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Anyone Else Find This To Be Goofy?

March 28, 2023 05:45AM
@BirdyC wrote:

There is a PE in my town, but I've never, ever seen a shop for it, and I'm signed up with the MSC. I see PE shops all over the place except here. I understand that PEs are all corporate-owned and not franchises, so I don't get why this location is apparently never shopped. Or maybe there's a shopper who gets first crack at them before they can be posted?

And I think it's weird to not order a beverage with a meal, even if it's water. That's what I usually do, since the price of drinks in most restaurants is ridiculous; when the three of us order soda or iced tea, it adds at least $10 to our bill. I'd rather spend that on an appetizer for the table.

I would imagine that the mystery shopping company informed Panda about the perils of such a policy. That this would flag someone as a mystery shopper. It would also, by the way, eliminate any commentary on whether the drinks are available or not. I know that I have done Panda shops where that wonderful Fuze tea they used to feature was not available--it went very well with their food.

I'm sure the people who run Panda are nice people and they are good business folks but this decision is a swing-and-a-miss.

Just be cool folks.
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March 28, 2023 08:57PM
I'll only do drive-through Panda shops these days. If either the MSC or the client or both are too cheap to spring for a drink, I don't see the need to do them any favors by picking up in-restaurant assignments.
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March 28, 2023 10:41PM
I don't understand the need for quotation marks when you were describing health conscious people. There are some of us who do not consume artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes. And limit our intake of sugar in all of its forms. I do drink soda, but I do not drink all sodas. I will occasionally have a small ginger ale, and if I need to buy a fountain drink for a shop, I will get root beer, have a sip and give the rest to my son. The rest of the time I drink coffee from home, very well filtered water from home, and unsweetened nut milks, mostly homemade.

I have, and will continue to, take my own water bottle, filled with my own filtered water from home, into PE when I dine in. I mostly choose not to do their dine in shops, because makes me uncomfortable to bring my water bottle inside.

After this last Fiasco with the rules changing, and the reduction in pay for the drive-thru shops, my son and I have decided to no longer do PE shops. If we eat at PE, we will do so on our own dime, and I suspect that we probably won't.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2023 10:42PM by Morledzep.
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March 29, 2023 01:19AM
If I go to any place that has a combo meal (Entree, side, and drink) I will get sweet tea..

If I go to a sit down restaurant (TRX, Chill's, ect). I will get water.. Unless it is a Mystery shop and we have to order a drink other than alcohol I will get sweet tea..

If I go to the movies I will get me an DP

I will drink a sprite to help settle my stomach if I am sick.
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March 29, 2023 03:54AM
I only pickup PE shops to add onto a route last minute. There was a panda shop in the same plaza as my money gram shop. It paired well because I need to wait at least 30 minutes before continuing part two of the shop.

As of now with the .50 decrease for drive thru shops, I just stick to online pickup orders.
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March 29, 2023 03:59AM
I have done over 50 PE and have never ordered a drink. I don't ask for water. I carry a stainless steel water bottle, as do many people in CA.
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March 29, 2023 02:57PM
Here’s what I do: when asked if I want a beverage at PE, I decline. Then when the receipt starts printing I say to the cashier, “Actually, can I get a cup of water?” That way, I get the water and it’s not on my receipt.
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March 29, 2023 03:40PM
@Phoebe70 wrote:

Here’s what I do: when asked if I want a beverage at PE, I decline. Then when the receipt starts printing I say to the cashier, “Actually, can I get a cup of water?” That way, I get the water and it’s not on my receipt.

Combat tactics. I like it.

I was doing a shop one time at a women's lingerie boutique...man did I feel out of place. Anyway, the sales people don't exactly wear name tags and I guess I got distracted for some reason (ahem)... I was supposed to get the name of the associate who helped me. So on the way out I asked one of her associates if the lady who helped me was single. She said "Who Chloe?" (that wasn't her name--I don't recall the name). Anyway, I had 3 or 4 other shops in the Galleria that day so I do them and then on the way back, I have to walk by Victoria's Secret again...and there is Chloe outside passing out chocolates. She walks over to me and gives me her phone number written in red lipstick on a scented perfume sample card.

Not a bad day at the office.
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March 29, 2023 11:48PM
@metro25782 wrote:

Which would be fine for a drive-through I guess. This is a dine-in shop. You're supposed to sit there and eat the food without having anything to drink or order a drink after you complete your transaction? Or bring a drink with you?

I guess the idea is to make the shop more appealing if the shopper doesn't have to order a drink....but wow...seems screwy to me to expect someone to eat a meal without a beverage.

Not goofy, just cheap client!

Back in pre-pandemic days, I shopped lots of dine-in Pandas. I always put a small bottle of water in my back pocket. That way, they could still suggest a drink and the reimbursement covered the required meal. They would often offer me a free cup for water if I declined the drink offer.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2023 11:49PM by AZwolfman.
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April 05, 2023 08:01PM
@joanna81 wrote:

I think having requirements like this makes it easier to identify the shoppers.

I disagree. There are plenty of people who do not order fountain beverages in quick-serve restaurants because they are a total ripoff.

I live in Utah. 50% of the local population doesn't ingest caffeine, so most brown sodas and iced tea are off limits. Pretty much leaves water if you don't like lemon-lime soda. Around these parts there are plenty of people who just have water when they eat out.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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April 05, 2023 08:05PM
Good point. Another "quick casual" restaurant I used to evaluate frequently wanted you to get a drink because it was a good way to make sure machines were functional, the beverage area was clean, the drinks didn't taste diluted, etc.

@condorchristi wrote:

@BirdyC wrote:

There is a PE in my town, but I've never, ever seen a shop for it, and I'm signed up with the MSC. I see PE shops all over the place except here. I understand that PEs are all corporate-owned and not franchises, so I don't get why this location is apparently never shopped. Or maybe there's a shopper who gets first crack at them before they can be posted?

And I think it's weird to not order a beverage with a meal, even if it's water. That's what I usually do, since the price of drinks in most restaurants is ridiculous; when the three of us order soda or iced tea, it adds at least $10 to our bill. I'd rather spend that on an appetizer for the table.

I would imagine that the mystery shopping company informed Panda about the perils of such a policy. That this would flag someone as a mystery shopper. It would also, by the way, eliminate any commentary on whether the drinks are available or not. I know that I have done Panda shops where that wonderful Fuze tea they used to feature was not available--it went very well with their food.

I'm sure the people who run Panda are nice people and they are good business folks but this decision is a swing-and-a-miss.
Reply
April 13, 2023 12:49PM
Hey @CoolMusic - unrelated but I notice you said you live in Utah. We're moving shortly and I'm struggling with which MS companies operate there. Currently on the East Coast and my regular ones don't. Do you have any that you'd recommend?
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April 13, 2023 01:26PM
Plot twist - does the end client actually decide what is reimbursed or does the MSC? Not only this shop, but others I have noticed, have lowered reimbursements ( i.e. no beverage, two stamps vs $14, 1 gallon vs $5.00) or not increased them in 20 years.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2023 01:27PM by sestrahelena.
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April 13, 2023 02:37PM
I'd love to know more about what goes on behind the curtain when they are designing a mystery shop program. I imagine it involves collaboration - the MSC presents a baseline type of program and then the client reviews, gives feedback, they tweak it, etc.
I think some changes, like 1 gallon of gas vs. $5 are to help accommodate regional differences since gas prices can fluctuate so wildly across the country. A gallon of gas in Missouri is probably half the price of California.

@sestrahelena wrote:

Plot twist - does the end client actually decide what is reimbursed or does the MSC? Not only this shop, but others I have noticed, have lowered reimbursements ( i.e. no beverage, two stamps vs $14, 1 gallon vs $5.00) or not increased them in 20 years.
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April 13, 2023 03:45PM
Didn't it used to be with the old MSC that you were reimbursed for a drink ONLY if they offered it?

It would be more costly to the MSC profit margins to do this -but much better for actual research.

It could also be for some other reason. Many locations are now filling the beverages for you and no longer offering self serve which complicates the questionnaire.

Many companies are now switching to a cold case of bottles for $2.79 - $3.99 which cuts out a lot of costs for cleaning and maintenance and ordering. Weird to see places sell a bottle of coke in plastic and ALSO sell a fountain drink with unlimited refills. BUT then a lot of places are expanding online ordering and delivery.

Who knows!

I guess bite the bullet and drink more water.
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April 13, 2023 03:55PM
@sestrahelena A MSC had a webinar this week and they addressed this question, but not fully. It seems that the question is frequently asked on their webinars. They claim that the rate is determined by a couple factors: location and requirements of the shop -- how long it takes to complete and complexities involved around it. They said that the pay may go up for remote locations, but in an area like Atlanta, where they have a lot of shoppers there really isn't an issue in finding someone to do the task.

I've always found that they dodge the portion of the question is the client involved in setting the rate.
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