@mfisherri wrote:

Can I just say it cracks me up that @shopperbob always talks about himself in third person??? LOL

It reminds me of that Seinfeld episode - George is getting upset!
(LoL)

@mfisherri wrote:

Can I just say it cracks me up that @shopperbob always talks about himself in third person??? LOL!

@hbbigdaddy - I wouldn't argue against your feedback and do appreciate the opportunity to receive it. We are working behind the scenes to right the reimbursable challenge so stay tuned - nothing ever moves as fast as we'd like, but it is moving.

My favorite part is that shopperbob opines. My second favorite is that he does it in third person.

@Shopperbob is classic. I always look forward to seeing who he says he terminated a relationship with!!! My guess is that @mfisherri company would be on that list he terminated. I could be wrong, but seems like he would have a good reason to do so.

Daddy,

Thank you for the compliment and if Sherri is with Ipsos, you are correct.

I started first grade in 1947, when the manner by which we lived was somewhat different. I am not opposed to change, but only if it is an improvement and much of today does not, in my opinion, qualify .

@shopperbob wrote:

shopnyc states--Feeling undervalued? The way I see it, that would mean the shopper is taking things like this far too personally.

And that is *not* how I meant that. When I say, "undervalued," I'm not taking it personally. I mean shoppers as a whole in this industry. Not simply me. The work we do is important, at least in my opinion. If shoppers are expected by MSCs to make less than minimum wage (yes, I know we're ICs, so that may not be a good comparison), then, yes, they are undervaluing us and what we do. Sure, it's a choice on our parts as to whether or not to take a job. But when costs to shoppers go up and fees stay the same, then one has to wonder how disposable we are. As in any business, it costs less to keep and retain good people (ICs or employees) than it does to have high turnover and less-experienced people. So I don't think it's good business, either.

As far as my own situation, even if I'm getting a meal I might (or might not) have eaten and paid for otherwise, I still am spending my time in addition to the time in-restaurant to get that meal. My time is worth money, and I need to be paid for it. So, yes, I have a certain minimum I need to make on a shop. As for 5G, we don't eat there anymore unless it's a shop because of how expensive it is. We don't usually eat at chain restaurants that are shopped. I don't usually have lunch out anywhere since I work at home. So, for me, it's not a matter of getting a meal paid for that I'd have had anyway. My situation may be different since I have two other sources of self-employment income. One I bill for by the hour, and one I factor in my time in deciding what to charge for an item. So, yeah, having a minimum profit that I can roughly break out into an hourly rate is how I decide where to put my time. That only makes sense.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I think this approach (under-reimburse/$0 pay) creates more animosity than goodwill with shoppers who feel like MSC is trying to take advantage of them rather than being fair with them.

And that's *exactly* what I was saying in my post. Being taken advantage of is pretty much the same thing as being undervalued. They try to take advantage of us because they don't recognize the value we bring to their businesses. "Undervalued" is not necessarily a personal POV, and it's not in my case.

I think @shopperbob would say.... we are the ones that are undervaluing ourselves.

The problem is, there is an endless supply (seemingly) of people willing to do shops. Some do it full-time as a source of income. There are others that do it as a hobby. So those who do it full-time are competing against those that don't have "as much to lose" by taking shops at base rate. I do think the companies should offer full-reimbursement for required purchase plus a nominal fee. The RC shops posted for $9 reimburse and $0 pay are ridiculous. I guess someone would claim they were getting a $9 discount because they really like the place. But last time I checked, RC "box combo" was almost $11. This is why I was happy the other behemoth company took Chinese firm away from @mfisherri company. They offer $8/$8 start. While it's not significantly better, it is better.

@BirdyC wrote:

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I think this approach (under-reimburse/$0 pay) creates more animosity than goodwill with shoppers who feel like MSC is trying to take advantage of them rather than being fair with them.

And that's *exactly* what I was saying in my post. Being taken advantage of is pretty much the same thing as being undervalued. They try to take advantage of us because they don't recognize the value we bring to their businesses. "Undervalued" is not necessarily a personal POV, and it's not in my case.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

we are the ones that are undervaluing ourselves.

Well, I agree with you there. I think we do undervalue/under-pay ourselves when we take a job that will, factoring all expenses and time in, in effect, lose money for us. And, as you say, full reimbursement should be offered for a required purchase. But I feel that shoppers should value their actual time spent. It can depend on circumstances, too. Today I did a convenience-store food shop. I had a medical appointment not far from the location. I have this appointment on a regular basis, and generally when I'm done it's after lunch, and I'm hungry. The appt. is about a 35-minute drive from home, so I usually stop to grab lunch on the way back. Usually costs me between $6 and $10. This shop reimbursed up to $7, which was well more than enough to cover the required purchase, and there was an $8 fee on top of that. So I'm getting $15 in all and spent around $9 (I went over reimbursement by choice). The report was short and easy, but I didn't make any profit. I was going to buy lunch anyway, and the time involved wasn't outrageous. So it was worth it to me. So, yeah, if somebody's going to be buying lunch anyway, it can make sense to do a low-fee shop. But, for example, I don't eat at 5G on my own dime anymore; too expensive. So the only reason for me to take a shop is if I'm craving their food (happens once every few weeks) or I want to earn some money. In the former case, I might take a little less than usual, but in the latter, I'll either get a price that gives me the rate I need, or I don't take the shop. I'll also do a fine-dining shop with a high reimbursement, but I want a fee on top of that. Doesn't have to be much, but chances are I go over reimbursement, and a fee, even a small one, can help cover that overage.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I do think the companies should offer full-reimbursement for required purchase plus a nominal fee. The RC shops posted for $9 reimburse and $0 pay are ridiculous. I guess someone would claim they were getting a $9 discount because they really like the place. But last time I checked, RC "box combo" was almost $11. This is why I was happy the other behemoth company took Chinese firm away from @mfisherri company. They offer $8/$8 start. While it's not significantly better, it is better.

Absolutely! I just feel like many shoppers don't take into account all of the time they spend, gas cost, etc., when determining how much money they want or need to make. But, as you noted, people shop for different reasons, and a profit may not be as important to someone who does it as a hobby vs. someone who does it as a main source of income.

a significant number of contracts are made year to year. inflation is going crazy. bonuses happen when jobs sit unfilled so the best time to get good pay is the end of the month/quarter

I never "buy" lunch. I bring my own, snack on reimbursed gas station crackers or get a free gas station coffee (I have achieved King of Coffee level, mostly through other people's purchases - not a shopped brand). If I eat out, it's for the pay. Not the food. PB&J is almost free, and I've got plenty of it at home. Only the bread I have not been able to score at food pantries but there's always a work-around.

They are called ‘small fries’ not ‘little fries’.

@Book wrote:

They are called ‘small fries’ not ‘little fries’.

In reference to the topic we are discussing, they are actually called "little fries."

I mentioned to a 5G manager that the prices were constantly going up. She said there is an increase every 3 months. I think Five Guys raises the prices for fun.

@wrosie wrote:

They actually raised the reimbursement by about $1, I think, about a year ago. However, prices have risen faster than that small incremental reimbursement amount.

A small Big Mac combo is now just over $10 around me. At 5G, a little (burger), little (fries), and regular (drink) is just over $15. I generally see more people in 5G (especially take-out and pick-up) than in MCD. The cost of 5G has more than doubled since I started doing them in about 2008. So has the price of a Big Mac combo at McD. I still remember when a hamburger at McD was $0.15 and a Whopper at Burger King was $0.49. But those days are long gone. I'm betting that Shopperbob remembers being able to sit in a restaurant and get a glass of Coke for 5 cents. I was a little tyke then. Does anyone else remember buying a 5-cent glass of Coke?

Lol, i remember when you could buy a big mac fries and a coke and get change from $1. Big Macs were bigger then too.

Slightly veering here but RC(chicken) was mentioned....... for those that have done that shop - is it fairly smooth? Are there lots of pictures, etc? I searched here and not much was coming up. The description says online order or drive thru, evaluate exterior. I've read things here about other shops (McD) that seem a bit onerous vis a vis pictures, etc hence I'm asking. Thanks.

RC shops very easy. No pictures needed except the Receipt. Simple timings. You do need to remember what they say in the greeting. But wait until they have a fee added. Don't take them for reimbursement only.

Thanks, and take your point well -- I wouldn't do just for reimbursement

Simple I don't do shops the don't fit my profit profile. . . no hard feelings, no ticked off feeling. I do laugh a lot now. Which I hear is suppose to be good for me.

I get more burger at Sonic within my reimbursement than at 5G.
"Little" is exactly that. And nothing to write home about. Once I was at a Sonic where prices allowed me a DOUBLE burger within reimbursement. Ever try that? Those things weigh like 5 pounds! I was sorry-not-sorry. Is it beef? I don’t know. But it tastes good. Horse, cow, badger - doesn't matter to me.

i prefer quality over quantity. Sonic is not the quality of 5G. yes, 5G is over-priced, but I would rather spend $17 on a quality burger/fries at 5G, than to get the equivalent at Sonic for $11.

I did 1 shop (and will do more) because they are not hard and pay decent...But I'm not really interested in the food at Sonic that much. Would like to see the chicken sandwich option.

@sestrahelena wrote:

I get more burger at Sonic within my reimbursement than at 5G.
"Little" is exactly that. And nothing to write home about. Once I was at a Sonic where prices allowed me a DOUBLE burger within reimbursement. Ever try that? Those things weigh like 5 pounds! I was sorry-not-sorry. Is it beef? I don’t know. But it tastes good. Horse, cow, badger - doesn't matter to me.

I was in a tiny town in KS for a Sonic. The population was about 2100. The standard Cheeseburger, side, drink combo was $9.73 which is getting really close to the $10.00 reimbursement. It won't be long before there is a discussion on this board if, like Panda, it's worth doing Sonic when the reimbursement doesn't cover the required purchase.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2023 01:10PM by tstewart3.