Some dining shops are listed as being for two people, and typically the reimbursements are scaled to match. Has anybody had issues with doing these shops solo? I don't mind--in fact, I enjoy--dining alone, and I could either just order food for me or order two entrees and then take one to go.

I imagine this is not an officially smiled-upon practice, but I'm wondering whether 1) schedulers will be okay with it if you ask in advance, and 2) it would raise any flags if I just did this on my own.

In general, one should follow any specific directions contained in the guidelines as closely as possible. If they ask for there to be two people, it's because that's what they want evaluated. If you do a shop that specifically says it is for two diners alone on your own initiative you risk being not paid...or worse.

You could of course ask in advance. But I'd be shocked if you got a positive response unless they were in desperate need. I can't imagine you'd get approval regularly or routinely on that.

I am in complete agreement with JustForFun's comment.

The clients don't much care how solo diners are treated, and that certainly shows when one IS a solo diner. But, since the client considers tables of 2 (or more) adults their main money source, they REALLY care about hose. So, don't get your hope up for being allowed to do solo what is shown as for 2 people. In addition, many dining shops need two sets of eye and ears to keep track of all of the info required on the survey. That mean that the shopper really needs to train a dining partner, at the very least on how NOT to behave. Many dining partners have invalidated dining shops because they did not take the requirements seriously.

I might add that there are plenty of nuanced errors to be made on a detailed dining shop. This is an easy and clear cut thing to get right. Why give away the easy ones?

Also, the receipt usually lists the number of guests on it, usually on the top. Sooo, if you lie you will most likely be caught anyway. I just did a dining shop for two that stated it could be done solo, but the reimbursement would be halved. I did it for two, however. Texas Roadhouse can be done solo..at least at the bar, or take out.

I am addressing your question about doing it solo anyway and ordering for two. Yes the receipt has the number of diners on the top but I find that number is often incorrect. Almost every dining shop I have done has said you cannot order food to take home. So if you dine alone, even if you order for the table and just leave one dish sitting there and then take it home that is reason for the shop and perhaps your chances at future jobs to be rejected. Many of these restaurants can view a video of you at your table. If there is any reason to question your report such as you graded the server down on something they challenged the manager can watch a tape and see you sitting at the table by yourself. You are risking your career with that and possibly other msc's as well.

The shops generally require that two different entrees be ordered. Some require that you take photos of each entree. If it says 2 people, they mean two people. Some say at least 1, some say at least 2. Some say "at the bar", some say "at a table (and not a bar hightop)". They generally want what they want.

Also, be sure to check that you are allowed to take food home with you ("doggie bag". There are many shops that exclude being able to do that. Ordering food to go is a different animal altogether.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2022 07:47PM by myst4au.

What happens if you order a big streak (for dine in) and two side items and desert (if the client allows it) and you eat in the dining room or the bar.. You are in there for a hour and follow all the requirements..

And you ask your server for a take out box.. I don't see anything wrong with taking the left overs home as long as you eat most of it in the restaurant.

The food is expensive to throw out and not to take home

Yes, I know the guidelines say you must eat in the dining room or the bar and you can not take anything to go but I don't want to spend $ 30-40 on a meal and not take anything home..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2022 02:21AM by Isaiah4031a.

You take your chances when you knowingly ignore the shop parameters. I understand your point of view, but that is not what the client has asked the MSC to specify. How likely are they to figure this out? It may depend on just how expensive the restaurant is. I suspect that clientele in some of the very best steak houses (the ones that have reimbursed me $230 for 2 people) do not bother asking for doggie bags. You might stand out. And there are surveillance cameras everywhere these days. Even with the $230 shops, I know that something could go south. Would I be happy to be out $230? No, but it would be my big splurge for the year, and I could still pay my bills. However, I don't want to unduly risk the chances of getting reimbursed.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

Yes, I know the guidelines say you must eat in the dining room or the bar and you can not take anything to go but I don't want to spend $ 30-40 on a meal and not take anything home..

ACL allows solo diners.

What walesmaven said was absolutely accurate. I recently did a restaurant shop that told me I could either do it alone or take somebody. I chose to do it alone, they put me in a corner of the restaurant where the AC didn't reach, with a big group of very noisy people having a retirement party. My waitress was great, but the management left a lot to be desired.

Follow the guidelines, they are written that way for a reason.

In general, if your intent is to be a professional mystery shopper, either full time or as a side hustle, you need to follow the various guidelines as closely as possible. Businesses hire mystery shoppers because they really do want to know how they are doing on various aspects of their business. You may or may not fit what any given company is looking for. That said, there are a lot of MS companies out there, if you find it hard to fit into what one wants, sign up with some more MS companies. Although a little dated, meaning you will have to wade through it, there is a very good list of good MS companies on this forum.

As to maximizing the value of the restaurant shops, I study the menus carefully before I even take a shop. Some are a much better deal for shoppers than others. It is not always as clear cut as it may seem. Some will pay reimbursement only, but others will pay a fee and reimbursement. Some of the ones that pay reimbursement only have very generous budgets in relationship to the menu prices, so you end up having to make sure you actually spend all you can, because you don't get the difference back. With others we all know, you have to struggle to even find something you can order that is in the reimbursement budget, but they pay a decent shop fee. The math is not consistent in how they all figure it up.

While staying within the guidelines, I try to maximize the value out of every foodie shop I take. If there is an appetizer involved, I will try to order something that works well as leftovers, because I know I won't likely eat it all. Ditto on the entree. If it is allowed, and there are a few dollars left-over in the reimbursement budget, I'll throw in a kids meal or an extra side on carry out orders. That also stretches the leftovers. Although not always, if you can afford it, it frequently works out a little better overall to allow yourself to go a couple dollars or so over the stated reimbursement. Study on that too, as it may provide either left-overs or a meal for other family members. The gist of what I am saying is to learn the ropes and handle your assignments like a professional, and you will likely make more and do just fine.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2022 08:54PM by GinnyLynn.

In the years I have worked for the msc with quite small or no fees on fine dining there were two incidences several years apart I know of where the msc lost the entire chain of upscale restaurants. These were ones I loved that had several different one off very nice restaurants in my area. Suddenly they were gone. I asked the scheduler at the time and was told in both cases that a mystery shopper had brought along a child on a shop and they were caught. Even with ordering an adult dinner on those shops and having the number 2 listed in the number of diners on the receipt I am thinking the management must have been reviewing the videos and was able to identify the shoppers table by the receipt info.
Another chain I work at for another msc wants to know what you were wearing and your hair color on the report. This restaurant chain may also be checking videos. If they are I am pretty sure many of them check videos at least once in a while.

I too have done casual dining shops where I have to report what I was wearing. I also had to report on something that I needed to find in the lobby.

@Isaiah4031a wrote:

What happens if you order a big streak (for dine in) and two side items and desert (if the client allows it) and you eat in the dining room or the bar.. You are in there for a hour and follow all the requirements..

And you ask your server for a take out box.. I don't see anything wrong with taking the left overs home as long as you eat most of it in the restaurant.

The food is expensive to throw out and not to take home

Yes, I know the guidelines say you must eat in the dining room or the bar and you can not take anything to go but I don't want to spend $ 30-40 on a meal and not take anything home..

If the guidelines say you can not take anything home yet you take food home, you have NOT followed all of the requirements. You've followed only those you feel like following.

I had a two night resort shop a while back. Every single meal was at an upscale restaurant, with all the trimmings that had to be tasted and reported as such. There was not a refrigerator in the room, and although they would have technically allowed it, there was no viable way for me to take home the left-overs. Talk about bloated after that many meals of that level in a day. I was able to take home a few leftovers from my last meal there, but I still cringe at all of that wasted food, and by the last couple meals there, I didn't even want to see any more food. Whether through the guidelines or the way a shop is structured, it sometimes goes with the territory, but I will take home every single leftover I can get away with. I stick like glue to those guidelines though because I want to still be in the queue when the next shops come open.

Ask in advance. I'm sure this was said earlier. Some clients want a two person experience.

I find that all the restaurant servers ( both casual and fine dining ) ask if you want to take the rest of your dinner home. They all have take-out boxes and almost everyone s carrying a bag when they leave.
I am doing a sit at the bar that has a reimbursement of $4. I plan on going alone and will order the filet with shrimp and a drink.. Maybe dessert and will be under the $45. Usually, I do this shop with 2 people and get the $50 reimbursement.
It seems that this would qualify as a reimbursable hop.

I would say to make sure whether the shop *requires* two people or simply allows you to bring a guest with you. I've done a ton of restaurant shops solo, most of which were okay with my bringing a guest but did not require it.

However, the more upscale restaurant shops usually seemed to require two people. If that is required, I don't see why you couldn't ask the scheduler whether you could go alone. They would probably adjust the requirements so you wouldn't have to order a second entree. But if they won't allow it, start calling your friends!

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2022 07:32PM by shopnyc.

I skipped a few shops where the scheduler specifically said I am only allowed to order an entree appetizer and 2 drinks *for each person*. So if I go solo I wont ever come close to the reimbursable which sorta made the shop paid less

And then there's a upscale steak house, like $70~100 a piece place I just ordered 2 separate cuts as "tasting" and it was ok...definitely not the same feel reheating it the next day however