I did my first smashburger shop today after doing more than I care to count Five Guys shops. I figured I would give it a shot since I am trying out some different networks.

I look at those two as direct competitors, and I would therefore think they would price themselves in the same nature in their mystery shop category. The avg fee (no bonus) for five guys is $6-9 depending on the time of day, smashburger is $4! Five guys gives you $11 for a expense where smashburger gives you $10. The price point for smashburger appears to be higher as I usually walk out of five guys spending $10.06 on the dot (with the exception of one location which is $10.10).

The report for five guys has become second nature to me and is relatively more straight forward...where smashburger is a bit more of a nusance I feel like.

So my question is, why would people pick up the smashburger shops on a regular basis? I cant imagine going out of my way to pick one up in the future now. I didn't want to judge it until I gave it a try...but I cant be the only one who wonders why isn't the smashburger shop bringing a larger fee to the table?

I have been declining to do them for all the above reasons. Too fussy a shop and too low a fee. I've never done one and I love my Five Guys. I have eaten at Smashburger and I actually like their burgers better than the Guys, but I don't like the SB fries at all. Love the Guys' fries.

Been declining SB as well. I did get a bonus of $7 dollars, and accepted. I really enjoyed the fries at SB, but last time they were so incredibly hard I could not taste the rosemary and olive oil. The other thing that surprised me is that their shakes are made with vanilla ice cream, then the flavoring is added.... If I am having a chocolate haagan dazs shake...shouldn't the ice cream be chocolate? Totally changes the taste of the shake.

I sure wouldn't mind an IN and OUT burger shop.... of course the closest In and Out is 150 miles away. LOL!

Good to know. I've been on the fence about the Smashburger shop, but I did the math and it didn't add up for me. Maybe I'll give it a try if I can find one with a bonus.

You are right on. I used to do SB shops and went all over town to do them, too. It was just way too much fuss to do one so lose to bed time when I was getting up around 4am the next morning.

Shame, because their menu is better, IMHO.

I had started to sign back up with their MSC, but if their reports are still that cumbersome, then that won't be happening.

The report for Smashburger isn't as bad as people make it. The MSC allows coupons as well. In the end, I like the variety of Smashburger more.

While the Five Guys reports have become second-nature to me, so has Smashburger and all other restaurant shops this MSC offers since the format is exactly the same.

I wonder if people are saying the same when comparing Rubio's vs. Chipotle vs. Cafe Rio.

If you want to talk about an easy shop, all the restaurants I mentioned don't even compare to restaurants like Pappadeuax.

Give me those any day over Five Guys and Smashburger, combined!

I only do SB if there's a bonus. Otherwise, its not worth my time.

The SB shops in my area are always snapped up fast. You can get chicken at SB. You can only shop them like once a month I believe. They are healthier for you.

Potbelly shops pay no fee and the max reimbursement is less than you spend. I never see anyone complain about PB shops?

FG shops should pay more. The food may taste great (though I've seen plenty complain otherwise) but it's not healthy. But if you love FGs then you can do them every meal every day.

I shop SB for the free meal. Fees are subjective. Each persons reasons for being a MS are different and relevant.

Any mid to high end restaurant shops I have found have fees around $15 and take hours to report. I'll take every $60 to $200 free meal with $15 fee I can get over a FG shop that takes a fraction of time and effort to report.

isaiah58 Wrote:
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>
> Potbelly shops pay no fee and the max
> reimbursement is less than you spend. I never see
> anyone complain about PB shops?
>

What is a Potbelly? I keep getting emails for a free sandwich from them. I won;'t touch them because of the areas they are in. Downtown with no parking and a pain to get to.

The ones I get are flat fees and I have looked it would come out to about a 2 buck profit if you went very basic. I have considered them for lunch, but wish they would offer a dinner shop. I will give it a shot before I decline. They seem to linger in my area a lot and not get picked up fast.

I just dug through a MSC that has a bunch of restaurant shops and not one of them has a fee, just reimbursement. I have performed three shops for them over the past year. A $11 lunch, a $36 dinner and most recently a $66 dinner. I got to eat for free at three places I wanted to check out. I would love to eat at a few other places they have listed, but keep avoiding this because of the lack of a fee.

Looking back over other MSCs that offer a variety of restaurant shops, other than the one that does Potbelly around here, I am having trouble finding any that do not have a fee.

I'm seeing fees disappear for some. The papa johns shop boggles my mind. First they are offered now across 3 different MSC's in my region. Most of them are now delivery that they say you can find a business and meet them in a parking lot (as if that's not creepy....or just plain out annoying) but then its a $0 fee. I will pick them up if they are carryout with a fee, but I am waiting for Papa johns to drop these MSC's because the shops don't get picked up like they did with the last MSC who had them last year.

At SB, I love that I can get a side salad as a side option, plus I get coupons for a free side all the time, so I order two. I used to be able to order a black bean burger, then they sadly changed that. I do them only if bonused, which is rare but they'll throw on a few bucks. The report was a pain, yes, however, the most recent email I got asking me to do one said that they have a new, easier report. I haven't done one of the newer reports, but will let you know how it is. I used to work within walking distance to one so it made a lot of sense then.

The FG shops flipped vegetarian guidelines with SB at the same time, oddly, and will now allow me to order a veggie sandwich. I wish they had salads as a side. The fries are yummy but so fattening, and I try to eat just ten. They do give me extra veggies when I ask, which is nice. The staff tends to be nicer at FG, and they have a cool soda machine that I can mix up Powerade Zero, which I love. There was one time I got a call with a $20 bonus- and the location was on my commute anyway- hope that happens again!

As for the Papa J shops, I won't do one since I had 2 rejected, though I saw some recent posts saying there were only one or two pictures required. However, one of the posters said her report was "on hold" at this point, which scares me away again. I did used to meet the driver in a parking lot, and it was two blocks from their location. And the driver called me to tell me he couldn't find me! They've gone out of business since, ironically. Their pizzas cost $18 plus dollars too!

Am I the only one who thinks the Smashburger garlic fries are disgusting? They are too oily, limp and overseasoned.

The SB shops were originally priced at $6 which was more competive with 5Guys. When they dropped the fee to $4 I decided it wasn't worth it to me because I don't care for the food and the report was too long and had too many narratives compared to 5Guys.

On the other hand, at Potbelly you can get a good sandwich and a drink or shake. The flat fee always covers my order with a little left over. Maybe menu prices are higher in some areas causing people to go over, or maybe people are adding extra items.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2014 06:02PM by DRJ.

The smash fries are always a mess when i try to eat them. I always leave a good amount left over because once you see the pool of oil they are swimming in and the mess it makes, give up and decide they just aren't worth it.

I love the Smashfries. The oils help me get in my the appropriate macros for the day. The bun is what kills me with the amount of carbs it has.

The portion for fries isn't unreasonable like Five Guys. Too many carbs in a Five Guys meal without having to throw away most of what you ordered.

PB flat fee here is $10.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/03/2014 08:48PM by isaiah58.

I like how five guys lets you bring someone. I used to bring the SO with me and he would get a burger and we would share the fries and drink...the smash burger shop says to pretty much ignore anyone you know at the store.

Another thing I had to google today: Smashburger. Never heard of them. None in NH, ME or VT, and only 1 in all of MA. Doesn't look like I'll be doing one of these any time soon!

Never been to SB but EB has nothing in comparison to FG.

So I did do the new report- it eliminates the last part, where you give reasons who you think their competition is, etc...and did find it cut out a bit of time on the report. their food is so fresh and it is easier to eat healthfully, IMO. that is a priority for me.

I ask the scheduler if there is a bonus, sometime I get a flat out no, sometimes she checks for me. I like doing the FG shops because the one I usually go to has a super friendly staff and it is actually a pleasure to see them and interact with them. I was called on a Saturday night this week and was offered a $14 bonus, and when hey asked me to do my preferred location, I honestly
thought for $14, I will drive 16 miles to go see those guys and do the shop on my day off. had it been a different location, I might have thought twice. they do seem "genuinely happy" and "smiling", lol!

I prefer the 5G report, and the $$, and though the 5G food is yummy, I prefer the SB food in the end. My verdict!

I prefer the SB burgers and the FG fries.

Until yesterday when I got some overcooked fries and learned FG no longer have pickles. I will boycott until they get pickles back (or start taking my own).

I did a Five Guy shop yesterday. I did not mind doing the shop but the report is to time consuming. I don't think I will do any more Five Guys shops.

romanfcarmen Wrote:
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> I did a Five Guy shop yesterday. I did not mind
> doing the shop but the report is to time
> consuming. I don't think I will do any more Five
> Guys shops.


You're in for a big surprise if you think this is a long report...

dspeakes Wrote:
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> I prefer the SB burgers and the FG fries.
>
> Until yesterday when I got some overcooked fries
> and learned FG no longer have pickles. I will
> boycott until they get pickles back (or start
> taking my own).
agreed. I wonder if it is a supplier issue- if so, I hope they get the same supplier of the SB pickles- WAY better!

According to the shop instructions, FG just doesn't have pickles any more.

Around here all those shops get snapped up fast. I"m pretty much not interested in food shops unless they pay. Thats just me, I don't care to eat any of that stuff. But I think there are several college students who use those shops for their actual food so more power to them.

I wish I had a Smashburger near me. I love the burgers and have had good fries the two times I ate there. Someone should tell them to switch shopping companies. I would take the money I make doing five guys and spend it at Smashburger.