Cinnabon Shop- do they always pay no fee and just straight $20 (unattainable!) reimbursements?
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Our incoming president says he knows all the tax loopholes, Perhaps you can check with him about how to write off these already reimbursed donations.
Thanks for the advice. I'll make sure to check with my tax person.
@SoCalMama wrote:
@calicakes wrote:
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.
Nice of you to donate, although I am not certain how the accounting on donating an item and deducting it on taxes works if the item has a zero cost (see Schedule C, which you are surely filing for Mystery Shopping) to you? I'm sure your CPA can determine all of that ...
@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.
I put this shop in my "fun" category. My location is in a major mall where I am fairly certain I can combine the visit with other shops. I will indulge myself with a treat and take the rest home to freeze. I have adequate lead time and this MSC allows self rescheduling. The report is easy and fast. So I have no problem accepting this type of shop for reimbursement only. Not looking to pay any bills with this shop.
I like the cinnamon roll shop with the $20 reimbursement because I freeze the cinnamon rolls and dole them out to myself, popping them in the microwave with a little butter. Did I mention they are easy? 
It's really what you value that counts. I love the pizza shops where I can get a free pizza and tip the driver a little bit. Of course, I rarely see a payment or bonus in my popular mystery shopped town, but if I can snag it up with even the $5 bonus, I am happy. My guy loves pizza night. He won't admit it because he's not big on mystery shopping, but pizza shops make him happy. Also, red hat food shops do too 
Pizza shops are great for me when I'm out and about shopping already too so I can grab a quick dinner.
Pizza shops are great for me when I'm out and about shopping already too so I can grab a quick dinner.MegglesKat
Answer to the original question is no.
I pick this shop up every time. I get the required Cinnibon with the specific topping. The place I do them does not serve the drinks. I buy a 2 or 4 pack to take home and a bag of the cinniminis and I keep hubby happy for over a week of yummy breakfasts for him for free. Ive never not been reimbursed the full amount. As long as you meet the requirement it is awesome.
But mine are never no fee. They pay like $6. with a 20$ reimbursement, but that is because of the location being at a truck stop. It just happens to be in the middle of nowhere which happens to be just 10 minutes outside of town.
I have always got reimbursed for the full 20.00 after i ordered requirement and ordered a cinapack
I get the $10 box, the required drink, and something from the hot box. I have always been fully reimbursed.
Shopping since 2009
MSPA Gold
MSPA Gold
I don't mind reimbursement only restaurant shops. I won't take the shop if I don't want to eat at the restaurant, so I get a good meal for free. Yes, I have to wait for reimbursement, but ACL is very reliable. They do have a rotation limit, though.
We have been introduced to some good restaurants in our area via A Closer Look and ISS. Some are "keep the change" shops meaning you get a flat fee and if you don't spend it all, you keep the rest.@cordener wrote:
I don't mind reimbursement only restaurant shops. I won't take the shop if I don't want to eat at the restaurant, so I get a good meal for free. Yes, I have to wait for reimbursement, but ACL is very reliable. They do have a rotation limit, though.
I am pleased to see this string on Cinnabon. The new MSC has listed those $20, reimbursement only, shops in my area. I have no need in my nutrition plan for 1,000-carb goodies but I like the idea of my spouse taking them to the office during tax season. Yes, he is a tax accountant and no, we cannot write off a donation to a for-profit business. Even better would be to give local first-responders the pleasure of some warm cinnamon rolls. If I do the shop, I will keep that in mind (even though it is not tax-deductible. Doing the right thing is its own reward.)
Shopping SoCal and Maui.
@catlassy wrote:
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.
It makes no sense to me why you would reject a shop because the maximum reimbursement is more than you need to buy the required item. If the reimbursement was LESS than what you had to spend for the required item, then that would be a reason to pass on the shop. I do bar, nightclub, casino, and hotel shops all the time, and the maximum allowable reimbursement is always more than what I actually spend. Now if the maximum allowed reimbursement was under what I had to spend, I would have a problem with that and contact my scheduler. All that should matter is that
1. The job fee is in line with your expectations.
2. You are reimbursed fully for the required purchase, whether it is $2 or $50.
@AZwolfman wrote:
@catlassy wrote:
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.
It makes no sense to me why you would reject a shop because the maximum reimbursement is more than you need to buy the required item. If the reimbursement was LESS than what you had to spend for the required item, then that would be a reason to pass on the shop. I do bar, nightclub, casino, and hotel shops all the time, and the maximum allowable reimbursement is always more than what I actually spend. Now if the maximum allowed reimbursement was under what I had to spend, I would have a problem with that and contact my scheduler. All that should matter is that
1. The job fee is in line with your expectations.
2. You are reimbursed fully for the required purchase, whether it is $2 or $50.
As discussed in this forum, you are reimbursed up to $20 for the required purchase plus anything else that you buy. So, with planning, you can do this shop for $20 worth of food and drink. No reason to reject the shop because the reimbursement would be less than you thought.
The costs incurred may vary by location. In some locations, Cinnabon beverages are not available, so shoppers there only purchase food. If the location does not have the shop's designated item, the shopper may purchase something else. The substitute item may cost less than the designated item. Sometimes, there is a fee for these shops. This just makes them sweeter. 
Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu
Okay, I've never had a cinnabon. I found a shop near a route I'm taking and nabbed it up for a hefty bonus. My instructions say to order a 4 pack cinnabox... what is that? I looked online at the menu and didn't see this item. I saw tons of cinnamon items in 4 packs but nothing that actually said cinnabox. I know, newbie to cinnamon buns over here.
My shop says order the 4 pack, and wait to see if I'm offered 6 and a drink. If not, order a drink and I can be reimbursed up to $20 if I order additional items.
I'm guessing the bakery person will know what this item is but I don't wanna get to the guy or gal and look bumfuzzled. I want to order like a cinnamon champion! Bwahaha.
I'm also supposed to check the hot plate and allergy sticker.
My shop says order the 4 pack, and wait to see if I'm offered 6 and a drink. If not, order a drink and I can be reimbursed up to $20 if I order additional items.
I'm guessing the bakery person will know what this item is but I don't wanna get to the guy or gal and look bumfuzzled. I want to order like a cinnamon champion! Bwahaha.
I'm also supposed to check the hot plate and allergy sticker.
MegglesKat
@clinen11 wrote:
Okay, I've never had a cinnabon. I found a shop near a route I'm taking and nabbed it up for a hefty bonus. My instructions say to order a 4 pack cinnabox... what is that? I looked online at the menu and didn't see this item. I saw tons of cinnamon items in 4 packs but nothing that actually said cinnabox. I know, newbie to cinnamon buns over here.
My shop says order the 4 pack, and wait to see if I'm offered 6 and a drink. If not, order a drink and I can be reimbursed up to $20 if I order additional items.
I'm guessing the bakery person will know what this item is but I don't wanna get to the guy or gal and look bumfuzzled. I want to order like a cinnamon champion! Bwahaha.
I'm also supposed to check the hot plate and allergy sticker.
My guidelines don't say Cinnabox anywhere. They do say to purchase a Cinnapack which is defined as a box of four or six rolls that can be heated at home. Do your guidelines say something different?
I'm assuming a cinnabox is the same as a cinnapack????
I've done this shop once for the new msc and a couple times for the old one. Each time I've done it with a bonus. I don't remember what the bonus was for the new msc that only has a reimbursement but I won't even consider a shop for less that $10 plus reimbursement (with the exception of oil change shops). If I remember correctly I was paid $15-20 plus reimbursement. That sounds about right.
I've never worried about using the entire $20. The last thing I need is extra sugar. Buying the 4 pack was nice though because I could put them in the freezer and eat them whenever I wanted. Don't remember how much it was but it was on the closer to $20 side, $15 I think.
I've never worried about using the entire $20. The last thing I need is extra sugar. Buying the 4 pack was nice though because I could put them in the freezer and eat them whenever I wanted. Don't remember how much it was but it was on the closer to $20 side, $15 I think.
Just did one yesterday. I got a Cinnipack (required) and a chilled mocha drink. It was just over $20 with tax. I could have gotten under $20 with just a coffee or lemonade. Before freezing the rolls, I cut each one into 4 sections. I look forward to having them as dessert knowing that each 1/4 section is 220 calories. The smaller portion is enough for me and not a diet buster.
I did them with the old mystery company and I have done a couple with the new mystrey shop company.
I dont remember what the requirement was but when I went they were out of it so I was able to get somet thing else in place of it. I also look foward to them
I dont remember what the requirement was but when I went they were out of it so I was able to get somet thing else in place of it. I also look foward to them
Because of this thread, I immediately looked at the msc jobs and found one of the elusive Cinnabon shops that seem to disappear almost instantaneously in my area. I for one will not freeze them but enjoy that gooey goodness until they are gone. Gotta do an extra 10,000 steps those days but it will be fun.
Thanks for the heads up that they were available right then.
Thanks for the heads up that they were available right then.
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