Mexican Restaurant Focus Study

Did anyone else get this email? A Mexican restaurant that has recently been in the news is wanting to know how many customers are now eating there for lunch. You have to sign up for a one-hour shift for four consecutive weeks, and go to the same location each time.

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Yes. I just emailed back and forth with the owner of this MSC and I'm signing up for it. It doesn't sound like a bad gig and they let you pick a location so you can find one close to you if you live in an urban area.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2016 03:22AM by squireparty.

It was also on one of the phone apps last week. 1 hour patron count over lunch. $6.00 .It was a one shot deal though. I did not accept it.

You don't have to talk to anyone? Just sit in your car and count?

They mentioned customer interactions, so I'm not sure. If it was completely anonymous I'd do it, but don't want to jeopardize my regular shopping gig at the store.

@LindaM wrote:

You don't have to talk to anyone? Just sit in your car and count?

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

no, sounds interesting though.. i don't eat there b/c they never PAID me for performing jobs!

Amber, you are saying that the MSC did not pay you for doing a shop there? Did your shop get rejected?

Amber has repeatedly said that she was not paid by Ardent for something, but, for some reason, she refuses to explain. Many of us have asked for details, hoping to help her figure out what went wrong. Since she declines to respond to questions but continues to throw out one-liner complaints, it's clear she doesn't want help.

It's been my experience that when one frequently complains without substantiating, it gives the appearance that the individual is unable to substantiate their claims.

They really love their shoppers...I was an editor for them for awhile and the owner, Tracey, repeatedly reminded us that we should be gentle and kind to our shoppers because we needed them more than they needed us. I would sometimes have to email a shopper 5 or more times to get needed info and it could take a week or longer to get all the info I needed. It really take a lot to get your report rejected.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

They really love their shoppers...I was an editor for them for awhile and the owner, Tracey, repeatedly reminded us that we should be gentle and kind to our shoppers because we needed them more than they needed us. I would sometimes have to email a shopper 5 or more times to get needed info and it could take a week or longer to get all the info I needed. It really take a lot to get your report rejected.

Ardent is honestly the only company I've ever worked with that regularly and consistently sends me emails complementing me on reports that need little or no editing.

I use to eat at [client name removed] two to three times a week but once the e-coli scare hit I stopped visiting them. My craving for their burriots carnitas had to get filled in local carnicerías instead of good old [client name removed again]. Does MSC want people who did not eat their on a regular basis for their study groups or people who were frequent eaters who stopped eating and have not visited since their e-coli scare? Mac Donalds is always at the front end of consumer groups, since MCD is their parent company I wonder how their reacting to something that knocked [and here too] down from $751 to $390 a share early this year.

Mod note: Client name removed since you mentioned the MSC. It is against forum rules and an ICA violation to link the two together. Please refer to the posting guidelines when posting.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2016 05:07AM by Pennies4Shops.

Pennies, at one time the major FF chain was involved with them. In the late 90's they owned 90% of their stock. By 2006, they were completely separate from them. The stock is now up to over $500 since their founder has implemented the new food handliing safety measures. They are in my watch list in my TD Ameritrade account. I almost bought some, but I make a good bit of money in day trading on stocks that range from $4 to $30, so I didn't want to tie my money up in stock that expensive. It is going to take some time for them to recover. It hasn't stopped me from shopping them 3-5 times a month.

You should edit your post to remove the name of the restaurant since the MSC has already been named, even though this MSC widely advertises that this is their major client. It's not like we don't already know who it is, but it's against the forum rules. I had just woken up and had to edit the name out of my response post, foggy brain, LOL.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/2016 02:03PM by JASFLALMT.

I received the same email and I'm confused. It mentioned something about employee interaction. Does this mean that we have to divulge our identity? I do regular shops with Ardent and I don't want to jeopardize anything.

I am signed up for two shops with them. Both are only 5 min from my house. They have to be done at the same time on the same day for 4 weeks. I am doing one shop on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. You have to count customers for an hour in 15 minute intervals. The time is already specified and is between 12:00pm to 1:00 pm. So, you count from 12:00 - 12:15 and log the results, 12:15 - 12:30 and log results, etc. Also, you speak with 3 customers and one employee. With the customers you just ask how they felt about the recent scare. With the employee, you ask if they noticed that more customers are returning to the store. That's it. Easy Peasy. I have the Tuesday one scheduled between two storage shops, so there's lunch on Tuesday. The Thursday shop is scheduled between two solar shops so there is my Thursday lunch. Only wish I could do more. Can't because it has to be done between 12:00 - 1:00 and that puts limits on me.

Is it really only $6 for an hour commitment?

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Not for the Mexican Restaurant I signed up for. I get $15 for the fee and $10 in food reimbursement.

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