You change the pepper?
Well, it's not really vile but, yea, no, don't mess with the rules.
And don't write about it, they'll lower the fees assuming you're not the only one.
They're low enough.
Don't mess with the Papa John's Pizza shop!........cheater.....lol

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2016 10:09PM by spicy1.

Dishonest shoppers like KateH are the type of shoppers that screw things up for the honest shoppers who do their job properly.

You can try to justify and convince yourself you know exactly what the client is looking for, it doesn't make it true or right.

An unusually large pepperoncini is being placed for a reason, to find the shopper. I had discussed it with many shoppers who were outed and the number one reason was doing take out in areas that is not common, and when it is delivery, there was always a mark either with the toppings on a strange pattern, or the pepper size, Yes, I have no problem justifying it to myself. And if you believe that the company gives the shopper 2-5% of what they get, you really have no clue how much the company makes. I do not eat the pizza. I do it for the fee. So I want to make a minimum of $20 per pizza. The MS company makes way more than 2-5% of what they pay the shopper. Just a hint, 2% over the fee they pay the shopper does not justify bonus from $100-$400, not to drive far away but to go to a close by shopping mall to do a simple 15 minute shop. Nor pay airline tickets to do a simple convenience store. I have also done pilot shops and was shocked to find out that I was paid $40 for the $190 they were getting for that single shop. Also, if you go wayyyyy back in the forum threads, actually I think it is in another forum, you will see how much the company that used to do the Exxon Mobil many moons ago, was getting from Exxon monthly so you would understand how much the profit is. I do not do mystery shopping for hobby or to just make $500 every month. Another example, if losing the Cheesecake factory account makes a company go bankrupt, the one they were only paying gift cards, even though they had a good amount of other stores as well, do you honestly think they were making 2%? The same way, do not believe the MS company that says that most of their shoppers are delighted to get paid $5 for a bookstore or a gas shop that you see at the end of the month a 5 mile radius with more than 20 shops go from $30 each and more. I make serious money and will do everything to protect my income than allowing a high school teenager to mess up with it. The franchise gets the peppers from the company. They know what they sent. But if my pizza has a lemon size pepper, there is a higher probability that the employees are looking for the shopper. I just substitute it with an average size one from a previous shop. Let them go and find the customer who got the lemon size pepper. I also try to order different toppings each time, along with a soda, or another pizza if there is a special. And I always gave more than the $1 reimbursed tip, not that this justify anything to myself, just did not want to get outted by being cheap.

For this thread and discussion the profit margin for MSCs is irrelevant. What has become relevant and apparent is the extent you will go to justify fraud.

Each person makes their personal decisions based on their needs. I do not see it as fraud, nor does it affect the score the franchise gets by the size of the pepper that Mr. pizza provided them. On the other hand, I am not one to only give good reviews so I will continue to shop a client. Yes the profit margin of the MS company is relevant when they prey on the veil of ignorance that we operate behind, and our inability to get our money when they stiff us, or they lie about how much they really get from the account and call making us feel sorry and to go to do their $15 dollar shop at the deadline, in bad weather. I am not a martyr and do not do it "to contribute to improvement in customer service." I have to pay mortgage, clothes, expenses, health insurance, supplies, SS and retirement contribution out of the fees.

@KateH wrote:

I just substitute it with an average size one from a previous shop. Let them go and find the customer who got the lemon size pepper. I also try to order different toppings each time, along with a soda, or another pizza if there is a special. And I always gave more than the $1 reimbursed tip, not that this justify anything to myself, just did not want to get outted by being cheap.

KateH is just a pizza rebel. A paranoid pizza rebel. I'm surprised that the MSC has not booted her yet. Maybe after reading this thread, they will.

For anyone who thinks fraud is just a matter of perception or opinion, here is the definition.

fraud - wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain

Here is another word definition for KateH.

delusional
[dih-loo-zhuh-nl]

adjective
1. having false or unrealistic beliefs or opinions:
Senators who think they will get agreement on a comprehensive tax bill are delusional.
2. Psychiatry. maintaining fixed false beliefs even when confronted with facts, usually as a result of mental illness:
He was so delusional and paranoid that he thought everybody was conspiring against him.

@KateH wrote:

An unusually large pepperoncini is being placed for a reason, to find the shopper. I had discussed it with many shoppers who were outed and the number one reason was doing take out in areas that is not common, and when it is delivery, there was always a mark either with the toppings on a strange pattern, or the pepper size.

This happens to me all of the time. Every pizza I order has an image of Jesus in it. I am sooo tempted to call the Inquirer and send them my photos, but I know I will be outed. I always have to rearrange the toppings to look like cartoon characters instead - but only cartoon characters that they won't recognize, so that wouldn't out me as the shopper.

Either KateH is stringing us along or she is seriously paranoid about being found out as a shopper. She shouldn't be altering anything, regardless of her motivation or justification. The instructions specifically say not to. Using your need to pay the mortgage, or meager cut from the MSC, as justification to alter an order so you can keep your highly bonused shops reminds me of a quote:

She: What kind of woman do you think I am?
He: We’ve already established that. Now we’re just haggling over the price.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2016 09:24PM by InPlainSight.

Look, I have done so many of these shops as carryouts...when I am waiting to pickup the pizza and it's crunch time, those guys/gals are working so diligently and sometimes frantically putting orders together I guarantee the last thing that's on their minds is how big or small the stupid pepperoncini is.

Oh, and Kate, did it occur to you that MSCs read the forum postings occasionally? Since you use your first name and initial of your last name, what makes you think they won't find out and deactivate you?

What is relevant is what the speaker and "it's audience" thinks is relevant; holy wannabe goddess of mystery shopping and this forum...pffffff

at our pj's yrs ago, they slid in one slice of pizza that was curved, the crust .. that was the last time I wasted my money doing them.. i don't like their pizza sauce either.. we didn't get paid and I shined them on ever since.. I live walking distance to one too.

It was only relevant to KateH because she was using it as some sort of justification for fraud. To the vast majority of honest ICs on this forum, it would not justify what she did thus it would not be relevant.

@spicy1 wrote:

What is relevant is what the speaker and "it's audience" thinks is relevant; holy wannabe goddess of mystery shopping and this forum...pffffff

@spicy1, don't worry. We all know that you are no goddess.

ETA: For someone who complains about this forum, you sure visit here enough.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2016 12:16AM by Sybil2.

I thought ETA stood for "estimated time of arrival" LOL.

Sybil likes to ride on my tailcoat.......

Last fall I was identified at the Papa's I did as deliveries, but then the MSC would sporadically contact me for a different store (done as a carryout) when they were desperate. Today I got an email telling me I'd been ID'd at that one too. Can't say I'm devastated.

The OP made an independent decision as an independent contractor to protect herself from being outed. Getting identified as the MS would not benefit the OP or the client. That is her call to make. Personally, I don't think the company gives a flip about the size of the pepper in the photo.

There really is an incredibly simple solution. All she has to do is let the MSC know she had to protect her anonymity so she altered the pizza.

If they don't care, they wouldn't instruct shoppers to not alter the contents of the box in any way before photographing the pizza.

@mystery2me wrote:

The OP made an independent decision as an independent contractor to protect herself from being outed. Getting identified as the MS would not benefit the OP or the client. That is her call to make. Personally, I don't think the company gives a flip about the size of the pepper in the photo.

I think it would be OK, and within the guidelines to say "MSC X does pizza evaluations" as long as the name of the pizza company is not mentioned, after all, they are always looking for more ICs. Please comment if my thought process is not reasonable. That being said, in my area two of the 15 MSCs mentioned on this website do them, I will delay adding to that.

I assumed the same thing. I see often on the forum where it will mention so-and-so MSC does gas station evaluations etc. I thought as long as the specific company name is not mentioned it was okay.

request for MSC name deleted by mod

I have seen different pizza shops with Alta360, A Closer Look and the I Secret Shop bunch.

It is fine to say that a particular MSC has pizza shops. It's not okay to say a particular MSC has Pizza Hut. Specific client names are not allowed to be mentioned along with the supplying MSCs.

I have seen some pizza shops with Intellishop, Customer Impact and Sentry. I'm still personally searching for more because we have several chains in our area and I haven't found my favorite store yet among the multiple MSC's

I was identified as a mystery shopper and so was my daughter who lives in a different state. I think the guidelines for the shop give you away. Of course the manager will know after the shop is completed because they have the order number and the time the shop was completed.

Each person can believe what they want but the whole mystery shopping is not any idealistic field that people do it for altruistic reasons. The whole scheme of anonymous individuals hidden behind the veil of ignorance and bliss provided by the internet is ripe for people with problematic background. Let's be realistic. There is a good number of shoppers with various degrees of criminal records, as well as gang members. It is not just housewives, or retirees, or students, or people between jobs, or others who want to supplement their regular jib's income. Just as there are MSC companies that the owners, or senior members are convicted felons and have spent time in the federal penitentiary for fraud with social security numbers. So this whole preaching about honest shoppers who are doing their assignments honestly and can be affected by dishonest ones is really funny.