Lazy Edit: Lettuce in this post should be pickle. Thanks to the poster who let me know. Edit the following post to suit yourself. Lettuce, pickle, whatever, you pick.


Here's a new one I feel the need to share. This shop was approved but I expected it to go either way, and probably downhill.

I pulled up to the COD and ordered a Quarter Pounder with cheese, no lettuce. Ketchup. Medium Fries. Medium Unsweet Tea.

The order came up on the screen and the order taker repeated it as follows: Quarter Pounder with cheese, no lettuce. Ketchup. Medium Unsweet Tea. I said, no that's not right, I need Medium French Fries. The order taker said, "Oh! Fries! and I saw Medium Fries come up on the bottom of the listing. I pulled forward.

Paid at the window, got my receipt. No Ketchup on the receipt. OMG NO! Pulled to the food window, no ketchup in the bag.

I explained in detail what happened at two different places in the report, and also included my thought that the order taker may have thought she misunderstood the fries originally as being ketchup. Anyway, off with the ketchup and on with the fries.

The report was approved and what a nice surprise. Just be warned, if you need to change anything on that COD, read the entire thing again before you pull forward.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2015 12:32AM by MDavisnowell.

Great reporting, MDavisnowell.

I was recently in that situation as well. I ended up marking off the order taker for having to repeat my order. In my situation, I had to be careful because the delay from the order taker actually didn't matter because the line to the first window was backed up anyways by the time I finished my order.

We also have to be aware that if the price doesn't sounds too low, react appropriately. I also been in a situation where the COD screen was not working, the order taker did not repeat my order or provide me the total. So when I reached the first window, I was thrown off by the low price I was charged and corrected it as appropriate, as this would cause me to have a missing item (fries) when I pulled up to the second window..

I am glad it went your way, Mary. Numerous times, ketchup is not on my receipt, or in the bag. Or, salt at breakfast. My shops have always been approved. Maybe our reports have resulted in the new questions as to whether the order taker repeats the order for accuracy.

I just had a shop where the order taker repeated back my breakfast sandwich and my medium drink and did not say the word "meal" as they have done many times before. I saw on the COD the right sandwich and drink and did not see the missing capitol "M" after the sandwich to indicate it's a meal. I get to the cashier and they ask me if I ordered the (name sandwich). The price is as much as the meal. I glance at the receipt as I roll up to the pick up window and see no "M" after the sandwich. I ordered ketchup for the hash brown even. And I ordered the required salt packet as well.

Always look at the COD and look for the big "M" indicating meal on the COD and correct the order if they somehow don't make it a meal! On the inside, listen for them to repeat back meal if they repeat it back at all.

I tear into the bag and sure enough, no hash brown! I ask at the pickup window where is the hash brown and they tell me I didn't order a meal.

I ordered a meal, and due to them not repeating back to me the full order, I didn't catch it and QC emailed me expecting me to spot this on the COD and correct it as I order and speed through the drive through as quickly as possible to allow them quick timings.

The inside went even worse as the lids didn't fit the coffee cups and they were pouring my coffee into a new cup after trying several lids. The line was long and my order time was well over 8 minutes and then they opened a second register and called me over to the new line after I was waiting for several minutes in the first line.

I reported it in detail that and gave exact timing of the forced line change. The shop sat in QC for two days and of course I was emailed and asked why I didn't correct the wrong order at the COD.

I am not seeing that client in the select a shop area.

By fully disclosing every detail in the original shop, they accepted it. I'm certain if I didn't explain every issue with the shop on the first submission, it would have been rejected. This was the hardest under $10 report I wrote this year.


They ended up giving me the hash brown at the pickup window for free to keep the line moving. The thing that really makes this hard to spot is the fact that the sandwich and a medium drink cost the same as a meal with the medium drink!

I still expect that my phone will ring with that Cali. number asking me to go into a bad neighborhood to go to this client even if I don't see them on the job board for now.

Perhaps this is a good thing. Save me from going to get that one breakfast sandwich I do like to order for base pay if it's on my way somewhere else.

What is a COD? I always thought cod was a fish from the New England area.

@Sybil2 wrote:

What is a COD? I always thought cod was a fish from the New England area.

You'd have to work this client to know the lingo. "Customer Order Display"

You are not a closeted FF shopper after all.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2015 11:22PM by scanman1.

I do not eat FF and I do not do these shops but I always thought that if you order ketchup with your order, it is put on the actual burger. It sounds like you (you, in the general sense) are expecting packets of ketchup in the bag. I guess things have changed since I was a kid.

@scanman1 wrote:

@Sybil2 wrote:

What is a COD? I always thought cod was a fish from the New England area.

You'd have to work this client to know the lingo. "Customer Order Display"
You are not a closeted FF shopper after all.

I will stick with the real thing broiled with a hint of butter and seasonings.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/03/2015 11:24PM by Sybil2.

I had the same question as Sybil, which has now been answered. Once in a blue moon (there was a blue moon this weekend and as my neighbor explained it is when there is a second full moon in a month) I get an urge for McD's or BK or even White Castle. In fact I had 2 McD's cheeseburgers last month and couldn't believe it was only $2.00. Anyway, after reading the above posts, I have no desire to do FF shops, McD's or anyone else.

I'm with you, Jake, it's not desirable. But it does get me in line for some nice ones, such as the one I did Saturday.

There is a Blue Moon EVERY weekend...

[s.yimg.com]

They are very strict about the guidelines, but if you follow them to the letter and explain any discrepancy fully in the first report, they will not reject it. I have had bad luck with two shops in a two week period for this client that ended up with very long wait times. Both times the report sat in QC for an extended period of time. I'd take a vacation from this client for a while even if they didn't impose it on me.

I was given a phone call to shop this client while the report was in QC and I rejected the offer while I waited the outcome of the difficult shop. If seasoned shoppers are having issues, then I feel bad for a new shopper who had to run the gauntlet of the last shop I just had. They would not stand a chance to get the additional timing point inside with the line change and clearly report the missing item without missing a checkbox on the report.

Eh, most of the time they put my order into a meal and don't say anything to me. This morning for the first time in 4 shops the cashier asked if i wanted it made into a meal because it is cheaper that way. What moron would say no to saving a bit of money? I think that would give me away as a mystery shopper if I said, "no, don't make it into a meal." She had already put everything in separate and then went back to delete and put it in as a meal. It took extra time of course, but that wasn't the only hold up.

I overheard a couple regulars talking about the cashier. They said she has been acting odd lately, being very spacy. One of them mentioned drugs as possibly being the reason and they both laughed.

Yesterday at a different store there was a man who appeared to be homeless sleeping in the dining room. It just keeps getting more and more fun doing these shops, especially when the rate is nearing $30.

You are not to order each item separately if it is offered as a meal. You are required to order it as they even tell you how to say the order if you read the guidelines. This could be another way to get the shop flagged!

@ wrote:

say, "I'll have a Medium Big Mac Value Meal," etc. Specify size when ordering!

The only time you are not to order a "meal" is if you are ordering a sandwich that is on the dollar menu and not sold as a meal, and then you are allowed to order it with the drink and fries separately.

If they ring it up as not being a meal and you order a meal, then this receipt is a discrepancy as well.

This shop is so easy. Just like three card monty on the street. You have so many ways to loose it's not funny. If you do everything correctly, you need to really observe them as if they screw up, it's up to you to catch them and correct them on the fly during the ordering process. You need to watch the register as they ring it up or the COD.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2015 12:11AM by scanman1.

I'm just posting this to test out the cool new bold trick I learned from @scanman1
Does italics work too?
How about Underline ?
They do! holy cow... my posts just got a lot more expressive. Thanks!

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

I'm just posting this to test out the cool new bold trick I learned from @scanman1
Does italics work too?
How about Underline ?
They do! holy cow... my posts just got a lot more expressive. Thanks!

bold ! I just copied what you wrote and it's very cool!

So I have a weird question. A quarter pounder with cheese, no lettuce? I didn't think quarter pounders had lettuce? Just wondering....

Oops. Sorry, it was pickle on the quarter pounder. It was lettuce inside on the McChicken. Good catch.

I have a special post in the general chat area that explains fully how to use the BBCODE symbols to change font size, and add other distracting things that are now accepted in this post:

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Spinning Smiley Sticking it's tounge out.
Thumbs Up
Thumbs Down
Smileys With Beer
The middle finger Smiley (Don't use when describing an MSC you plan to shop for again.)
Smiling Bouncy Smiley
Eye Rolling Smiley
Drinking Smiley
Eye Popping Smiley
Smoking Smiley
Sad Smiley
Smiling Smiley
Moody Smiley
Grinning Smiley
Toung Sticking out Smiley
Confused Smiley
Angry Smiley
Yawning Smiley
Winkey Smiley
Cool Smiley

Extra Large Font
Large Font[/size}
Medium Font
Small Font
Extra Small Font

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2015 12:41AM by scanman1.

Oh man, looks like I have a few potential screw ups. Mistake carried on and on! have to look better. Beginners mistake!

I never order as a meal. I order it exactly as they instruct in the guidelines: sandwich, medium fries, medium drink, ketchup. If the order taker rings it as a meal fine with me, as long as I get each item I ordered.

Yes, I just looked at it. It says Do not order by meal number. Then it it gives a suggestion, includes "etc." and then says to be sure to specify size, which is what I have always done.

Actually, it says not to order by number. It says to specify size. They give a suggestion of how to order and after it says, "etc" which leaves room for interpretation.

@MDavisnowell wrote:

I never order as a meal. I order it exactly as they instruct in the guidelines: sandwich, medium fries, medium drink, ketchup. If the order taker rings it as a meal fine with me, as long as I get each item I ordered.

I don't want to argue with you, but I quoted the shopping guidelines above, and they DO tell you to order "A medium {Sandwich} value meal." The fact that they have not questioned you ordering each item ala-carte has escaped them up till now. Perhaps, this will be the next thing they look at, to see if the restaurant is padding the bill by ringing up things ala-carte for more. If next months posts are questioning the fact that the order was not a value meal and ala-carte, I would not be shocked.

They read this forum even if they don't post here. I mentioned that I thought they grade on things they used to not question, like the salt/pepper and ketchup and now they are focusing in on it.

You can blame me if it makes you feel better.

Remember this post where I mentioned the salt/pepper and ketchup before they started questioning it back on May 21'st as something they might use as a test to see if your really following the guidelines?

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Then they decided to actually take people to task on it soon after it the very next month. (June 21'st)

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

I'm sure this had nothing to do with them enforcing this on the receipt checking and my remarks had nothing to do with this heightened scrutiny on the condiments showing up on the drive thru receipts.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2015 01:33AM by scanman1.

Scanman, I will look at the guidelines again next time I do one. Perhaps I misunderstood. I thought we were not supposed to order as a meal but I could be wrong. I'll check it out and thanks.

@scanman1 wrote:

You are not to order each item separately if it is offered as a meal. You are required to order it as they even tell you how to say the order if you read the guidelines.

Just a heads up. McD's is shopped by two different MSC's, depending on what area of the country you are in. One of them says to order it as a meal, the other specifically says to order each item individually. I would hate for someone doing a shop for the other MSC to read your post and think it applies to them also. It does not.

@scanman1 wrote:

@Sybil2 wrote:

What is a COD? I always thought cod was a fish from the New England area.

You'd have to work this client to know the lingo. "Customer Order Display"

You are not a closeted FF shopper after all.

@Sybil2, thanks for asking about COD. I was planning to do so.

I checked the guidelines on my last shop and my guidelines for the lunch/dinner order state that each order should include three items: sandwich/entrée from the options listed, medium fries, and medium drink, also ketchup. No mention of salt. This is on the top of Page 3 when printed out.

On Page 2 there is a statement about not ordering by meal number. Instead, say "I'll have a medium Big Mac value meal." It cautions not to order items as a meal that are not on the menu as a meal, because then you may get two sandwiches. So, are we saying here that when ordering an authorized meal we should specify medium fries and medium drink, or are we saying a meal comes with medium fries and we have to specify the drink size? I know less and less every day.

If we're supposed to order as a meal why don't they specify "meal" in the options instead of specifying by "sandwich"? It seems if we're supposed to order by meal the list would consist of meals as well as sandwiches that don't come as meals instead of just being a list of sandwiches.

It looks to me like you can order either way as long as you get an authorized sandwich, a medium fry, and a medium drink along with ketchup. Maybe.

There is no getting away from fast food. Just like clockwork, I got a call to go eat some at another franchise 30 minutes before closing and I'm leaving now. I negotiated a rate that made it impossible to pass up.

I have come to the conclusion that those little ketchup packages are an endangered species. I always ask for them, they even confirm they will give them to me--but--none in my bag. I may actually have to buy a bottle of ketchup for home since my stash of packets is gone! I want to yell at them--push the ketchup button!!!!