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5Guys: Prices up, quality and quantity down

June 07, 2024 11:43AM
Did what may well be my last 5G shop.

The required meal came to $18.67 including tax, way higher than the $17.25 reimbursement.

My burger was fine.

Fries were undercooked, and the serving was smaller than previous visits. They were using a smaller cup for the "scoop" of fries.

I avoided the "genuinely happy" selections in the behaviors list, and the report was accepted.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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June 07, 2024 12:40PM
@CoolMusic wrote:

Did what may well be my last 5G shop.

The required meal came to $18.67 including tax, way higher than the $17.25 reimbursement.

My burger was fine.

Fries were undercooked, and the serving was smaller than previous visits. They were using a smaller cup for the "scoop" of fries.

I avoided the "genuinely happy" selections in the behaviors list, and the report was accepted.
Where I moved last year, the FGs are all at a distance where I'd need a good bonus to make the travel worthwhile, and since they slashed fees that doesn't happen much. Plus they seem to have enough people who are willing to take low-ball offers. I very rarely do one anymore.

Good for the cholesterol count I guess.
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June 07, 2024 12:57PM
I have stopped doing them too.
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June 07, 2024 01:15PM
I paid $17.19 last week including the 6% PA sales tax for a small hamburger, small fries, and a large drink. I ordered a large drink to maximize the reimbursement since was getting 5% back on my credit card. At most locations in NJ (including the one I am doing today), it would be $17.74 (6.625% sales tax).

There are 3 locations about equidistant from me (about a 15-minute drive, 5 miles) and I insist on $18 to go. On Wednesday they called and offered $15. I said to call me back when they could give me $18. They called back on Thursday. If I had accepted $15, I would never have seen $18 again.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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June 07, 2024 01:16PM
I've been debating whether I should do them for $20 if they reach that point or continue to hold out for the $30 I've always done them in the past.

I was thinking if I took them at $20, I would get them more frequently than the every 3-4 months I get the $30 like I did in the past.
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June 07, 2024 03:59PM
I won’t budge from my $25 fee. I’m going a lot less now!
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June 07, 2024 06:36PM
I haven't been able to get $25 since January. I did one for $18 in Feb. and hadn't done one until today (also at $18.) The only reason I got this one is that someone evidently flaked on an online order shop. They no longer get to MAO around me. Morons and idiots grab them all when they hit $13 and a LOT of them go at $9.
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June 07, 2024 08:00PM
@DRJ wrote:

I haven't been able to get $25 since January. I did one for $18 in Feb. and hadn't done one until today (also at $18.) The only reason I got this one is that someone evidently flaked on an online order shop. They no longer get to MAO around me. Morons and idiots grab them all when they hit $13 and a LOT of them go at $9.

I don't know about "morons and idiots." Perhaps they enjoy the free meal, the locations are convenient for them, and they are happy to get $9-$13. The reality is that shoppers are increasing and holding out to force the MSC's hand isn't cutting it anymore. When there is competition, only one person is going to end up with the shop, so scoop or get scooped!
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June 07, 2024 08:12PM
I'm sticking with morons and idiots.
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June 07, 2024 08:30PM
@DRJ wrote:

I'm sticking with morons and idiots.

I guess I'm a moron and/or idiot, because I occasionally take a 5G at $10 or $12 when it is the same area where I have a route and I'm hungry for lunch or dinner. Why not eat for free and make a few bucks, and that only happens maybe once a month. But saying that, I don't take a 5G just to do it for less than $18, and because we seem to have a few flakes in my area, they drop them last minute and I scoop them up for $35+. So it all works out for me, your business model may vary.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/07/2024 08:31PM by hamptonroadsva.
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June 07, 2024 11:08PM
Morons and idiots ate. You went hungry and @#$%& about it. Mirror???
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June 08, 2024 03:00AM
I did one an hour away from my area last week and I did it for $15. I was driving past it anyway and I knew that I would need lunch. I know that they will never offer me more than $15 to go there, but I may never be in that area again anyway. The same was true when I was in Sacramento, CA for a wedding a year ago. Two Five Guys, each for $17 on successive days. Free lunch both times, plus See's Candies for dessert!
@DRJ wrote:

I'm sticking with morons and idiots.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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June 08, 2024 03:28AM
I'm not including the people that pick up shops on routes or when they are convenient for other reasons. I'm talking about the surge of "people" that pick up these shops at $9 and then swoop the rest of them up at $10 or $12 when that was not the case 6 -12 months ago. I guess I am @#$%&ing, but I don't go hungry when I don't take a shop at a low fee (I'd kind of gotten burned out on Five Guys anyway) and this is nothing more than a diversion for me. However I do value my time and I see that I've done 32% fewer shops year-to-date as a result of this race to the bottom. I feel bad for the people who are trying to make a living shopping. Thankfully I'm not one of them.
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June 08, 2024 06:49AM
To each their own I suppose. I like not having to pay for my meals when I'm out and about. More work and money for me.
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June 08, 2024 08:28AM
I kind of agree with everything said above. But I live in a city of 62,000 last census.

People aren't taking shops at low fees because they're on a route to come here. I'm signed up with over 100 MSCs, every one on this website's list.

There aren't enough shops here to make a living off of or make a route to come here. I actually make routes to go an hour or two away when it makes sense. I will pick up shops for lunch or dinner lower than I will near where I live.

But there are definitely idiots and morons in my area. My sister actually told me she knows one who does shops "just for fun". And why take delivery shops at $5 when they can go to $10 or $15 if you wait. Those are probably not route shoppers grabbing a meal.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2024 04:09PM by wrosie.
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June 08, 2024 10:26AM
@DRJ wrote:

I'm sticking with morons and idiots.

Yep, I used to get a shop at $60 fee monthly, but I guess these "morons and idiots" were happy to do it for much less, like $18.

Have at it "morons and idiots." Knock yourselves out.
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June 08, 2024 12:46PM
Yep same here, I only got that shop once so far this year at my fee and only because whomever grabbed it flaked on it.

Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
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June 08, 2024 01:36PM
There are as many opinions of what fair pay is as there are shoppers, look to this thread as proof. I would LOVE to be paid $60 for every 5G shop, but just because I've done a few at the $50-$60 range doesn't mean I expect to get that every time. My minimum for just a 5G shop may be $18, but that's only for the location 4 miles from me. That minimum goes up depending on distance of course. And because there are more shoppers, the pay in my area rarely goes past $20, so I'm doing a lot less of these that I used to in previous years. I have been unusually lucky this year and have been able to grab quite a few flakes for $35+. I haven't seen a $50+ in ages.
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June 08, 2024 02:07PM
I can not even get $20 for my local location, it's not just the one location I used to get $60 to shop monthly that are being picked up at base or close to base pay around here. I have completed exactly 1 five guys shop this year, the $60 one. I don't expect to get that fee for every shop. There is a location even further from me then the $60 one, that I could never get more then $35 to do. I used to do that one monthly as well, now all shops around here get taken before the MAO even appears. I don't even get the Samantha Offers any more, so I know the shops are getting taken at base or close too it.

Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper
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June 09, 2024 03:01PM
I only take them if they pay me what they used to pay every time I completed the shops. Now, they call and ask me to do the shops at the posted rate and it's a no each time they call.
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June 10, 2024 11:07PM
Good grief. I did a 5G today (first one in a long time) because it was at $20 and next door to another shop. I was sort of shocked to see that a little hamburger is now $10.75. They have gone off the rails. Restaurant was empty, and usually that location is busy.
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June 10, 2024 11:28PM
Five Guys do a lot of deliveries in NYC area. Lots of the people in the restaurants are drivers holding their bike helmets and heat bags, waiting for their orders to be ready. A little cheese burger, smallest soda, and little fries now costs more than $21, but the reimbursement is still a bit over $17! So taking them for a $9 fee (which is the starting rate here) really means you're getting $5. By the time you add transit costs--$2.95 subway/bus each way, almost $6 round trip--you are losing money on Five Guys shops. And the days when fees would climb to $20 or $25 are gone.
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June 11, 2024 07:32AM
@Cassiespark wrote:

Good grief. I did a 5G today (first one in a long time) because it was at $20 and next door to another shop. I was sort of shocked to see that a little hamburger is now $10.75. They have gone off the rails. Restaurant was empty, and usually that location is busy.

Where the heck are you? Highest I've ever seen is 8.29
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June 11, 2024 10:47AM
@wrosie wrote:


But there are definitely idiots and morons in my area. My sister actually told me she knows one who does shops "just for fun". And why take delivery shops at $5 when they can go to $10 or $15 if you wait. Those are probably not route shoppers grabbing a meal.

Back when I was a very struggling single mom, I did them "just for fun" - or, more precisely, to get things without paying out of pocket (I had a full time job and at least one part-time job at all times, so, it's not like I had tons of time to shop). Any pay was a sweet bonus. Mostly entertainment type stuff (bowling, a couple outings to MLB games, once a two-night stay at a fancy resort with EVERYTHING included and so many activities required!). But I also did a bunch of fast food/5Guys/ice cream shops because that was also stuff I wasn't going to pay for out of pocket. There used to be office supply shops around here, and I'd get art supplies for my kid that way. Any additional pay was just a bonus as far as I was concerned I don't think I was an idiot or moron - it was a way to pick up some extras around a schedule that wouldn't allow a regular second or third-part time job.

I still have the baseball my daughter caught (more precisely, was thrown by an outfielder during warm-ups) at one of the games we attended.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2024 10:47AM by mysterioso412.
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June 11, 2024 12:31PM
New York (not the city). And this location was in a blue-collar, not fancy, generally low cost of living area. Hence why I was shocked! And, hence why the restaurant was likely empty.

@weatherman2111 wrote:

@Cassiespark wrote:

Good grief. I did a 5G today (first one in a long time) because it was at $20 and next door to another shop. I was sort of shocked to see that a little hamburger is now $10.75. They have gone off the rails. Restaurant was empty, and usually that location is busy.

Where the heck are you? Highest I've ever seen is 8.29
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June 11, 2024 03:19PM
@Cassiespark wrote:

Good grief.... I was sort of shocked to see that a little hamburger is now $10.75.

Good grief, indeed!

Here in Salt Lake City my Little Cheeseburger was *only* $8.79.

It was the now "Littler" Fries @ $5.69 that chapped my patootie.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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June 13, 2024 02:13AM
Yeah it stinks when companies downsize the package instead of raising the price hoping customers won't realize.
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June 14, 2024 10:25PM
My local Five Guys just went up .50 on their fries-to $6.19
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June 14, 2024 11:28PM
I went today, Flag Day. They offered via phone $18, I said $22 they agreed. Little Burger $8.49, little fry $4.89, Reg. soda $3.09 =$17.99 with tax. Both locations by me are not on the job board, always via telephone. There were 9, yes 9 extra fries and they were all stubby end pieces but properly cooked and still tasted good. I cannot see how a family of 4 can eat here when In-N-Out is so much cheaper, like half.
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June 15, 2024 01:37AM
@big_sky_thunder wrote:

Little Burger $8.49, little fry $4.89, Reg. soda $3.09 =$17.99 with tax.
I can't believe you got fries for less than $5.

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