I am about to leave for my first McD's shop I have two of them today. I really appreciate your tips! Also, I use an app called "Shop It" that marks time by tapping the screen, and it records. The screen looks like you're texting and you text your notes. Everything is time stamped. You can also take pictures within the app.

You are very generous to take the time to type all that out for new shoppers. I'm sure almost everyone can take something from it. Your last tip about bonuses was especially interesting to me.

I have never seen a Micky D's bonused in my area,.....actually have never seen any fast food shops bonused, including the "cheese pizza" ones.

Thanks Bill, I'm saving your post!

I try to do inside first if the guidelines allow. If they see me go through the drive through and then go inside to eat they put two and two together. You are the mystery shopper. If I go through the drive through last I can say, if I am asked, I order take out as I am leaving and it stays hotter.

When I worked in an office I ate inside and always went to the drive thru to take out food if a co-worker asked me to pick something up because it was faster than waiting in line again. In the Drive thru the order would be hot when the order was given to you in your car. You were in you car leaving the location a few minutes before you would have if you ordered inside and had to walk to your car.

You have it down to a science! I'm also wondering why you do the drive-thru first? Doing it second would keep you from leaving the food in your car for too long.

I also prefer to do the walk-in portion first, for a couple of reasons. Mainly because if you get recognized in the drive-thru, you have pretty much already completed the shop, including timings because they won't recognize you until they are handing you the food. However, if you get recognized in the lobby, it will skew the entire shop as they will focus solely on your timing and service and making sure the lobby is clean.

Also, the drive-thru food is fresher when I get home for one of my kids.

These shops do seem daunting at first with all the timings, but after a couple, you realize it's not as hard as it sounds.

I use my voice recorder for the shops, but it stays in my shirt pocket, that way there's less of a chance of it being seen by an employee. I mark my timing cues with a cough. There was one time when I was disputed, so it was easy to email the entire recording or the shop. That also, IMO, creates a better sense of the entire visit rather than just having to send the portion that may be in question.

ETA: Yes, it also records the 5-6 minutes of eating in the car as well as the 15+ minutes in the location. Absolutely no questions at that point.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/11/2015 07:01PM by James Bond 007.5.

@BillBryaninCarthage wrote:

MelNel525 let us know how your first "clown" shop went!

PHD I've never done the dine-in first. I might give it a try just to make these shops more interesting for me. You are right about McDonald's employees trying to identify the shopper. They don't like shoppers there--I've overheard conversations about shoppers when I've been inside a McD using the free Wi-Fi and they didn't know I was a shopper.

My reasoning for performing the drive-thru first is because I only interact with two employees, both of who are usually very busy, and not paying attention to me. If I were to do the dine-in first, then potentially all of the employees will have seen me in the dining room before I go to the drive thru.

I also wear a ball-cap and sunglasses during the drive thru, then I take them off when going inside to do the walk in.

The baseball cap idea is a great idea! A certain MSC has A TON of McDonalds shops just sitting on the job board waiting to be done. I'm trying to wait until the pay goes up a bit more (it went from 7.50 to 8). I was curious how I was gonna go into a drive thru then dine in without being seen!

Insightful post!

Thanks for the post.

I use the voice recorder on my phone. I leave it on the entire time. I use a date time stamp which is based on when the recording ends. Easy math from there.

I agree it is easier to dine in first.

I usually wear a ski mask for the walk in portion. Very difficult to recognize me.

I use a surgical mask, cowboy hat and sunglasses. If they ask I tell them I'm trying to avoid TB from all of the undocumented workers.

@BillBryaninCarthage wrote:

MelNel525 let us know how your first "clown" shop went!

@ashnicb wrote:

I'm trying to wait until the pay goes up a bit more (it went from 7.50 to 8). I was curious how I was gonna go into a drive thru then dine in without being seen!

If you do the drive thru LAST you could be doing "take out" and getting it at the drive thru keeps it hotter and fresher The people in the drive thru see that all the time.

It is easy to get the price up in some areas. When a scheduler is desperate because a suburban shopper "flaked" a shop in an urban neighborhood the price will go up. I would not suggest you grab the shop as you should do a "drive by" to check the risk vs the reward.

I would not go after dark in some urban locations. Mickey should be forthcoming when offering the shops and indicate the shop is an "urban shop". "Shopper must dress and act the part of those you see when you drive by or keep on driving for your own safety."

remember to ask for condiments too

.

@quiettime wrote:

I usually wear a ski mask for the walk in portion. Very difficult to recognize me.

How many other people were wearing a ski mask when you visited? Did the mask make you "memorable"? (It really does not matter, the turn over is so high in some locations I seldom see the same crew because some employees scare easily.

Did any one say, "Here is the nut with the ski mask again."

It really does not matter how often you visit. Some people get their food exclusively, breakfast, lunch and dinner, from Micky's because it only cost a dollar and that is all they got until they bum some more change.

Did they ever call the police thinking you were there to stick em up? You would be in real trouble in some locations I have visited. The police are there undercover. You may be asked if you are buying or selling drugs. Don't fool with them, they are serious. If someone asks you if you are buying or selling drugs and they are NOT undercover do not fool with them, they are serious.

There are a few locations in NJ where plexiglass separates the workers from the customers. If you want a napkin or condiments they are inside the plexiglass You have to ask for them. The self serve soda fountain is inside the plexiglass also you have to ask for refills. You must ask and be "buzzed in" to go to the restroom.

It is suggested that you shop the URBAN location in the day time because the people who live there stay inside and give the streets to the gangs when the sun goes down. Know where you are going if you are a suburbanite.

Drive by the day before the shop so you can tell the help desk you want to cancel and live another day if you feel uncomfortable. Do not get out of your car. Observe. Does your car match the age and condition of the cars in the lot and on the street? Are you wearing the same kind of clothes the people on the street are wearing. If not, you are the mystery shopper who has lost their way.

In URBAN areas in NJ there is a high rate of crime and the Micky’s locations are the place where people meet and greet. Anything including crime can happen. You may go inside and find your car without wheels or other parts when you come out or you may not find your car at all. You may have a lady of the evening solicit you in the middle of the day because she needs a drug fix and the only thing she can sell is herself. Some beggars want "change". Some are not homeless or hungry so do not try to give them your burger on the way out they will only be insulted. If the bonus is high it could mean the scheduler got flaked and deadline is near, are you experienced in Urban shops or are you feeling lucky?

I repeat this message often because new shoppers are joining the forum.

I keep it simple.

I use screenshots for the timings.
When I arrive at the location, screenshot.
When I enter the line, screenshot.
When I reach the drive-thru window / hear the order taker total my order, screenshot.
When I receive my order, screenshot.
When I completed all portions of the shop and am leaving the location, screenshot.

While in the dining room / parking lot, I briefly take notes on my phone.
What issues did I come across?
How many people / cars in line?
Any special instructions I need to cover, like phone numbers posted in the store?
Etc.

When I can, I also pseudo-scan my receipts using apps like Genius Scan at my earliest convenience. Of course, I do this covertly.

I do wish they would change what we can order.

@lucky7s wrote:

I do wish they would change what we can order.

No McRib for us.

PHD, we get it. You are afraid of URBAN people.

@scanman1 wrote:

@lucky7s wrote:

I do wish they would change what we can order.

No McRib for us.

I was thinking more like no Double Quarter Pounders or 50 piece McNuggets meals.

If you are totally relying on your DVR, what if it fails? Then you have no timings. I just want to know what your plan B back up plan is?

Any timing method you use could fail, could it not? I use a stopwatch on my phone operated by the volume keys. Everyone has their phone in hand all the time now. It's easy to use surreptitiously without having to look at the screen to see what you're doing. Easy peasy.

@MelNel525 wrote:

I am about to leave for my first McD's shop I have two of them today. I really appreciate your tips! Also, I use an app called "Shop It" that marks time by tapping the screen, and it records. The screen looks like you're texting and you text your notes. Everything is time stamped. You can also take pictures within the app.

I rely on the Shop It App for McD's shops. It rocks!!!

@Piled Hip Deep, PHD wrote:

.

@quiettime wrote:

I usually wear a ski mask for the walk in portion. Very difficult to recognize me.

How many other people were wearing a ski mask when you visited? Did the mask make you "memorable"? (It really does not matter, the turn over is so high in some locations I seldom see the same crew because some employees scare easily.

Did any one say, "Here is the nut with the ski mask again."

It really does not matter how often you visit. Some people get their food exclusively, breakfast, lunch and dinner, from Micky's because it only cost a dollar and that is all they got until they bum some more change.

Did they ever call the police thinking you were there to stick em up? You would be in real trouble in some locations I have visited. The police are there undercover. You may be asked if you are buying or selling drugs. Don't fool with them, they are serious. If someone asks you if you are buying or selling drugs and they are NOT undercover do not fool with them, they are serious.

There are a few locations in NJ where plexiglass separates the workers from the customers. If you want a napkin or condiments they are inside the plexiglass You have to ask for them. The self serve soda fountain is inside the plexiglass also you have to ask for refills. You must ask and be "buzzed in" to go to the restroom.

It is suggested that you shop the URBAN location in the day time because the people who live there stay inside and give the streets to the gangs when the sun goes down. Know where you are going if you are a suburbanite.

Drive by the day before the shop so you can tell the help desk you want to cancel and live another day if you feel uncomfortable. Do not get out of your car. Observe. Does your car match the age and condition of the cars in the lot and on the street? Are you wearing the same kind of clothes the people on the street are wearing. If not, you are the mystery shopper who has lost their way.

In URBAN areas in NJ there is a high rate of crime and the Micky’s locations are the place where people meet and greet. Anything including crime can happen. You may go inside and find your car without wheels or other parts when you come out or you may not find your car at all. You may have a lady of the evening solicit you in the middle of the day because she needs a drug fix and the only thing she can sell is herself. Some beggars want "change". Some are not homeless or hungry so do not try to give them your burger on the way out they will only be insulted. If the bonus is high it could mean the scheduler got flaked and deadline is near, are you experienced in Urban shops or are you feeling lucky?

I repeat this message often because new shoppers are joining the forum.

I am pretty sure quiettime's post was a joke. That's how I took it! Same with 2stepps' post.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2015 08:27AM by nycrocks.

Would someone be kind enough to please PM me the MSC who does the Mcdonalds shops? I'm having a little bit of a hard time finding MORE shops in the Seattle area so any info at all (not just Mickey D's) would help . Oh also off topic... I'm trying to find more phone shops too . Thanx so much!

If you're signed up with the "Fifteen most discussed" companies from the "Official List of MSC's" link below, you shouldn't have a problem finding who shops McDonald's. I can't comment specifically on your area, but I would imagine those major companies will also have lots of other shops in Seattle. Keep signing up for companies and the work will come. Happy shopping!

@Baileyseattle wrote:

Would someone be kind enough to please PM me the MSC who does the Mcdonalds shops? I'm having a little bit of a hard time finding MORE shops in the Seattle area so any info at all (not just Mickey D's) would help . Oh also off topic... I'm trying to find more phone shops too . Thanx so much!