Outback Steakhouse

"You may order ONE appetizer but only after your server suggests one. If your server does not suggest an
appetizer, do not order one, or you may order one in the occasion that the server does not recommend, but
you will not be reimbursed for the purchase.
For your entrées, you must order at least ONE steak. You may order two but at least one of the entrées has
to be a steak.
You may order ONE dessert but only after your server suggests one and you did not order an
appetizer. If your server does not suggest a dessert, do not order one, or you may order one, but you will not
be reimbursed for the purchase. If you get both an appetizer and a dessert the reimbursement allotted will not
cover all your expenses. "

It sounds like they will only reimburse one of the two, but not both, assuming the server suggests them.

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I just grabbed one of these. Do you think you have to order the specific appetizer suggested by the server, or can you order any appetizer?

This is a dumb methodology by the MSC. They open themselves up to people being dishonest and saying the server recommended something when they didn't. If you penalize the shopper for an employee's lack of upselling, there will be shoppers who will say it was recommended when it was not.

The best approach is to tell the shopper to order if if not recommended and just document what the server did and did not do.

So dumb on the MSC part to allow this potential data flaw.

Just FYI, I ordered both an app and dessert. The server only suggested both generically without mentioning anything specific. I received a "10" on the report with total reimbursement listed. My total bill without the app and dessert, however, was close to reimbursement anyway.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

Looks like the base fee was changed from $5 to $0.

I'm looking all over the country on Presto and the website for the company I think is doing these, and I can't find one.

It is definitely dumb and somewhat common. I don't understand it myself. What is the point? Why would they not want to see the appetizer either way? It does not make sense to penalize the shopper, and yes, people will just say it was offered and order it.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

This is a dumb methodology by the MSC. They open themselves up to people being dishonest and saying the server recommended something when they didn't. If you penalize the shopper for an employee's lack of upselling, there will be shoppers who will say it was recommended when it was not.

The best approach is to tell the shopper to order if if not recommended and just document what the server did and did not do.

So dumb on the MSC part to allow this potential data flaw.

Or, conversely, if ordering both an appetizer and dessert is going to carry the shopper over reimbursement, they might say the server didn't recommend a dessert to stay under reimbursement, even if the server did offer it.

Finally got one.

Has anyone used the AARP discount?

I didn't know they had one.

I contacted the scheduler and she told me that you can use your AARP discount, but te reimbursement remains the same.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2023 12:57PM by Insight.

I see 3-4 near me but when I try to self-assign (which it says I qualify for) all the dates are grayed out. I emailed the assigner and got a response that they were too busy to answer email and if I couldn't assign it must already be taken.

If it's already assigned, why is it still on the board?

I went last night. Used my AARP card and got 10% off. The server did not recommend an appetizer so I did not get one. He did recommend dessert so we shared one. With the discount and including the tip, the bill was $66 well below the $75. Had one drink, one steak dinner, one salmon dinner, and dessert.
Received a 10 on 'the shop. Would gladly do another one, It was a very easy report.

Not seeing any in California. What gives?

They used to offer AAA discounts also but I'm not sure if they still do.

They now say you need an "8" rating. Last week was a "5". And a limit of one per person "this round".

I see a few of these shops on the shop board- but they must be done by October 1 and I am unable to get there by them. Are these shops frequently posted0 like every month? Would like to go just have other commitments from now until the date listed as final date.

I read the description for that. It says they want a very detailed report but there's no shopper pay and the reimbursement doesn't cover the required purchases.

So that's a hard pass. For the exact same reason that I don't use the self-checkout at the grocery store, I will not pay to work. The whole idea behind work is to get paid, not pay them.

I did use the AARP discount. I wrote to them to make sure it was ok and they said it is.

I did a lunch shop. I had a steak and my guest has shrimp. The server did not recommend an appetizer or dessert. Without those items, the total came to $61.23 which included tax and 20% tip. We did not order any of the lunch specials which would have brought us in lower. I think we still would have been under with a dessert. Some of the appetizers would have still kept us under $75 if we didn't get dessert too. The report is easy. I'd say similar to TX RH.

They changed this! It now says to give them a chance to offer one, but still order one if they do not.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

This is a dumb methodology by the MSC. They open themselves up to people being dishonest and saying the server recommended something when they didn't. If you penalize the shopper for an employee's lack of upselling, there will be shoppers who will say it was recommended when it was not.

The best approach is to tell the shopper to order if if not recommended and just document what the server did and did not do.

So dumb on the MSC part to allow this potential data flaw.

They also changed it that you have to pay with a credit card. I had previously used a gift card.

Hmmmm. Considering doing one. The one and only TRH I did was OK and this will be comparable regarding the food, I think. Maybe. Now, who to take and when as it's 1 guest.

@JimmyP wrote:

They changed this! It now says to give them a chance to offer one, but still order one if they do not.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

This is a dumb methodology by the MSC. They open themselves up to people being dishonest and saying the server recommended something when they didn't. If you penalize the shopper for an employee's lack of upselling, there will be shoppers who will say it was recommended when it was not.

The best approach is to tell the shopper to order if if not recommended and just document what the server did and did not do.

So dumb on the MSC part to allow this potential data flaw.

Interesting. Now that you have to order the kitchen sink regardless, does the reimbursement have a fighting chance of covering it?

The Mac & Cheese Balls are great and @ $8. There's plenty to share too.

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

@mjt9598 wrote:

They also changed it that you have to pay with a credit card. I had previously used a gift card.

For sit down places like that I do not like to use a Credit card., I like to use cash.

With the no fee and having to use a Credit card, think I will pass.

Anyone else who doesn't enjoy steak, like ME, ever order a burger at Outback? Was it delicious?

@Rho* wrote:

Anyone else who doesn't enjoy steak, like ME, ever order a burger at Outback? Was it delicious?

They're running a 13.99 special on the hamburgers right now. You get the Bloomin Onion, a soda or Outback draft beer and the burger for that price.

Their burgers are fairly good. I did one for lunch couple weeks ago.

@KokoBWare wrote:

@JimmyP wrote:

They changed this! It now says to give them a chance to offer one, but still order one if they do not.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

This is a dumb methodology by the MSC. They open themselves up to people being dishonest and saying the server recommended something when they didn't. If you penalize the shopper for an employee's lack of upselling, there will be shoppers who will say it was recommended when it was not.

The best approach is to tell the shopper to order if if not recommended and just document what the server did and did not do.

So dumb on the MSC part to allow this potential data flaw.
Interesting. Now that you have to order the kitchen sink regardless, does the reimbursement have a fighting chance of covering it?

We went for lunch last week. I had the lunch Alice Springs chicken, a diet Coke, a Bloomin' Onion and my husband had the Outback style, prime rib and a beer and with tip and tax, we were at $77. And that was tipping 20%.

So the reimbursement was $75 so we were out $2. Not bad at all.

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