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Applebee's

March 22, 2023 10:06PM
Just wondering if these are random, or if all of the locations will be shopped. I grabbed one close to me and the only other one I saw was in a smaller town 30 miles away. I suppose someone could have grabbed all the other locations near me, but they only had a week long window to do them, Just curious.
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March 22, 2023 10:21PM
Hints on the MSC please. There's one about a mile from me and I haven't seen any e-mails.
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March 22, 2023 10:29PM
they are a FULL circle. NOT 180, but the whole ......
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March 22, 2023 10:31PM
I saw the shop and it looks like alcohol with appetizer. If you buy the minimum...you can make some money. they are not close enough to home to want to go make $10 net profit for 1 drink and appetizer. If I was in the area...then okay.

I'm hoping this is an ON-going shop. I have seen these come around before for like a 1 or 2 month thing. It would be nice if it was a long-term project like Panda/5g/RC.

Without knowing alot about it...it might be a marketing thing for a new product they are pushing. Maybe to see if it's being advertised or pushed by the staff.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2023 10:31PM by hbbigdaddy.
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March 22, 2023 10:48PM
I think it's a seasonal promo thing given the emphasis on the seasonal alcohol.
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March 22, 2023 11:48PM
If it is the same company I am thinking about, the last time I did a shop for them, I had to chase down payment

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2023 11:48PM by Isaiah4031a.
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March 23, 2023 12:26AM
The company is reputable and pays on time. I noticed them this morning on a platform that hosts several companies. The shop did not look appealing to me, but probably are to some.
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March 23, 2023 12:46AM
It must be another company then..
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March 23, 2023 01:34AM
@gigishopper wrote:

The company is reputable and pays on time. I noticed them this morning on a platform that hosts several companies. The shop did not look appealing to me, but probably are to some.

Found it there. When I do grocery shops for this company in Sassie, they pay every two weeks like clockwork.

They don't have my nearby Applebee's but one about 15 miles away.
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March 23, 2023 02:33AM
they are not on sassie. i saw the shop and quickly passed.
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March 23, 2023 03:44AM
I am not getting it. Can you be more specific please?
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March 23, 2023 04:08AM
I looked at that, it doesn't look like there's any profit. Even if you go alone one person one drink one appetizer and a 15% gratuity there's the whole payment. Typical of that mystery shopping company though.
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March 23, 2023 04:10AM
The shops are on ISecretShop (platform not MSC). The company (MSC) also has shops on SASSIE that I do.
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March 23, 2023 05:16AM
i found the shop posted at one locatoin near me. I don't really drink so figured its not worth the effort for an appetizer.
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March 23, 2023 06:29AM
Cheapest appetizer at a location in SoCal is the Breadsticks with Alfredo Sauce for $6.99. Some of their drinks are reasonable, so lets say that Modelo beer is $6 (instrx say 1 Promo Drink: - $6 Modelo Especial). That's $13 before tax and tip. I am thinking you get out for $18 and being told to order MODELO beer and get cheapest appetizer. It's certainly not going to make you rich. It probably is designed better for those that want the beer and some nice appetizer and it's a meal for them for really no money out of pocket. They have the classic combo appetizer for $16.59 or you could get chix quesadilla for $10.99 or some nachos with meat for $12.99.

If I had one convenient, I would probably do it just to do something different.

@Morledzep wrote:

I looked at that, it doesn't look like there's any profit. Even if you go alone one person one drink one appetizer and a 15% gratuity there's the whole payment. Typical of that mystery shopping company though.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2023 06:31AM by hbbigdaddy.
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March 23, 2023 06:37AM
That's my thought hbbigdaddy.
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March 23, 2023 07:47AM
Okay, I just self-assigned for one of these. Even though Applebee's food is mediocre at best, there is one near me and I have been really in the mood to dine out and be waited on lately. Plus it is the only restaurant shop I've seen in my area that allows the shopper to go alone - and this one has some nice photographs of my town in the dining room to look at. It only requires a specific cocktail or a beer and an appetizer for flat payment of $28. I just looked at the prices online and I might be able to have about $4 leftover. Eh, why not - the food's not great, but not exactly terrible either, so hopefully I won't kick myself for this. It's just something to do.
.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2023 07:49AM by shopnyc.
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March 23, 2023 01:55PM
I saw these pop up the other day and grabbed one of them. There are quite a few in my area. Great for a quick snack before I head home after work. There are still quite a few of them left which I am surprised about.
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March 23, 2023 02:33PM
Normally I would get a notification from ISS for new shops being posted and I didn't get one for this or directly from the MSC.

If I hadn't seen it here I wouldn't know about it. That might be why they are still available.
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March 23, 2023 03:09PM
@wrosie wrote:

Normally I would get a notification from ISS for new shops being posted and I didn't get one for this or directly from the MSC.

If I hadn't seen it here I wouldn't know about it. That might be why they are still available.

Same, I usually do my nightly crawl through my apps and caught this one. Another MSC had Chilis at some point and I missed it. There was only one left on the board and it was far. I swear its like you have to be on it 24/7!
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March 23, 2023 04:45PM
@wrosie wrote:

Normally I would get a notification from ISS for new shops being posted and I didn't get one for this or directly from the MSC.

If I hadn't seen it here I wouldn't know about it. That might be why they are still available.

Yep, me too. No notification on this one at all. I signed in after seeing this post, thinking they would be gone in my area, but was happy to see several available, including the one closest to me.
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March 23, 2023 05:22PM
I do NOT like their food but my teenager doesn't care. We usually try to do 1:1 time with each of the kids once a month so I'll take him while my younger son is at baseball practice and the girls are home with my husband.
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March 23, 2023 05:34PM
Normally kids can sit at a table in the bar area, but NOT directly at the bar counter in California.

I don't know the rules for your state about kids in the bar area. You might want to make sure you don't have to "belly up to the bar" seating for the shop.

@luckygirl0100 wrote:

I do NOT like their food but my teenager doesn't care. We usually try to do 1:1 time with each of the kids once a month so I'll take him while my younger son is at baseball practice and the girls are home with my husband.
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March 23, 2023 05:45PM
@hbbigdaddy wrote:

Normally kids can sit at a table in the bar area, but NOT directly at the bar counter in California.

I don't know the rules for your state about kids in the bar area. You might want to make sure you don't have to "belly up to the bar" seating for the shop.

@luckygirl0100 wrote:

I do NOT like their food but my teenager doesn't care. We usually try to do 1:1 time with each of the kids once a month so I'll take him while my younger son is at baseball practice and the girls are home with my husband.


You can eat in the dining room for this shop
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March 23, 2023 06:41PM
Cool. I didn't read closely as none of the shops were in my vicinity. I just looked at the $28 plus the order requirements.
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March 23, 2023 06:43PM
REQUIRED - What was your server or bartender's name? You must ask if they don't proactively provide it.
If this isn't a BIG RED FLAG for a mystery shopper, I'll eat my hat.
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March 23, 2023 07:06PM
@big_sky_thunder wrote:

REQUIRED - What was your server or bartender's name? You must ask if they don't proactively provide it.
If this isn't a BIG RED FLAG for a mystery shopper, I'll eat my hat.
Do you want condiments on your hat? This is not unusual to ask of a bartender or server, and a server will usually introduce themselves when coming to your table (better tips). If the bartender's name is not on the receipt, I will ask their name when I give them the tip. "Here Joe, this is for you." I've shopped hundreds of bars and found that It is most natural to ask a bartender or server their names.
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March 23, 2023 07:34PM
It does not say you have to ask the person directly. Why not ask the host or hostess for the name? There should be a name on the receipt too. You could always just call in (after you leave) as well and ask who the bartender is right now.
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March 23, 2023 08:13PM
@Datagirl wrote:

@wrosie wrote:



. Another MSC had Chilis at some point and I missed it. There was only one left on the board and it was far. I swear its like you have to be on it 24/7!

I remember doing a Chill's mystery shop several years ago with the wife... Wish Chili's was still shopped.. If I remember right the MSC that did them require lots of narrative .

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/2023 08:16PM by Isaiah4031a.
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March 23, 2023 08:15PM
I have been to several sit down places where the server will not introduce themselves..

But 99 % of the time there name is on the ticket..
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