Even if they invalidate your shop, you can still use the mileage as a tax deduction. Since it was far away, that might be useful for you know.

@Sybil2 wrote:

This is directly from the MF website...

"Shopper Tip -- Follow the Guidelines!

It is really important to follow your shop guidelines to the letter! If you miss just one item, your shop will be subject to invalidation and since we will not have a report to send to the Client, we will be unable to pay you for your efforts, nor will we be able to reimburse any expenses you had as part of the shop.

We often hear Shoppers say, Well, I can’t do the shop at 1:00 so I am going to go a little early, or, The chicken sandwich looked good so I ordered that instead of a hamburger – what difference does that make, I did everything else right? Sadly for all of us, it does make a difference. A difference between getting paid and not getting paid.

The guidelines are drafted after many consultations with each Client and they must be followed to the letter because that is the evaluation that the Client wants done. Minor variations may seem ‘minor’ to you, but the Client has the right to expect that the guidelines will be followed. It is not necessary to understand why, it is just necessary to do the shop strictly according to the guidelines."

Last week I did two Golden Arches bonused shops the first one I ordered the hot & spicy chicken that was one of the approved menu items. They said that they didn't have it today but could give me a Mcchicken and give me a buffalo sause to put on it. It was a special order and I have just been re-certified taking the test again and read the whole requirements. I asked for no lettuce and it showed up as that in my receipt. But when I wrote the report they made my shop invalid because I mentioned that I first ordered the hot & spicy chicken that was as I said in my approved list of items I could order. They said that with all of the requirements of going in the shortest line and make sure to order the correct items which I did I thought. They said that it wasn't on the menu board so I can't get paid for the whole shop. I never before saw anywhere that if you order a item from the list of items you can order you have to look up at the menu board and see if it's there. I thought it was a given that if they say it's an approved item it's fine to order and if they don't have it you should report it as not having the correct items for sale. Also I know that there is a secret menu for McDonalds which I have also sent the link to them. They still say I needed to look up at the menu and see if it was on it. Also it was a shop that was in a very changeled area. There was a very large security guard in the store and I was the only person that stuck out from the regular client base. It was very intimidating and I was just looking to get the shop finished. It was in NJ & I came from NY had to pay a $14.00 toll and pay for the both drive they & walk in now with no pay and out of pocket $30. Between gas tolls and food that they won't pay for. I've been doing these shops for about three years now and this was the first time they are doing this to me. I really feel that h wax doing the correct job by informing them that a approved item wasn't in stock.
If I would have ordered a new quarter that is one of their questions to make sure that you order the correct items I would have u sets told but I ordered what was on the list to order. The receipt was correct but it was just my commits that was why they rejected it they claim. Very upset

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2015 05:45PM by Cgarlestfox.

Just a word of advice. NEVER order anything that is not on the approved list. If you order something and they tell you they don't have it, say thank you and order another item from the approved list. If they say they can substitute another item (that is not on the approved list) for the item they are out of, say no, thank you, and order something from the approved list. ONLY order items on the approved list.

AustinMom is right on it. I have my approved list and glance the menu board for my first preference, if it is not there I check for my second preference and third preference. If they can't give my second preference for some reason I will switch to my third. It is only the bonus that makes the shop worthwhile for me so I really don't give a darn what they actually put on the tray--it all tastelesses the same--but I don't want to lose the bonus and certainly don't want to buy it out of my own pocket.

For those same reasons I will make sure I am there at the right time, get my timings correct, keep my butt in the dining room the required amount of time, visit the restroom even if I have to bang on the door and wait, get all the other little observations the same etc.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/06/2015 06:26PM by Flash.

The funny thing is the hot & spicy chicken was on the approved menu that they said i could get. It was one of their meals to order. I thought I was doing the right thing to make a real shop correctly.

Just to update: I was paid for my shop! I got an official warning from them but they still paid me! Lucky me, I guess!

@Liz36 wrote:

Just to update: I was paid for my shop! I got an official warning from them but they still paid me! Lucky me, I guess!

Whew! I'm glad it worked out. MF is not always generous with official warnings :-(

@Mert wrote:

Whew! I'm glad it worked out. MF is not always generous with official warnings :-(

Do you mean they usually just invalidate or they don't give many warnings before you get booted completely?

I wish I had the answer to that. Could be either/or.