I used to work for a Hormel company in Los Angeles. They had a food service division that made bacon and sausage for restaurants. The bacon and sausage were microwaved in bulk, packaged, and sent off to the restaurants.

When they came off the line, they tasted great.

@isaiah58 wrote:

The bacon at many fast or casual food places tends to be overcooked. Jersey 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 gripe now with 5G is they just raised their prices. AGAIN! Now if you want Fries/Small Drink and a Little C-burger it is $14.41 and we only get reimbursed $12.75 for it. For the same price I can go to In-N-Out and get TWO Medium Drinks, TWO Fries and TWO C-burgers. 5G is good but not 2x as good as I-N-O. I have no idea how a family of 4 can visit there knowing what they will be spending! When the economy starts to slow down soon 5G is gonna be in a lot of trouble.

@SoCalDude wrote:

My gripe now with 5G is they just raised their prices. AGAIN! Now if you want Fries/Small Drink and a Little C-burger it is $14.41 and we only get reimbursed $12.75 for it. For the same price I can go to In-N-Out and get TWO Medium Drinks, TWO Fries and TWO C-burgers. 5G is good but not 2x as good as I-N-O. I have no idea how a family of 4 can visit there knowing what they will be spending! When the economy starts to slow down soon 5G is gonna be in a lot of trouble.

Ask for a bonus using that as leverage, and bring your own cheese while ordering a Little Hamburger instead to stay close or within the reimbursement limit.

This guy knows his 5G shops ^^

@Tarantado wrote:

Ask for a bonus using that as leverage, and bring your own cheese while ordering a Little Hamburger instead to stay close or within the reimbursement limit.

I refuse to do a 5G for the normal fee. I will not do one for less than $9 and usually at least $10. And I usually get a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. If I do I can get Little Fries and a Large Drink and maybe go 10-15 cents over and for this shop I'd rather go 25-cents over than $1 or more under.

BTW - I am not bringing my own cheese. I also like it somewhat melted on to the burger

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2019 09:46PM by SoCalDude.

I once posted that I brought my own sauerkraut to enjoy with my Five Guys Hot Dog since they don't offer sauerkraut. I was heavily criticized in this forum for doing so as it might somehow influence my shop and the results. Perhaps the video would catch me doing this? My shop was accepted and there was never any feedback to indicate there was a problem. I can't eat a hot dog without sauerkraut, must be a New York thing! I just started Shake Shack shops and they also do not offer sauerkraut. Oy Veh!

@kenasch wrote:

I once posted that I brought my own sauerkraut to enjoy with my Five Guys Hot Dog since they don't offer sauerkraut. I was heavily criticized in this forum for doing so as it might somehow influence my shop and the results. Perhaps the video would catch me doing this? My shop was accepted and there was never any feedback to indicate there was a problem. I can't eat a hot dog without sauerkraut, must be a New York thing! I just started Shake Shack shops and they also do not offer sauerkraut. Oy Veh!

If I did that I would never mention it in the report. I might catch hell for this but...not everything that happens on your visit has to go into the report. Sometimes I have had conversations with an employee (on any shop) about a sports team or game or something like that and it never made the report because I knew it would either be taken out by the editor or give me away so I couldn't shop there again. I could say more but not knowing who will see this I will refrain from doing so.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2019 09:58PM by SoCalDude.

@SoCalDude wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

Ask for a bonus using that as leverage, and bring your own cheese while ordering a Little Hamburger instead to stay close or within the reimbursement limit.

If I do I can get Little Fries and a Large Drink and maybe go 10-15 cents over and for this shop I'd rather go 25-cents over than $1 or more under.

The 5G price increase means the minimum reimbursement for the minimum order is about a dollar short. Also, the shake reimbursement is about 50 cents short (when tax is included.) The MSC will need to address that with the client. Meanwhile, we all need to ask for a bonus of at least $2 to cover the price increases.

@PuaM wrote:

@SoCalDude wrote:

@Tarantado wrote:

Ask for a bonus using that as leverage, and bring your own cheese while ordering a Little Hamburger instead to stay close or within the reimbursement limit.

If I do I can get Little Fries and a Large Drink and maybe go 10-15 cents over and for this shop I'd rather go 25-cents over than $1 or more under.

The 5G price increase means the minimum reimbursement for the minimum order is about a dollar short. Also, the shake reimbursement is about 50 cents short (when tax is included.) The MSC will need to address that with the client. Meanwhile, we all need to ask for a bonus of at least $2 to cover the price increases.

I saw that about the shake. It is now $5.19. BEFORE tax - meaning over $5.50 after tax meaning that much out of my pocket with a $5 reimbursement. That is a joke. The location in Costa Mesa, CA is directly across the street from a Sonic. I can go to Sonic and for $4-ish get a shake that is a million times better - for less money. 5G shakes are too loose and runny. Especially if you get a fruit flavored one because they put in some artificial stuff and it makes it even looser.

MY #1 gripe is Panda. Reimbursement has always been $9. When I first started doing it the meal was about $8.90. Now if you get out for less than $10 you are lucky and the only way that happens is not getting a drink but a 3rd entree. And some local malls are closer to $11. OUCH! THAT is the one we need raised. But will never get

Hey everyone. Has anybody ever ordered an entree without any toppings for a shop? I ordered a cheeseburger with the app and in my haste forgot to put toppings. Do you think it will get rejected?

@Monsto08 wrote:

Hey everyone. Has anybody ever ordered an entree without any toppings for a shop? I ordered a cheeseburger with the app and in my haste forgot to put toppings. Do you think it will get rejected?

It should be accepted. In the past I have ordered a C-burger with only ketchup on it and the report was accepted. Once again I want to say more but the trouble I would get in for doing so is not worth it

@Monsto08 wrote:

Hey everyone. Has anybody ever ordered an entree without any toppings for a shop? I ordered a cheeseburger with the app and in my haste forgot to put toppings. Do you think it will get rejected?

Since the point is whether the store fills the order accurately, no toppings would be a good test. No toppings means no toppings - no toppings, no worries.

Fascinating, seeing this thread, it seems many of you have a clue. Yes, if they want, they know who we are very very often, they do not get the exact time of your visit, however, they do know the day and a general timeframe, after a few visits, and reading the reports for similarities or differences in writing style, they can indeed figure out who you are. Years ago a certain office supply store knew who the shoppers were simply because they walked in, and just like clockwork, went through a specific routine. The real shame is that at a certain burger joint, if the franchisese complained about a shopper lying, even if they had proof on video, the best they could get from Burger Corp. was don't worry about it. Easy to see why that client went poof, finally.

Happily it does not matter if anyone at any particular 5G knows who I am. I was being helpful years before the first store opened. Ditto the office supply store and certain burger joint with 5 area franchisees and others. That being said, a certain MS company best mind it's P.s and Q's or a certain grocery chain can and will do the same thing that certain burger joint did. Like I've said before, somebody has to watch the watchers, sometimes even more. It is good to see you paying attention and having a clue, I respect that heaps and bundles!

As per not revealing cleints of certain companies, I have specific authorization by some to do indeed that, but I only do so privately and only if I can vouch for the referral. Not happening on an open forum like this, tho, sorry. Keeping a low profile makes it easier to do what I do, anyway. Since I work with literally the owners of both MSC's and their clients, that good old avoiding conflict of interest bit is rigorously adhered to. And fraud or the like is dealt with firmly, too. On both ends.

Some shops know who the mystery shoppers are by the questions they ask or how they act. I had one cell phone shop where the manager said they know who the mystery shoppers are. They're the only ones asking a lot of questions. I was doing an open audit for this cell phone shop.

You are correct. Fortunately, in those cases where I'm contracted with the client and my job is to observe what's going on the MSC and shopper side, I have absolute latitude as to what and how I do things. Unless I want them to know what I do, they will not know. And yes, sometimes the client locations are supposed to accidentally or otherwise find out who I am. It's then when I'm working team with others, and the "real" shopper who is unknown to them is actually writing the report, I'm just a decoy in those cases.

I was doing a cell phone mystery shop. The manager was helping me. A customer came in and started asking a salesperson a lot of questions, and the manager asked my permission to go over and help him. I of course agreed (shop guidelines). When he came back, he told me that he knew that the other customer was a mystery shopper because of the questions he asked, and that he always knew. I asked what a mystery shopper was, and he explained it quickly o me. I guess I was asking the "wrong" ( LOL ) questions that day !

@myst4au wrote:

I was doing a cell phone mystery shop. The manager was helping me. A customer came in and started asking a salesperson a lot of questions, and the manager asked my permission to go over and help him. I of course agreed (shop guidelines). When he came back, he told me that he knew that the other customer was a mystery shopper because of the questions he asked, and that he always knew. I asked what a mystery shopper was, and he explained it quickly o me. I guess I was asking the "wrong" ( LOL ) questions that day !

This anecdote is a keeper. Thanks for sharing.

With all the posts about price increases, I thought I would check out the online ordering since I have shop later this week. Looks like they added a dime to the cheeseburger since last month. Fries and drink are the same. I can still get out 2 cents under the reimbursement with a little bacon cheese, or 8 cents over on the hamburger. Last month the cheeseburger put me 72 cents over. I do like that bacon cheese dog though (with mustard, onions, and grilled jalapeno), and that keeps me way under limit.

@PaulinMI wrote:

With all the posts about price increases, I thought I would check out the online ordering since I have shop later this week. Looks like they added a dime to the cheeseburger since last month. Fries and drink are the same..

Glad it will work out for you. It won't work in SoCal. That makes it tougher for the MSC to raise reimbursements for those of us who will be paying substantially more for the required meal. (Substantially meaning about a dollar more.) Interestingly, I did a shop some months ago for the MSC (different client.) The required purchase was about $2.55 over the reimbursement. Two months later, I had an unannounced $2.55 deposit in my account. It can happen.

I sure wouldn't mind if they raised the reimbursement a buck or two. I wonder how much the individual franchise owners set the price vs. corporate. Also, just curious, what is the starting wage out there for 5 guys? Here it is advertised $11/hr.

I did one of their shops in another area, it was over $14 for a hot dog, small fries and small drink. I won't do another shop in that area again. Not unless they offer more.

@PaulinMI wrote:

I sure wouldn't mind if they raised the reimbursement a buck or two. I wonder how much the individual franchise owners set the price vs. corporate. Also, just curious, what is the starting wage out there for 5 guys? Here it is advertised $11/hr.

Something like that is decided by the individual owner or the district manager.

@PaulinMI wrote:

With all the posts about price increases, I thought I would check out the online ordering since I have shop later this week. Looks like they added a dime to the cheeseburger since last month. Fries and drink are the same. I can still get out 2 cents under the reimbursement with a little bacon cheese, or 8 cents over on the hamburger. Last month the cheeseburger put me 72 cents over. I do like that bacon cheese dog though (with mustard, onions, and grilled jalapeno), and that keeps me way under limit.

Keep in mind that every location may vary in price. Out where I'm at, there's a particular location located in the center of the business district of Denver.... The price of the most basic burger with little fries and a drink comes out to around $14-15. Meaning, the cheapest thing to stay within the $12.75 limit is getting the 'veggie burger' which is basically just the toppings and a bun, which is a joke. Hence, why you can EASILY leverage much higher fees out of certain locations.

@PaulinMI wrote:

I sure wouldn't mind if they raised the reimbursement a buck or two. I wonder how much the individual franchise owners set the price vs. corporate. Also, just curious, what is the starting wage out there for 5 guys? Here it is advertised $11/hr.

The unwritten 'minimum wage' in Denver depending on location in the region these days is $13-15 an hour. Colorado Springs and other areas of Colorado is $10 an hour.

.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/16/2019 01:38AM by ap7isback.

@PuaM wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

I was doing a cell phone mystery shop. The manager was helping me. A customer came in and started asking a salesperson a lot of questions, and the manager asked my permission to go over and help him. I of course agreed (shop guidelines). When he came back, he told me that he knew that the other customer was a mystery shopper because of the questions he asked, and that he always knew. I asked what a mystery shopper was, and he explained it quickly o me. I guess I was asking the "wrong" ( LOL ) questions that day !

This anecdote is a keeper. Thanks for sharing.

Kudos to you! The only shoppers who play the straight jacketed script are the ones who want everybody to know who they are and what they're doing. The clients and usually the people at the individual locations know exactly everything we know about the "formula" and so often it's easy as pie to see. IMHO, sometimes the shopping is simply pablum the companies give to their clients for a feel good moment. My clients do not know when, what, nada, they get the report and the details, and the shopped ones have nary a clue unless the client and I want them to.

@PuaM wrote:

Two months later, I had an unannounced $2.55 deposit in my account. It can happen.

I had that happen as well back in November, not quite as much though. I thought it was because the required Arby's order was over the reimbursement amount. No choices on that shop.

In Ontario HST is 13%. A little cheese, little fries and regular drink is apparently now 15.56.. and the reimbursement is 14. I won't do a shop for the base rate.. but a ton of people do.

@Mafia_Princess wrote:

In Ontario HST is 13%. A little cheese, little fries and regular drink is apparently now 15.56..

We are all dining there with 5G underwriting our meals. Taking a step back, I wonder how much business 5G will lose when a family of four decides it won't pay $45 for burgers, fries and drinks? (The bottom line can't afford to lose a lot of $45 sales.) Business at the local 5G has dropped off since The Habit opened a half-block away. $1 ice cream cones anyone?

@PuaM wrote:

@Mafia_Princess wrote:

Business at the local 5G has dropped off since The Habit opened a half-block away. $1 ice cream cones anyone?

I like Five Guys, but the Charburger is a better burger, and it's several dollars cheaper. The double Char is $4.79 here, while a regular burger at Five Guys is $7.69. I like The Habit's sweet potato fries better than Five Guys' fries, too. Volume doesn't win the fry game for me.