Do you call Five Guys each time?

The instructions say to call to verify the location and hours. Isn't it a little suspicious if you regularly shop there and call every time? I have the few times I've done the shop because that's what the instructions say, but wondering if everyone else does.

Edited to add: If you don't call, do you say No to that question in the survey - and it's still accepted?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/08/2016 12:03AM by jgoodwin.

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I've only done that for one shop ever, and only because I was going during a time I assumed they would be closed.
They do that to cover their ass in case you say it was closed and still try to collect your fee.

______________________________________________________________________
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.

Every job I do for this msc has an instruction to me to call every time and a question about whether I did call. One time (on a different job for them) I said I did not call just to see what would happen and nothing happened. I still got paid. I live in a big city where stores are always open during their posted hours. Most stores here have multiple employees and unless there is an big earthquake at least one of the employees will get there on time to open up the store so it seems to not apply for me and I agree is a bit silly after the first time.

I've never called, but I have checked the website when I do a late-dinner shop, to make sure the location will be open when I get there. I always answer "no" to the question, because they do say you can visit the website.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I do my calls not on the same day as the shop. Generally I make the call the day I take the shop since there is no requirement that it be just prior to the shop. This helps protect me from being identified as the shopper because of having called just before going.

I never call, unless it's a late night visit. I answer the question no and have never had a problem.

I too call

. I call when the business is closed. Why? I get the recording and narrate what the recording says with character limit. I call after I am assigned the shop. I call while in the parking lot of the shop. I call after the shop. There is no prerequisite to when to make that call, just to call. The reason may be because the client wants to know if you talk to a real person or a recorded message. And for any unforeseen circumstances the call does come in handy, such as an emergency at the retail.

Some "school in sessions" shops, will have different summer hours and those may not be listed on the website. Although a problem has not happened, it is always nice to err on the side of caution. A phone number will not always let you know if a store is out of business.

And for the Postor-------->"it seems to NOT apply for me and I agree is a bit SILLY after the first time." The guidelines Apply to all shoppers no matter how silly.

Oh, I did call once, on a late-dinner shop. But that's the only time. Since they say you can call or visit the website, I wonder why the question isn't worded to include visiting the website? "Did you call the location or visit the company website to verify blah, blah, blah?"

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I don't call...i figure if for some odd reason it is closed, its on me....especially if you are going between about noon-8pm, typical customers know the store hours and it would be odd for someone to call and ask the hours....it would be a better cover to ask landmarks...

and the one time I did a phone order..their phone barely worked and I could barely hear them...

I still mark yes...no reason to fight over it....i actually just got a nonsense quality control question from the MSC (a different type of shop---where they claimed I asked about an item the place doesn't have..even though I wrote that I did in fact find the item myself in the store..so obviously the store has it)

@sojo917 wrote:

I too call. I call when the business is closed. Why? I get the recording and narrate what the recording says with character limit. I call after I am assigned the shop. I call while in the parking lot of the shop. I call after the shop. There is no prerequisite to when to make that call, just to call. The reason may be because the client wants to know if you talk to a real person or a recorded message. And for any unforeseen circumstances the call does come in handy, such as an emergency at the retail.

Some "school in sessions" shops, will have different summer hours and those may not be listed on the website. Although a problem has not happened, it is always nice to err on the side of caution. A phone number will not always let you know if a store is out of business.

And for the Postor-------->"it seems to NOT apply for me and I agree is a bit SILLY after the first time." The guidelines Apply to all shoppers no matter how silly.

not with this shop...you are just calling to verify the location is open so you don't waste the trip....and you have to write that you found it is in fact open as usual....they are not assessing the employees at all....and you are supposed to call before you head to the location, not from the parking lot or after.....and technically you should be calling shortly before to verify they are open at that time.....there was a different store that was closed due to a roof collapse....if you called the day before, it was open...

I do not call locations I have been to frequently unless there is a holiday or some reason I expect they may not be open. When the question comes up asking if I called, I mark "no" and have had no problem.

That is for this shop only. For shops that require you to call ahead, or to call after the visit and ask a question, I always do. For this shop the phone call is to verify that the adress is correct and that they are open for business. If I've been there several times, I know that the adress is correct and know they will be open unless something unusual has happened like their power going out. (A couple of years ago I had an employee at one of the locations tell me, "We were closed yesyerday. We had no power." I thought to myself, "Glad I came today!"

After the first time or two I stopped calling and it has not been a problem.

I only call if I need to confirm hours. I did get messed up once because the shop was ren by religious Jews and closed on Saturday. I chalked it up to my fault and went back the next day.

The only time I call is if I'm doing one of the late night shops. And if I don't call, I say no on the form. Never had a problem.

@sojo917 wrote:

And for the Postor-------->"it seems to NOT apply for me and I agree is a bit SILLY after the first time." The guidelines Apply to all shoppers no matter how silly.

Hi sojo917...I am the poster of the above and from reading all these replies to the original question where shoppers do not call it does not seem that the call is a requirement in the guidelines. Many shoppers say they have said no to answer this question and had no problem. So it seems that is what it is ...an optional guideline and not a requirement. Perhaps someone will ask the mystery shop company directly and let us know the answer to this burning question.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/09/2016 04:48PM by sandyf.

According to the FAQ for the MSC--------->"Unless otherwise specified, CALL the location to verify address and hours. If location information does not match the CPI, e-mail xxxxxxxx dot com." WHY???????------------>"Businesses can change hands, or emergencies occur that may prevent a location from opening as scheduled. Calling ahead verifies the location will be open before you go to the store."

I see, it is not optional, it is part of the guidelines. While EACH Shopper decide for themselves whether to make the call, it is part of the application of the guideline. My statement stands ----->"The guideline Apply to all shoppers, no matter how silly." Five out of 11 shops, I say NO and had no problem also. That does not mean I am not going to call because IT"S silly. WE, the Shopper, choose

I've never called any of the big box stores, or grocery stores I do. I never call gas stations unless there's a problem with directions. I was assigned an out of the way gas station with a high bonus. Didn't call, got there and not only was it closed, but it was abandoned, debranded and for sale.

The MSC was glad to know that and I got the most money I ever expect to get for a gas shop with only 3 photos. The only time not calling bit me in the butt was a shop I do maybe twice a year and found out when I got there they closed early on Saturdays before Memorial day.

I did the first time, but the one that gets me are the gas stations calls. Usually either no one answers(and I let it ring 10-15 times), it's the fax #, or it rings busy. I once did a shop to a closed location. The MSC asked did you call before you went. YES I did, no one answered. But then they usually don't, and if they do not are you NOT supposed to do the shop?

Shopping Southern Georgia, Valdosta, Waycross, Quitman, Thomasville and North Central Florida I-10 & I-75.

Well, it did say call or visit the website. No, I don't call everytime.

I can't remember: is this the one that prompts you to enter the information you discovered when you called for the hours if you answer "yes" that question? I remember being annoyed by (what felt to me like) an unnecessary extra step when I answered "yes" the first few times.

For the locations I'm familiar with and that wouldn't be too inconvenient to visit again in case of closure, I don't usually check. I know! I'm a crazy risk-taker.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

This MSC often has questions on the survey to make you support the things you are reporting. If you give an unusual answer to a question another question will also pop up or a narrative box asking you to explain. A lot of times you will see "FLAG" before the question. These questions are for you to catch yourself if you answered incorrectly by accident or if you did something on the shop that goes against guidelines. The "Did you call" question is to check to see if you called before going to a closed location.

I never call. The hours are the same at every location.

I make the phone call and hope they really are open when I go there. I called a gas station location once, they said they were open until 10 pm every day. I make a long drive out there and arrive just before 6 pm to find that they were already closed. I took a lot of photos (with the time stamp turned on) just from a CYA perspective of the open hours sticker posted on the front of the store and it proved that they did indeed close at least 4 hours early. I got paid the full bonused fee.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

I always either call or verify online. I figure it is a good habit to be in.

deleted.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2016 02:49PM by ChrisCooper.

I just say "I looked online"

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