For Bob, the Roadhouse bar shops are a perfect fit, because I quite enjoy the meal and I almost always come in under the max. The dining assignments, which require a guest, are rarely available by the time I access the page. After subtracting my veteran's discount, I am able to order an 11 oz. sirloin, steak fries, a house salad and an ice cream sundae, including the tax and tip, for $24 and change, as the tax varies by the county. For that meal, I submit a report that averages 35 minutes; that is very acceptable and surely beats the three hours that some fine dining eateries required in the previous decade when I tried that style of restaurants. In addition, it would be far less likely one would screw up such a report and not be paid, BUT, to each his/her own!.

I am not required to get a drink at all, not even water. But having something to drink is my own personal requirement. I don't want water, I want a soft drink. I drink enough (bottled) water when in Asia. Yes, that is personal preference, and my decision. I'd rather pay for the entire meal than pay for a soft drink with my "free" buritto. Personal preference. The soft drink is almost pure profit for them.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Are you required to get a fountain drink? If not, get a free water cup and fill it with your fountain drink. Dude at Five Guys gave me that tip.

@myst4au wrote:

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Yes , the soft drink is pure profit. That is why you get your fountain drink in the free water cup on your burrito shop.

Seriously? You are publicly advocating theft? You must consider theft to be ethical behavior. I don't. I doubt that the MSCs who contract with you to do shops condone thievery. From a previous post where you state that you learned to ask for a water cup during a shop, I am forced to conclude that you regularly steal merchandise (soda is the merchandise in question) when you conduct those shops. Amazing.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Yes , the soft drink is pure profit. That is why you get your fountain drink in the free water cup on your burrito shop.

That is theft and punishable with jail time
That is stealing.
Wow not impressed with you to outright steal.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Are you required to get a fountain drink? If not, get a free water cup and fill it with your fountain drink. Dude at Five Guys gave me that tip.

@myst4au wrote:

This has been an interesting thread the read, with lots of different opinions. About once a year, I do a fine dining shop for reimbursement only that costs $200 to $225 with tip (not for Coyle). If something goes south, we can afford it, but my view is that it would cost me $300 in before tax dollars to pay for it. I'd rather have it reimbursed. On the other hand, there is a burrito shop always available near me that is regularly available. It reimburses up to $8 for the burrito, and requires that I sit there and eat it. My drink is not reimbursed. I did it once. Easy write up, Fast to submit. Easy editing. I decline to do it again on principle because I have to pay for my own drink. I'd rather go there and not get reimbursed at all than pay for the $3 drink to go with my "free" meal.

I am sure you never write that in your report. WOW STEALING.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Yes , the soft drink is pure profit. That is why you get your fountain drink in the free water cup on your burrito shop.

I never get a drink on Taco Tuesday (not a shop), I get a water cup...filled with water. Someone watching like the Manager, could catch you and ban you from the place or make you pay for a drink, embarrased to the core. I realize it's easy to do, but it is no no no!!!! Imagine if everyone did that. I always get a drink from my shops as it is reimbursed (at least the ones I do, except Jack in the box), if not I get WATER.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2018 04:05PM by Irene_L.A..

LOL. Maybe in Canada, but not in the USA. No jail time for taking some soda. A soda costs the restaurant about 1 cent. I've filled up a water cup with Soda at Pei Wei( the manager handed me the water cup) while I was waiting( not a mystery shop). She saw me with the soda and did not say a word. You wanna call the cops on me? Go ahead. LOL.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

That is theft and punishable with jail time
That is stealing.
Wow not impressed with you to outright steal.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Are you required to get a fountain drink? If not, get a free water cup and fill it with your fountain drink. Dude at Five Guys gave me that tip.

@myst4au wrote:

This has been an interesting thread the read, with lots of different opinions. About once a year, I do a fine dining shop for reimbursement only that costs $200 to $225 with tip (not for Coyle). If something goes south, we can afford it, but my view is that it would cost me $300 in before tax dollars to pay for it. I'd rather have it reimbursed. On the other hand, there is a burrito shop always available near me that is regularly available. It reimburses up to $8 for the burrito, and requires that I sit there and eat it. My drink is not reimbursed. I did it once. Easy write up, Fast to submit. Easy editing. I decline to do it again on principle because I have to pay for my own drink. I'd rather go there and not get reimbursed at all than pay for the $3 drink to go with my "free" meal.

If I was a manager, I would not call the cops, either. It's a "pick your battles" kind of thing, and yes...the soda is not worth that much money.

Additionally, not many managers are actually equipped to deal effectively with theft in many ff restaurants. Sometimes if it's a small amount, they are either too lazy or too overwhelmed to deal with it.

Also, calling the cops and having lights and sirens, or at the very least, a uniformed officer coming in on "official business...." is bad for business.

Finally, some managers just don't care. Sometimes managers will GIVE free stuff to family and friends because they are ineffective and untrained as managers. Some of them don't care about the bottom line or take care of profits for the owner.

That doesn't mean that the manager/other customers/other employees with integrity....didn't have a SMH moment

I'm not calling it "thief", but really I haven't seen many people do it while I'm shopping, if your going to get a drink, they want to know the cleanliness and taste of the drink. Regardless, if "coke", etc doesn't cost much, it cost customers plenty and that's how they make their money throughout the country. Think big as owners of chains do, and since your getting the meal, pay an extra 2.50 for a drink and have a feeling of not trying to get a freebie,
that's all......I really don't care, but would be looking over my shoulder, hoping I don't get caught. Drive thu's, I get my drink at home...but, whatever floats your boat, and I've never had (12yrs) an employee give me a cup telling me to fill it with coke....imagination wins today!!!!

Theft is theft! Like it or not, we all pay for the grazers and the soda stealers. Our prices would be far lower if we eliminated shrink.

IT is positively THEFT in any country. Stealing.. You did not pay for a soda you stole it.
Google jail for stealing soda. If happens.[And if I did see you do that I WOULD call the cops!
Theft is theft! How can you justly NOT paying for it? Want to go behind the counter and grab a burger too? How is that different? HOW?


quote=calicakes]
LOL. Maybe in Canada, but not in the USA. No jail time for taking some soda. A soda costs the restaurant about 1 cent. I've filled up a water cup with Soda at Pei Wei( the manager handed me the water cup) while I was waiting( not a mystery shop). She saw me with the soda and did not say a word. You wanna call the cops on me? Go ahead. LOL.

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

That is theft and punishable with jail time
That is stealing.
Wow not impressed with you to outright steal.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Are you required to get a fountain drink? If not, get a free water cup and fill it with your fountain drink. Dude at Five Guys gave me that tip.

@myst4au wrote:

This has been an interesting thread the read, with lots of different opinions. About once a year, I do a fine dining shop for reimbursement only that costs $200 to $225 with tip (not for Coyle). If something goes south, we can afford it, but my view is that it would cost me $300 in before tax dollars to pay for it. I'd rather have it reimbursed. On the other hand, there is a burrito shop always available near me that is regularly available. It reimburses up to $8 for the burrito, and requires that I sit there and eat it. My drink is not reimbursed. I did it once. Easy write up, Fast to submit. Easy editing. I decline to do it again on principle because I have to pay for my own drink. I'd rather go there and not get reimbursed at all than pay for the $3 drink to go with my "free" meal.

[/quote]

Theft is theft.
Can see why you are NOT a manager.

@Jill_L wrote:

If I was a manager, I would not call the cops, either. It's a "pick your battles" kind of thing, and yes...the soda is not worth that much money.

Additionally, not many managers are actually equipped to deal effectively with theft in many ff restaurants. Sometimes if it's a small amount, they are either too lazy or too overwhelmed to deal with it.

Also, calling the cops and having lights and sirens, or at the very least, a uniformed officer coming in on "official business...." is bad for business.

Finally, some managers just don't care. Sometimes managers will GIVE free stuff to family and friends because they are ineffective and untrained as managers. Some of them don't care about the bottom line or take care of profits for the owner.

That doesn't mean that the manager/other customers/other employees with integrity....didn't have a SMH moment

Level of theft, someone would not be arrested in Ca, yes taking anything not belonging or paid for may be called theft, shop lifting, however, even that for a first offense will not bring you to jail here. Warning from the Manager, either pay for item or return and your name will go on a list for first offense. Proofing someone took a swig of coke, very difficult so, being our industry is based on integrity/honesty, you do need to see it as a red flag. What if the Manager see's you and figures your the shopper and reports you as such, stating what you did, you will no longer be able to shop this place....is it worth it?
afterthought: I really don't understand the wanting others to know and bragging about it???????



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2018 06:03PM by Irene_L.A..

I've not done any shops at places that have a soda machine, but I have eaten at Panera a few times. I almost always have my reusable water bottle with me, really wherever I go. I will just drink water from that to go along with my food. I wouldn't want to pay for a soft drink, so I just wouldn't get one. When on sit down restaurant shops, I do order an iced or hot tea, since I have the extra wiggle room with reimbursement amount.

Theft is theft, I agree. I stole a lot as a teenager. I was kicked out of my house for several months and I initially did it to survive. Then when I moved back home, it remained a bad habit, especially since I was so good at it. Once I was in my 20's, I felt really bad for stealing from a particular grocery store and bought a gift card for a high amount and destroyed it. A lot of the youth I volunteer with have been incarcerated for survival crimes: crimes strongly associated with homelessness. Stealing food is a very common one. It's not ok to commit these crimes, but I do wish individual circumstances were taken into account. Even though something costs a restaurant a penny, it should still be paid for. If you aren't willing to pay for something like that (like me, unless I'm on a mystery shop), then just skip it. Everyone on here seems to make at least enough money not to have to steal, so I think we should all try to do what we know is right.

I would recommend any body hungry to go to a shelter and eat for free without doing any reports and usually it is fine dinning food donated by local restaurants. For any shops, I have to get paid, as any job does and be able to pay my bills.

I thought about this subject and it makes for interesting conversation. I'd like to know from both who admit to taking free drinks, if that also allows you to take a lipstick because it's on the counter and others do it, and the company is rich and won't miss it. I find this part of an addition and maybe could lead (if not already) to a bigger problem. I see it in the subject of shop lifting. Shop lifting is an emptiness inside and the need for attention or getting away with something., and has no degree of one's need for the item, rich, poor, anyone can have this addition.
I do understand the impulse just do it, not a biggie.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2018 07:35PM by Irene_L.A..

@mlzg,

I'm so sorry to hear about that. And I know what you went through. I was kicked out as a teenager, too. I was kicked out by my dad for reporting his abuse. I lived in a stairwell for a long time. I stole food and toilet paper for a while, until a kind woman came and got me into a shelter for abused women. By the time she found me, I was very sick, and she also took me to the doctor. I never got a doctor bill or a bill for the medications...either she paid for it out of her pocket or she had some organization that I don't know about pay for it. When my time there ran out, she helped me move into an apartment that was income based. My only piece of furniture was an old cot and a blanket. I went to high school in the mornings, on the bus with all the elementary kids because I couldn't afford a car and it was pretty far to walk, and walked from high school to a restaurant where I worked from about noon to about midnight. (guidance counselor in HS "emancipated" me so I didn't have to go to school all day) I would then walk back to my apartment late at night. NOTE: I lived in a very small mountain town with no soup kitchens, etc. and I was just a kid anyway, so I would not have known about resources that might have been available. Thank God for the kind woman who searched for me until she found me and got me into a place where I could survive.

And then got a job as a manager at a restaurant. Saw first hand what other managers did. Saw how they were not trained or equipped to handle some things. Was so thankful to my boss for the job that I DID protect his profits.
Went on to own a franchise myself for a long time....@CANADAMOMMY. Knew what my managers were up to and what they were "getting away with" or what "infractions" I would allow them to "get away with." Still own quite a bit of property and have had property managers in the past. Same situations apply: property managers don't take care of my bottom line as well as *I* take care of my own bottom line; so I do the managing myself now.

Which is why I know it's not worth it to get the cops involved for someone to get soda in their water cups. Often those people were put on a "watch list," or whatever. Sometimes they were asked to pay for the soda, but never harassed about it. Sometimes when they came in the next time, they were told at the register that they needed to pay for "a" soda in a polite but firm way. But in a business establishment, you don't want to make a big stink in front of other customers or have a customer start yelling at you because they are caught red handed, are embarrassed and on the defensive. That just makes all the other customers uncomfortable; and owners plan for a certain amount of "loss," which comes in many many forms (employees being lazy is a loss; employees not clocking out when they are finished working to "milk the clock," employees eating more than the allotment, employees breaking things, customers complaining about some obscure infraction to the point of getting a free meal, customers clogging toilets....etc etc)

IDK why some people think they "know it all." without knowing backstories, or without talking to someone and finding out their solutions in a more detailed format than this forum *usually* allows for. I tried to explain some reasoning in my first post. Apparently not well enough. So here ^^^^ is some more reasoning. I can go further, even, but it's becoming quite the long post already.

I agree: theft is theft. A lot of what one does about it depends on the type/amount of theft and also on the establishment itself.

I owned a video and game business for 18 years. In that time, I caught four thieves, phoned the police and closed my business during the arrests. My reasoning was that crooks have a communication whereby they share info on from whom they can steal and, if caught, walk. Of course I have no proof my method was effective, but at least it satisfied me.

Think about this for a moment. My wife( who is a Sgt with LAPD) observed a dude stealing some tools at Lowe's( in the town we live in, which is not under LAPD jurisdiction). She informed the manager who said " We can't do anything about it, we're not allowed to detain shoplifters". So, if Lowe's can't stop someone stealing tools or high end stuff, no one is going to stop you for "stealing" soda.

@RobG wrote:

Theft is theft! Like it or not, we all pay for the grazers and the soda stealers. Our prices would be far lower if we eliminated shrink.

So, is "sampling" from the salad bar or hot foods bar at Whole Foods stealing too?

Yes.

These are tough cases. There is the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

1.) Ordering water and getting soda to avoid paying for it. I consider this stealing.
2.) Trying a piece of fruit to see if it's sour/fresh, etc. before considering buying. Very tough call. My mom does this all the time. She does it with a good heart and isn't trying to "get over" on the business. She buys their fruit all the time, but just wants to see how fresh things are that day. I dunno.
3.) Sampling from the salad bar that you haven't paid for yet. I dunno. I feel like management probably wouldn't care if it was a very small thing you sampled (like a single grape like my mom does in the fruit/grocery section), but it technically is stealing I suppose (sort of like my mom does). If you ate a lot, then I could see how that'd bother management, because if everyone did that, they'd lose decent money maybe.
4.) Filling up on free bread and peanuts at TXRH (like my mom does) and taking your entree home (only eats a few bites). And, she orders the final batch of bread and takes some home too (four rolls - she eats one and takes the other three home in that batch and sometimes asks for additional butter!...but, my goodness, that butter is sooooo good!). By the letter of the law, no, because TXRH explicitly says it's FREE! But by the spirit of the law, my mom is kind of GREEDY here.

Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2018 10:53PM by shoptastic.

I agree with you. If you want a sample, ask for it. If you just take it, it is theft.

@Niner wrote:

Yes.

@myst4au wrote:

I agree with you. If you want a sample, ask for it. If you just take it, it is theft.

@Niner wrote:

Yes.

Is there an unspoken grocery store rule that says you can try fruit, though? I've asked my mom about this and she says everyone does it.

I don't, though.

edited to add: Also, you guys need to start a separate thread on this topic! Mine is about something different. TY.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/15/2018 10:52PM by shoptastic.

Thank you for sharing your story, Jill. It's heartbreaking, but also inspiring. Have you considered writing a book?

Some of my coworkers told me I should write a book about my life, but I don't think I'm a very good writer. My mom changed the locks on me when she found out by reading my diary that I had recently figured out I was gay. My neighbors (big sister types who babysat me when I was little) came by trying to give me presents for my 16th birthday, and my mother, I think out of embarrassment, started trying to reach me and get me back home. While out of the house, I would go into stores with friends and they'd get followed around (I was the only white kid and everyone assumes I'm straight), so my friends would get followed/watched in stores and I would steal a bunch. I got away with crazy stuff. Stealing became very addictive for me, but thank goodness I haven't had the urge to do so in over 14 years. My friends were stopped & frisked, and cops would not lay a hand on me, but just tell me I was out too late and to go home. I never got a key back to my parents' house, but they let me come back and would leave the back door unlocked for me.

Thankfully, I no longer have the desire to steal. I do worry a lot, often unnecessarily, about finances. Mystery shopping, even if it's just restaurant reimbursement, eases my mind greatly. If I can get a "free" (yes, I know I had to follow rules and fill out a survey) meal, and often times have some leftover food to bring home, that's two "free" meals for both me and my wife. I consider that a pretty good savings. A few times brunch mystery shops have been so filling that we barely ate anything else all day. I live in NYC and stuff is costly. I also obsessively order samples and use survey websites to get gift cards. Every little bit helps, in my opinion. I don't even mind taking 2 hours to fill out a survey, if I'm home in my pajamas with my beautiful soulmate helping me with my "hobby" as she calls it.

@Jill_L wrote:

@mlzg,

I'm so sorry to hear about that. And I know what you went through. I was kicked out as a teenager, too. I was kicked out by my dad for reporting his abuse. I lived in a stairwell for a long time. I stole food and toilet paper for a while, until a kind woman came and got me into a shelter for abused women. By the time she found me, I was very sick, and she also took me to the doctor. I never got a doctor bill or a bill for the medications...either she paid for it out of her pocket or she had some organization that I don't know about pay for it. When my time there ran out, she helped me move into an apartment that was income based. My only piece of furniture was an old cot and a blanket. I went to high school in the mornings, on the bus with all the elementary kids because I couldn't afford a car and it was pretty far to walk, and walked from high school to a restaurant where I worked from about noon to about midnight. (guidance counselor in HS "emancipated" me so I didn't have to go to school all day) I would then walk back to my apartment late at night. NOTE: I lived in a very small mountain town with no soup kitchens, etc. and I was just a kid anyway, so I would not have known about resources that might have been available. Thank God for the kind woman who searched for me until she found me and got me into a place where I could survive.

@mlzg

You had such a rough upbringing too! I'm so sorry <<<hugs>>>

I opened another post:

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

Just because you as a cop cannot Do anything does not make it right to steal.
WOW
WOW
WOW

@calicakes wrote:

Think about this for a moment. My wife( who is a Sgt with LAPD) observed a dude stealing some tools at Lowe's( in the town we live in, which is not under LAPD jurisdiction). She informed the manager who said " We can't do anything about it, we're not allowed to detain shoplifters". So, if Lowe's can't stop someone stealing tools or high end stuff, no one is going to stop you for "stealing" soda.

@mlzg,

So food shops for reimbursement only are GREAT for some people

I do them as often as I can.

Ummm, where did I say that I was a cop?

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Just because you as a cop cannot Do anything does not make it right to steal.
WOW
WOW
WOW

@calicakes wrote:

Think about this for a moment. My wife( who is a Sgt with LAPD) observed a dude stealing some tools at Lowe's( in the town we live in, which is not under LAPD jurisdiction). She informed the manager who said " We can't do anything about it, we're not allowed to detain shoplifters". So, if Lowe's can't stop someone stealing tools or high end stuff, no one is going to stop you for "stealing" soda.