Bye Blaze
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I have heard this as well. They are stopping their regular monthly program.
Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013 
I took one around Christmastime and was confused by all the timings. With a stopwatch/lap timer on my phone, it wasn't too bad. But I haven't taken a Blaze shop since, figuring I'd save it for when an editor needs a favor. Now I am going to take one if I see it, as I know they are going away.
Hubby and I went to Chipotle for lunch today. My first time since mystery shopping them. There was a sign on the door that there were no crunchy shells or chips available. My standard salad just didn't taste the same without the chips on the side.
@NinS wrote:
I still haven't stepped foot into a Chipotle on my own dime!
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
@Niner wrote:
The Blaze people do Chipotle?
No, a different MSC did Chipotle, but they stopped their program.
Happily shopping the Pacific Northwest. Shopping since 2013
I have not eaten at Chipotle since the program stopped but I have been at Blaze on my own a few times in the last few months since the program was cut back somewhat. My local blaze has gotten much worse. The food is still as good but the service is not and the restaurant tables etc do not get cleaned any more. Perhaps it was a change in manager at this one place but I do not think stopping the program will help their service at all.
Thanks for posting. I just grabbed one for May. I have lots of gift cards to use up and they cannot be used on online orders so.....if it is the last at least I have used another half of a gift card with a shop! I hope they at least do them once in a while.
@RedRose22 wrote:
@Niner wrote:
The Blaze people do Chipotle?
No, a different MSC did Chipotle, but they stopped their program.
That makes sense. I think those are the Shake Shack people, with the special training.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/2019 01:35AM by Niner.
They have always had hard time scheduling them in my area. I hope that is not the reason. I haven’t done any but I hear it’s the best pizza in town.
I am sure the schedulers in my area will sigh a big sigh of relief. Part of the issue was they were scheduling 4 shops a month at some locations until recently so they ran out of shoppers wiling and able. It really did not pay well for the work involved but I love their pizza so I would do it. My scheduler confirmed they will end soon.
@SoCalMama wrote:
@Niner wrote:
They are at $5 now.
They dropped from $8 to $5 a couple of months ago.
Yes. I remember the drop.
I used to get emails trying to negotiate, we will give you X restaurant if you take Blaze plus a pain in the a#$ call. I actually agreed to this once. The call took me a half hour, I had to go back and forth multiple times, part of the call did not get reported (got disconnected and the other party called me back), and they did not take the report. That $15 call took me over an hour, maybe an hour and a half all said and done, and I did not get paid for it. I wonder what they will use as a carrot now that Blaze will be gone?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/2019 11:13AM by Niner.
How about California Tortilla ?
@Niner wrote:
[ I wonder what they will use as a carrot now that Blaze will be gone?
Aww man. I actually liked these shops! I logged on just now to self assign one.
The take out version was ok, but I never did the regular one without a bonus, and even then I always felt like it wasn't worth it. Describing the name, appearance and interaction with 6 employees in the span of 2 minutes is too much to remember.
@7star wrote:
How about California Tortilla ?
@Niner wrote:
[ I wonder what they will use as a carrot now that Blaze will be gone?
Possibly. Have you done one? I have not. Do you need every name plus time, etc?
@sandyf wrote:
I have not eaten at Chipotle since the program stopped but I have been at Blaze on my own a few times in the last few months since the program was cut back somewhat. My local blaze has gotten much worse. The food is still as good but the service is not and the restaurant tables etc do not get cleaned any more. Perhaps it was a change in manager at this one place but I do not think stopping the program will help their service at all.
Service is worse at multiple locations because corporate cut employee hours but expects employees to provide the same level of service.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/2019 06:36PM by BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz.
@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:
@sandyf wrote:
I have not eaten at Chipotle since the program stopped but I have been at Blaze on my own a few times in the last few months since the program was cut back somewhat. My local blaze has gotten much worse. The food is still as good but the service is not and the restaurant tables etc do not get cleaned any more. Perhaps it was a change in manager at this one place but I do not think stopping the program will help their service at all.
Service is worse at multiple locations because corporate cut employee hours but expects employees to provide the same level of service.
Well I always wondered how Blaze could provide a pizza laden with two or more pounds of toppings for that price. But then I would always see people eating there with only a few scarce toppings and figured they evened out the cost for them on people like me who ordered 3 cheeses and half the veggies, doubles on the great (and pricier) ones. So maybe they have figured out they cannot with the cost for staff.
thank goodness they are droppping the shop.... editors had never had a pizza there I am convinced... the timing was NEVER NEVER to what they thought it should be.... ever.... I gave them video of how slow it was and they still said I was incorrect.
I was going to do one but at the time you had to buy whatever special dish they had that month and it didn't appeal to me. Pictures were needed and not sure about time and name.
Possibly. Have you done one? I have not. Do you need every name plus time, etc?[/quote]
@7star wrote:
How about California Tortilla ?
@Niner wrote:
[ I wonder what they will use as a carrot now that Blaze will be gone?
Possibly. Have you done one? I have not. Do you need every name plus time, etc?[/quote]
I would happily sign up for a Blaze if I wanted to do a "coveted" shop. Actually I pointed out to the scheduler that I had completed two Blazes the month before so she gave me the coveted shop.I was usually out of rotation for the Blazes near me. And there are no California Tortilla places in California but if they ever show up I would probably do those too unless they are equal to Taco Bell and Del Taco. I liked the Blaze better than the shop I had to do it for.
I stopped doing any Blaze pizza shops last year. On the last shop they asked me to correct my timings. They said they were off. I corrected the mistake, and they reject the shop because I didn't get it right the first time, even if I did correct it the second time.
I doubt the ingredients for the typical Blaze pizza cost much more than, say, a 12-inch Subway sandwich that goes for the same price. They have seen understaffed the last few times I've visited which impacted timings and cleanliness. It often seemed like the focus on speed impacted other areas -- I've probably documented more major cleanliness issues with Blaze (like huge spills in high-traffic areas never getting mopped up) than with any other frequently shopped foot outlet.
I've done my fair share of Blaze shops and will not miss them. Although I love their food and often "work for food", these shops were too stressful with the timings, handwritten name labels, catching what the workers on the line are saying. and trying to act natural.
I feel sorry for my local Blaze. Many of the staff members there are hardworking and friendly. It used to be there would be two or even three people putting ingredients on the pizzas. Now, there is often only one person doing that unless there is a long line of customers. Instead of seeing about half a dozen employees, I now usually see three or four.
I will probably continue to support my local Blaze once the shops end. I go there more often on my own dime than on shops anyway.
I will probably continue to support my local Blaze once the shops end. I go there more often on my own dime than on shops anyway.
I did a grand total of "1" Blaze. I wasn't at all impressed. Living in the area of authentic New York style pizza made by the locals, no chain pizza can beat them. I don't care how many toppings and weirdo ingredients they put on it.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Well Ms Judi if I still lived in NY...Brooklyn native here...I would agree but even NY style pizza outside of NY is just not the same. And don't get me started on Chicago Pizza..sorry you Chicagoans out there but that is not what New Yorkers call pizza. However, not like any standard pizza chain or one off place, Blaze gives me the option of some fabulous toppings. If I added all the gourmet toppings I get for no extra charge to any other pizza I have come across that size pizza would cost me over $35! The whole garlic cloves, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, marinated red peppers, ovalini cheese, feta cheese, blue cheese and even the ricotta are all so good. I will still go there on double points days!
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