Five Guys Shakes (milkshakes, not the number of times the fries get shaken)

Ok, I've been prattling on in other people's threads for a month or so now, so I figured it was time to start my own.

I did a Five guys shop last week and the location had milkshakes! I was so excited (perhaps unreasonably excited). I ordered my regular meal (burger, soda, fries), then when I was finished eating, I went back to the counter and got a milkshake to go. I wasn't sure if the MSC would pay the reimbursement because the guidelines aren't super clear about how the order should be done and if you have to order everything all at once or can split it up like I did.

The good news: The shop was accepted so far. I know they can crop back up with this MSC, so we'll see how it shakes out (ha! shakes out... get it?). I'll keep you all posted on any update (I'm sure you're on the edge of your seats to hear about my $4 reimbursement).

The bad news: The shake was kind of lackluster. I was excited about the shakes at 5 Guys, but mine was kinda meh. I ordered the salted caramel flavor, and it was just sort of bland. I feel duty bound to try again, though, with a different flavor. Not because I want another shake: only for altruistic reasons of wanting to give the client the most accurate information possible.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

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Umm-hmm. I understand. I have a different client, but a similar milkshake mission. May we both do well!

The milkshake can be ordered with the other items. Thry just don't want you to end timing early if the milkshake is presented before the meal.

@frugalmommy wrote:

The milkshake can be ordered with the other items. Thry just don't want you to end timing early if the milkshake is presented before the meal.

Yep, I know it would be allowed if I had ordered it all at once and only stopped timing when my meal (minus the shake) was ready. But I am not likely going to eat a meal with a fountain drink and also want a milkshake. The only way I would try the shake was if I ordered after my meal like I did... I'm just not sure the MSC is going to be 100% OK with the way I ordered and paid for it. Fingers crossed!

Shopper in California's Bay Area

I like the milkshakes at that smashing establishment.

I would order the same way as CaliGirl. It seems like too much to order everything at once. Please pass along the results if your shop is accepted. I have a shop coming up later this month for lunch at the location close to my office, and I see they finally have the milkshakes available. Has anyone tried the bacon shake? I can't imagine that one. Chocolate, peanut butter, and banana is making me look forward to this shop!

proudly shopping in the D.

I saw the bacon shake... it's a regular shake plus you have to pay an extra $.50 or $.80 or something like that for the bacon. All the other flavors are included with the shake price ($4 at my store, so you could probably get the bacon shake and only be out of pocket by $0.25-$0.50 after tax with the $5 reimbursement). The other flavors are free and you can as many as you want. Chocolate Peanut Butter may have to happen.

The shop got the initial "Approved" green light... will keep you all posted if there are any updates. I can't see what the objection would be: ordering at the end keeps the shake preparation out of the timing portion, plus it just seems like something a normal customer would do. I have another one in a couple of weeks and I'll likely do the same thing if I haven't heard anything by then on this one.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

Interesting experiment, thanks! I never thought to try that, but I would prefer to order that way. Question- did you include a photo of the extra receipt? Did you just put the two side-by-side in one photo?

Great question! I took two separate photos at first but when I realized there wasn't a slot for the second receipt, I redid it with just one photo of both receipts.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

None of the places here are even announcing that shakes are coming soon. But speaking of shakes . . .

I was in with significant other not too long ago and we were sitting where I couldn't see the fry guy's arms very well. I mentioned '22 shakes' and SO looked at me puzzled, accusing me of making it up. I explained the guy had a really cute tush and I could tell from the wobble it was 22. SO did not appreciate that much, but then on this last visit he mentioned '18 shakes'--this time it was a gal with a really cute tush. Guess it all only proves that you need to get your amusement where you can

I order the whole shebang all at once.

I'm a glutton like that.

BTW, their fries are fantastic dipped into the chocolate shakes.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2015 07:03AM by pyrofuego.

Is is still optional to order a milkshake?

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

@Shop-et-al wrote:

Is is still optional to order a milkshake?

Yes

Shopper in California's Bay Area

Interesting.....I've just assumed everything had to be ordered at one time and have been doing it that way. As others have said..... most likely a regular customer would order a shake after eating unless they were ordering to go. Always felt it was another telltale sign of a shopper. Thanks for being the guinea pig. Sounds like it worked so far.

I'd be curious when paid how the reimbursement adds up. Like it gets approved as there was nothing wrong with it, but somehow the one receipt rather then the 2 get reimbursed a month from now.

I would expect that if you added the two receipts together for information in the report itself they would 'get it'. The problem would be if you showed $11.27 as the 'amount spent' and then stated $15.94 as the 'cost of your meal' because of the addition of the shake.

It has a separate section which asks for information about the shake. You put the cost for the shake in the shake section,

Today I Will Choose Joy!

"Finally, whatever things are good, true, noble, lovely, of good report...if there be any virtue, if there be any praise...think on these things." ....It's a command, not a suggestion!

Reading this thread earlier today on my phone, I had to laugh. Following Cali's first post, there was an ad about cutting down on stomach fat. Go figure.

I order it all at once and ask them to hold off on preparing it until I've finished my meal. They don't include it in the timing and the purchase is optional anyway. It works for me.

I emailed the MSC with this question (when to buy the milkshake) and I was told to buy it when I make my initial purchase. No 5Gs near me carry them yet, so I have yet to get one.

Thanks @Tlt14 and @MysticGray1

My shop from last week is still showing as "Approved", so I think they likely will accept it (But I'll keep you posted on any changes). I have another shop next week, though, and I think I'll do it as @Tlt14 suggests... just order it all at once and get them to hold off on preparing the shake until after I've eaten.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

I would order both the drink and shake. I occ. will get two beverages and laughingly say I'm a two fisted drinker.

I've done two 5 Guys with shakes this week. I ordered sandwich and drink - cashier asked if I wanted to add fries or shake. She was thrilled when I said both --while I faux checking my cash. Finished shake with sandwich- took drink with me. Salted Caramel great at first - but ended up watered down by whip cream 1/2 way down. Second time - went for chocolate and coffee. Don't think it was made well - bitter undissolved coffee crystals began to settle in the bottom and got sucked up the straw. How much of a learning curve can there be on adding flavors to mix?

None of the stores have milkshakes around me yet. I would get everything at once. I like to have some shake and some soda.

I've had a Five Guys shop where I biffed the ordering, then ordered one of the required items afterwards (not a shake). I noted such in the report and attached both receipts in the photo. I never heard from them, and I was paid in full.

None around here have shakes but they show as an option on the instructions with max $6 reimbursement for it.

***Update*** **** Breaking News on my Five Guys shake purchase******

I had another shop this week and I ordered the shake as @Tlt14 suggested upthread: all at once with my meal so that it's on the same receipt, but asked them to hold off on the shake until after I'd eaten. They were fine with it and it worked beautifully.

I still haven't heard a peep about the first shop where I ordered the shake separately, and that one is still showing as approved approximately 3 weeks later. So it looks like the great shake experiment was a success.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

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Five Guys Shakes (milkshakes, not the number of times the fries get shaken)

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