First Sonic Shop; Any Tips?

I have a friend who use to work for Sonic. He said they know who the shoppers are. If they get one person ordering 3 items, word goes out...."mystery shopper" I've done cell phone shops audit and had a manager tell me, "We know who the mystery shoppers are. They're the only one's asking questions"

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Am I doing Sonic shops wrong? I order my meal like I would at any fast food place, burger, side, drink. I let them put it together as a combo or not as they choose. I don't ask questions unless I'm concerned about the ingredients, like which burgers have mayonnaise on them. Or more likely I'll just ask that they don't put mayo on my burger whether it comes with it naturally or not. Because I don't eat mayonnaise unless I make it myself here at home.
@Morledzep wrote:

Am I doing Sonic shops wrong?
Why do you think you're doing them wrong? Just like anything else - let them lead and don't volunteer information until after they've had an opportunity to ask about it. You can order your burger and tell them how you want it, then wait for them to ask/offer a side and a drink. Sounds to me like you're doing exactly what you should be doing. winking smiley

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
I have a tip! It's about tipping! Haha but I have recently been advised that tips are not reimbursed and I should not include them in my cost. (I did it twice before I saw the review...) I do tip since there is a space for it. Just $1 but it's something! Next time I will tip but subtract the $1 from my total.
@johnb974 wrote:

I have a friend who use to work for Sonic. He said they know who the shoppers are. If they get one person ordering 3 items, word goes out...."mystery shopper"
??? Nobody but mystery shoppers go to a Sonic alone and order a burger, fries and drink?
Well, the shop was pretty easy and went well. But, honestly, I wasn't crazy about the burger. It was just OK. I really liked the fries, though, and the limeade! Now I wish that the dogs were on the approved list because I'm guessing, from what many of you have indicated, that they're better than the burgers.

I'd probably do one again if I were in the same situation as yesterday: in the area and needing lunch. But I wouldn't travel to do one unless it were very highly bonused!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Birdy, the best things on the menu are the chili cheese dogs. The second best are chili cheese tater tots. I hate that I can't order either one.

I get that they're trying to keep things consistent for timing's sake, but if they're hoping for a "real world" representation of timings, they aren't getting it. People go to Sonic for food other than a burger and plain tots or fries. And newsflash to the MSC: very few people sit in their car and eat in a stall anymore. Might as well stick a "MYSTERY SHOPPER" neon sign on the roof of the car.

I did a Sonic yesterday and ordered a burger, plain tots, and a Coke. The tots and Coke were good, but the burger was no bueno. I'm glad you had an okay experience. Truthfully, most of the time, "okay" is the best you can hope for with Sonic.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown


Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/2023 06:31PM by drdoggie00.
I've always been an odd duck, apparently.

I always eat my Sonic stuff while sitting in the stall, after placing my order via the app so I get 1/2-price Diet Cherry Limeades, and any other perks they are offering.

There's a location a couple of blocks from the campus where I teach. I'll stop in for a quick bite before my
1 PM classes at least once a month.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
I'd never use a stall at all if you could check in for app orders in the drive-thru.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
I didn't like the garlic butter burger the one time I tried it. It was probably one of the worst things I have had in all of my shops there (I do maybe 6-7 per month). I keep doing the shops just for the strawberry lemonades and cherry limeades. None of their decent food menu items are on the approved list.
@KokoBWare wrote:

@johnb974 wrote:

I have a friend who use to work for Sonic. He said they know who the shoppers are. If they get one person ordering 3 items, word goes out...."mystery shopper"
??? Nobody but mystery shoppers go to a Sonic alone and order a burger, fries and drink?

It narrows down the list of who is a mystery shopper.
I have a feeling Sonic is a place with high turnover, so maybe people are not there long enough to even know what a mystery shopper does. Even if they were told about the program, I doubt most have any clue unless they have been there a while.

My Sonic normally has the stalls closed, so that shop converts to a drive-thru anyhow.
@drdoggie00 wrote:

I'd never use a stall at all if you could check in for app orders in the drive-thru.

I don't like drive-thru for Sonics. Waste of gas if my car's auto-off doesn't kick while I'm in line, then I have to waste more gas to drive someplace to eat my meal. Much easier to cruise into a stall and hang out for awhile.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
@CoolMusic wrote:

I've always been an odd duck, apparently.

I always eat my Sonic stuff while sitting in the stall, after placing my order via the app so I get 1/2-price Diet Cherry Limeades, and any other perks they are offering.

I don't think that's odd at all. I'd just as soon sit in my car and eat right when I get my food so it's still hot (or warm, anyway) and while I'm comfortable. If I did drive-thru, I'd have to either eat while driving, which I absolutely hate to do, or drive 30 minutes to home and then eat.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
Do they ever have breakfast shops? While I wasn't crazy about the burger, I had breakfast at a Sonic about three years ago, and it was really good. Don't know if it still would be, but I'd happily try a breakfast shop!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I’ve never seen them for breakfast, Birdy.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
@drdoggie00 wrote:

I’ve never seen them for breakfast, Birdy.

Dang it!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I know! The sausage breakfast burrito is good when you get a fresh one.

Something else that’s good: the Frito chili cheese wrap. It’s an LTO, though.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
@Isaiah4031a wrote:

It seem like at one time with the old MSC, you were allowed to do breakfast shops

Pretty sure this is correct. I did at least a couple of breakfasts there back in the day, if my addlepated brain remembers.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
the old MSC had separate breakfast shops at Sonic, you couldn't choose to do breakfast unless you signed up for a breakfast shop.
12 24 23

Happy Xmas all.

I live where Sonic was started.

Right now, the deal is $1.99 for their foot long chili dog.. SOMETIMES YUM, sometimes, HO HUM.

I remember THAT MSC is a STICKLER ON THE TIMING! Use a stopwatch and write down fast, or
use a recorder.

That MSC sucks.
12 24 23

Happy Xmas all.

I live where Sonic was started.

Right now, the deal is $1.99 for their foot long chili dog.. SOMETIMES YUM, sometimes, HO HUM.

I remember THAT MSC is a STICKLER ON THE TIMING! Use a stopwatch and write down fast, or
use a recorder.

That MSC sucks.

WOW, I never even thought to LOOK for SugarFree beverages there! Cool, diabetic 50+ years
THX

I was wondering about the garlic butter burger. What wasn't great? I figure it's prob just super GREASY.
@BirdyC wrote:

Do they ever have breakfast shops? While I wasn't crazy about the burger, I had breakfast at a Sonic about three years ago, and it was really good. Don't know if it still would be, but I'd happily try a breakfast shop!

They used to 4+ years ago. A lot of Sonics stopped opening early. I miss it!
@amberng wrote:

THX

I was wondering about the garlic butter burger. What wasn't great? I figure it's prob just super GREASY.

I actually liked the flavor but yes, super greasy! Bring plenty of towels, plastic sheets or whatever to protect you, your clothes and your car.
I thought the garlic butter burger was okay, but the mayo clashed with the garlic butter sauce they used. I'd ask for no mayo if I ordered it again.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2023 05:45PM by drdoggie00.
The garlic burger, IMHO, was a step-up from their regular burger. However, it honestly tasted like they took the garlic dipping sauce from Papa Johns and put it on their hamburger. By no means was it the best burger I had.
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