Not by much, mind you, but there is no fee, reimbursement only, so I really don't want to kick in any of my own money. I never expected that one pizza, delivered from one block away, would exceed $25. The guidelines say they'll cover a 2-topping pie, delivery charge, tax, and $2 tip. I only added 1 topping and it's already $24 before tip. Add the tip and I'll have to kick in a buck. That may seem like peanuts but I am on a tight budget right now, every dollar must be accounted for, and I don't pay to mystery-shop!
I emailed the scheduler but it's late and I may not hear back. Crap, this was my first shop with them. It's odd that they don't know how much this would cost. They advertised this as a 2-topping pizza, reimbursed, without mentioning that would require kicking in $3.

I feel for you! Sorry, you got in this fix but I have only twice run into something like this. I haven't done one of the donut shops because of the reimbursement along with the fee sounds like a money loosing proposition. All I can say is live and learn and hopefully do not get burnt.

lesson learned. dont work for food. its not free even though many forum members use the term free burger or free pizza willy nilly.

Does the guideline say it will reimburse up to $25 or it will reimburse a large 2 topping pizza? Because if it's the shop I think it is, in my area, is says it will cover the pizza as long as it meets the guidelines (large, 2 topping, no double toppings, etc.). For me they always add in the reimbursement amount after I submit my receipt.

Is this for Papa Johns? Their max reimbursement is $25, but I've never gone over $15 or so, plus the $2 tip. How much is the delivery charge? That seems high.

If it is Papa John's I think they still have the buy one get one special. I did this shop for lunch at my regular job, and fed myself and a bunch of coworkers.

The pizza shops that this sounds like only allow 2 toppings from a specific list, i would doublecheck your guidelines.

You can use a coupon for them if it is Papa's. We don't get deliveries out here so have to pick up, the phone operator always applies a coupon and they accept it without any questions

You have to use a coupon.

@sensei wrote:

Does the guideline say it will reimburse up to $25 or it will reimburse a large 2 topping pizza? Because if it's the shop I think it is, in my area, is says it will cover the pizza as long as it meets the guidelines (large, 2 topping, no double toppings, etc.). For me they always add in the reimbursement amount after I submit my receipt.

It says both, actually, in two different places. Doesn't address what happens if the cost exceeds the stated reimbursement.

@DareWright wrote:

Is this for Papa Johns? Their max reimbursement is $25, but I've never gone over $15 or so, plus the $2 tip. How much is the delivery charge? That seems high.

The 14" plain pizza was $16 and change, add $2 per topping, $4 delivery, $2 tip and whatever the tax was. Came to $26 for just one topping.

@Bookwormmom wrote:

The pizza shops that this sounds like only allow 2 toppings from a specific list, i would doublecheck your guidelines.

It said one or two toppings. Two toppings would have run to $28.

@aribacat wrote:

You can use a coupon for them if it is Papa's. We don't get deliveries out here so have to pick up, the phone operator always applies a coupon and they accept it without any questions

This had to be ordered online through grubhub. I didn't have any coupons, and they didn't mention whether I could use one (or I didn't see it). I am not a big fan of PJ pizza.

That is ridiculous for the shop costs to be more than reimbursement.

Frankly, after reading some threads on Papa John's here last night, I am glad not to do it. I feel like I dodged a bullet. Sounds like they reject photos if the pizza has problems like bubbles or being not very fresh. I can't take a chance they will reject this and stick me with a $28 pizza.

Shopwhisperer - totally agree with you. I'm staying away from audits and western union shops. Some people are great at those but they are not for me.

I collected so many PJ points one month, I had enough for 18 free pizzas or bread items, etc. We were sick of PJ's and I think 10 or 11 pizza's worth of points expired. I've had one run me almost $24 once. I use coupons frequently, though. The less money I have out, the better

I have noticed that the price for a 2 topping pizza is more when I order online. I have done this shop a few times and when I have the call in shop it is always less than when I order online. Very odd.

You can search for coupon codes on the web. They always have something available. I do this shop all the time and love it. Super quick and easy to freeze if you had something else planned for dinner that night. I take multiple photos and have had them ask to send more than what is required in the survey, but I have never had a shop rejected due to poor quality photos.

@ShopWhisperer, I think everything is reimbursed for the 3rd party delivery. I just got a blast email, and It says the pizza plus delivery, tax, and $2 tip are fully reimbursed.

I haven't done these shops for the "new" MSC. I was spoiled by the old one, so there is no way I'm doing this for $8 or for reimbursement only. I can't believe how expensive the pizza is ($19 for a large, 2 topping carryout).

If I get Online delivery, I choose to do it on a Tuesday when they have a BOGO offer. I work in an office of about 4 people. I tell them they have to cover anything over $27 ($25 for the pizza/$2 for the tip). It usually comes out to about $1 each and they have no problem paying $1 for pizza.

@ChrisCooper wrote:

@ShopWhisperer, I think everything is reimbursed for the 3rd party delivery. I just got a blast email, and It says the pizza plus delivery, tax, and $2 tip are fully reimbursed.

I haven't done these shops for the "new" MSC. I was spoiled by the old one, so there is no way I'm doing this for $8 or for reimbursement only. I can't believe how expensive the pizza is ($19 for a large, 2 topping carryout).

Hmm I asked the scheduler about the shortfall and she just canceled the shop with no further discussion. I would have done it if they covered the whole thing, at that time. But now that I've read about the arbitrary seeming rejections, no thanks.

I have done two for them and will not do any more. Like you, the pizza is very expensive here and while I made a couple of dollars, not worth the effort. And I just had my most recent shop rejected since she said I ordered through the incorrect website. Which I did not, but she is not responding to my emails with my "proof". Free pizza is good, but not when I have to be concerned about actually getting reimbursed at the end of the day.

I don't see the attraction of these shops, but they disappear quickly in my area. I don't like the pizza, so I'd be really unhappy if my shop was rejected.

They will text you an online coupon code every Friday if you sign up for them. This code cannot be used with phone ordering though.

Also, the pizzas seem to be less on Monday and Tuesday than later in the week without rhyme or reason. I've also had the person on the phone apply discount codes without me asking for one. So, just ask if they have any specials or discounts if it's a call in shop.

In Dallas, they always had discounts tied to the sports teams. If they win, you have to use a coupon code. It was different every time, but they would have one every time the local teams won.

@wrosie wrote:

In Dallas, they always had discounts tied to the sports teams. If they win, you have to use a coupon code. It was different every time, but they would have one every time the local teams won.

Same here in the SoCal area. If the baseball team scored 5+ runs, gameday for the soccer team, when the local NHL teams win and so on. ANYONE who pays Full Price for a PJ Pizza is a MORON! Especially online

The pizza delivery shop in my area (Not PJ's) does not cover the basic order either. $20 for a large pizza delivered, with tax and delivery charge and tip doesn't happen. The MSC knows it and says they are paying a flat fee. The time I did it I thought, well it's convenient, I don't have to cook, will have leftovers etc. It was vile and I threw out the rest!

^^That's how i feel about PJ's pizza. Coupons and discounts don't make it taste any better, either.

I think the OP may just have a very expensive franchise — I did a number of these and the pizza prices were always different. Always seemed cheaper when I did the phone vs online... via the phone they always have a coupon code that makes it around 12 bucks.

That said, pizza delivery fees are stupidly insane... It wasn’t too long ago that pizza delivery was just an expense that was part of the margins of the business. $1-2 I can understand... but it’s up to $4.99. Absolutely nuts... I know that’s not the fault of the driver, but it most certainly affects how much I tip. I look at prices of things vs inflation — and fast food in general, plus all the little ‘tack ons’ like delivery fees are WELL above inflation... if it was $1 in 2000, 17 years ago, its supposed to be $1.42 today — not $4.99. I remember when I graduated HS in 2002 you could get a Jumbo Jack for $1.49 at Jack In The Box or the combo for $2.99 — it’s now $3.49 for the burger and $6.99 for the combo, respectively.


All that rant to say... that sucks if the reimbursement doesn’t cover it — I honestly wonder why the reimbursements are set so low — if it’s a 2 topping pizza, set the reimbursement for the highest price of a 2 topping pizza across the system. It seems like chains try to recoup a couple bucks from their MS by setting artificially low reimbursements.


Aside from my small rant, looks like these have a new MSP... I’ll give it a shot. Hopefully the new one doesn’t make you do everything as hard printed copy.

In my area a call in 2 topping pie will run $12, through thier site comes close to $20. Kind of outrageous that they can screw with the prices soo much. I tell everyone I know to never use the online order.

I was out of my usual zone and picked up a GrubHub. The platform charged more than call in or the PJ website....again I tell everyone, don't use GrubHub.