I've been a MS for about 5 years - mainly retail. I wanted to start getting more into food... I wanted to start with Panera, since I'm there frequently and familiar with the brand, but all I see available to me are McDonald's shops. Do I have to take these shops to 'work my way up?' Thanks!

No, you don't. I very, very seldom do it and only with significant bonus. As a matter of fact, I didn't when I was a rookie. Though I passed all the tests, there are/were considerably more restaurants and they were not FF. Come to think of it, I have not done it for a number of years. It has never been my favourite shop. Panera, I just did.

There aren't any "exclusive shops" for the more experienced shoppers for this MSC, just more pay when you negotiate with them.

There are no McDonald's shops in my area right now.

I did one when I first joined this forum. Mostly out of curiosity since there's so much discussion here about them. I decided that they aren't really for me. Which is fine, the MSC doesn't seem to have any trouble filling them in my neck of the woods, so there must be people who like them. I can see how if you do them often, they'd become rote and you could easily do $50-$75 worth of shops a month just by stopping off after work or at lunch in a densely populated area, or adding the more outlaying ones to routes (perhaps even with bonuses).

That was my long way of saying, no. You don't have to do them. But I can see why people do. Like B, though, there aren't any on the board in my area right now.

I love the Qtr. Pounder with Cheese so I don't mind doing them.

I like their Egg McMuffins. They remind me of special occasions and road trips from my childhood. Now that they serve them all day, I might consider taking a shop if I could order an Egg McMuffin. But I only want about one Egg McMuffin every three months or so, and relearning all the timings and requirements isn't really worth it for the two free sandwiches (one of which isn't an Egg McMuffin, since you have to order two different sandwiches and those Sausage monstrosities just are not the same and a few bucks in fees (they're rarely bonused here).

This is definitely the kind of job that scales up: doing one is a pain... you sort of have to do 5-10 a month to make it worthwhile (in my opinion).

Either I am not getting to the board fast enough or Panera is not shopped in my area. I haven't seen one in a few years, though to me, that is no loss because I found the reimbursement did not cover and the food was not of a quality worth the price.

I did one McD's shop before taking them off my list forever. I have not seen Panera for a couple of years now in my area. I do remember that the fee for Panera was really low and the reimbursement did not cover the price of the meal.

@Flash wrote:

Either I am not getting to the board fast enough or Panera is not shopped in my area. I haven't seen one in a few years, though to me, that is no loss because I found the reimbursement did not cover and the food was not of a quality worth the price.

My thoughts on Panera: I just left one 30 minutes ago (not a shop) but in my area (new location). I felt this store lacked ambience, atmosphere and warmth. I think the food is higher priced and it does not meet the reimbursement.... (had I been on a shop) I will do this Panera shop (as a shopper) but I would not patronize it on a regular basis. I wish they would increase the reimbursement. Also, not mesmerized by the food. The fancy bowl of soup is $8! I will never taste that.... unless I am paid for it, lol

I feel the same way about Panera. I think I may have requested to be taken off the shops because of the low reimbursement. That is probably why I do not see them on my job board anymore. A low report fee is OK if I love the food and the reimbursement covers the cost of my meal, Panera does not do either of these. There is a wing shop that I do that has a low fee but a generous reimbursement and I love the wings. I will pick up these whenever I can because it is worth it to me - Panera not so much.

I only ever see Panera shops as a Ground Control App shop that has to be done on specific days during a specific hour. Are there other shops that you guys are talking about?

@teriraia wrote:

I feel the same way about Panera. I think I may have requested to be taken off the shops because of the low reimbursement. That is probably why I do not see them on my job board anymore. A low report fee is OK if I love the food and the reimbursement covers the cost of my meal, Panera does not do either of these. There is a wing shop that I do that has a low fee but a generous reimbursement and I love the wings. I will pick up these whenever I can because it is worth it to me - Panera not so much.

I have not seen Panera shops for over 1 year now. I wonder what happened to them? Unless they are not shopped anymore?

Don't think that they are shopped anymore but they should be - haha.

I love Panera as a regular customer, though it is a once-and-a-while treat for me due to the prices. The only time I have ever shopped them was when I saw one on the board in the a southwest Chicago suburb. Other than that, I never saw them in my shopping radius in Indiana (and there were multiple Paneras there), and I have not seen them in my area (or in any of the large cities I regularly shop, like Atlanta and Charlotte) here either. Maybe they are only regionally shopped? I do remember that the reimbursement did not quite cover the meal, although if I added in the shop fee, it did barely cover it. I wish they had more of these, though...I like the food enough that I would do them even for a small fee, maybe even for reimbursement only.

I have been MS'ing for over 10 years and I have never performed a McD's shop. I performed one Five Guys then I asked to be removed from all FF shops. The "food" is not for me. I have no problem getting tons of other offers from this MSC. I mainly only take bonused shops now when the reps call me directly. So, no you do not have to do McD's shop to make an impression with this company.

I love Panera Bread and I eat there about three days a week while I work on images and reports. I love the Mediterranean Chicken & Quinoa Salad with kale, Kalamata olives and toasted almonds and the Low-Fat Vegetarian Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto. Yummy. They do not offer them as shops in my area anymore (regional thing) but I am more than happy to hand over my money to have healthier eating choices.

Here is a personal take on this. When I first signed up with a specific MSC the mcD shops were the only shops available, besides a few other FF. I refused to do them because they paid a ridiculous 6-10$ fee. I waited and a few days later realized there was a bonused one for 30$ so for that kind of fee I felt it was worth it and went ahead with it. Then I noticed there were often bonused mcD shops so I did them. Ranging from 25$ but most were paying 30$ and even 40$! In about a month I did 10. Now I am noticing more interesting shops from the same MSC that are not FF, some cases are even revealed audits which I prefer. So, I would say there is a filter going on per shopper, or it's just a coincidence. Who knows! As a general rule though, personally, when I sign up with a new MSC, I will do shops to get a profile going and hope it may lead to better offers. Sometimes it means going out a little further than I would or accepting a lower pay (except for the 6$-10$ fees I would never touch those).

Some food for thought (ha! punny!)

Mediterranean Chicken & Quinoa Salad & Low Fat Vegetarian Garden Veg Soup w/Pesto
580 Calories (salad) and 140 Calories (soup) = 720 calories
38g fat (salad) and 5g fat (soup) = 43g fat
870mg sodium (salad) and 830mg sod (soup) = 1700mg sodium
31g total carbs (salad) and 24g total carbs (soup) = 55g total carbs*

*totals taken from Panera website

Big Mac & Small French Fries
540 Calories (burger) and 230 Calories (fries) = 670 calories
28g fat (burger) and 11g fat (fries) = 39g fat
970mg sodium (burger) and 130mg sodium (fries) = 1100mg sodium
47g total carbs (burger) and 30g total carbs (fries) = 77g total carbs**

**totals taken from McDonald's website

So the kale and quinoa salad and vegetarian soup from Panera has more fat, calories and sodium than a Big Mac and small fries at McDonalds. The burger and fries has more total carbs than the soup and salad.

I just thought this was interesting. I'm not saying McDonalds is healthier than Panera. I do actually think there's benefit in eating fresh whole foods like those served at Panera over the foods that McDonals usually serves. Just something to be aware of. My favorite McDonald's meal (Egg McMuffin at 300 calories, 12g fat, 730mg sodium, and 29g carbs) isn't much better, but neither is my favorite meal at Panera (Thai Chicken Salad weighing in at 490 calories, 19g fat, 910mg sodium, and 42g carbs).

CaliGirl925, I do not use the salad dressing so there goes most of the fat and sodium. Since I do not have a weight issue or high blood pressure or other health conditions, I do not need to be overly concerned with sodium. Carbs are not the enemy. It is the type of carbs and the activity level in one's life. I prefer foods that I like and taste good to me. I can't even stand the smell of a McD's as I drive by one. That is my preference and it works for me.

Have you had the Thai Chicken Salad at Panera? Those fire roasted edamame? YUM

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

Mediterranean Chicken & Quinoa Salad & Low Fat Vegetarian Garden Veg Soup w/Pesto
580 Calories (salad) and 140 Calories (soup) = 720 calories
38g fat (salad) and 5g fat (soup) = 43g fat
870mg sodium (salad) and 830mg sod (soup) = 1700mg sodium
31g total carbs (salad) and 24g total carbs (soup) = 55g total carbs*

*totals taken from Panera website

Big Mac & Small French Fries
540 Calories (burger) and 230 Calories (fries) = 670 calories
28g fat (burger) and 11g fat (fries) = 39g fat
970mg sodium (burger) and 130mg sodium (fries) = 1100mg sodium
47g total carbs (burger) and 30g total carbs (fries) = 77g total carbs**

**totals taken from McDonald's website.

But you failed to realize that I get the "Pick 2" which is a cup of soup and a half salad. Or sometimes I just get one or the other. I take an apple as my side over chips or a piece of bread.

Low Fat Vegetarian Garden Veg Soup w/Pesto (1 cup)
90 Calories
3.5g Fat (No saturated or trans fat. The fat is mainly coming from the pesto so that can easily be removed if you have a weight problem. But we do need some good fat in our lives.)
560mg Sodium
16g Carbs
8g Fiber

Mediterranean Chicken & Quinoa Salad (Half Salad)
290 Calories
19g Fat (Less on my salad minus the dressing. Saturated Fat - 3g and Trans Fat -0g.)
440mg Sodium (Less on my salad minus the dressing.)
15g Carbs
4g Fiber

TOTALS for Pick 2 compared to Big Mac and Small Fries
Calories - 380 vs. 670 (Big difference.)
Fat - 22.5g vs. 39g
Sodium - 1000mg vs. 1100mg (Not a big difference there.)
Carbs - 31g vs. 77g (Big difference.)

So you can enjoy your Big Mac with fries and I will enjoy my soup and salad. Isn't freedom of choice a wonderful thing?

That's a good clarification, Sybil, thanks!

But the Thai Chicken Salad is still way better and you'll never dissuade me otherwise.
Yes freedom to choose lunch is a pillar of modern society. Why, without it, we'd be basically animals!

Greasemonkey,
I have been with some MSCs for 8 years and have only shopped one or two shops a year. They keep me on their list. Mainly I won't shop for the low paying shops. I won't leave my house for less than $10 and the shop would have to be within a few miles or less of my home. Usually I will shop three at that price within feet of each other, especially simple bank shops that take 10 minutes to submit.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/01/2015 06:10PM by shopper8.

When I started MS over 10 years ago I did one fast food shop and have not done another since then. Unless it is in the group of required shops for one of my airport circuits I not not do fast food and do not do 5 Guys. So, no, you do not have to do ff in order to have a successful MF business.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

Yes freedom to choose lunch is a pillar of modern society.

Also apparent is the freedom to look down ones nose at other people's choices.

@bgriffin wrote:

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

Yes freedom to choose lunch is a pillar of modern society.

Also apparent is the freedom to look down ones nose at other people's choices.

As well as the freedom to look down ones nose at others who look down on other people's choices.

There is more than one version of the Arches shop out there, including at least one that doesn't require timings. If you're curious, sign up with enough MSCs and you will probably find it.

I find timings to be pretty easy to do. But the requirements are confusing. I still haven't done an arches.

Thank you all for your input! This MSC keeps locking my account due to 'inactivity' - it's so annoying. Unfortunately, the only shops available are McDs and I'm just not interested right now. Wish they didn't keep locking my account though, I like to keep checking in.

You need to do a shop now and then to keep your account active. Many MSCs are like that.