Not upset at this loss as I only did them for my kids begrudingly. :-)

He orders thin crust when he is not doing a shop. If he's doing a shop, he orders original crust, per the guidelines.

I am not surprised they figured you out. In my area a 14 inch pizza delivered is over $22, with the tip it is $24. I doubt anyone else would order a smallish pizza like that and pay so much. For that amt of money I could go to several Asian or Mexican food restaurants around here and have a much nicer dinner for two. Often there are no coupons and when they are sometimes they are for 3 toppings or more. I have to tell them on the phone that I want only 2 toppings and I am willing to pay $24 for that when I could have ordered the 5 topping pizza of the same size for $12 plus tip and delivery fee. How would they not figure that scenerio out? Especially when a 16 inch pizza right across the street, better quality is $9.99.

I've paid $33 (including tip) for a 14" pizza delivered to my house. I say they need to change the scenario every now and then so its not so obvious.

You would think that MSC's would be willing to find out and pass on information like HOW you were found out so we can avoid things like this in the future. Schedulers whine constantly about not having enough shoppers to fill their jobs. Well if more and more experienced shoppers are thrown off the job like this without explanation, what more can they expect??

The worst is the MSC's who grade reports lower than perfect and give absolutely no explanation why. You're only hurting yourself, people!

IMO there are two problems. First is the one mentioned, the prohibition on taking offered specials not that only one pizza is ordered. I also believe the store is provided with too much detail after reporting a unique situation. Even though it was a positive for the associate, the MSC informed me I was outed and couldn't shop the location anymore.

1. I always order one pizza..... (not a shop)

2. Our identity is always at risk because the mgt. can easily pull us on camera and this includes pizza shops, fast casuals, fast food, banks, C-stores, gas stations and clothing stores....

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> First is the one
> mentioned, the prohibition on taking offered
> specials not that only one pizza is ordered.

Totally agree with that one.

I too was identified by the store that delivers to my house.
They are dumb as a box of rocks. They get 100% every time. Why end a good thing for themselves?

ChineseChick Wrote:
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> I've paid $33 (including tip) for a 14" pizza
> delivered to my house. I say they need to change
> the scenario every now and then so its not so
> obvious.

And I thought $24 was a lot. How do they get customers for delivery? That price, as is the $24 price, is absolutely ridiculous. And you are not even getting any of the more expensive designer toppings!!! I understand there are several companies doing these Papa Johns shops. The one I do them for allows coupons but when I did it last week the only coupons were for Chicken as an add on for $10 or for the specialty pizza we are not allowed to order.
I had a discussion with the scheduler last week about the coupons and he told me he used to work for Papa Johns and the customer is allowed to redesign the special coupon offers so they can order less than the coupon and still get the price such as a coupon for a 5 topping pizza, if you ask for that deal with only 2 toppings they are supposed to give it to you for the 5 topping special price. Same with the designer pizzas, if the coupon for their special designer pizza is for $12 and you redesign it with pepperoni and onions to fit the parameters of the shop, they give it to you on the designer pizza special. But in my experience I was once offered the 5 topping special on the phone for $12 but when I said I only wanted 2 toppings the price went up to $17.95. I had to pay the $17.95 or stand out by trying to convince them I should only pay $12 for the lesser pizza toppings. I chose not to stand out. However, I stood out by "stupidly" paying an extra $6 instead of attempting to convince them I should get it for $12. The shopper cannot win. I actually called the store a few weeks outside of a shop and asked anonymously about this and was told that yes, I could redesign any special to my liking as long as it was the same size pizza and the same or less toppings as the special...But on jobs I was never offered that choice....
Please disregard my run on sentences!

The other MSC where I was identified never answered me when I inquired about the job 1/2 mile away from my house. I would see it on Job Slinger. When they were desperate, they called me and I inquired why I couldn't see them anymore on the board (I already realized I was banned). She confirmed that I was indeed banned but still assigned me the job. She advised that i use different phones to call in the order.

I always order two pizza's because none of us like all the ame ingredients and everybody else in my household likes one with EVERYTHING. We get lots of points to, so I our pizza frequently comes out being free too. Plus, I have always ordered from the same place (grandkids in the house!) long before I was a shopper.

I get calls for two different Papa John's. At the first they routinely have coupons stashed behind the counter for customers to use, and they'll honor any special deals. At the other one they don't.


> ChineseChick Wrote:
> I had a discussion with the scheduler last week
> about the coupons and he told me he used to work
> for Papa Johns and the customer is allowed to
> redesign the special coupon offers so they can
> order less than the coupon and still get the price
> such as a coupon for a 5 topping pizza, if you ask
> for that deal with only 2 toppings they are
> supposed to give it to you for the 5 topping
> special price. Same with the designer pizzas, if
> the coupon for their special designer pizza is for
> $12 and you redesign it with pepperoni and onions
> to fit the parameters of the shop, they give it to
> you on the designer pizza special. But in my
> experience I was once offered the 5 topping
> special on the phone for $12 but when I said I
> only wanted 2 toppings the price went up to
> $17.95. I had to pay the $17.95 or stand out by
> trying to convince them I should only pay $12 for
> the lesser pizza toppings. I chose not to stand
> out. However, I stood out by "stupidly" paying an
> extra $6 instead of attempting to convince them I
> should get it for $12. The shopper cannot win. I
> actually called the store a few weeks outside of a
> shop and asked anonymously about this and was told
> that yes, I could redesign any special to my
> liking as long as it was the same size pizza and
> the same or less toppings as the special...But on
> jobs I was never offered that choice....
> Please disregard my run on sentences!

I know an employee. He clearly sees the words shopper on their screen. They match up reports and shoppers. As to why you are not ousted quickly his guess and only a guess was negatives get booted positives stay. I cannot shop for them but
only know when he spotted my name and those words and told me.