Panda Express
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Just saw this; the fee went down a buck but reimbursement the same. I can be under the reimbursement amount with no drink and no appetizer. Still sucks tho.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2016 08:24PM by kenasch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2016 08:24PM by kenasch.
I noticed the same thing. I always have to pay more than the reimbursement amount just to meet the meal requirement. I won't be doing any more unless the fee goes up.
I'm not happy about this. The fee was on the low side to start with, but that was offset by the food being unusually good (in my opinion). So, it did pay X+ and a reimbursement amount, BUT they told me what I had to order and I would not ordinarily order that big a meal. So, if I go in and order what I would normally eat, I get out for $7 and change. If I order more food than I want in the first place they reimburse the food but I have to do a report for X-. So would I rather pay $7 for my own food and not have to eat on schedule, take a picture, and make a deadline? Yes, I think so. Probably. We'll see. I don't need rice and chow mien anyway. There ya' go.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
@MDavisnowell wrote:
I don't need rice and chow mien anyway.
Did you know that you can order vegetables as the side item or half vegetables, half rice/chowmein?
It seems like those vegetables are rarely ever cooked well, sadly. The bonused one I did the other day had a small pile of veggies that looked as if they were cooked two days ago.
On my last visit to Panda Express, I noticed that their prices went up. I am now just over the reimbursement rate, if I order what I want. If the payment goes down, I'm afraid that I won't be doing many of these any more. I like the food, but I need to make a decent rate. I had already limited myself to the drive-thru only shops.
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Could I have a receipt please?
Could I have a receipt please?
Love me some Panda 
but the last time I did one of these shops, there was a homeless guy sitting at one of the tables inside near the restroom (where I had to check of course) and asking me for money. He continued to sit there and ask all the patrons for money. The associates just looked embarrassed.
but the last time I did one of these shops, there was a homeless guy sitting at one of the tables inside near the restroom (where I had to check of course) and asking me for money. He continued to sit there and ask all the patrons for money. The associates just looked embarrassed.
The $1 decrease is ridiculous in my opinion, especially since the starting fee had only been $5 to begin with.
@TeriW wrote:
It seems like those vegetables are rarely ever cooked well, sadly. The bonused one I did the other day had a small pile of veggies that looked as if they were cooked two days ago.
I agree. Those vegetables are usually nasty. If they aren't cooked enough, the sauce has weirdly gelled all over them. Gross.
I did a Panda Express last month. I was there an hour after they opened. I walk in and there were still chairs stacked on top of the tables. There were 11 empty pans! I actually asked the employee if they were open, and they said yes. The sign on the door read "Out Of Teriyaki Chicken." That shop was pretty much a fail, which is disappointing because I like their food.
That must have been an interesting report:@Phoebe70 wrote:
I did a Panda Express last month. I was there an hour after they opened. I walk in and there were still chairs stacked on top of the tables. There were 11 empty pans! I actually asked the employee if they were open, and they said yes. The sign on the door read "Out Of Teriyaki Chicken." That shop was pretty much a fail, which is disappointing because I like their food.
How many empty pans did you see? 11 of them.
I love how excited they are that it has a "new shop fee!" But that means it went down. Why even highlight this??!!
Doing what I can to enhance the life of my family! I LOVE what I do
The new round of shops for my area just went up on the board. Bummer!
I cannot believe Panda dropped a dollar off the shopper's fee. In my market prices have increased considerably. A small drink is up to $1.70!! They should have increased the reimbursement amount at least .50.
I know that the extra money spent might no be much, but it adds up. As much as I like their food, I probably will drop them. It's not worth it.
I cannot believe Panda dropped a dollar off the shopper's fee. In my market prices have increased considerably. A small drink is up to $1.70!! They should have increased the reimbursement amount at least .50.
I know that the extra money spent might no be much, but it adds up. As much as I like their food, I probably will drop them. It's not worth it.
We do not know why the fee was reduced, just that it was.
My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
None available in my area. They get taken up really quickly.
If I suddenly have to stop doing my 2 or 3 allotted Pandas per month, it would probably take me 3 minutes to replace them with better paying shops. The only thing I would miss is the food. For you shoppers who say you are doing these shops for less than $4 (since the client doesn't fully reimburse), why not just use that time to do a quick $15 shop. If you just love the food, why not just eat on your dime and time and order what you want without having to fill out a report?
Dear Teri, I ask help to do a Gas Station offering $4.50 plus $1.00 for expenses. They say I will make up the losing pay in volume, how? How will making $2.50 x 4 for two hours of work help me do it in volume?
Economics Joke, a manager tells his not smart owner "We lose $.20 per widget, we must stop making them!" Dumb owner say's "We will make it up in big volume". If we sell $.20 loss on 10,000,000 widgets its $2,000,000 business loss. Your Panda job is same as my gas station to?
Members here know wage increases are making fast food prices go up, you said it wood and correct. The business pass on price hikes quickly and don't pass on good deals on meat or petro.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:29AM by Akbar.
Economics Joke, a manager tells his not smart owner "We lose $.20 per widget, we must stop making them!" Dumb owner say's "We will make it up in big volume". If we sell $.20 loss on 10,000,000 widgets its $2,000,000 business loss. Your Panda job is same as my gas station to?
Members here know wage increases are making fast food prices go up, you said it wood and correct. The business pass on price hikes quickly and don't pass on good deals on meat or petro.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/12/2016 02:29AM by Akbar.
@AZwolfman wrote:
If I suddenly have to stop doing my 2 or 3 allotted Pandas per month, it would probably take me 3 minutes to replace them with better paying shops. The only thing I would miss is the food. For you shoppers who say you are doing these shops for less than $4 (since the client doesn't fully reimburse), why not just use that time to do a quick $15 shop. If you just love the food, why not just eat on your dime and time and order what you want without having to fill out a report?
This is exactly my argument regarding Chipotle. It's too much work for the amount paid. Just buy a burrito. Nobody needs to eat those chips, not even a taste.
I only take them occasionally at the opening bid. I usually wait until they bid higher by a buck or two. I average more than five after the food. I only do these once every two or three months, at any rate.@AZwolfman wrote:
For you shoppers who say you are doing these shops for less than $4 (since the client doesn't fully reimburse), why not just use that time to do a quick $15 shop. If you just love the food, why not just eat on your dime and time and order what you want without having to fill out a report?
I'll still take them as there are multiple locations in my area and the shops are easy enough to give me a meal. It's even better for the drive-thru shops. In my area, the entree + small drink brings me within $0.50 over reimbursement. Can't remember off the top of my head.
Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
This is exactly my argument regarding Chipotle. It's too much work for the amount paid. Just buy a burrito. Nobody needs to eat those chips, not even a taste.[/quote]
I eat my whole bag of chips. I guess I'm nobody!
I eat my whole bag of chips. I guess I'm nobody!
The report is quick and easy. So yes, I'm one of those people who will do a shop that only pays $5 plus reimbursement
I think the point is that they do not pay five dollars anymore. Additionally, in some places, the reimbursement does not cover required purchase and a drink. The shops are sitting here, although they usually get taken within a day of posting.
@TeriW wrote:
I think the point is that they do not pay five dollars anymore. Additionally, in some places, the reimbursement does not cover required purchase and a drink. The shops are sitting here, although they usually get taken within a day of posting.
The drink is not required. I always just get a free water cup
I didn't say that the drink was required.
@AZwolfman wrote:
If I suddenly have to stop doing my 2 or 3 allotted Pandas per month, it would probably take me 3 minutes to replace them with better paying shops. The only thing I would miss is the food. For you shoppers who say you are doing these shops for less than $4 (since the client doesn't fully reimburse), why not just use that time to do a quick $15 shop. If you just love the food, why not just eat on your dime and time and order what you want without having to fill out a report?
$9 reimbursement + $4 pay for a quick report. Some locations have drive-thru shops, which make the shops even sweeter, as the visit can purely be 5 minutes at the drive thru. Why not use the time to do a quick $15 shop? Some of us don't have the luxury filling our schedules with a bunch of these kinds of shops. Besides, $15 taxable income doesn't always mean it's better than $9 non-taxable reimbursement + $4 taxable income. I diversify my schedule with what's laid out in my area and that works around my work schedule.
Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.
I still do these shops (ducks to avoid thrown tomatoes). I have one really, really close to me (walking distance) and I like the food. I don't usually get soda when I eat out, so having a shop where a drink isn't required and I can just drink water is fine by me. I was bummed to see that they dropped the fee by a buck, but not bummed enough to stop taking one every couple of months. Panda Express is my guilty pleasure. I'd probably still go once every 4-6 months without the shop, so I figure once every two months is a good deal. There are some other locations near me that are sitting, though. Just not *my* location 
Shopper in California's Bay Area
If you hold off, they will raise the price. Why not let your location sit for a while so that the MSC raises the price.
@TeriW wrote:
If you hold off, they will raise the price. Why not let your location sit for a while so that the MSC raises the price.
Because I like the shop and it's worth it to me at the posted rate.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
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