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Where are the Sonics for July?

August 15, 2024 01:43PM
What is the deal with the Big Eye losing their clients? If this one has also moved, thats at least 5 major clients gone this year. I have some theories, but who knows. My theories are:

1. They overcharge.
2. Their communication to clients is similar to their communication to ICs.
3. Their work got sloppy because they took on too many clients and didn't staff up accordingly
4. Their work product is inaccurate. I base this on the incorrect guidelines and survey forms. Perhaps the client was not getting the info they asked for?

All guesses, but what does everyone else think?
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August 15, 2024 02:04PM
I believe that businesses always look at their bottom line on every part of their business, and if they have hundreds or thousands of locations that are shopped, if they can save a few bucks per location by going with another company, then they will jump to another MSC. Looking at this at face value, by going back to their old MSC, and by not paying the shopper a fee, the client is potentially saving $10 per shop. It's possible that the old company wanted to get that client back, so they offered them a proposal that they would offer the shops with no fee, and they jumped on that. I will not do this shop with no fee. I've been doing shops for this client since 2006, and I'm surely not going to start working for just a hot dog!
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August 15, 2024 02:06PM
Not seeing them yet in my area. The Blob must have messed up badly to lose such big contracts. Oddly satisfying, to me.
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August 15, 2024 02:07PM
Well said, these were just filler jobs for me anyway. Granted easy filler jobs but nothing that was going to pay the car payment.
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August 15, 2024 02:20PM
My question is "Are Sonic reading these reports?" I have been doing them for years and quality and service continues to decrease.
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August 15, 2024 02:22PM
I turned in a Sonic a few years back because it was just nasty. The sidewalks were black Next thing I knew they had been power washed. I was surprised that I actually made a difference.
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August 15, 2024 07:48PM
Best news I've heard in some time in the world of mystery shopping.
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August 15, 2024 08:24PM
A no fee Sonic shop? Wow!
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August 15, 2024 09:24PM
@NM1962 wrote:

A no fee Sonic shop? Wow!

Well, I guess the MSC sees they can get away with no fees for their chicken finger shops, so why not try that with Sonic shops.
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August 15, 2024 09:31PM
I did 2-3 locations monthly. At two of them, i saw improvements in non-functioning boards and in service time. Both improved greatly. I retain a sense of pride that I might be part of that.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
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August 15, 2024 09:37PM
I felt some pride as well when the Sonic cleaned their sidewalks. I sat in my car and said to myself, "I did that."
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August 16, 2024 12:29AM
Hedgehog?

Otter, maybe?

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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August 16, 2024 10:49AM
The other day I discovered there is a whole discussion group online devoted to sharing tips on Sonic drinks - how to customize them, with nicknames for the various drinks and ingredients. who knew? lol.
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August 16, 2024 02:42PM
Nothing in my area a month later.

Too bad... I'd gladly pick 'em up, especially if their new smashed burger was an approved entrée. Had one last week and it was yummy.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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August 16, 2024 06:45PM
The new/old MSC now has the location closest to me, $0 plus $11 reimbursement. I saw one 40 miles from me on The Blob a few days ago that was bonused up to $19. I guess someone took it. I don't know if that will be the last one for The Blob but it's gone now.

Sonics have really been playing the field, about a month or so ago I saw a couple on the orange app for a $3 fee. Absolutely generous next to what the new/old MSC is offering.

Another location about 20 miles from me has dropped off the radar, ever since The Blob went to "Sonic Partners" for its shops. The new/old MSC hasn't picked them up.

As I recall, the new/old MSC used to offer them at $5 base before they moved to The Blob, which started them at $10 base and then lowered it to $9.

The location nearest to me wasn't exactly flying off the board at The Blob's $9 fee, so I think there's some delusion going on if they think anyone's taking it for $0. We'll see how much it bonuses up.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2024 06:46PM by KokoBWare.
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August 16, 2024 08:04PM
Yep, just saw mine go for $0 pay and $11 reimbursement on the new/old MSC I don't love it that much. PASS! let someone else have them or wait until they realize there has to be more than just reimbursement.
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August 16, 2024 11:40PM
deleted. wrong thread

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/16/2024 11:48PM by KokoBWare.
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August 18, 2024 09:27AM
Has anyone done any of the $11 shops with the new/old MSC? I wonder how long it will take for the offer to go up and I guess we won't be paid until the 20th of the following month? I really liked making money on those and getting paid the next week.
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August 18, 2024 12:33PM
I still receive the daily email from the old old MSC and it is not showing them in my area.

I just checked the current MSC and there is none in my area but there is one about 50 miles from me.
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August 18, 2024 12:38PM
@ShopperGirly wrote:

Has anyone done any of the $11 shops with the new/old MSC? I wonder how long it will take for the offer to go up and I guess we won't be paid until the 20th of the following month? I really liked making money on those and getting paid the next week.

As much as people complain about the big MSC taking over everything, they raised the pay for both Sonic and Panda when they took over. We'll have to wait and see how the pay goes with the "new" MSC for Sonic.
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August 18, 2024 03:00PM
Just saw a new shop show up this morning with the Big MSC in my area for this week. Interestingly enough all the shops with the Big MSC this month have been standard hamburger shops. Could it be that the Big MSC is keeping the standard shops and the "old" MSC is getting the menu variety, thus thinking they can do reimbursement only because of the expanded menu choice? I will never do reimbursement only but just trying to figure out some logic to this (other than complete greed).
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August 18, 2024 05:27PM
I am now seeing Sonic on the old MSC, but not on the most recent MSC. The newer MSC never paid as much as the old one in my area. It was never even close! I will wait and see if the old MSC will up their shop fees to what they were before. I don't work fast food shops for reimbursement only.
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August 18, 2024 06:08PM
Thanks for the update.

There are none for my area. I will not do a Sonic mystery shop without a fee and reimbursement. Just my opinion-
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August 19, 2024 10:12PM
@Karenhal wrote:

Thanks for the update.

There are none for my area. I will not do a Sonic mystery shop without a fee and reimbursement. Just my opinion-
Seems like Sonic management may be a bit delusional about the desirability of their product, and I guess the new/old MSC has fed the delusion to get the account? Texas Roadhouse can get by with $0 fee plus reimbursement, with small bonuses for hard to fill locations, based on what they offer. Usually friendly and attentive service with decent food and an upbeat atmosphere. If Sonic thinks they're going to get people to sign up for a wilted heat-lamp burger served to you by a bored kid on roller skates who hates you while you sit in your car in 85 degree heat, I think they're going to get a major wake up call.
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August 19, 2024 10:24PM
Hate to sound stupid bit I just can't remember the MSC doing the Sonics. Can someone send me a hint?
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August 19, 2024 11:49PM
@KokoBWare wrote:

@Karenhal wrote:

Thanks for the update.

There are none for my area. I will not do a Sonic mystery shop without a fee and reimbursement. Just my opinion-
Seems like Sonic management may be a bit delusional about the desirability of their product, and I guess the new/old MSC has fed the delusion to get the account? Texas Roadhouse can get by with $0 fee plus reimbursement, with small bonuses for hard to fill locations, based on what they offer. Usually friendly and attentive service with decent food and an upbeat atmosphere. If Sonic thinks they're going to get people to sign up for no fee for a wilted heat-lamp burger served to you by a bored kid on roller skates who hates you while you sit in your car in 85 degree heat, I think they're going to get a major wake up call.
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August 20, 2024 12:10AM
@luckymoose11 wrote:

Hate to sound stupid bit I just can't remember the MSC doing the Sonics. Can someone send me a hint?

Honestly, I couldn't remember either but the hints above about some of their other clients got me on the right track.
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August 20, 2024 02:44PM
I'm anything except what my username suggests. I've never performed ANY shop for reimbursement only and I won't be starting now
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