I see the same cashiers at the Five Guys closest to me. I've stopped doing that location, because I feel like they could be catching onto me. I'm unsure at the moment, but I've stopped for a few months to be safe. And I've even eaten there on own time on purpose a couple of times to NOT order the required stuff for FG shops to try to throw them off.

But, yeah, it feels weird always seeing the same cashiers and pretending to forget to order a drink and have them suggest one for me and magically be like "Oh...umm, sure..."

Does this make it easy to spot us?

So and so always comes here and always forgets to order a drink and always magically agrees to a suggestive selling of one.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 03:54PM by shoptastic.

I don't think so. Ordering your burger and then waiting until the cashier suggests fries and drink or says "anything else?" is pretty nondescript ordering behavior in my opinion. They probably get 150 people a day who do exactly the same thing.

I agree with CaliGirl, when a customer does not know the menu, that is how they act. I find myself starring at menu boards all the time, looking for combos, available food, etc.

We do it all the time.

@RobG wrote:

I agree with CaliGirl, when a customer does not know the menu, that is how they act. I find myself starring at menu boards all the time, looking for combos, available food, etc.

I guess I'm super paranoid, b/c I see the same cashiers so much that I sometimes think they know me and what I'll order. I also feel my "acting" is fake when I pretend to be trying to figure out a drink that I forgot to order. I do a long "Ummmmmm.....I'll add a [insert drink]." I guess you have to be there. I know it sounds fake in my own head when I replay how I say it.

i need to switch up my tone of voice.

I almost never pretend to forget fries, because I feel like most people would not forget to order that and then suddenly agree to it when suggested. Drinks I think people more naturally forget to order and/or would agree to add if suggested. ...Well, that's my theory anyways!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 05:04PM by shoptastic.

They might know you now, if you always get the same cashier but...just say I am looking at what else you have. Be confident, they are busy unless you go at 11:45 AM, when I always did lol!

In my real life I have my favorite meals at the restaurants I eat at and almost always eat the same thing each time. And I always check the menu first just in case they have added something new. If they are doing their job right then they will ask quickly if you want anything else so it will be pretty seamless most of the time. There are many super distracted people out there. I became one of them after I had kids. I am a different person now even though my kids are grown. I went from a carefree not too much on my mind person to a crazed with everything I need to do person and it shows when I am shopping somewhere. I am sure I am not the only one so don't worry much.

Hi Shoppy!

I think you're overthinking it. Shocking I know! Who cares if they know who you are? The shops are set up the way they're set up. It's the client's problem for having the shops done the way they want them done if it causes the location to know who the shopper is. Although I don't think they know because of that. They know because they went back and looked at old reports vs video to see what you look like and likely have a photo of you in the office.

As for the weird ordering. It's not weird to me, I just take my time with the order. So I'll say hrm I think I'll have a bacon cheeseburger. Then I'll make sure they know I want it plain. By the time they get all done with that I've kind of forgotten about ordering other things so I'm just waiting on them to ring it up and then they're like oh do you want fries or a drink and then I order those. I think if you pop up and very deliberately order a bacon cheeseburger with extra ketchup and no pickles then all the sudden you stare at them it's obvious you knew exactly what you wanted and THAT makes it odd that you don't order fries and a drink immediately as well.

Just act a bit spacy. I can do it. I'm sure you can too!

As for going to a place as a regular customer just to throw them off when I shop them. No way in hell I'm spending my own money for that.

@sandyf wrote:

In my real life I have my favorite meals at the restaurants I eat at and almost always eat the same thing each time. And I always check the menu first just in case they have added something new. If they are doing their job right then they will ask quickly if you want anything else so it will be pretty seamless most of the time.

It's usually just a slight pause before they ask if I want x, y, or z. But, I had one cashier who really unnerved me badly. I think she was testing me. After ordering a burger and drink, I waited and stared at the menu. She waited too. We're supposed to WAIT on them to offer us something no matter how long it takes and how stupid we look. That is the rule.

Well, this girl literally stood patiently for at least 30 sec. straight. I started to feel more and more weird. There were customers BEHIND ME as well! Around the 20-23 second mark, I think I started to feel that she was testing if I was a shopper. Or, maybe she was new and just kind of - without sounding mean, not very bright - but this kept going.

I think around 40-45 seconds I could not longer take the awkwardness and gave in. I said: "That's it." She then gave me a total and THEN I asked for the drink. I had to explain in the FG report that the girl made it SOOOO awkward by literally not saying a word and staring at me that I said something to break the stalemate (plus we had people behind me!). 40-45 seconds might not sound long, but if you try it and time yourself, it feels like an eternity. The awkwardness was unbearable for me.

The shop got accepted thankfully, but I felt "marked" afterwards. I felt they were trying to identify me.

ETA: This was a diff. location than the one I'm referring to above, though. I stopped going to the awkward stare location for four months or so before returning. That girl wasn't there anymore and I don't think they suspect me anymore. I think I also threw in a trip or two of just going there on my own dime to buy their fries after a movie. Might have thrown them off. Who knows.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 08:06PM by shoptastic.

Hey Shoppy!

I would suggest not looking at the menu. That makes them think you want something else or are still deciding. Look them straight in the face or stand there with your card in your hand waiting on a total. That gets them moving.

You basically need to nonverbally indicate that you're done.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 08:34PM by bgriffin.

Maybe the above is why I never bothered doing that shop again. Or was it the awful parking situation at both locations I could reasonably do. I forget which.

The locations I shop definitely know me and my order. How many people orders grilled cheese with grilled onions, lettuce and tomatoes?

One of the crew members were promoted recently who used to be one of my primary cashiers. She used to work at location X. I stopped shopping that location because I suspected they knew I was the shopper. Well, imagine my surprise when I went to location Y and saw her. I did an online order. When I arrived, no manager was in sight. As I'm waiting for my fries, she comes from the back door to the kitchen and greets me then ask how am I doing. She asked if I was doing an online order today. She smiled and said she used to work at location X. I lied and said I never been to location X before.

@eyelove2shop wrote:

The locations I shop definitely know me and my order. How many people orders grilled cheese with grilled onions, lettuce and tomatoes?

One of the crew members were promoted recently who used to be one of my primary cashiers. She used to work at location X. I stopped shopping that location because I suspected they knew I was the shopper. Well, imagine my surprise when I went to location Y and saw her.

I've seen workers shift locations before. I've seen it twice only, though. It's been rare.

Personally, I always decline the following:

late night
online
phone

I only do lunch/dinner "regular" shops. I feel like it's likely easy to get ID'd for late night shops. No one eats there usually. I used to do them and they do get good bonuses at times. But, when the staff start trying to talk to me and get very friendly, I stopped. I was often the only customer on these shops and it felt weird.

During busy regular hours, I can blend into the crowd.

Phone shops aren't that rare, but I think online orders are. I never see anyone getting online orders, but I've seen lots of people go in and say they called in.

My sister does Uber Eats and she delivers for FG. Interestingly, she says her orders aren't very big. People are willing to pay delivery fees for small food orders in her area.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2019 01:22PM by shoptastic.

@bgriffin wrote:

Hey Shoppy!

I would suggest not looking at the menu. That makes them think you want something else or are still deciding. Look them straight in the face or stand there with your card in your hand waiting on a total. That gets them moving.

You basically need to nonverbally indicate that you're done.

I do that nowadays. After that bizarre 40-45 second staring stalemate, I learned my lesson. I look at the cash register's total now.

eta: I also shifted my eyes around too in that story above. It wasn't a full 40 seconds of staring at the menu only. I started off that way, but did look away/down/around. The girl still stood there looking my straight in the face.

It got so uncomfortable that I broke the stalemate.

Another facet of the encounter is that the manager at that location frequently has asked for "clarification" of things I've marked the shop location down for. They always miss things (like the trash is full, the windows have smudges and fingerprints on them, etc.). I often get post-report questions. I did also think the manager may have pulled video to see who this complaining shopper was and maybe alerted staff or something. Hard to know for sure.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2019 01:38PM by shoptastic.

My local FG knows me now and as soon as I walk in a patty is slapped on the grill. I use the restroom and then order my burger and fries. Cashier offers teh drink and shake and the manager hand delivers the meal to my table and offers to get my drink and extra ketchup. It's nice to be pampered. When they screw up I want to tell them so they can fix it for next time and still get their bonuses for great shops

I've had the same employees at FG many times. Given their performance scores I'm quite confident I haven't been outed.

@optikdave That patty is thrown on the grill no matter who walks in the door. They plan for every person coming in the door ordering at least one patty. That's why they say "one in the door" when someone walks in.

I routinely do 5 locations and certainly don't worry about someone knowing I go to multiple locations. I switch between cajun and regular fries and mix up my toppings, so I act like I'm still deciding when they ask for add ons.

@Curtzey wrote:

I routinely do 5 locations and certainly don't worry about someone knowing I go to multiple locations. I switch between cajun and regular fries and mix up my toppings, so I act like I'm still deciding when they ask for add ons.

Yeah, switching toppings is something I do as well.

I went to a different restaurant last night. I ordered my meal, 1 of the only 2 choices I am allowed there. I didn't order a drink until she suggested it. Then I ordered a small pop, my only choice.
The customer behind me did the exact same thing. Not so unusual.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/16/2019 04:55AM by prince.

I don't think its that unusual. "Do you want fries with that?" is a pretty common phrase for a reason

@jgoodwin wrote:

I don't think its that unusual. "Do you want fries with that?" is a pretty common phrase for a reason

I agree it's very common.

Would that element of the shop + other elements combined make us easy targets to ID? i.e., a cluster of things we do?

E.g., standing near the kitchen area to observe them cook? I find that almost no one does this. Once a customer gets their receipt, they'll typically go sit down (or get some condiments/drink/peanuts). Almost none will "hang around" the kitchen area.

Sometimes I have to, b/c I can't take a seat that directly allows me to see them work (as it's taken already). I definitely think I would stand out when standing there and watching. Taking others' recommendations, I try to not look obvious. I'll grab peanuts VERY slowly (as someone once recommended). I'll even eat a few at the counter to have something to do other than just standing there and watching workers up close. lol.

But, I know if I were a worker and someone just stood there, while everyone else was seated, then that could be a sign of a shopper. It's just visually weird. One person stands and watches and everyone else sits. Combine that with always ordering the minimum amount to be under reimbursement (I never have a guest and never get fancy and order a lot) and fulfill the basic drink, entree, and fries requirement and always forgetting to order a drink...it feels like they could easily figure me out if I went a lot. That's why I always take multiple months-long breaks (e.g., stop going for 3 months straight) to give other shoppers exposure and reduce my own every now and then.

Or, I could just be paranoid.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2019 09:22AM by shoptastic.

It seems more normal for me to not order the fries. I think just about everybody orders a drink with a sandwich, but not everybody orders fries. So I never feel weird leaving them off, then ordering them when prompted.

At the locations I shop, there is rarely the same cashier at the counter every time, and I don't shop them often enough for them to remember me, so even if it seemed odd to not order fries, they probably wouldn't remember from one time to the next.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2019 04:44PM by BirdyC.

I actually NEVER order a drink with a meal. At home, with company, I will offer drinks, but unless my guests say yes, there won't be glasses or cups on the table.

I'm just weird.



(Of course, on a shop where I must, I do; I take a sip and toss the rest. Just enough to check for flavor. And if they aren't watching, I'll fill my cup with just ice or just water.)

@BirdyC wrote:

It seems more normal for me to not order the fries. I think just about everybody orders a drink with a sandwich, but not everybody orders fries. So I never feel weird leaving them off, then ordering them when prompted.

At the locations I shop, there is rarely the same cashier at the counter every time, and I don't shop them often enough for them to remember me, so even if it seemed odd to not order fries, they probably wouldn't remember from one time to the next.

The weirdness for me is that it's a larger item - both FG fries' outsized proportions and item cost of $3.99.

I feel if I were to eat out somewhere that I wouldn't just forget to order a big item. And, if I didn't want any to begin with, then I wouldn't suddenly be like: OH SURE, I'LL TAKE THAT GIANT ORDER OF FRIES! just from someone suggesting it to me....And if I constantly forgot to order that big item and constantly magically said SURE every time they suggested it, I guess I'd feel weird.

But, again, I could just be paranoid. You're right in that it makes sense to logically have a drink of some sort when ordering a meal. It can be dry without one. I usually get a cup of water if dining in.

Actually both items are weird to NOT order. Now, I'm even more paranoid!!!

eta: Also, how do you respond when they offer the extra item(s)? Do you pretend to think about it? I usually do. I'm like: "Ummmm.....suuurrre, I'll take a small drink." My tone tries to act like I'm really struggling to decide.

I should probably change it up every now and then.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2019 10:16PM by shoptastic.

@shoptastic wrote:

But, again, I could just be paranoid. You're right in that it makes sense to logically have a drink of some sort when ordering a meal. It can be dry without one. I usually get a cup of water if dining in.

Actually both items are weird to NOT order. Now, I'm even more paranoid!!!

eta: Also, how do you respond when they offer the extra item(s)? Do you pretend to think about it? I usually do. I'm like: "Ummmm.....suuurrre, I'll take a small drink." My tone tries to act like I'm really struggling to decide.

I vote for paranoid. I almost never order a drink unless required to do so by the shop's requirements. If I have the choice of not ordering a beverage, I will just drink water. When I order at Five Guys, I order my entree and tell them what I want on it. Then I wait while they ring it up and repeat. If they say "How about fries?" I say "Oh, yeah, fries, small." If they say "And a drink?" I say "Yeah, make that small, too, a soda." (Knowing the self service bar will let me choose my soda or iced tea.) If, after ordering my entree, they do not offer me anything else, they just repeat the order or they ring it up and tell me the total, I say "Oh, add me a small Cajun fries and a small soda." Everyone else in line seems to order the same way.

To me, what would seem strange would be to say, all at once "Give me a large burger, mustard, ketchup, grilled onions, mushrooms, and lettuce, a small Cajun fries, and a small soda." Too fast. Too rehearsed.

@shoptastic wrote:

But, again, I could just be paranoid.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Seriously. I walk up. They ask what I'd like. I'll say I think I'll have a bacon cheeseburger, but I want it plain. Then I'll add something like "just meat bread cheese bacon." They laugh, or look at me like I'm insane or whatever, they finally finish ringing it up because that takes them a minute. Then I just stand there acting like I'm ready to pay and they'll say "would you like fries and a drink?" and I'll be all "yeah I want a little fry and a large drink" without any other comment. Kind of like well duh of course I do or like I thought I had already ordered it. If they don't offer (which they ALWAYS do) and just give me the total I'll look kind of weird for a second, like hrm that total is less than I expected and then say oh I wanted a little fry and a small drink too. Seriously. It's not weird AT ALL.

I never order a drink unless required. I don't like pop or juice. I don't like restaurant coffee. So ordering without a drink is my preference.

@BirdyC wrote:

It seems more normal for me to not order the fries. I think just about everybody orders a drink with a sandwich, but not everybody orders fries. So I never feel weird leaving them off, then ordering them when prompted.

At the locations I shop, there is rarely the same cashier at the counter every time, and I don't shop them often enough for them to remember me, so even if it seemed odd to not order fries, they probably wouldn't remember from one time to the next.

@shoptastic wrote:

the weirdness for me is that it's a larger item - both FG fries' outsized proportions and item cost of $3.99.

I feel if I were to eat out somewhere that I wouldn't just forget to order a big item. And, if I didn't want any to begin with, then I wouldn't suddenly be like: OH SURE, I'LL TAKE THAT GIANT ORDER OF FRIES! just from someone suggesting it.......

When I am not mystery shopping, I enter every restaurant with the plan to skip the fries, then, more often than not accept them once offered. So, all my life, I have ordered burgers only, then got fries when suggested. On my own I say no to pop because I dislike it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2019 03:58PM by prince.