Five Guys

Funny story. They call me often to do my local shop so I do it for $18 or $14 if I'm feeling generous. As I'm entering last nite for dinner, I see the manager walk out to go home. I say hi to him and he gets startled, turns around and runs to the back and whispers in the assistant manager's ear. Then he exits and smiles at me and says "Enjoy." I order my little little burger and Coke, pay, get my order number and wouldn;t you know, I get the meal in 90 seconds flat delivered right to the table. The ass mgr then takes my cup and gets me a Coke and fills up a ketchup thingy. I'm confident they know I'm a shopper. Why would they bump someone else's burger to get mine faster? Oddly, one day the manager sits next to me and starts telling me his life story. He says that he has to make sure everyone is treated like they're their only customer because "shoppers" dine there all the time and they get bonuses based on the reports. I said, "Really? sounds like a good gig." Then I told him that I got a check for $2000 to shop Western Union , sounded like a scam. We both laughed and I left. Wonder if my photo is plastered in the back room?

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Oh yeah it’s properly posted with everyone on high alert when you show up. They get paid like 200 bucks for those things( i had a buddy work for them.) They get A ton of money if the shop
Is perfect. Nothing at all if it’s not.
Edit your post. ICA violation, even if you

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2018 01:22PM by HonnyBrown.
optik, how would they know you're a shopper? Do you gawk at the french fry dude?

I shop them once a month. The location I went to in October, two of the staff members gave each other the "the shopper is back" look when I walked in. How would they know?

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Honestly..I shopped them recently too. I felt like they knew..unfortanately the day I went the food and service was amazing but the wait time took 15 minutes..there were 4 orders ahead of mine.

Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.
When I was running businesses that got shopped, I would just take the date and time from the report and pull up the security camera and see who was at the counter at that exact time. It was easy for me to see who it was. I am sure they can do the same thing.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

optik, how would they know you're a shopper? Do you gawk at the french fry dude?

I shop them once a month. The location I went to in October, two of the staff members gave each other the "the shopper is back" look when I walked in. How would they know?

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
@HonnyBrown, when you quote @leicholtz in your post telling them to edit their post, it sort of defeats the purpose. Just sayin'.

proudly shopping in the D.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/30/2018 12:17PM by PaulinMI.
I realized that when I scrolled down just now. I was going to report my post, but I edited instead.

@PaulinMI wrote:

@HonnyBrown, when you quote @leicholtz in your post telling them to edit their post, it sort of defeats the purpose. Just sayin'.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The manager at a location in my home town bought my kids Christmas gifts one year. Yeah, I'm pretty sure she figured out I was the shopper.
A local bowling alley definitely figured out I was a shopper. I do not think it was that difficult for them to tell. I would do the shop every 60 days on a Sunday when it was super slow. After shopping this location about 5 times I saw the manager run over and tell the snack shop something. They then both looked at me and wouldn't you know that they asked me all the right questions and went out of their way with customer service. I don't feel comfortable mystery shopping there anymore. I went back as a regular customer and the manager ran over to our table and again asked us all the right questions (he does not normally interact with the customers). When I said we were not purchasing food (it was not a mystery shop) he was shocked.

When they know that you are a mystery shopper do you usually stop shopping that location?
@stebrow283 wrote:



When they know that you are a mystery shopper do you usually stop shopping that location?

No. I will let the client/MSC tell me I can’t shop there anymore. Also can usually not be 100% sure they know.
@kenasch, I'm with you on that. Not my business to find out if I've been outed. I'm pretty sure the 5 guys I shop regularly know me. But we do our little dance one or two times a month and we both seem to benefit. Any manager that can't figure out who the shopper is probably shouldn't be a manager. Everything is on tape, we have to record our exact times, provide a transaction number, and tons of other detail. Not a lot of mystery left in that mystery shop regarding who the shopper is.

proudly shopping in the D.
Given that I like a non-popular menu item and have had several instances of having to request incorrect orders be remade I always figure I'll be outed. But given the dirty dining areas, lack of upselling and long waits to get my food clearly the manager hasn't bothered.
No. Why should I. Makes the report easier and I love legendary customer service. Besides, they seem to treat all their customers like family
Enutson, does that mean if the food is hot and served under 8 minutes and fries are offered and the restaurant is clean but there are smudges on the front door they won't get a bonus? That's amazing because I shop some locations that have never once had a smudge-free door.
For the last rating, best in class, I rarely give them a 10. Unless an associate checks on me in the dining area, the best I give is a 9. So would that prevent the Five Guys store from having a perfect shop? I do include this in my notes as my reason for a 9.

I dine at several fast food and casual food restaurants that emphasize having associates or managers perform table checks. That in my opinion makes them best in class, at least when someone actually performs the table checks.

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/31/2018 01:18AM by isaiah58.
Maybe I'm feeling a little curmudgeonly this morning after my New Year's libations, but I'd probably knock off a punt if some greasy ass twenty something interrupted my meal while I was dining. What are they going to do? Go get me some ketchup? Go sweep the floor, wipe down that table, and clean the bathroom. If I have a problem, I know where to go.

Crappy new fear. smiling smiley

quote=isaiah58]
For the last rating, best in class, I rarely give them a 10. Unless an associate checks on me in the dining area, the best I give is a 9...…

I dine at several fast food and casual food restaurants that emphasize having associates or managers perform table checks. That in my opinion makes them best in class, at least when someone actually performs the table checks.[/quote]

proudly shopping in the D.
I was thinking the same thing. The LAST thing I want at that type of restaurant is for someone to bother me while eating.
Maybe it’s just in NYC, but they don’t seem to care who the mystery shoppers are...
Have you ever been chided for taking too much peanuts at Five Guys? It startled me one day when a staff saw me go back to get another scoop of their peanuts of which I am addicted. He said rudely, those are for other guests. What am I ? not a guest? I sure reported that in my report.
Wonder if he will be there the next time that you go back?

@BetteL wrote:

Have you ever been chided for taking too much peanuts at Five Guys? It startled me one day when a staff saw me go back to get another scoop of their peanuts of which I am addicted. He said rudely, those are for other guests. What am I ? not a guest? I sure reported that in my report.
Here are my observations about FG:

1 .The fries are the BEST-- no better way to get real fresh potatoes flavor. Occasionally, but not often they are greasy or heavy.
2, The BLT is GREAT-- when they do not overcook the bacon (I know it is supposed to be well done-- but not cracking into shards, tiny pieces, chips, scorched tasting, dark dark brown to near black.) Bacon should not be super hard.
2a. YOU OVERCOOK THE BACON FG!! Remember your carryover cooking continues to cook the bacon.
3. The shakes are usually too thin and too sweet.
4. The burgers are GREAT.
5. Tried the kosher hot dog one time and the meat was way too greasy for me.
6. Grilled veggies will usually soggify the bun (they could solve this by draining, blotting the veggies OR cooking them on a DRY GRILL.)
7. The employees are usually super friendly
JMHO after a ka-jillion FG shops.

9. ONE MORE TIME-- YOU OVERCOOK THE BACON.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/2019 05:30PM by catlassy.
In most of the stores, the peanuts are past their stated date on the box and they would love people to take extras home!
The bacon at many fast or casual food places tends to be overcooked. Jersy Mike's, Checkers, even at Roy Rogers. It is probably because it is cooked in mass and has to sit all day. Better than being rubbery and soggy?!?

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
Prices went up a lot at the beginning of the year. I messaged the MSC. The reimbursement no longer covers the "little-burger/little-fries/little-soda" minimum order (plus tax it is nearly $14 in my area.) The shake has gone up over the reimbursement price, too. Glad I got a bonus to do the shop this week.

Shopping SoCal and Maui.
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