As I was driving up to this store, in a less than optimal part of town, I glanced at the drive-in line just in time to see a manager and a passenger in a car get in each other's face.

So, carry on. I get in the long drive-in line. We're moving at a glacial pace. While there I notice the distance between the pay/pickup windows and the car lane is almost out of reach. But I carry on.

I place my order and pay, no problems. But then they're asking everyone in front of me to pull over and wait for their food, and by doing so, those cars prevent me from reaching the pickup window. Nine minutes elasped between the time I entered the line and I got my food, I know they're going to love this report.

So now I go in to do the walk-up. When I reach the counter, the order taker tells me, "we're out of sausage." There goes my usual options 1, 2 and 3. I quickly struggle to think up one of the other acceptable breakfast sandwich and order. It comes out promptly and tastes good.

But the bathroom check isn't pretty.

Come home, enter data, and the breakfast sandwich I've chosen (because they were out of sausage, remember) isn't on the approved list. So now I know I'm screwed, but I enter the report anyway. It's denied. As expected.

Next time the nice people from the Philippines (or wherever they are) call, I need to just say no.

In this case I would write a note to the help desk explaining that they were out of sausage and that you HAD to choose another option. Also write that in the report. I would also report what you saw about the Manager while you were on location. They need to know that. If not in the actual report, in a side note to the help desk.

I agree. You should push the issue that they were out of sausage; therefore, it is not your fault.

I think the issue though is there are items on the list that don't include sausage. That said I have my regular items that I order and if thrown that for a loop I am not sure I would remember what they were offhand. I think I have done enough to remember some of the other choices but can't be sure.

Liz

Liz, I can sympathize. I would be at a lost, if they are out of Big Mac or Fish for lunch. Who memorizes options 2 and 3?

I'm so glad I don't do these shops. I'm another who would be completely thrown if they didn't have what I had chosen to order.

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Liz, I can sympathize. I would be at a lost, if
> they are out of Big Mac or Fish for lunch. Who
> memorizes options 2 and 3?


I know -I am pretty fast on my feet though and would probably say never mind then and go back to my car, check my smart phone for the other choices and go back in. Outside I would just say never mind and drive away and regroup.

Liz

I was thrown like that the first and second time I asked for the Fish Sandwich at a particular DT. They said they didn't have it. Of course I knew I could have chicken but my brain took a moment to get over the surprise. The second time it happened I thought to ask at the window if they ever have the Fish Sandwich and they don't!
At least now I finally know.

Sportsed your shop sounds like a CD lunch shop I had once. They were out of everything we asked for.

Someone posted- "Come home, enter data, and the breakfast sandwich I've chosen (because they were out of sausage, remember) isn't on the approved list. So now I know I'm screwed, but I enter the report anyway. It's denied. As expected"


Theres ways to handle this situation that are probably best not spelled out on a public forum but I think you can figure out what I'm implying here. Theres no way at the end of the day you should allow either of these two multi-million dollar companies to get over on you like that. As a mystery shopper you dont do either one of those companies any good if your losing money doing their shops. They are just being pig headed on this nonsense so its a simple case of WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO!

What Truthseeker seems to be suggesting is that you LIE about what you ordered. Which is interesting given the alias he chooses to use on this forum. Of course, I suppose it's possible to seek truth while advocating lies.


Next time, sportsed, (and I need to remember this for myself if this happens to me) retreat to your car to allegedly call your friend that you were supposed to pick up food for, check your list, come back in, restart the timings and mutter something about, "Okay, I guess it's just me, my friend doesn't want anything since you're out of sausage so I'll have...." and order something else on the list.

But in the meantime I think I would make one appeal to the scheduler for at least reimbursement since you maintained your anonymity and protected the shop by adlibbing when they were out of something they should never be out of.

I haven't done Mcdonald in a lifetime. I have come to realize that takes too long and too much money out up front for a very small fee. Stupid question on the form as well. Why the heck should I know why it took too long to deliver my food? Then it is too easy to screw up something and too much money that don't come back (above all if you consider when I do FF I taste the food then I throw it away).
Same MSC has gas audits for more money that take less time and much less out up front.

I'll do a McDonald's breakfast shop maybe once a month. I'll taste and toss the drive thru, then enjoy the walk-in.

How would lying about what you ordered even work when you have to, you know, TURN IN YOUR RECEIPTS???

TowerOrchard Wrote:
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> How would lying about what you ordered even work
> when you have to, you know, TURN IN YOUR
> RECEIPTS???

Guess you could lie some more and say the receipt is wrong.

"Guess you could lie some more and say the receipt is wrong"


Or you could not get paid and go complain about it on an internet forum. Such a tough decision huh!

I doubt I would complain about it on a forum, but I KNOW I would not lie about it, >>>>>TRUTH<<<<<seeker. Keep seeking, because it appears you haven't found it yet.

Some people would not know the truth if it bit them in the ass.

TRUTHSEEKER Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Guess you could lie some more and say the receipt
> is wrong"
> Or you could not get paid and go complain about it
> on an internet forum. Such a tough decision huh!

Not a tough decision at all for those with integrity and honor.

I didn't read the OP as a complaint. I read it as a shared experience. Sportsed didn't expect to get paid and was telling us how the shop went. I'm glad to get the information. It never occurred to me the place would be totally out of sausage or totally out of bacon and it would screw up the shop. I'm going to look into what should be done in case that happens to me. I do some of these in the West Texas boonies that pay big bucks and I'd hate to screw one of them up after I've spent the day getting there and back. Talk about an OH NO experience.

i was at one that ran out of fries years ago. How you can run out of fries is beyond me

TRUTHSEEKER Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "Guess you could lie some more and say the receipt
> is wrong"
>
>
> Or you could not get paid and go complain about it
> on an internet forum. Such a tough decision huh!


So... you are saying that you would report that you ordered the correct meal and were given the wrong meal? Do you understand that people's jobs can be effected by these reports? Someone could actually lose their job because of errors, and you are willing to lie and have someone possibly lose their job because you.... oh never mind.

I guess the moral of the story is to memorize the other options or leave if you can't remember them and don't want to buy food and do a report and not be paid/reimbursed.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/2013 10:36PM by rainy.

I'm glad SportsEd posted his experience. Now I will know to have a backup choice ready in case I run into a similar situation.

Truthseeker the whole point of a mystery shopper forum is so that people can share their experiences. That's all the OP was doing. Sportsed I bought myself a tablet specifically for occasions like this when I'm shopping. I've used it a few times now and it has saved the day!

You can also upload assignment guidelines to your Kindle, if you want to lug an extra gadget around.

shopgal Wrote:
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> You can also upload assignment guidelines to your
> Kindle, if you want to lug an extra gadget around.


And who has a kindle? I just have a laptop and a basic cell phone LOL.
However I paid few visit to Staples to bind my own manual. I print out the whole guideline and take the flash drive to Staples. I never go to work without my laptop case...it's my life saver. I got spare watch, pens, safety glasses, measuring tape, stapler, paper clip, tape, camera, different wires/cables, and of course all my guidelines.

After 7 years and hundreds of McDonald's shop, it has not happen to me that they were out of my options. (knock on wood!) However, thanks to the OP for alerting us that it is a possibility and the experiences shopper ideas of making an excuse and going out to the car.

I will put down option 2 and 3 on my iPhone note for future reference. I would rather abandon the shop, reschedule and come back prepared to shop another day, instead of lying. I shop McDonald's because I like their food and I care about the service and food. This goes way back, but my high school was 3 blocks from McDonald's and we are leave campus to meet there for lunch (fries were 10 cents).

My only complaint...why can't we order coffee for lunch? SIGH!

Funny you mention lunch coffee.........after many many McD shops I accidentally did order coffer at noon one day.........Declined!

Oh well live and learn. Another interesting shop was when the power went out just as I finished placing my order.......talk about instand KAOS. I could not get a drink and finally talked them into a bottle of water....they would not let me in the washroom....Food took a long time.... I explained it all in the report and had no problems with being paid.....

I agree with putting the info in the note, I prefer to put the note in my note section of the phone calender. I can quickly refresh before a shop and remind myself of "CALL before" shops! MD shops for me are the worst, I have to bring a spare shirt and a hat so I am not recognized on the walk up! I do not like to eat their food just the fries

SportsEd. Once I didn't get paid for a McDonalds shop because they said I asked for a Value Meal and that doing so changed the timing. The next time they phoned me to go to that town, I said no because the guidelines say to ask for a Value Meal.. She put me on hold for a minute then came back and offered to add the amount of that payment on to the bonus they were offering.
If I had your experience I would try the same tactic. I would feel like I should be paid for that shop.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2013 03:10AM by prince.

I never change my appearance for dt and eat-in. I think you're overthinking it.