Cinnabon Shop- do they always pay no fee and just straight $20 (unattainable!) reimbursements?

Saw my first Cinnabon shop and nabbed it - only to cancel minutes later because the $20 (max) reimbursement was far more than the allowable menu items. YES, I know the $20 is the "max" - but they know damn well that the average price will be in the $8 or so range -- and nowhere NEAR $20.00 YES, I know market prices can vary across the USA so they must pad it to an extent- but this is redicoulous. It is pretty misleading when they WAAAY overquote the reimbursement. Other shops are not so misleading- for instance the wings shops say "Max $17 reimbursement" - and by golly they really DO reimbursement that amount if you spend it. Same with the fast food places..... so I do not like to be quoted "$20" and find that I will not be reimbursed that much. Since the fee was $0- I canceled it. I rarely cancel a shop- but I think they are being a bit deceptive by omission.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

More About Reimbursements

The MSC who has them now has only had them for a very short time. They are a company that adds bonuses when shops sit on the board. I have seen a couple bonused. In general, they will pay as little as they can get the shops done for.

I have seen them recently for a straight fee (and not reimbursement) of $15, and it requires a drink and item purchase. I have not seen them at $20, but it could be a different MSC as I have seen them shopped at the same time from different MSCs.

You can buy items beyond what is required and therefore will make back the full $20.00...

1. It is reimbursement only.
2. It says you can order more things(not the cinnapack), up to maximum reimbursement.

Has anyone ordered more than the required hot plate and drink and gotten reimbursed? The directions are a little contradictory. It first states you will only be reimbursed for YOUR MEAL and further down it says, "You may get additional items, but you won't be reimbursed beyond the maximum reimbursement." So..........my meal can be three cinnabons and two chillatas????????Or whatever combinations I can make under 20 bucks?

I just signed up for one. I understood that you have to order the required and then can add items for up to the $20. Now I am confused. I thought that I could order a half dozen rolls and freeze them. That would make it somewhat attractive to me. If it is just the plate we can order I think I will cancel. Going back to read the instructions again.

Good discussion, it's answering my concerns. I can't eat their food, the coffee is ok though. Without a fee, or a flat payment to generate one, I will leave these for others that see value in them.

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

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2016 03:10AM by isaiah58.

Yikes. Agreed. It would be worth it for me if I could maximize the reimbursement and freeze for some breakfast snacks for the mornings.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

Just read the instructions again. What I understand is you order the hot plate item - it does not specify how much of the plate item to order - and then wait for the upsale for the drink. It states that you will only be reimbursed for the amount which is $20. So when we order our "plate" we just add additional items? My shop is not for a couple of weeks but it would be nice to clarify. Oh and they flew off the boards.

I just self-assgined my first Cinnabon assignment today. Super happy!

I just assigned my first today as well. Based on how I read the instructions you are to order one hot item from a list they provided and then wait for a drink offer. They do say you can order more but based on the many shops like this I have done I imagine they would want you first to order the one item (cinnamon roll, pecan roll etc) , wait for a drink suggestion and then order one or not depending on if offered and if they have drinks and then add whatever you can up to the max of $20.
My only question is regarding the drink..the rules say to order a mini oreo strawberry chilato (?). I have never shopped this place before. Is the mini the same as the regular on the online menu I found. I did not see anything online called a mini drink. If they do not offer the mini size can we then order any drink they have that we want or would we need to order the regular. Those seem pretty pricey and I would rather have another sweet roll with an cheaper order of milk or something like that instead of spending that much $$ on a drink. Anyone know if there is such a size as mini.?

I did 1 last month. I purchased 10 Cinnastix, Classic Roll, Pecan Roll & Lemonade-only hot plate & any drink were the requirements. My shop was approved.

I think it may depend on who the MS is- one Cinnabon MS offers $20.00 max reimbursement- with no fee. The other MS offers (apparently) a flat fee of $15.00. I would be better off with the $15 flat fee if the other large MS that recently picked up the shop only reimburses the one pastry item and a MINI drink ('cuz they are TOO CHEAP to buy you a REGULAR sized drink, you shopper you! Only a MINI sized for YOU!) The new shop is very specific about what item/s are the required menu item. And yes- there is contradiction because on one hand it says only reimbursed for your meal- but then later infers that you can be paid up to the maximum. The terms are poorly written. I know one thing: I am tired of these cheap &&^^% MSs doing every smoke and mirror trick to pay an even measlier fee than the last time !!

@catlassy wrote:

I think it may depend on who the MS is- one Cinnabon MS offers $20.00 max reimbursement- with no fee. The other MS offers (apparently) a flat fee of $15.00. I would be better off with the $15 flat fee if the other large MS that recently picked up the shop only reimburses the one pastry item and a MINI drink ('cuz they are TOO CHEAP to buy you a REGULAR sized drink, you shopper you! Only a MINI sized for YOU!) The new shop is very specific about what item/s are the required menu item. And yes- there is contradiction because on one hand it says only reimbursed for your meal- but then later infers that you can be paid up to the maximum. The terms are poorly written. I know one thing: I am tired of these cheap &&^^% MSs doing every smoke and mirror trick to pay an even measlier fee than the last time !!

I believe my shop is with the 2nd msc you mention. As I wrote above it seemed clear to me that I could spend and get reimbursed for the entire $20. But I will double check with the msc since others did not find the rules clear. AS for the mini drink, I am happy to get that and spend my extra money on something else. If I had to buy the big drink I would be unhappy not getting another roll instead.

Did anyone figure out whether we can max out the $20 reimbursement? I am thinking of grabbing one of these shops this week.

Yes, you can. Just don't order a Cinnapak or whatever the guidelines say not to order.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2016 03:30AM by Raffles.

YIKES! Why, oh why did I give in to my morbid curiosity and download the nutritional info?

So hypothetically, assume that you're required to purchase a 4 pack of buns for 12.99, but you can get the 6 pack for 14.99 if the employee suggests it. You can also get a beverage if they suggest that too. The max reimbursement is 20.00. What do you do if they don't suggest it? Then you don't get your max reimbursement.

I did a Cinnabon shop on 8/3 and it was approved. I purchased a 'center of the bun' (actually two) as my hotplate item. I then also bought a four pack of Cinnabons. The cost was just under $18.00.

Man I wish I could find it. I have not seen them in my area with the new MSC

I did it for another MSC and I enjoyed it very much..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/12/2016 01:57AM by Isaiah4031a.

I did one and loved it!

I ordered everything under the sun and still kept it under $20. The associate I had.... was suggestive selling like crazy! (good for me) Like others said, don't order the Cinnapack box. I ordered items in the hot window/hot plate area. I took all my pastries home, put them in containers and froze them. Each day I would take the container out and the pastry was just as good as when I purchased. Some might want to heat them up with butter but I ate them room temperature.

A great shop. No fee. If you are good with getting some delicious items and being reimbursed, this shop is for you!

If your instructions say to order the cinnapack box, you have to!!

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I did one and loved it! I ordered everything under the sun and still kept it under $20. The associate I had.... was suggestive selling like crazy! (good for me) Like others said, don't order the Cinnapack box. I ordered items in the hot window/hot plate area. I took all my pastries home, put them in containers and froze them. Each day I would take the container out and the pastry was just as good as when I purchased. Some might want to heat them up with butter but I ate them room temperature.

A great shop. No fee. If you are good with getting some delicious items and being reimbursed, this shop is for you!

Well you don't *have* to but your shop will be rejected if you don't.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

@calicakes wrote:

If your instructions say to order the cinnapack box, you have to!!

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I did one and loved it! I ordered everything under the sun and still kept it under $20. The associate I had.... was suggestive selling like crazy! (good for me) Like others said, don't order the Cinnapack box. I ordered items in the hot window/hot plate area. I took all my pastries home, put them in containers and froze them. Each day I would take the container out and the pastry was just as good as when I purchased. Some might want to heat them up with butter but I ate them room temperature.

A great shop. No fee. If you are good with getting some delicious items and being reimbursed, this shop is for you!

My instructions said to NOT order a cinnapack. HUGE NO! NO! My instructions said to order only from the HOT PLATE. That is the little glass window with all the hot fresh pastries.

Ordering a Cinnapack is another shop entirely. ....

I finally got this shop self assigned. Any updates on whether you actually got reimbursed up to $20 for anything purchased beyond the required items?

What a lot of commotion about being paid in cinnamon rolls.
Let me see if I can pay any bills with overpriced pastries? Nope.
What do you think that realistic value of the $20 check is? $6?
I can't believe that anyone is doing these for no fee.

My spouse has a great job, so I MS for extras. I'm also an excellent baker( but I dont like baking cinnamon rolls) so getting 20.00 worth of cinnamon rolls( and an iced coffee) was fine for me. It was a quick shop, the report took 10 minutes. So, yeah, I'm one of those doing it for NO fee. I've only done one though. I also donated( tax deduction) the half a dozen rolls to my wife's work( LAPD). Win win for me : )

@SoCalMama wrote:

What a lot of commotion about being paid in cinnamon rolls.
Let me see if I can pay any bills with overpriced pastries? Nope.
What do you think that realistic value of the $20 check is? $6?
I can't believe that anyone is doing these for no fee.

Way to go, calicakes ....way to make it work for you!

A cinnapack is now required. Anyone know if we can go for an upgrade of a larger box if offered?

@AustinMom wrote:

Way to go, calicakes ....way to make it work for you!

Thank you. We all have our reasons for why we MS and I dont think we should be judging other's choices( at least "out loud".) I have no desire to do $2.00 phone shops, but I know a lot of people do. Whatever floats their boat.

I know a lot of people also don't understand taking restaurant shops( mostly from A Closer Look) that don't pay anything. I'm not one of those people. Lately, I've been more picky about the shops I take, but if I wanted to eat at one of the restaurants they shop, I wouldnt hesitate to take it. They are a great company to work with.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Cinnabon Shop- do they always pay no fee and just straight $20 (unattainable!) reimbursements?

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine