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October 21, 2022 02:21PM
@Mert wrote:

It's a common question for restaurants to ask. If the answer is allergies, precautions against cross-contamination should be taken. I sure would think that anyone with peanut allergies would know to avoid Five Guys. Most, if not all, Five Guys even have signage somewhere advising customers to not take peanuts to-go, also due to possible allergic reactions.
@Susan L. wrote:

If you were ordering due to preference, they could make your order with standard process.
What would they do differently during preparation, even if it was due to allergies? The buns are toasted in a different section of the grill, and people who have gluten issues would not have a problem with their food being near bread.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2022 02:42PM by MisterBill.
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More About Five Guys Mystery Shopping
October 21, 2022 02:52PM
@KokoBWare wrote:

I've ordered burger-in-bowl twice in the last month at 2 separate locations and both times the cashier quizzed me as to whether it was preference or if I was ordering it that way due to allergies. I am curious as to why this happens. I would think ordering it with a bun (gluten) or ordering their fries (peanut oil) would be more likely to trigger that question if that were, in fact, any of their business.

It is their business because if your request is due to any kind of food sensitivities or allergies, they need to be careful to make it so that they don't get anything in or on your order that could trigger those (and trigger a potential lawsuit). I always get the burger in a bowl and am always asked that question. I'm glad they're asking, even though my request is one of preference. Chipotle used to ask that question when I ordered a particular thing (don't remember what it was).

They don't even have to be making your food right next to a known allergen (it doesn't have to be a gluten sensitivity). They might have something on their gloves, so they need to change gloves before preparing your order.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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October 21, 2022 02:57PM
@MisterBill wrote:

What would they do differently during preparation, even if it was due to allergies? The buns are toasted in a different section of the grill, and people who have gluten issues would not have a problem with their food being near bread.

I think at the least they'd change gloves while preparing a special order. Places need to be so careful these days, even if preparing an order for a customer with gluten sensitivity doesn't really require fresh gloves or extra care of some sort other than to not put bread in the order. In our sue-happy culture, people claim non-legitimate issues as well as legitimate ones.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Reply
October 21, 2022 07:43PM
Sorry, part of my post was left out!

The crew would wash hands, change gloves, and clean the sandwich prep counter. They would also make sure the sensitive person's burger were on the end of the meat section of the grill furthest from the bread.

It's not just gluten sensitivity, some people are actually allergic to wheat. Those are different things.

@MisterBill wrote:

What would they do differently during preparation, even if it was due to allergies? The buns are toasted in a different section of the grill, and people who have gluten issues would not have a problem with their food being near bread.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/2022 07:48PM by Susan L..
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October 25, 2022 05:48AM
Oddly, this week's shops are already in MAO even though they're still $10. I wonder if I can get them to approve the $30 I have gotten the last two times this early in the week? I already got a Samantha offer, but only $23.
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October 25, 2022 02:14PM
I just noticed that they have the 5 Guys shops for 11/3-11/6 listed with Make an Offer already. I wonder if this was a mistake or if they're just trying something new.
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October 25, 2022 02:27PM
I got a Samantha offer yesterday for $47 for a Five Guys 87 miles away from me that I have done previously while traveling. I didn't have any reason to go out that way so I passed, but was still surprised to see a Sam offer that high.

@BirdyC wrote:

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I don't bother with MAO any more. My scheduler always gives me a better fee.

It's hit or miss with me. I've had pretty good luck with MAO. I rarely pick up the phone when the schedulers call, but when I do, I usually get a good fee from them, too. But I dislike the back and forth that sometimes happens when you're on the phone with a scheduler. Reminds me too much of car shopping. "Let me check with my manager." LOL.

I almost never get a Samantha offer that's worth taking. I did once, but someone else must have taken it before I could log in and grab it!
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October 25, 2022 05:30PM
@tigerdave wrote:

I just noticed that they have the 5 Guys shops for 11/3-11/6 listed with Make an Offer already. I wonder if this was a mistake or if they're just trying something new.
Yeah, same for me. And this week's already was MAO before they had raised the price. But it's up to $15 now, so I put in for $30 for the location that I have gotten that the last couple of times. I had received a $23 Samantha offer for it yesterday. Update -- the offer was declined.

On a related topic, I had a $30 MAO approved for a mattress shop that was listed at $25.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2022 05:37PM by MisterBill.
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October 25, 2022 07:15PM
@tigerdave wrote:

I just noticed that they have the 5 Guys shops for 11/3-11/6 listed with Make an Offer already. I wonder if this was a mistake or if they're just trying something new.


Looks like that MAO was a mistake. It's gone now, for Nov 3-6 shops.
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October 26, 2022 01:05AM
Knock me over with a feather! I got a Samantha offer for $30 for a Five Guys not far from me. First time I've ever gotten that much on a Samantha. I did not waste time in responding. LOL.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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October 26, 2022 05:53AM
@Maryanne J wrote:

@tigerdave wrote:

I just noticed that they have the 5 Guys shops for 11/3-11/6 listed with Make an Offer already. I wonder if this was a mistake or if they're just trying something new.


Looks like that MAO was a mistake. It's gone now, for Nov 3-6 shops.

It wasn't a mistake. I was approved for my MAO for 11/3 @ $22

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

Mark Twain
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October 27, 2022 04:11AM
@Maryanne J wrote:

Looks like that MAO was a mistake. It's gone now, for Nov 3-6 shops.
It's gone for this week's shops, too!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/2022 04:11AM by MisterBill.
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October 28, 2022 12:08AM
Got a call from the scheduler today, and I was able to get my $30 price for the shop where the MAO was rejected. She originally offered $27 but happily submitted my request when I said that was what I had gotten previously, and it was approved almost immediately. I also tried to get a shop for tomorrow that they're rejected a $25 MAO on, but sadly someone had taken the dinner shop for tomorrow by the time I spoke to her, so I wasn't able to take the lunch shop the same day.
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October 28, 2022 12:54AM
I've been very happy with the 5G fees lately. They seem to be getting back up to where they were several years ago. Not sure I'll ever score $40+ fees for hard-to-fill locations again, but I'm happy to be getting $25 to $30 regularly now.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Reply
October 29, 2022 02:31AM
Don't forget about the spatula.

@BirdyC wrote:

@MisterBill wrote:

What would they do differently during preparation, even if it was due to allergies? The buns are toasted in a different section of the grill, and people who have gluten issues would not have a problem with their food being near bread.

I think at the least they'd change gloves while preparing a special order. Places need to be so careful these days, even if preparing an order for a customer with gluten sensitivity doesn't really require fresh gloves or extra care of some sort other than to not put bread in the order. In our sue-happy culture, people claim non-legitimate issues as well as legitimate ones.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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October 29, 2022 02:32AM
I'm not! This weekend's shops are still at $18 on the board.

@BirdyC wrote:

I've been very happy with the 5G fees lately. They seem to be getting back up to where they were several years ago. Not sure I'll ever score $40+ fees for hard-to-fill locations again, but I'm happy to be getting $25 to $30 regularly now.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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October 29, 2022 04:29AM
I think that my area must have lost shoppers over the last year or so. I'm getting fees for my local 5G that I've never gotten before. And many locations sit and sit and sit. I do three on a regular basis. Only one is local to me, but I've been getting high-enough fees on the other two that they're worthwhile. Although one is far enough that I always try to pick up another shop in the area or tie it in with other errands I need to do over that way. That one never used to sit, nor did my very local one. The other, which is around 15 miles away, has always had trouble getting filled. So I seem to get quite a few of those.

@HonnyBrown wrote:

I'm not! This weekend's shops are still at $18 on the board.

@BirdyC wrote:

I've been very happy with the 5G fees lately. They seem to be getting back up to where they were several years ago. Not sure I'll ever score $40+ fees for hard-to-fill locations again, but I'm happy to be getting $25 to $30 regularly now.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Reply
November 23, 2022 02:09AM
Christmas shoppers have started in this area. My weekend shops are slowly drying up.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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November 23, 2022 03:33AM
@HonnyBrown wrote:

Christmas shoppers have started in this area. My weekend shops are slowly drying up.

Oh, dear, I hope that doesn't keep up for long! I guess they come out of the woodwork at this time of year?

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Reply
November 23, 2022 10:31PM
Birdy, exactly. Seasonal shoppers pop up in October/November and go away in January/February.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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November 24, 2022 03:39AM
I found out someone my sister knows mystery shops my area "as a hobby".

My sister doesn't understand how that can harm my ability to get bonuses.

My sister doesn't know which MSCs have given her free meals at Five Guys or Texas Roadhouse, but thinks it's "cool" that they could chat about her friend's hobby.
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November 24, 2022 01:38PM
@HonnyBrown wrote:

Birdy, exactly. Seasonal shoppers pop up in October/November and go away in January/February.

I guess they need the extra cash at the holidays, too! That doesn't seem to be happening here, but the bonuses are going up, so this is helping my holiday pocket.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Reply
November 27, 2022 09:23PM
Luckily, I have a good relationship with the scheduler. He calls me on Thursdays to set up shops for the weekend. The next day, Samantha emails me with a higher fee. I would rather have the scheduler get the bonus.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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November 27, 2022 09:32PM
That's money out of your pocket!

@wrosie wrote:

I found out someone my sister knows mystery shops my area "as a hobby".

My sister doesn't understand how that can harm my ability to get bonuses.

My sister doesn't know which MSCs have given her free meals at Five Guys or Texas Roadhouse, but thinks it's "cool" that they could chat about her friend's hobby.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Reply
December 03, 2022 10:26PM
First time this has happened to me with MAO: I offered to do a shop for $35 that was posted at $25. I got a "counter-offer" of $27. I just counter-countered at $32 and we'll see where it goes.

I've never gotten a "counter-offer" before. It's always been either accepted or rejected, and when rejected I can make a second offer at $3 below my previous offer. But I've never gotten a "counter-offer" with a specific dollar proposal.

Edit: They accepted my $32 counter-counter offer.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2022 04:37AM by KokoBWare.
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December 04, 2022 02:18AM
It seems they have a set dollar figure in mind with the MAO. If they won't approve what your MAO is, why don't they just continue to increase the pay, say from $25 to $27 and see if anyone bites.

I did a $25 MAO of $33 and it was declined about three weeks ago. The pay is still listed at $25 MAO. I would have to come down to $30 if I want to MAO again, but I figure I'll just wait it out. Perhaps Samantha will come around and see the light.
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December 13, 2022 06:45AM
Just saw that someone released a Tik-Tok or other social media post that says she paid $74 for four people to eat. When I searched for it, there was another post where, in Australia, someone paid $70 for two people to eat.

Both apparently say they'll never eat there again and don't know how Five Guys stays in business.

I never really thought about it since the most I've done is treat my sister if I've gotten a bonused shop. She normally gets a veggie sandwich and drink and we split the fries. Therefore, it doesn't impact my shop pay TOO much.
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December 13, 2022 11:47AM
On top of the high prices, they ask for tips. The last one I did, I was the only customer during prime lunch hours.
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December 16, 2022 04:47AM
Jasmine called me last week to ask me to do an online order dinner shop near me, offering $25, which was the same as being offered online. It's a bit out of the way and I had no plans to be there, so I asked for $30. She said that she could only offer $25, so I told her no, but to call me if she was able to offer more. Well, I checked the website today and the shop was still there, and it was up to $35 with MAO, but I decided to just take it for that price. Don't understand why she or the foreign schedulers did not call me back, in fact I have not heard from the foreign schedulers in several weeks. I hadn't even gotten a Samantha offer for the shop since Sunday, when they offered $26. Maybe someone else took it and messed up, so it had to be redone?
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December 16, 2022 01:48PM
Bill,

I haven't gotten any overseas calls for weeks, but i have gotten multiple Samantha e-mails which I never used to get and three US based scheduler calls. Perhaps they stopped using the overseas callers?
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