Any idea why this requires closed toed shoes?

Health regulation because you will be behind the counter

OSHA regulation 1910.136, paragraph (a) reads:

General requirements. The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, or when the use of protective footwear will protect the affected employee from an electrical hazard, such as a static-discharge or electric-shock hazard, that remains after the employer takes other necessary protective measures.

Of course, shoppers are not employees, but lawsuits still happen.

I just read the requirements. I am likely in the minority on this one....it would be hell on earth for me. It's my pet peeve doing work better suited for an employee.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/10/2025 10:48PM by BarefootBliss.

I'm with Bare, going behind the counter at fast food places is where I draw the line. I'm short, fat, and greasy floors aren't safe with my knees. I don't need to have a pile of teenagers try to pick my fat ass off of the floor.

How does the shop pay compare to that of an actual health department inspector?

I have had to enter manufacturing plants for site visits/tours. Entry required steel toe shoes. It's for safety rules.

<<How does the shop pay compare to that of an actual health department inspector?>>

Maybe someone here has held that position? and can chime in to let us know.

I can tell you that in the restaurants I had worked in, health inspectors made most of their money in "tips." The paycheck was just side money.

bribery, how reassuring.

a question about this type of audit. we’re not health inspectors, we’re not employees of popeyes; but the requirements are to dress professionally, reveal yourself as an auditor and get measurements and photos of required areas. We’re also to make a small purchase for a total pay of $20.

by the time i complete the quiz, print the LOA, dress up, drive to the location(s), request a manager, take photos and measurements and then have to purchase something that comes out of my pay; is it worth it? it feels like it would be working for less than minimum wage.

wouldn’t this info be better acquired by a manager or employee already working there? or a district manager?

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2025 06:20PM by charleybuddy.

@charleybuddy wrote:

a question about this type of audit. we’re not health inspectors, we’re not employees of popeyes; but the requirements are to dress professionally, reveal yourself as an auditor and get measurements and photos of required areas. We’re also to make a small purchase for a total pay of $20.

by the time i complete the quiz, print the LOA, dress up, drive to the location(s), request a manager, take photos and measurements and then have to purchase something that comes out of my pay; is it worth it? it feels like it would be working for less than minimum wage.

wouldn’t this info be better acquired by a manager or employee already working there? or a district manager?

Think of it as you are hired by HQ to check on the store to ensure each chain store is doing the things that they are supposed to be doing according to the HQ memo. Just because the HQ send down a memo and guidline on everything on every procedure, it does not mean the district manager, or the store manager would follow suit due to multiple reasons such as cost, labor etc....and from time to time a district manager or store manager would actually try to hide those issue from HQ to avoid penalty. Thus why secret shopper like us have a job.

And no.....we are not a worker, we do not count ourselves by minimum wage. Do you see any boss go around talking about how they are working less than min wages?

oh i know the *why*; and frankly i don’t know about you, but i budget my MS work by if i'm making over minimum wage, hopefully bringing in at least $20+/hour to cover time, travel and expenses.

my point was, for the time and work involved, it’s not a fair proposition for any mystery shopper, barring perhaps someone who lives next to the location.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2025 07:34PM by charleybuddy.

I noticed all the locations in my area got taken at the same time. I wonder if someone gave an offer to the scheduler to visit them all for x dollars. I am glad they are not cluttering up the job board any more. It seems like a shop that would be good to do multiple times to be profitable since so much effort to figure out what is required for one shop only.

They may have been taken off the board for a minute so the whopping $2 bonus could be added. Go get 'em Charley! JK

new jingle, “love being exploited by popeyes”

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/11/2025 07:55PM by charleybuddy.

@charleybuddy wrote:

a question about this type of audit. we’re not health inspectors, we’re not employees of popeyes; but the requirements are to dress professionally, reveal yourself as an auditor and get measurements and photos of required areas. We’re also to make a small purchase for a total pay of $20.

by the time i complete the quiz, print the LOA, dress up, drive to the location(s), request a manager, take photos and measurements and then have to purchase something that comes out of my pay; is it worth it? it feels like it would be working for less than minimum wage.

wouldn’t this info be better acquired by a manager or employee already working there? or a district manager?

To ensure independence and remove conflict of interest. As an IC, I would argue that most with reasonable judgment would just say, "NO!" No one is forcing anyone to accept the terms mentioned above.

I started a thread I can't find. But top chefs say that Popeye's has the best fast food wings.

Wish i could find my post.

That smell that burns my throat when I'm driving by makes me not want to go there. When I MSed them a few times for the soda upsell the food was eh and employees were not nice.

Hence the mystery shopping program. Can't talk about the smell as others might think its mother's milk.

I cant stand beets. So if anyone has a beets joint, I'd bad mouth them. Probably not. So do i badmouuth every restaurants that serve beets because i cant stand the smell?

Sestrolina, badmouth the MSC, but don't badmouth the client because you dont like them.

I'm actually surprised at your response.
.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/12/2025 12:05AM by wrosie.

I tried these shops earlier and have some comments after reading these.

There are a bunch of Popeye's in my area. I originally planned alot of these for a day. I think they want independent eyes on the inspection so nothing looks like a conflict of interest. Closed-toed shoes are mandatory for kitchen entry simply for food safety - regardless of who walks back there.

As for the work itself, I noticed many of these franchise managers don't read their emails from corporate or tell their shift supervisors that these audits are coming. I came to one site and halfway through my audit, I was asked to leave until the actual restaurant owner was there as they weren't aware of this audit (the supervisor was apologetic). I would even call ahead and ask the manager to let them know I'd be coming and one thought I was a telemarketer while others refused to let me come there.

This becomes an issue for both the contractor and the marketing group because while these are somewhat surprise arrivals, the restaurants are told ahead of time that we'd be arriving some day so I'm sure the marketer is caught in the middle of expecting corporate to have done their due dilligence. I had surprise audits for gas stations like the Shell and Philips 66 ones and I'd get a "oh yeah, I heard you'd be coming" or the sticker audits with "yeah, I remember seeing that email." With the Popeyes, proceed with caution.

Has anyone done one of these in a mall food court? I see one listed that's been out there for a while. I'm afraid to take it since it doesn't seem to fit the scope of what the audit is about.

I just did one of these. I found the employees were super nice.
The audit is nothing like what a health inspector would do. Only certain things are included. There is no pass/fail.
As for the purchase, any item counts: even the least expensive thing on the menu. The MSC is most likely looking for verification of what time the visit was conducted.

I went back to re-do a picture, but that was my fault. It was blurry, and I did not double-check that one. I knew it couldn't be accepted the way it was.
It is always harder to do the first one of any type of shop.

That would be a lot easier in a mall food court. There are no windows. There is more to it than the windows. The MSC stresses the windows to make sure people come prepared with some sort of measuring device.

@charleybuddy wrote:

a question about this type of audit. we’re not health inspectors, we’re not employees of popeyes; but the requirements are to dress professionally, reveal yourself as an auditor and get measurements and photos of required areas. We’re also to make a small purchase for a total pay of $20.

by the time i complete the quiz, print the LOA, dress up, drive to the location(s), request a manager, take photos and measurements and then have to purchase something that comes out of my pay; is it worth it? it feels like it would be working for less than minimum wage.

wouldn’t this info be better acquired by a manager or employee already working there? or a district manager?

I just grabbed one for 25.00. It is close to home and I figure the first one should take maybe 30 or 40 minutes. I missed the part about the purchase but I have found receipts when I have done stuff in food places before.

Professional to me is a nice pair of 505s and a collared shirt. Just got a great deal on some 505s at Amazon.

I do like 95% revealed stuff. I did do an oil change the other week and am doing a prepaid card job next week. I will probably grab a TRH next month.

The quiz is five questions and covered in the job description though they did provide a link for the guidelines in it.

Since I prefer audits and revealed stuff I figured for 25.00 I would try one.

To answer some of the other posts, this is not an "inspection" where you are judging things like cleanliness or customer service. You measure windows (if applicable) and then check info on their beverage machines like model numbers, brands displayed, etc. However, because you will need to go into the kitchen, you'll need some casual wear like nice jeans and a nice shirt and Definitely the closed-toed shoes simply for health reasons.

Thanks for the info. I did notice people mentioning the shoe requirement. Don't think I have ever done a revealed job in anything but closed toe shoes. I wear flipflops a lot but never to work.

Scott,

How many did you do and what was the approximate time at the store after you did your first one? I never judge job time by the first one myself.

Thanks

Dan

For the love of Mike, please pull your hair back or cover it up when entering a kitchen!

And stop touching it constantly!

Yes! Pull that hair back!