I would agree that it's not common. However it's not unusual.
I guess it all comes down to being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The mystery shopping company that does this project has become more inclined to decline route offers. They just keep raising the fees until they are all done. And then they end up with a few locations at the end that are super orphaned. So they Jack them up to $300 or $500 to get them done. In the end, I'm not sure which approach is better for their overall budget.
I think what's different about this is that they are just putting the amount of money out there. Often, when this type of thing comes up, they will just say to make an offer. It's almost like they're showing their cards. I don't really understand it. I don't know that I've ever seen a fast casual restaurant on the job board for $100, at least not very often, but I've done many of them for that amount. I just had to negotiate.
In my experience a debrand takes longer and requires more photos than a regular gas station audit.
@hbbigdaddy wrote:
You are insinuating that this is common. I have seen some shops get to $100, but never $500. I'm sure there are assignments out there that pay well, but do you think you would ever see a quick fast casual shop hit $100?
I think the most I have seen is $75 for an Arby's. I have seen some other things at $50, but never saw any fast food/fast casual hit triple digits.
There are some bank shops out there that are $150-$200 right now.
How quick can a DEBRAND shop be done? I'm thinking you could probably complete it in under 30 minutes and maybe under 15 minutes. I do not know all that is involved, but it's probably not that complicated.
@thunderdeacon wrote:
There were THREE gas stations that were $500 EACH in the same town in early September. This is not that much and nothing to really see here. If more shoppers would quit accepting shops for peanuts, they could realize that there is actually money to be made in this industry.