Good Evening All,

Like a dumb dumb I think I have deleted the email that has my BJ's gift card info. I saved the receipt from using the gift card, but of course that is not going to help. Does anyone have the email (or subject line) for the email where the gift card is contained? I have searched every possible combination in my inbox and cannot find it. Thanks!

Removed

OOOps name of client and msc in the same thread. Please fix. You can use giftcards@ (name of mystery shop company)

A real bummer last night. Went on my own dime. Lots of points and rewards, so why not go to a place I enjoy and not have to do a report (even though It's not difficult).

Anyone expecting that awesome Wednesday Burger special will be disappointed.

They changed the menu around a little bit. All the other specials are unmolested, but the Wednesday burger deal is GONE

[www.bjsrestaurants.com]

also, happy hour now ENDS at 6pm. it used to be 7pm

funny part was they had a SMORES pizookie insert in the menu. So I asked for that and was told it did not start until today (thursday 6/27), so I cracked back asking why they put it in the menu the day before it was available.

**********
Okay...update to this. I think is is location specific. That is even MORE irritating. I opened BJSRESTAURANTS.COM i now see a location is defaulted in the far right corner. The burger special ended at this location. I enter a zip code for another location and it shows the burger special. For those that live in an urban area with several BJ's to choose from would expect all the chain's locations to follow the same specials. If I was to go to cheesecake factory or another national chain, I would not expect the specials to be different. Maybe it's just me, but I do not like how BJ's is doing this. It makes it overly complicated when it does not need to be. So now if I want the burger special, I need to find a location that offers it and go to that location instead of the one defaulted by my current location.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2024 04:04PM by hbbigdaddy.

I am not one of those, "Will work for food," people. BJ's will need to start paying with cash before I ever consider doing a shop for them.

@AZwolfman

I hear that you want $$$, but I don't cook and wifey doesn't like to cook. I have found a way to do these and "make $." Racking up rewards point and spending $50-60 for a shop and pocketing the extra $ allows us to eat out again without coming of pocket. So while it's not income as in shop payment, the fact that I can stretch the $100 shop reimbursement into nearly 2 visits is perfect. In addition to continuing to accrue rewards.

I also just purchased the pizookie pass. So for $5 per month for july/aug/sept/october, i can have a pizookie 1x per day. I probably will use 4-5 times each month. That's still a winner today.

If you like to cook, then I can see why this shop would not appeal to you very much. But even if I was to go to Chipotle instead, I'm spending $10 per person to eat there....So why not do a shop where I can get 2 visits out of the 1x of work?

If you just want shops to make $$$...then you can do 5 guys, Sonic or Panda and get paid more actual money. But i really enjoy BJ's so the "overpayment" is like $ to me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/27/2024 10:35PM by hbbigdaddy.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@AZwolfman

I hear that you want $$$, but I don't cook and wifey doesn't like to cook. I have found a way to do these and "make $." Racking up rewards point and spending $50-60 for a shop and pocketing the extra $ allows us to eat out again without coming of pocket. So while it's not income as in shop payment, the fact that I can stretch the $100 shop reimbursement into nearly 2 visits is perfect. In addition to continuing to accrue rewards.

I also just purchased the pizookie pass. So for $5 per month for july/aug/sept/october, i can have a pizookie 1x per day. I probably will use 4-5 times each month. That's still a winner today.

If you like to cook, then I can see why this shop would not appeal to you very much. But even if I was to go to Chipotle instead, I'm spending $10 per person to eat there....So why not do a shop where I can get 2 visits out of the 1x of work?

If you just want shops to make $$$...then you can do 5 guys, Sonic or Panda and get paid more actual money. But i really enjoy BJ's so the "overpayment" is like $ to me.

I agree 100%!! I like the BJs takeout shops. I go during the lunch specials and buy (4) of the $12 dinners. Freeze 2 and eat 2. Even better when you have a $10 off reward.

I want to keep doing these shops but the scheduler keeps rejecting my applications. She said to include two dates I could do the shop but she wouldn't give me a shop even when I said in my applications that I could do it on, for example, any Tuesday or Thursday.

I want these shops because I like giving the GCs to one of my sisters for X'mas and her birthday. That was what I did with a $60 and a $100 GC for her last birthday and last X'mas.

As for me, I only like several things at BJ's. I still have a $50 GC that I bought. I have been saving that one to use on a shop but I may as well use it myself or give it to my sister because my applications keep getting declined.

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

I want to keep doing these shops but the scheduler keeps rejecting my applications. She said to include two dates I could do the shop but she wouldn't give me a shop even when I said in my applications that I could do it on, for example, any Tuesday or Thursday.

Busy, these don't show as self-assign for you?

@AZwolfman wrote:

I am not one of those, "Will work for food," people. BJ's will need to start paying with cash before I ever consider doing a shop for them.

I have an abundance of gift cards. I paid for the first one (because I go out to eat anyway), and now I have close to $300 to use on shops or just going out with friends and family. I have done these in multiple states. Easy peasy. I do them all over Northern California. I go as often as rotation allows now. Only problem is my bar shops. About 40% of the time somebody tries to buy me drinks, shots or pay for my dinner. Some lady asked for my number and tried to get me to go to Vegas last time. During basketball season, guys were buying shots. I had to decline more than once. Makes for an interesting evening for sure.
I can't give my gift cards as presents. Everyone I'm close with knows that I get them for "free".

Nope, and my average and last ratings are 10.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

I want to keep doing these shops but the scheduler keeps rejecting my applications. She said to include two dates I could do the shop but she wouldn't give me a shop even when I said in my applications that I could do it on, for example, any Tuesday or Thursday.

Busy, these don't show as self-assign for you?

I noticed the locations Nikki posts are self-assign. The locations Marie posts require "apply" and she picks who goes. It's funny because both Nikki and Marie post shops in California. I'm not sure how they decided who got which ones, but the post them different between the 2 of them. Marie is much more accommodating and doesn't have the "threat" in her post about changing dates for a shop.

OK. I checked with Marie. I am barred and she has no idea why. I have no idea, either, because I didn't get any negative feedback. Now that I know I've been barred, at least I won't waste any more time applying.

ya...I applied for the dine in and somehow All locations are closed for me too...and the funniest thing is that before that I only ever did one shop for Marie which is to go for BJ, she gave me 10/10, should not be barred or for any other reasons. have absolutely no idea why she just reject all 4 of my locations neither....

Barred from that one location or the entire project? Did you clarify that with her?

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

OK. I checked with Marie. I am barred and she has no idea why. I have no idea, either, because I didn't get any negative feedback. Now that I know I've been barred, at least I won't waste any more time applying.

@ShopperGirly wrote:

Hi Shopper Girly, I knew you could use coupons on this shop but have you successfully used rewards to pay for the shop and then were able to get more of a leftover gift card? It sure sounds like you did but wanted to double check before I did so.

I agree 100%!! I like the BJs takeout shops. I go during the lunch specials and buy (4) of the $12 dinners. Freeze 2 and eat 2. Even better when you have a $10 off reward.

I did not clarify that with her because I didn't need to. I was applying to more than one location.

Marie didn't bar me. I don't know who did. She's great.

I don't care much that I am barred even though I have no idea why. It upset me that my applications kept getting rejected even when the shops remained on the job board after the rejections. Now that I know I am barred, all the stress and frustration is gone and I am glad I won't waste any more time.

It's all good.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

Barred from that one location or the entire project? Did you clarify that with her?

@BusyBeeBuzzBuzzBuzz wrote:

OK. I checked with Marie. I am barred and she has no idea why. I have no idea, either, because I didn't get any negative feedback. Now that I know I've been barred, at least I won't waste any more time applying.

Marie may not have barred you. I did several BJ's for her, got good grades, and was very happy with her. She has no idea why I was barred and she was not the one who barred me.

@kisekinecro wrote:

ya...I applied for the dine in and somehow All locations are closed for me too...and the funniest thing is that before that I only ever did one shop for Marie which is to go for BJ, she gave me 10/10, should not be barred or for any other reasons. have absolutely no idea why she just reject all 4 of my locations neither....

@sandyf wrote:

Hi Shopper Girly, I knew you could use coupons on this shop but have you successfully used rewards to pay for the shop and then were able to get more of a leftover gift card? It sure sounds like you did but wanted to double check before I did so.

Redeeming reward certificates (i.e., points) through the rewards program is allowed. However, coupons and other discounts are not. I do not know if the Pizookie pass is allowed.

RE: Using rewards on a shop
Well that is great as I have a bunch of rewards that expire about a week after my next job. And yes the pass is allowed. I had it last summer and used it on a job a few times. Also when these jobs first started with this msc there was a lot of discussion of people using their welcome to the rewards club free Pizookie on a mystery shop and that was accepted too.
The Pizookie pass was still available when I got mine a few hours ago. With tax in my state is is about $5.50 so if you use it on just one shop you have gotten your money back (in gift card dollars left). It can be cancelled as I recall if you decide after a month you dont want it again. You have to let them know before the fee kicks in.

Yes- you can use the rewards. Another thing no one has mentioned, if you end up with a surplus of GC, you can sell them on Cardcash dot com. A $100 BJs is worth about $74 in Amazon credits.

@ShopperGirly,

Just curious why you would ever sell the BJ's giftcards? They don't expire. So you just use them. At some point they will stop the program (like they have before) or maybe even change MSC (like they have before). You never know. I do NOT get tired of going to BJ's. I love the specials. I love the ambiance. They have HAPPY HOUR for all NFL games (at least they did in 2023). So that means for Sunday Night Football....you can get happy hour deals. I will use my GC at some point and if I never do, I can give them to family members. I'm not selling at 26% loss.

I can understand selling if you do not live anywhere near a BJ's and have done the shops far from your home and now have too many. But if you do not want to give them as giftcards another idea if you have a close enough BJ is to take a friend to lunch (or dinner or happy hour) as a thank you when a friend has done you a favor. My friends love the lunch specials and are happy to be taken out NOT on a shop. Or perhaps if you have taken a guest who is not a family member living with you perhaps offer them a discount smaller than the 26% so they can go without you.
Here is another idea. If you belong to a group locally and you donate cash to them, next time donate gift cards which you can write off if it is a group amenable to having a Monday half price pizza party...your kids classroom, pick up some pizzas on a Monday (let the teacher know in advance) or any other local group that might be happy to have this as a treat for the members. If you have no kids perhaps your nieces and nephews and niblings would enjoy this as a donation to their group. Of course adult groups might enjoy this as well.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@ShopperGirly,

Just curious why you would ever sell the BJ's giftcards? They don't expire. So you just use them. At some point they will stop the program (like they have before) or maybe even change MSC (like they have before). You never know. I do NOT get tired of going to BJ's. I love the specials. I love the ambiance. They have HAPPY HOUR for all NFL games (at least they did in 2023). So that means for Sunday Night Football....you can get happy hour deals. I will use my GC at some point and if I never do, I can give them to family members. I'm not selling at 26% loss.

As they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure". A few months ago I had over $600 worth of these. None of my family or friends particularly like BJs. My husband only goes with me to the shops because I make him . I love all things Amazon and buy many personal and household items from there. Also, we eat out almost every single day due to my MSing. I would rather have $74 worth of items I need and want than $100 sitting in a drawer. I am glad that you, hbbigdaddy, find so much enjoyment at BJs. Now I am feeling guilty pains that I am hurting you.

For those that shop BJ's I see they now have a pretty killer deal. $13 get's you one of 8 entrees AND a pizookie. That lowers shop cost even more and mean more on the gc payment for your own use on a non-shop or as a gift to someone else.

It's good Monday-Friday

[www.bjsrestaurants.com]

Also, you can now do the bar shop solo which is nice.

@NinS

Haven't done the bar scenario in quite awhile now. Preferred the $100 to the $65 for basically the same work.

What are the ordering requirements for the bar now?

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

@NinS

Haven't done the bar scenario in quite awhile now. Preferred the $100 to the $65 for basically the same work.

What are the ordering requirements for the bar now?

Beverage, not water
Appetizer
Entree
1-2 people is fine

I sometimes do these alone and I try to sit next to somebody that will hopefully not try to buy my dinner
I’ve had men and women try to buy my dinners
I’ve also had a whole lineup of 20 year-old guys doing shots and trying to send me shots
Never a dull moment

RE dessert included with lunch special....I would recommend checking with the msc as the point of having to order a dessert is to make sure they suggest it. If it is included in your lunch order , and in the photo it does not look like a full sized Pizookie, that defeats the purpose as no need for them to ask if you want a Pizookie after you have just finished eating the one that came with your meal. If anyone checks let us know the response.

@sandyf

You could just order the item and not say anything about the included pizookie. Then that gives them the opportunity to suggest the pizookie or at least tell you it comes free. I agree with NOT mentioning it up front. You could just play dumb and act like you didn't know if they tell you and if they don't say anything like most of the servers skip this part, then you can bust them up about the included pizookie.