It looks like the MSC that does Five Guys is trying to lower the bonuses they pay to have them done. There was a shop that did not get done this past weekend (when there was only one since it was a holiday). It was still at $15 today (Wednesday), the last day the shop was supposed to be done. I had spoken to their schedulers a couple of time and told them I wouldn't do it for less than my usual $25 since it's a half-hour drive for me. One rep finally said they'd submit it, but it obviously did not get approved since I did not get it assigned. Then last night made an offer of $30 on their website, figuring worst case they'd make a counteroffer. (but also thinking they'd agree to $30 on the last day). I looked in the app, and it said it was rejected but did not show a counteroffer, and they'd extended te due date to Sunday. I logged into the website a little later and saw a counter of $25, so I put in for that. But that didn't get accepted (maybe because the $25 counter was before they'd extended the date). I just looked again and someone seems to have taken the shop, so I guess they avoided paying $25 for it to be done.

A while ago, they had tried cutting back on bonuses and it seems like it's back again. The shop that was due today should have been on the website at $25 today and $20 on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. Have others seen this? I know there are people here who waiting for the big bucks on these (or at least used to be, I've been on another platform recently but decided to put this here since we used to have an active FG discussion thread, which is now closed.

Sounds like they are getting more shoppers in that area and don't need you as much now. They do that to me in certain areas.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. It's not like I was asking for it at the start of the shopping period.

Sorry for the dups, it didn't seem to be posting.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. It's not like I was asking for it at the start of the shopping period.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. It's not like I was asking for it at the start of the shopping period.

So, what you're saying is that if they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. Got it. ;-)

In all seriousness, I've seen FG shops with higher fees or MAO stay on the board and have the dates moved. There is one somewhat near me that had a $15 fee the other day with a deadline of yesterday, but it was locked by a scheduler. The shop is still on the board with a $12 fee for today through 5/31. It seems as though they have some safety nets that they can put in place if necessary, e.g. push (bonus) it for a time period but fall back and start again if no one picks it up.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2026 04:27PM by soonerself.

Haven't done these all year because the fees never go high enough. Too many people found out they could get a free meal. Have at it. I was able to MAO for a mattress shop though and what is even more shocking, is that it is for June. I just don't think anyone has done that location in months. Surprised they accepted the offer.

Ditto Mr. Bill. Just got the call for $15 I asked for $25 which is what I was paid last time. No dice so far. I will keep checking the job board.

Same they never get to the price for which I will do them. Never see MAO on Five Guys any more. Used to do many of these a month now lucky if I complete 2 a year. And none so far in 2026.

If they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. It's not like I was asking for it at the start of the shopping period.

I'm guilty as charged for taking an occasional Five Guys shop for $9. I only do this for a select few locations, like one near work or one on my way to my biweekly volunteer gig at a local animal shelter. It's something I can count on as a special treat for those days. Oh, and I use the Upside app as well to get some cash back on top of my existing credit card reward points. This is maybe twice a month at most. Otherwise I am on the lookout for the juicy shop fees that show up when you least expect them.

I have completed several in the past few weeks for $20 each. I would happy with more, but $20 and a covered meal is better that most fast casual shops out there. Some of the combo pricing recently has made it possible to stay within reimbursement.

I agree that possibly you have a shopper(s) in your area depressing the bonuses you see. Just because it made it to Mon-Wed (after the weekend) doesn't mean much. Maybe someone did the shop incorrectly, maybe someone flaked.

It's Thursday 5/28 and i see a fee of $12 on several in my area now. I even saw one at $30 this past week due to urgency of it being needed. It was too far for me.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2026 11:51PM by hbbigdaddy.

I'm noticing the same exact thing. I put in for three "make an offer" for the same amount they have paid me for years at this point, and I did not get any of them.

@soonerself wrote:

So, what you're saying is that if they had more shoppers, the weekend shop wouldn't still have been available on Wednesday. Got it. ;-)

I assume you know that FG shops are scheduled on a Thursday-Wednesday "week". So yeah, not strictly weekend shops, but the bottom line is Wednesday was the last day of the shopping period, and in the past, they've raised them to $25 on the website by Wednesday to get them done.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/2026 05:39AM by MisterBill.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

I have completed several in the past few weeks for $20 each. I would happy with more, but $20 and a covered meal is better that most fast casual shops out there. Some of the combo pricing recently has made it possible to stay within reimbursement.

I agree that possibly you have a shopper(s) in your area depressing the bonuses you see. Just because it made it to Mon-Wed (after the weekend) doesn't mean much. Maybe someone did the shop incorrectly, maybe someone flaked.

It's Thursday 5/28 and i see a fee of $12 on several in my area now. I even saw one at $30 this past week due to urgency of it being needed. It was too far for me.

This shop had been available all weekend. No one did it wrong or took it and flaked. I avoid taking them for $20 because it makes it difficult to ask for $25 the next time. I don't need the food, and it's out of the way for me (and nothing else to justify going in that direction), so I am not incentivized to make the trip for less than $25.

Glad to hear you saw one for $30 this past week; I've seen that, too. But not this week.

My fee is $25, which I used to get frequently, Now, If I get a shop a quarter, I’m lucky. I will never go below $25.

There are some late night shops sitting on the board for $13 several days now heading into Monday June 1st. They have Mon-Wed to get this cycle completed. We will see what they do now.

When they reduced the frequency of the shops (used to be every location, ever week for both lunch and dinner) they now have more flexibility on when to schedule so they aren't up against a hard deadline, just a soft one. I had a spell where I easily did 10 - 12 shops a month and now it is closer to 2 or 3 and only those closest to me that I will do for $18 - $25.

@jazzzyjd wrote:

When they reduced the frequency of the shops (used to be every location, ever week for both lunch and dinner) they now have more flexibility on when to schedule so they aren't up against a hard deadline, just a soft one. I had a spell where I easily did 10 - 12 shops a month and now it is closer to 2 or 3 and only those closest to me that I will do for $18 - $25.

Are you sure it's not that other people are taking them at the low price before the current week? The only weeks they do a single shop are holiday weekends, like last week. Those used to be "shoppers' choice" when you could do them any time from 11-9, but last week they were lunch shops.

BTW, I got offered $25 for a shop today (they called me twice) for the same location that they refused to do it for last week. Sadly, I was busy today and tomorrow. and could not take it.

I usually only get calls when they really need a shop done at a good price, and I usually only accept them for $20-25. Yesterday, I got a call for a location I've never done for $20 but it was 30 miles away. However, just now, I got a call asking about 3 different locations, none of which I've ever done, all about 20+ miles from me, and all for $12 ($10 on the board with "Changed fee!")...really odd.