Texas Roadhouse Contradictory Photo Instructions

Has anybody noticed this on their curbside shops? I have one tonight and was re-reading the guidelines and the survey. I did one a few months ago, and it was pretty clear that you take a photo of the food 1) still packaged in the to-go containers and untouched, 2) one with the container lids and the side-item lids open but nothing else touched, and 3) one with all items unwrapped and prepared for eating (e.g., dressing on the salad, bread out of the bag and with the meal, etc.). That's what I did, and my report was accepted without any issues.

So I'm looking at the guidelines, and the photos aren't as above. They show the 1) food still in the to-go containers with the lids on, 2) food with to-go container lids open but the actual food items, such as the sides, still with the lids on, and 3) food with all the lids off.

This isn't what the survey specifies. Photo #2 isn't the same in the two documents. So should that one have the individual container lids on or off? What have you done?

I'll take photos of both, but it would be so nice if the instructions matched the survey.

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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I think the problem is that they don't differentiate between the covers on the carry-out containers and the lids on the individual items. There are two types of lids in these orders. And the wording doesn't make it clear at all.

I'll follow the photos in the guidelines, but I still think it's very ambiguous!

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

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2021 10:02PM by BirdyC.

I just took extra pictures. Not EVERY imaginable combination, but ones that I thought might conceivably be required. I submitted the ones I thought were most likely what was wanted, and kept the rest in case of questions. No questions. Whew!

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

@myst4au wrote:

I just took extra pictures. Not EVERY imaginable combination, but ones that I thought might conceivably be required. I submitted the ones I thought were most likely what was wanted, and kept the rest in case of questions. No questions. Whew!

Sounds like the best course of action! None of us had a salad, so we didn't need to worry about putting dressing on it before taking a photo.

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 can't believe that this is still a problem. I pointed it out to the scheduler when they restarted the shops, and I thought they fixed it. I hate it when companies can't be clear on what they want and cause shoppers to feel pressure because they're not sure what they have to do.

BTW, they reduced the reimbursement on these. They were $30, now $25. Very disappointing since it won't even cover two entrees anymore.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2021 04:38AM by MisterBill.

@MisterBill wrote:

I can't believe that this is still a problem. I pointed it out to the scheduler when they restarted the shops, and I thought they fixed it. I hate it when companies can't be clear on what they want and cause shoppers to feel pressure because they're not sure what they have to do.

BTW, they reduced the reimbursement on these. They were $30, now $25. Very disappointing since it won't even cover two entrees anymore.

I was worried that I might be the only person who found those instructions contradictory and confusing!

I used the photos in the guidelines for my pics. Last time I used the instructions in the survey form. If I get any pushback, I'll point out to them the contradiction.

I hate the lowered reimbursement, but it seems that they've shortened the questionnaire a little bit. It was a breeze to complete. We had three entrees, and the $25 will cover a little more than half. If my son hadn't been home, we'd have only ordered two, and would be out of pocket maybe about $10. We're always out of pocket on these shops, but try to keep it to a minimum. They really need to up the reimbursement on all of these. Prices have gone up, but the reimbursements are static. I guess they upped the bar shops to $30, and my understanding is that a lot of shoppers eat solo during those--so that's a good reimbursement for those.

They've been offering bonuses on these the last couple of months--which I rarely saw before. Maybe that should tell them something. People don't want to work for the privilege of paying for part of their meals!

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've noticed them sitting on the board where I live. I believe there are only three or four shoppers in my area that do these so it may just be rotation. I believe it's 90 days.

She didn't waive rotation last month and I don't think they got all the shops done.

It was nice that they increased the bar shop, but why decrease the curbside?

I agree prices have increased and I'm not sure I will continue to take these shops at an increased out of pocket expense.

The newly increased bar reimbursement is the first since I began accepting the TXRH assignments in the summer of 2008. In the past, the MSC had shoppers lined up for those jobs and only increased the money as needed. The same holds true for the carry-out decrease; obviously, there was an excess of shoppers. No company would responsibly pay more to their contractors than required by market conditions.

@wrosie wrote:

I agree prices have increased and I'm not sure I will continue to take these shops at an increased out of pocket expense.

I feel the same way. I ordered a chicken dish last night because it allowed us to stay within a certain budget, but it was just OK. I mean, if I go to TRH, I really want a steak, right? Or ribs; my son said his were delicious!

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've normally gotten the beef tips or country fried steak to try to keep under reimbursement.

But I agree with Birdy, I truly would like to get at least a small steak. And I have had the ribs which are some of the best I've ever had.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/2021 04:08PM by wrosie.

@wrosie wrote:

I've normally gotten the beef tips or country fried steak to try to keep under reimbursement.

But I agree with Birdy, I truly would like to get at least a small steak. And I have had the ribs which are some of the best I've ever had.

Ha! My husband wanted the beef tips, and they were apparently out of them. He was quite upset.

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

@wrosie wrote:

I've noticed them sitting on the board where I live. I believe there are only three or four shoppers in my area that do these so it may just be rotation. I believe it's 90 days.

She didn't waive rotation last month and I don't think they got all the shops done.

It was nice that they increased the bar shop, but why decrease the curbside?

I agree prices have increased and I'm not sure I will continue to take these shops at an increased out of pocket expense.

I think that she did waive the rotation last month, but maybe only for the bar shops. The take-out shops at my preferred location go really quickly, even at $25. I did a dine-in there the last time and it was actually very pleasant, and the cactus blossom onion is much better eaten fresh. The drink requirement is a pain but at least you get an extra $10 reimbursement. Also, if you get there before 6pm, you can get $1 off on many dishes, at least the ones we order. My wife likes their chicken caesar salad and I like the BBQ chicken sandwich.

One of the best values on the menu is the filet salad. It's like 13 or 14 dollars and it's an entire 6 oz fillet.

@foodluvr wrote:

One of the best values on the menu is the filet salad. It's like 13 or 14 dollars and it's an entire 6 oz fillet.

I was going to get that, but I've had a lot of salad lately and was tired of it. It sounded really good, though!

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 took extra pictures just in case.

I followed the photos in the guidelines and not those in the survey, and my shop was accepted without any questions.

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

@shopperbob wrote:

The newly increased bar reimbursement is the first since I began accepting the TXRH assignments in the summer of 2008. In the past, the MSC had shoppers lined up for those jobs and only increased the money as needed. The same holds true for the carry-out decrease; obviously, there was an excess of shoppers. No company would responsibly pay more to their contractors than required by market conditions.

While some take-out shops got taken at the old reimbursement, there were still plenty that did not, and I'm sure it will increase (and the scheduler has an annoying habit of emailing multiple times a week). Amusingly, the emails do call attention to the new reimbursement, although you'd usually expect that to be as a result of an increase, not a decrease.

And we're not talking about pay, and I'm sure that most people were already going out of pocket at $30.

Ours has plenty sitting, no responses.

In my area, the curbsides always went first and fast. But even here, they've been sitting. I think they're going to have to raise that reimbursement again. I probably won't do another one at the $25.

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

@CANADAMOMMY wrote:

Ours has plenty sitting, no responses.

There are a boatload in my state and the neighboring state. There are a few locations that they always have a hard time filling, but even the normally quick-to-go ones are sitting so far.

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 only do the curbside with two locations, neither of which are near my house. I am disappointed that the reimbursement was decreased. I'll probably still pick one up, but I will now have to order a lower priced entree and probably not a steak. That defeats some of the purpose of them shopping their restaurant.

marg704 laments--I'll probably still pick one up, but I will now have to order a lower priced entree and probably not a steak

Bob comments--I am in Southwestern Ohio and near seven Roadhouses during my travels. A 16 oz. sirloin is $20. Add in a 10% tip and there is still room for another small item, as carry-out is nontaxable in Ohio.

Got an e-mail today that if you can't self assign to e-mail the scheduler with the date, location and your info.

They seemed to have relaxed rotation as now you are only excluded if you did one in August.

@marg704 wrote:

I only do the curbside with two locations, neither of which are near my house. I am disappointed that the reimbursement was decreased. I'll probably still pick one up, but I will now have to order a lower priced entree and probably not a steak. That defeats some of the purpose of them shopping their restaurant.

I agree. Next time I think I'll try the steak salad as someone recommended or the kabob. Or even the ribs, which my son had and said they were fantastic. But just the half-rack--no leftovers.... No more chicken for me at Texas Roadhouse! 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.

ShopperBob - I don't live in Ohio and my area was shut down completely - twice - and for much longer than other states. Prices have gone up, and some restaurants have gone out of business.

I live in Southeast TX, and two RoadKill's with all the sides plus tax, plus 10% tip came to $23.63.

@MisterBill wrote:

BTW, they reduced the reimbursement on these. They were $30, now $25. Very disappointing since it won't even cover two entrees anymore.

Why did they go from $ 30 to $ 25 unless this has been answered and I have not read the other post yet?

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

Why did they go from $ 30 to $ 25 unless this has been answered and I have not read the other post yet?

Because they can? Likely because they thought that the bar shops would be easier to fill if they reimbursed an extra $5 and that they could get away with not paying enough for the carryout shops without people refusing to take them.

Seems like the last couple of months none of the shops fly off the board like they used to. Seeing some $3, $5 & $8 bonuses being offered for the bar shops in Upstate NY.

I just did 2 and did the pictures exactly like the guidelines and both were approved.

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