Does anyone have suggestions on how to take photos of the veggie bins and chip racks? They are right there in front of the people working. Suggestions on how you do it without being seen?

This is for the FREE sandwich being offered as a competitor shop to their firefighter client? I saw NO fee and did not bother continuing. I don't need a free sandwich.

I try to make like I am answering a text. However, 9 out of 10 times it is obvious you are taking a picture.

My experience is 75% of fast food employees could care less what you are doing. And if they do ask,, I'm sending a text to someone about what they would want with their sandwich.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2022 08:43PM by wrosie.

@wrosie wrote:

I try to make like I am answering a text. However, 9 out of 10 times it is obvious you are taking a picture.
wi
My experience is 75% of fast food employees could care less what you are doing. And if they do ask,, I'm sending a text to someone about what they would want with their sandwich.

Exactly! They don't care and even if they did say something. Hey I'm sending this to make sure I'm getting the right stuff on your sandwich.

Holding the phone horizontally seems unnatural to me.

I took pictures of the taco place online rack (per instructions) and then the report didn't even have a slot for it. Ha! I got caught by employees photoing the menu, too, but what are they gonna say?

Low pay = less discreet.

The taco shop is a short term project for a new product offering. It's not like you will be returning regularly for more shops.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Holding the phone horizontally seems unnatural to me.

You don't have to. Vertical is just fine. I've done some of these.

@weatherman2111 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

Holding the phone horizontally seems unnatural to me.

You don't have to. Vertical is just fine. I've done some of these.

Agreed and even if you did hold it horizontally no one's paying attention to what you're doing as you're ordering your sandwich.

Hold your phone vertically, act like you're texting or even taking a selfie. So many people are absorbed in their phones these days that nobody looks twice at you doing it.

@Tanischri87 wrote:

Low pay = less discreet.

Low pay = Don't take the job ! Instead of compromising the program if you're not going to do your best.

@rarararara wrote:

Hold your phone vertically, act like you're texting or even taking a selfie. So many people are absorbed in their phones these days that nobody looks twice at you doing it.

I guess I am of the few that is not glue to my phone while walking in the store or in the check out line or while siting down for a nice meal at the restaurant talking to the waiter/waitress.

I have seen people walk into the store talking on their phone and 20 minutes later they are still on their phones while walking out...

I found that very very rude when people do that.. If you order is messed up or you forget some items, it is your fault for being on your phone and not paying attention.. . If you want to talk on your phone, step out of line to do that or go outside... I have seen several people not to that and either they will forget some stuff or their order is messed up.. It is not the cashiers fault or the servers fault.. IT IS YUR FAULT for being on your phone and not paying attention..

I always have my phone off while shopping...



Yes, I know most of theses shops require pictures of the menu board /counter area, food and other things.. But can you take a picture of the menu board at the table while waiting for your food?


Several months ago, I did a shop where you had to take a picture of the menu board/counter area. I took a picture of it while I was at the table while waiting for my food. NOT while I was in line..

In fact, yesterday I saw a posting for a shop. It said that you can not be on your phone while checking out.. You have to be focus on the cashier... I wonder how many people will accept this shop and be on their phone and not pay attention to the cashier?


This morning my dad, my, mom and I went for lunch at a local mom and pop restaurant for lunch.. The waitress came and took our drink order.. An few minutes later, she brought our drinks and took our order... None of us were on on phones.

My dad and my mom shared a plate and I had my own plate... When she brought our meal, it was right but there were a couple of items missing.

The way my dad order, it was a little confusing for the waitress.. My dad explain it to the waitress and she said sorry about that.. She brought us what they were missing...

I guess most people do not know how to put their phones down for 5 minutes while checking out or ordering at an restaurant.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2022 07:29PM by Isaiah4031a.

This shop description is so confusing. I got a push notification for the firefighter subs competitor shop for Jimmy John's / Jersey Mike's. However, it specifically said drive thru Jimmy John's on the email. I then clicked on a city that is about an hour from me but I am going out that way tomorrow and the address said N/A. I tried to Google the location for Jimmy John's, but could not find it in that city. I emailed the scheduler about the address and received an email stating shop the store closest to me the scenario assigned? I'm looking right at that email that specifically states Jimmy John's drive thru but there is no location listed in that city! I guess they don't want someone to accept the shop because the response I received was not at all helpful.

There are no drive thru's around where I live unless the place has been around for many years. At a million dollars or so a square foot in Los Angeles ( a bit but really not much of an exaggeration) only the older fast food places have a drive thru. Having been to the local Jersey Mikes before I was surprised to see that the one near me said drive thru in the subject line. But the actual individual job said dine in. It was a poor choice of a subject line as some shoppers here would not have even opened the email.
The other misnomer is advertising it as a free meal when the cost of the meal is more then the reimbursement unless one wants to drive over, order and do a report for a half a sandwich.

I also saw the email... I guess you can not got chips and drink.. (Unless you want to me out an extra $ 2 or $ 3 dollars. Depending on your location).

@sandyf wrote:

There are no drive thru's around where I live unless the place has been around for many years. At a million dollars or so a square foot in Los Angeles ( a bit but really not much of an exaggeration) only the older fast food places have a drive thru. Having been to the local Jersey Mikes before I was surprised to see that the one near me said drive thru in the subject line. But the actual individual job said dine in. It was a poor choice of a subject line as some shoppers here would not have even opened the email.
The other misnomer is advertising it as a free meal when the cost of the meal is more then the reimbursement unless one wants to drive over, order and do a report for a half a sandwich.

FYI this is a different assignment from the one the original poster is talking about.

@dafizisblue wrote:

I'm looking right at that email that specifically states Jimmy John's drive thru but there is no location listed in that city!.

Is there a Jersey Mike's in that city? If so, then that's probably what they want. In my city the shop listing on the website says "Jersey Mike's", and if you click on that shop, the location information says "Jersey Mike's", but the graphic in the comment says it's for Jimmy Johns (we dont have a JM in my city).

If there is a Jersey Mike's in that city, I would double-check what the comments say, and possibly ask the scheduler if it can be completed at Jersey Mike's.

Be careful with the Jimmy John's delivery. They typically don't use third parties and if they find one they shut it down. I found one on doordash requested and got the shop only to have to cancel. When I went back to place my order Jimmy John's was off of DoorDash. I called Jimmy John's to find out about their delivery options and was told they don't do any third party delivery and if they find that they are listed without their permission they take pretty swift action. I just hate for someone else to get burned.

Apropos of nothing, does anyone know why the MSC offers Jersey Mike's shops in New Jersey but not on Long Island, where I live? I get emails almost daily from the MSC because the NJ locations are technically within my "willing to travel" limit but when I set that mileage limit originally I meant go east, not west.

I mean, New Jersey is fairly close to me, "as the crow flies," but there's this big honking silver turd between me and NJ called NEW YORK CITY. So between horrific traffic and usurious bridge tolls, NJ is not an option.

I'm guessing there's some sort of weirdness where the Jersey Mike's on Long Island are privately owned and the ones in NJ are franchised and are required to participate in the corporate mystery shop program? I don't know, I'm spitballing here, does anyone know?

Jersey Mike's stores are usually franchised. The five near me in Southwest Jersey are owned by the same franchise owner and share the same promotions (often tied to the Eagles). To the best of my knowledge, they are not shopped. I don't think that there is a "corporate" MS program since I have never seen one in Southwest Jersey or in the area where I grew up (and still visit) near the original store in Point Pleasant, NJ.

@KokoBWare wrote:

Apropos of nothing, does anyone know why the MSC offers Jersey Mike's shops in New Jersey but not on Long Island, where I live? I get emails almost daily from the MSC because the NJ locations are technically within my "willing to travel" limit but when I set that mileage limit originally I meant go east, not west.

I mean, New Jersey is fairly close to me, "as the crow flies," but there's this big honking silver turd between me and NJ called NEW YORK CITY. So between horrific traffic and usurious bridge tolls, NJ is not an option.

I'm guessing there's some sort of weirdness where the Jersey Mike's on Long Island are privately owned and the ones in NJ are franchised and are required to participate in the corporate mystery shop program? I don't know, I'm spitballing here, does anyone know?

It’s interesting because the JM (5 minutes from my house in North Jersey) is shopped by a different MSC than the JM in Edgwater, Bayonne, Ft Lee etc. this company is offering a fee now and occasionally will offer a $5 bonus at the end of the month.

The Fast Pay irritates me though, as PayPal charges a fee for business transactions which comes out of our pay.

@foodluvr wrote:

@weatherman2111 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

Holding the phone horizontally seems unnatural to me.

You don't have to. Vertical is just fine. I've done some of these.

Agreed and even if you did hold it horizontally no one's paying attention to what you're doing as you're ordering your sandwich.

I thought this MSC always requires horizontal, even on presto shops. I assumed that it was a setting on their end that that always puts the pic sideways if I use vertical. I have not done this specific shop, though, or it's sandwich competitor. Don't need a sandwich that badly to spend the time for just food.

@sestrahelena wrote:

@foodluvr wrote:

@weatherman2111 wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

Holding the phone horizontally seems unnatural to me.

You don't have to. Vertical is just fine. I've done some of these.

Agreed and even if you did hold it horizontally no one's paying attention to what you're doing as you're ordering your sandwich.

I thought this MSC always requires horizontal, even on presto shops. I assumed that it was a setting on their end that that always puts the pic sideways if I use vertical. I have not done this specific shop, though, or it's sandwich competitor. Don't need a sandwich that badly to spend the time for just food.

I don't think so. I've done tons of shops for this MSC and never had a requirement for horizontal versus vertical.

Ah, maybe different MSC in my area.

@myst4au wrote:

Jersey Mike's stores are usually franchised. The five near me in Southwest Jersey are owned by the same franchise owner and share the same promotions (often tied to the Eagles). To the best of my knowledge, they are not shopped. I don't think that there is a "corporate" MS program since I have never seen one in Southwest Jersey or in the area where I grew up (and still visit) near the original store in Point Pleasant, NJ.

Yup. That's my stomping grounds and we are packed with Jersey Mike's but none shopped. Closest one I know of would be Woodbridge or Spotswood, which I've done if I happen to be further north. A couple Wingstop's not too far though.

Regarding "Fast Pay" and the PayPal fee, I find they juice the pay a little to cover the fee. As a result I've never felt shorted on payment from that MSC. Is that just me?

@dafizisblue wrote:

This shop description is so confusing. I got a push notification for the firefighter subs competitor shop for Jimmy John's / Jersey Mike's. However, it specifically said drive thru Jimmy John's on the email. I then clicked on a city that is about an hour from me but I am going out that way tomorrow and the address said N/A. I tried to Google the location for Jimmy John's, but could not find it in that city. I emailed the scheduler about the address and received an email stating shop the store closest to me the scenario assigned? I'm looking right at that email that specifically states Jimmy John's drive thru but there is no location listed in that city! I guess they don't want someone to accept the shop because the response I received was not at all helpful.

I'm super irked about one of these jobs. My first job to get burned on. The guidelines say it is for either Jersey Mike's or Jimmy John's and to map which is closer. So I did that. Got an email I failed and got a 1/10 because I did the wrong one. I said I mapped them as instructed. No response after that. Very irked.

Does anyone ever try to contact the company when you get burned by conflicting information? They obviously have your work. I highly doubt they are just throwing it out.

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

@dafizisblue wrote:

This shop description is so confusing. I got a push notification for the firefighter subs competitor shop for Jimmy John's / Jersey Mike's. However, it specifically said drive thru Jimmy John's on the email. I then clicked on a city that is about an hour from me but I am going out that way tomorrow and the address said N/A. I tried to Google the location for Jimmy John's, but could not find it in that city. I emailed the scheduler about the address and received an email stating shop the store closest to me the scenario assigned? I'm looking right at that email that specifically states Jimmy John's drive thru but there is no location listed in that city! I guess they don't want someone to accept the shop because the response I received was not at all helpful.

I'm super irked about one of these jobs. My first job to get burned on. The guidelines say it is for either Jersey Mike's or Jimmy John's and to map which is closer. So I did that. Got an email I failed and got a 1/10 because I did the wrong one. I said I mapped them as instructed. No response after that. Very irked.

Does anyone ever try to contact the company when you get burned by conflicting information? They obviously have your work. I highly doubt they are just throwing it out.

Email the team top gun email. However, on the guidelines that I saw it said that it was going to be a competitor so to look at the shop itself to see which one and then pick the closest shop to you.

@foodluvr wrote:

I don't think so. I've done tons of shops for this MSC and never had a requirement for horizontal versus vertical.

It was a requirement on a Checker's shop I did for this MSC recently. The comments/guidelines don't say it, but I remember it being in the submit form. I was worried at first, because I hadn't read that stipulation and some of my pics were in vertical mode, but then I noticed that some of their example pictures were also in vertical mode, despite the instruction to take them all horizontal. I submitted the pics I had, and was not penalized.