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When You Make A Mistake...even after doing this for FIFTEEN YEARS!

August 29, 2018 05:23PM
Well, I goofed today!! I hope this will encourage the newbies not to give up when they do something and realize they did not follow the guidelines.

I had my Culver's lunch shop today, and read BOTH the guidelines and survey report carefully.....or so I thought! NOPE! Missed something. In the survey, it lists the condiments you can add to the burger when the cashier suggests them...you know....ketchup, onions, pickles, mustard.....So when she also said "Tomato", I thought, sure, I'd like a tomato on my burger, and chose that as my condiment. I ate about 1/3 of the burger and 2 french fries (not a big fan of food shops). Did all my other observations. Went out to the car and started filling out the survey.....my eyes STARING at the BOLD, BLACK PRINT that SOMEHOW I had MISSED when reading it the first time....DO NOT ORDER TOMATO FOR YOUR CONDIMENT. Oh my word! And there it is, printed on the receipt as well: TOMATO!!

SO.......today was on my dime.....THANKFULLY, I have until tomorrow to do the shop. So guess where I'll be having lunch again!! We ALL goof up from time to time, and aren't as careful as we should be on occasion! I'm proof of that! But, after all, "Tomorrow...is another day!" (Hmmmmm....where have I heard that line before? smiling smiley )
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August 29, 2018 05:33PM
I'm laughing with you, guysmom. Been there, done that.
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August 29, 2018 05:57PM
Me too, of course.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
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August 29, 2018 06:30PM
So, bottom line, you treated yourself to lunch. Sounds like a good day to me. We all do this from time to time.

Orlando - lightly shopping NC
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August 29, 2018 06:51PM
I was doing a mid-range restaurant shop with my wife that reimbursed $100. I took all the other photos, but totally forgot about the dessert picture. I did remember when it was about half eaten and took the photo anyway. Both of us were saying "enjoy this dessert, because it cost us $100". Surprisingly, the shop was still accepted, but I had already accepted the worst fate.
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August 29, 2018 07:32PM
I recently had two goofs. My Five Guys shop was a phone shop and I ordered in person. I eat there once a month, so when it was rejected,I could not do another.

On Saturday, I had a shop at BJ's Warehouse at the Optical Center. I forgot to take a picture of the area. Luckily, I did not have to submit any photos for the shop. I just have to hold on to them until I am paid.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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August 29, 2018 07:57PM
Last Saturday, I realized 1 picture was not taken and had to return to the location 30-minutes away. This mistake made my route end farther from home and I had to finish my reports in the car, on my way to a concert.
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August 29, 2018 09:05PM
I have been shopping over 30 years. Recently I did a Smart and Final. I walked into the bathroom and checked stock, how clean it was and if everything was functioning. I forgot to take the picture. I realized when I was inputting the shop at home and noted it in the MSC only area. I was told they would give it to the client and but not guarantee it would go through ok. It did - I was luckily.

Another time at the beginning of the year I was doing a Mimi's for breakfast and was supposed to take a picture of my entrée prior to touching it. I took a bite and realized it and took the picture. I felt so bad about that I decided not to input it with the bite. Luckily the shop could be done all day and I went back for dinner and everything went fine. So breakfast was on me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2018 10:35PM by pegleg909.
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August 29, 2018 10:06PM
@quovatis wrote:

I was doing a mid-range restaurant shop with my wife that reimbursed $100. I took all the other photos, but totally forgot about the dessert picture. I did remember when it was about half eaten and took the photo anyway. Both of us were saying "enjoy this dessert, because it cost us $100". Surprisingly, the shop was still accepted, but I had already accepted the worst fate.

Did you consider ordering a second dessert so you could get the required picture? Tell the server it was so good you have to have another one. Then you could bring some of it home if it’s too much to eat.
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August 29, 2018 10:23PM
@kenasch wrote:

@quovatis wrote:

I was doing a mid-range restaurant shop with my wife that reimbursed $100. I took all the other photos, but totally forgot about the dessert picture. I did remember when it was about half eaten and took the photo anyway. Both of us were saying "enjoy this dessert, because it cost us $100". Surprisingly, the shop was still accepted, but I had already accepted the worst fate.

Did you consider ordering a second dessert so you could get the required picture? Tell the server it was so good you have to have another one. Then you could bring some of it home if it’s too much to eat.

Yes we did, but the guidelines said "ONE" dessert in caps. I suppose the only way around it would be to get a second dessert after we paid the check so as to not have 2 desserts on the tab. We also considered awkwardly asking another table to take a picture of their dessert haha
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August 29, 2018 10:29PM
@guysmom wrote:

"Tomorrow...is another day!" (Hmmmmm....where have I heard that line before? smiling smiley )

Tomato is another day.
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August 29, 2018 10:35PM
You give me hope!!

Trying to learn from all of these rockstars.
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August 31, 2018 01:54AM
I always wondered how someone can shop a wrong location!? ...yeah...it happened last week, I offered to re-shop
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August 31, 2018 02:15AM
Eventually something will happen.

After a good twenty restsurant shops, we went out to eat, food was delivered, and I forgot to take a picture of the entrees. We got the other five pictures, but the shop was rejected.
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August 31, 2018 03:36AM
I've done this before and just ordered a second appetizer or dessert, then explained in the guidelines. Never been an issue.

@quovatis wrote:

I was doing a mid-range restaurant shop with my wife that reimbursed $100. I took all the other photos, but totally forgot about the dessert picture. I did remember when it was about half eaten and took the photo anyway. Both of us were saying "enjoy this dessert, because it cost us $100". Surprisingly, the shop was still accepted, but I had already accepted the worst fate.
Reply
August 31, 2018 03:54AM
I went to a burger shop at the wrong time. Realized it when I was filling in the report. Needless to say, I chose not to save my work, went back at the correct time and did it again, double checking every detail. Lesson learned. Also.... glad to hear these other stories, I was mortified and feeling like it was just me.

Trying to learn from all of these rockstars.
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August 31, 2018 03:58AM
Oh, but the MSC did not reimburse for the second item that I had to order to get the photo, I literally had to "eat" the cost.
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August 31, 2018 04:07AM
I am not understanding why you would take a shop like this since you say you are not a big fan of food shops and only ate so little of the food. Was it highly bonused or something?

@guysmom wrote:

Well, I goofed today!! I hope this will encourage the newbies not to give up when they do something and realize they did not follow the guidelines.

I had my Culver's lunch shop today, and read BOTH the guidelines and survey report carefully.....or so I thought! NOPE! Missed something. In the survey, it lists the condiments you can add to the burger when the cashier suggests them...you know....ketchup, onions, pickles, mustard.....So when she also said "Tomato", I thought, sure, I'd like a tomato on my burger, and chose that as my condiment. I ate about 1/3 of the burger and 2 french fries (not a big fan of food shops). Did all my other observations. Went out to the car and started filling out the survey.....my eyes STARING at the BOLD, BLACK PRINT that SOMEHOW I had MISSED when reading it the first time....DO NOT ORDER TOMATO FOR YOUR CONDIMENT. Oh my word! And there it is, printed on the receipt as well: TOMATO!!

SO.......today was on my dime.....THANKFULLY, I have until tomorrow to do the shop. So guess where I'll be having lunch again!! We ALL goof up from time to time, and aren't as careful as we should be on occasion! I'm proof of that! But, after all, "Tomorrow...is another day!" (Hmmmmm....where have I heard that line before? smiling smiley )
Reply
August 31, 2018 03:02PM
@Msaddict wrote:

I am not understanding why you would take a shop like this since you say you are not a big fan of food shops and only ate so little of the food. Was it highly bonused or something?
Nah. No bonus, (tho I did do a MF fast food about 18 months ago that was bonused up to $20...that was nice!)
This time, I just needed to add a little extra income to my goal, and this place is only 5 miles from my home. I don't do FF very often....sometimes the mood just hits me and I decide to do one. The MSC pays twice a month and never, ever an issue with payment, so that's part of the equation, too. If I had to wait 2-3 months for payment & reimbursement, I wouldn't have done it. It's like that for me with cell phone shops, too. I'm not crazy about them, but once in a while I just up and decide to do one!! Who can figure out the mind of a shopper!!
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August 31, 2018 03:27PM
@guysmom wrote:

@Msaddict wrote:

I am not understanding why you would take a shop like this since you say you are not a big fan of food shops and only ate so little of the food. Was it highly bonused or something?
Nah. No bonus, (tho I did do a MF fast food about 18 months ago that was bonused up to $20...that was nice!)
This time, I just needed to add a little extra income to my goal, and this place is only 5 miles from my home. I don't do FF very often....sometimes the mood just hits me and I decide to do one. The MSC pays twice a month and never, ever an issue with payment, so that's part of the equation, too. If I had to wait 2-3 months for payment & reimbursement, I wouldn't have done it. It's like that for me with cell phone shops, too. I'm not crazy about them, but once in a while I just up and decide to do one!! Who can figure out the mind of a shopper!!

I can't remember the last time that I did a cell phone shop - it may have been 10-15 years? I did one last Saturday. If you are going to offer me $75 for 15 minutes (14 actually), you'd better believe I am there! It was all of 4 miles from home, so I declined any travel bonus on top of that. smiling smiley
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August 31, 2018 03:38PM
Yeah, SoCal, I'd hop on that too, like a frog on a June bug, as they say here down south!!
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August 31, 2018 04:04PM
I would jump on that too!
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August 31, 2018 04:53PM
I got one of those, ($75 bonused 15minute cell shops) but it was pouring rain and 10 miles, but you bet I still jumped on it.

As to mistakes, a few. Ordered wine when I was supposed to order a well drink for a possible upsell. Fortunately the MSC was forgiving and let me use the customer next to me who did exactly that. There have been a few wrong timeframes over the years, but knock of wood, not very many.
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August 31, 2018 06:34PM
Once I was doing a drive in hamburger shop. I guess I was really hungry, because I dove into that burger before realizing I had not taken a photo. Man! I was mad at myself. I went back and ordered another burger later in the day, this time, not so hungary. I took the photo and gave it to my always hungry husband.

Happy Camper
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August 31, 2018 07:11PM
Did he eat the photo ?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Reply
August 31, 2018 07:28PM
I also goofed today as well. I went to the wrong location and did a grocery store. I was supposed to do it tomorrow one a different one today. So I now have an extra $10 worth of groceries on me today.
I just didn't look at the address.
When I realized it, it was less than 10 minutes before the time restraints and went in and canceled it. I didn't send a note to the company since it was canceled and hopefully they will be OK>
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August 31, 2018 10:48PM
All that really happened was... I was one day early. Oops.

My garden in England is full of eating-out places, for heat waves, warm September evenings, or lunch on a chilly Christmas morning. (Mary Quant)
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September 01, 2018 01:21AM
Yes, I messed up at a restaurant shop and it cost me big bucks for food that was awful... I don't do those anymore unless it's somewhere cool where I can treat a friend and will not be salty if I do not get paid. I have only not gotten paid 2x in about 40 food shops. Once was my fault the other was the shop company. It was a way for me to eat out on a super tight budget after my divorce. Some of the shops were at places where the bill for 2 people came to ver 200!!! I can not enjoy the meal while worrying that I will miss some little thing and not be reimbursed. A friend who works at a company I shop for laughed at me and said the company uses the info regardless, the editors just add in the information, as long as they have pictures and a receipt, they will get paid... shady as heck, but the fine print does say they will not pay you if you miss something, nothing about them not getting paid. I don't do reimbursement shops much anymore, except for groceries.

Chicago based shopper with 7 years of experience, here to share and learn even more


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2018 01:22AM by funwoman.
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September 02, 2018 06:30PM
Last month I missed the MID sign at a gas station over 400 miles from home....so I couldn't go back and take a photo! After hundreds -- hundreds! -- of gas station shops, and never, ever missing one before!

Missing that photo for a $100 bonus turned my profitable route into a marginal route.
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September 02, 2018 07:27PM
But to me, a tomato is not a condiment. A condiment to me is mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, horsey sauce, etc. A tomato, lettuce, onion, etc. are not (in my mind).
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