Fry Count

Does anyone actually count the fries or do you just estimate? I always answer by saying that I saw the chef place the extra fries in the bag.

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

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

I just look in the bag when I get my order and estimate whether it's a full scoop or a partial. I try to estimate in terms of "about" a full scoop, slightly less than a full scoop, half a scoop, etc.

Is that what you're asking?

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I guesstimate. The rectangular pan they use is what I'd consider a half scoop for the little fries. The folks I see ordering the large fries, indeed get a massive amount of fries on top of that initial scoop.

Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!

I always give the amount relative to the fry cup. Typically my little fries come with an additional cup of fries.

Birdy, the questionnaire asks shoppers to give a count of the fries. I was curious if anyone did that.

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

I guess at a number for an "average" sized fry. Since the come from tiny to very long, there can't possibly be an exact answer unless every fry counts the same.

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

Have I missed the number count or is that a different restaurant? I always say, "Enough to fill the fry cup twice more" or, "The extra fries filled a peanut boat" or, "A buttload." Nah, the last one I never really said.

It must be a different place. The one I do (fast-casual) asks for an exact numeric count.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Have I missed the number count or is that a different restaurant? I always say, "Enough to fill the fry cup twice more" or, "The extra fries filled a peanut boat" or, "A buttload." Nah, the last one I never really said.

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

Oh, this must be for a different restaurant than the one I'm thinking of. That one quantifies extra fries in terms of scoops and not an exact number of fries. They estimate the amount of extra fries in a small order at 8 to 10 fries, but they're not asking the shopper to count the fries.

It seems ridiculous to me to ask a shopper to count fries. Nothing like letting the employees know you're s shopper!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I used to put a number in the place where it asks for how many extra fries, but found out it is not in the final report that gets submitted, so I just skip over it now. No problems.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

You got me worried. So, I checked my shop for tomorrow, and they indeed want to know the number of fries. I couldn't imagine the MSC not questioning it when I said 20 (meaning fries) if they were asking about scoops. 20 scoops wouldn't fit in the bag

@BirdyC wrote:

Oh, this must be for a different restaurant than the one I'm thinking of. That one quantifies extra fries in terms of scoops and not an exact number of fries. They estimate the amount of extra fries in a small order at 8 to 10 fries, but they're not asking the shopper to count the fries.

It seems ridiculous to me to ask a shopper to count fries. Nothing like letting the employees know you're s shopper!

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

@myst4au wrote:

You got me worried. So, I checked my shop for tomorrow, and they indeed want to know the number of fries. I couldn't imagine the MSC not questioning it when I said 20 (meaning fries) if they were asking about scoops. 20 scoops wouldn't fit in the bag

So this is a different place, right? Or did the requirements change from last time I did one, which was a month ago?

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

The requirements were the same during all of 2019. Probably before that as well. I can't ever remember a reference to measuring in terms of scoops of fries.

@BirdyC wrote:

@myst4au wrote:

You got me worried. So, I checked my shop for tomorrow, and they indeed want to know the number of fries. I couldn't imagine the MSC not questioning it when I said 20 (meaning fries) if they were asking about scoops. 20 scoops wouldn't fit in the bag

So this is a different place, right? Or did the requirements change from last time I did one, which was a month ago?

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

@BirdyC wrote:

It seems ridiculous to me to ask a shopper to count fries.

It's no different from the pizza shop that wants to know the number of pepperoni.

A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men.

If it is the Fast Casual shop I am thinking of, that question is only relevant if you Do Not get an extra half scoop of fries, or you were not happy with the amount of fries in your order. I used to answer that question, but it is not needed if you were satisfied with the number of fries you recieved.

Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper

It's for the shop that has all the peanuts.

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

@dmm316 wrote:

@BirdyC wrote:

It seems ridiculous to me to ask a shopper to count fries.

It's no different from the pizza shop that wants to know the number of pepperoni.

I never did that pizza shop, but isn't that a take-out shop? Surely counting french fries while sitting at a table would be rather odd, wouldn't it?

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

The report has asked this question for years, yet it's not noted in the guidelines. At least not the last time I checked. No, I do not count the extra fries. I answer 'approximately 20', or whatever I count by eyeballing the extra fries in the greasy paper bag, after removing the cup. Never had a problem.

"Chef"? Now that's funny

@HonnyBrown wrote:

Does anyone actually count the fries or do you just estimate? I always answer by saying that I saw the chef place the extra fries in the bag.

Really? If I am happy, then a number isn't required? I am definitely going to try that on Saturday.

@Lady Marius wrote:

If it is the Fast Casual shop I am thinking of, that question is only relevant if you Do Not get an extra half scoop of fries, or you were not happy with the amount of fries in your order. I used to answer that question, but it is not needed if you were satisfied with the number of fries you received.

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

That is correct. The number is not required if you are satisfied with the amount of fries you received.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

@MsJudi wrote:

That is correct. The number is not required if you are satisfied with the amount of fries you received.

But when you say you received extra fries, a window pops up with the instruction, "Explain, including how many extra fries you received" or some such.

I estimate, for the reason others have given, that counting out fries would be a giveaway. Early on there were a few shops where the number of extra fries was meager (12 or so) and I was able to get an exact count just eyeballing them in the bag. Since then I just estimate using a "meager count" as a guide for estimating larger helpings.

Keep answering a question, that is not needed, if you would like. But I have not answered that question, which is on the report form, for over a year. I have never gotten the message that it needed an answer before advancing to the next page either. Reports all Approved.

I have not done this report in about a month, but I believe the whole question can be skipped. If you got an extra scoop and were satisfied with the amount. Skip the question about if you got an extra scoop. I'll confirm when I am completing the report tonight.

Edited for clarity.

Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2020 04:13PM by Lady Marius.

I've never been asked for the "number of" extra fries I received, even on the rare occasions when I indicated I wasn't satisfied with the amount received.

When they ask how many extra fries I received, I've never taken that to mean a count, just an estimate using a "scoop" as a base measure for comparison. Never have been questioned on it and have never had a report rejected.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

I personally hypothesize that counting each fry individually would occupy the eater and help them to reduce caloric intake. Counting fries replaces x number of bites and x number of sips and therefore x number of calories. The satiety message is sent from brain to stomach before the eater accesses many/most/some of the available meal components. They feel full, heed the signal, and end the meal. The results would vary according to meal components, and ymmv...

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. - Lao-Tzu

Ignore that window...just skip it..it will go through as if it wasn't there. It's okay, trust me. I've been doing this for a long time and all is well. If you feel you must answer it..go ahead. Just trying to make life easier for ya'll.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

So I guess the "comments on the bun" window would be in the same category? There's no minimum character count on that one.

Don't know about the bun comments box since I always add a bit of narrative to it, but maybe it is the same. Let us know if you try it.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

It's so easy to add 1 or 2 lines, why not do it?

The Five Guys question does not ask for an exact count, never has. I estimate, for example: "approximately 3 dozen extra fries of assorted sizes." The amount they dump in is meaningless if the cup was not properly filled. If anyone is counting the exact number you are outing yourself.

Now, if this is about a different client then the ambiguities confuse me.

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

@isaiah58 wrote:

The Five Guys question does not ask for an exact count, never has.

That's always been my take on it, too.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Fry Count

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine