I got nailed as a mystery shopper for a delivery report. The MSC told me that Papa John's never tells them how they ID a shopper and they would love to have me do other shops for them, just not for Papa John's. I've been doing PJ's for over 3 years, sometimes as many as three a month. However, that leaves me with no pizza! Does anyone know of another MSC that does shops for Pizza Hut or Domino's or any other pizza chain in Central Illinois?

Yes, we know but we can't tell you. We are not allowed to break our ICAs. And doing the same pizza shop three times a month for over three years? It is no wonder you got outed. Not all pizza workers are complete idiots.

There are other MSCs shopping PJs. As shoppers with signed ICA's, you probably know that we cannot name which MSC shops which client. The client, regardless of which MSC it uses, does not concern itself with logic or shopper preservation.

forrestmosley, I recommend that you broaden your horizons, and cut losers loose.

I didn't do three every month, just a few times. But the MSC kept calling me and sending me emails requesting I do the shops, so I did them. I have a feeling the MSC couldn't find anyone else to do this location. And I know you can't tell me the name, but just ID the pizza company and I think I can find the MSC for that company.

One PJ location ID'ed me in December. It was a take-out location. I was told that I can continue to do other take-out locations. Apparently IDing the mystery shopper is a game. Otherwise it would behoove them to be silent and just provide me with exemplary service.

Papa Johns is sneaky. First of all the topping combinations required, always 2 and the fact original must be requested is a clue. I noticed the peppers were tiny but had to photograph them with the pizza and then was ID'd.

there are at least 2 MSCs that do papa johns in my area....i couldn't even remember which ones offhand...but look at all the PJ locations and see if you never shopped some of them...if so, that indicates that another MSC handles them.

btw, I would do 3 a month...from different locations...i once did 2 in one day! it was possible for me to do each location about once every 3 months and still do 3 a month.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2016 11:01PM by jmitw.

In my case, I could order either one or two toppings, but I think I got nailed because the location got a new manager last month.

Also the same franchisee owns all eight locations in my area so my report was singled out by an area manager, so I'm on the shopper list at all of the local stores. The MSC has locked me out of all PJ shops in the area.

@forrestmosley wrote:

I got nailed as a mystery shopper for a delivery report. The MSC told me that Papa John's never tells them how they ID a shopper and they would love to have me do other shops for them, just not for Papa John's. I've been doing PJ's for over 3 years, sometimes as many as three a month. However, that leaves me with no pizza! Does anyone know of another MSC that does shops for Pizza Hut or Domino's or any other pizza chain in Central Illinois?

Mystery shop instruction for pizza for papa john is


1 large 1 toping $18 + $2.00 tip for delivery.

Why only $2 tip for Pizza delivery man?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/2016 03:12AM by Akbar.

The instructions here are: one large, original recipe, one or two toppings (from list provided). There is no price limit and a separate space in the report form to list a tip (no amount specified). The franchisee here charges $2.75 for delivery and I usually tip $2, but sometimes I don't because the fee is supposed to go to the driver for gas, and it doesn't take a gallon of gas to get to my apartment from the store and back.

As an IC you should know there is more to operating a car than gas

FYI from the Papa John's website FAQ: "Delivery fees do not include a tip for the driver. Please consider tipping your driver!"

Papa John's locations seem to get enough information that it is obvious who the shopper is. After the first one I did, they clearly knew I was the shopper.

While delivery charges are not considered a tip, they do go to the driver. I worked at several pizza places, always as a driver. Granted, my info is 10 years old at this point, but that was how it was back then. It's to help cover gas and mileage. So if you order a $10 pizza, then 20% would be $2, so in that aspect, it seems reasonable.

That being said, I almost always tip between $3-$5.

@katioard wrote:

While delivery charges are not considered a tip, they do go to the driver. I worked at several pizza places, always as a driver. Granted, my info is 10 years old at this point, but that was how it was back then. It's to help cover gas and mileage. So if you order a $10 pizza, then 20% would be $2, so in that aspect, it seems reasonable.

That being said, I almost always tip between $3-$5.

Now the delivery charge is for packaging material. None of the delivery charge goes to the driver. The store gets it. Supposedly, it is to offset what it costs to have the food delivered.

In most cases, now: Delivery Charge = Additional Revenue for the company.

There is no rule about delivery charges and it will always be up to the individual business. Make sure you ask before assuming it is going to the driver and withholding the tip.

I am so paranoid that if there are more than supposed to be peppers, or the size is weird, may be one too large or too small, or the butter cap is upside down, I always change the peppers with those in my refrigerator, change their position in the box, and turn the cup. Just to be safe.

Let me get this straight. You alter the pizza with fresh peppers of your own before taking the photograph? Even if we take the obvious fraud out of the mix, Isn't that defeating the purpose?

I'm having trouble following this conversation too, but I think what some posters are saying is that:
-The pizza chain suspects that the shopper might be a Shopper.
-In order to confirm their suspicion, they do something noticeable to the pizza that they'll recognize in the photos, like give the suspected shopper tiny peppers or turn the butter cup upside down

In order to throw the location off, one shopper says she changes the peppers out with previous peppers from another shop or flips over the sauce container before taking the photo.

But maybe I misunderstood. I hope so.

Even if the goal is to avoid being identified, it doesn't make it right. If you are that concerned, take a self-imposed rotation. Considering the pay of $0 to $5 on these things now, it's not likely to make a real dent.

To be safe? So that the managers of that location will not be told that they are doing something wrong? I think that your empathy is misplaced.

@KateH wrote:

I am so paranoid that if there are more than supposed to be peppers, or the size is weird, may be one too large or too small, or the butter cap is upside down, I always change the peppers with those in my refrigerator, change their position in the box, and turn the cup. Just to be safe.

Thanks to both of you for clarifying that reasoning - I was confused why someone would fix a mistake when we're paid to report our actual experience. Now I'm paranoid, because I have had the occasional upside down sauce. "Outing" me would just shoot themselves in the foot, because my store always gets a pretty good report from me. OTOH, if they know it's me, I'm surprised my driver doesn't hit more of his marks. Either way, my integrity is worth more to me than a pizza.

Remember I haven't completed one of these since they dropped a particular MSC several years ago. At that time turning the sauce container over was not only okay, it was an instruction prior to photos. IMO, it is also not a big deal and certainly won't change the evaluation of the pizza itself.

@KateH wrote:

I am so paranoid that if there are more than supposed to be peppers, or the size is weird, may be one too large or too small, or the butter cap is upside down, I always change the peppers with those in my refrigerator, change their position in the box, and turn the cup. Just to be safe.

I hope someone from the MSC and/or the client is reading this thread. Altering the pizza presentation in any way is totally violating the guidelines. My integrity is worth a lot more than a piece of cardboard with ketchup on it.

ETA: Being a paranoid shopper is just a waste of time and energy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2016 09:35PM by Sybil2.

I've always heard that with some places, part of the delivery fee goes to the driver, with some none if it does...and no one was ever willing to say how much of the fee goes to the driver for specific places......

it makes no sense that delivery charges are for packaging materials...when you get the same packaging when you pick up....but no extra fee

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/2016 11:08PM by jmitw.

I was outted and not able to do a shop for 1.5 years. I just now am able to do them - and they keep offering bonuses now but I do not want to be caught in the trap of doing too many. One disturbing trend I notice is that when I do the carryout (via phone) the cost of the pizza is about 25% higher! Rediculous! My two topping pizza ordered via phone was over $17 !! - but your order them online for $12 or less!!! What a rip off --- I would NEVER order via phone on my own dime. A pretty skeezy policy for them to soak the uninformed. Order online and get those Papa Points too.
ANOTHER ISSUE: Instead of delivery guys just giving you your change they ask- "how much change do you need back?" or "do you need change back?" I call that "tip hinting".
I think PJ is going overboard on hunting down shoppers.

@myst4au wrote:

To be safe? So that the managers of that location will not be told that they are doing something wrong? I think that your empathy is misplaced.

@KateH wrote:

I am so paranoid that if there are more than supposed to be peppers, or the size is weird, may be one too large or too small, or the butter cap is upside down, I always change the peppers with those in my refrigerator, change their position in the box, and turn the cup. Just to be safe.

The size of the peppers, or whether the garlic cup is upside down does not play a role. The company cares whether they put the right amount of toppings and whether the crust is baked correctly. Whether there are two tiny peppers or one unusually large, or another noticeable combination of peppers, they do not care about it. It does not alter the presentation of the pizza. I have done close to 1000 pizzas!! yes, so I am more alert if I see something unusual. Even when the pizza had to be mutilated, I was doing it with the photos in less than five minutes. I was outed only twice when I made the mistake to do 2-3 shops at the same location, delivery near my house, because the scheduler was begging and yes, I was addicted to the $20 bonus. But after a year cut out only from that location, I was back in and never made the same mistake, regardless how pushy the scheduler was to take the shop. The second outing was a take out at a low income area. I never do take outs now, but have them delivered in a large office building where I can wait in a coffee shop inside, or something similar since they have to call me to "come" down. I use the waiting time to check email, put reports, etc. One of my "delivery" addresses is an ice ring. Just be creative. I tried to change the background of the back wall taking the photo at a different room, or putting a tray, when I was taking the side photo for the previous rounds. Bonus goes to $40+ sometimes. Why should I risk it because the pizza guys suspect me and try to catch me by putting a lemon size pepper and a tiny one?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2016 09:04AM by KateH.

But the guidelines state to not touch the garlic sauce cup or pepperoncini.