While waiting at the counter to pick up an online order:

Employee: "How are you doing today?"
Me: "Oh, I'm fine. How are y'all?"
Employee: "Oh, we're just great! Happy to be at work and busy making all our customers happy!"
Me: -tries not to retch-

I forgot they had online pickup shops. It seems like “happy” is their safe word.

It's so easy for any of us to be outed at Five Guys, regardless of scenario. They've got the time, date, and order number in the report. All it takes is to roll tape, and there you have it.

I have no clue, but I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. Also, "roll tape"? How antiquated!

picked one for Monday and another for today with very good bonus...

It's a ghost town here. Not one available. I'm gonna take a drive tomorrow and was hoping to pick one up.

@drdoggie00 wrote:

It's so easy for any of us to be outed at Five Guys, regardless of scenario. They've got the time, date, and order number in the report. All it takes is to roll tape, and there you have it.

i'm not sure I follow. Are you saying that when 5G corporate reps review the reports with the shift leader and/or crew, the shift leader already has all the identifying info we file, nothing redacted from our reports?

I've always assumed that the MSC forwards the information to 5G corporate, and that the information is filtered there before being presented to the "boots on the ground" at specific 5G locations. It was never my understanding that our reports are sent directly, unedited, to the shift leader on site.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 03:35AM by KokoBWare.

Better question is...do they want to see EVERY SHOPPER so they know for the next time or do they only want to see the ones that were critical of them so they can remember those people? I don't know of any other business where they spend so much time/effort trying to identify the shopper. Maybe it's because they have too much free time. The workers at In N Out are too busy hustling the whole dang time to wonder which of the 1000 people that day might have been the shopper.

Maybe that would be a good mark on a 5G shop when asking if they were keeping busy. "No, they were spending there time trying to figure who the shopper was because they charge too much money and lack the level of business to keep the occupied at all times."

@KokoBWare wrote:

@drdoggie00 wrote:

It's so easy for any of us to be outed at Five Guys, regardless of scenario. They've got the time, date, and order number in the report. All it takes is to roll tape, and there you have it.

i'm not sure I follow. Are you saying that when 5G corporate reps review the reports with the shift leader and/or crew, the shift leader already has all the identifying info we file, nothing redacted from our reports?

I've always assumed that the MSC forwards the information to 5G corporate, and that the information is filtered there before being presented to the "boots on the ground" at specific 5G locations. It was never my understanding that our reports are sent directly, unedited, to the shift leader on site.

Koko, I have no idea how heavily reports are redacted or what information filters down to the store-level, but if it includes the date, time, and/or (for online orders) the order number, it would be very easy for the manager to pull video (there you go, Okie) and see who the shopper is.

Look at how many past comments have been made here about the "did the employees seem genuinely happy" question. No way do I think my experience today was a coincidence.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 10:50AM by drdoggie00.

I received the biggest stare down on my next visit, after a scathing report where an employee never changed gloves after handling raw meat. Coincidence?

@drdoggie00 wrote:

it would be very easy for the manager to pull video (there you go, Okie)

Sorry, just yanking your chain!

I had this same theory that a particular location knew I was the shopper until this past week. The manager who is typically jovial and over the top happy to see me must have been having a bad day. I observed him yelling at his crew and another crew member yelling back. My burger took 16 minutes. I just sat and observed and this same manager seemed oblivious. I have also picked up 5G shops hours away from my house when I travel (especially for work) and often get the same experience of fake happy/they must know I am the shopper when there is no way they know who I am.

My 5G shops never include any such drama....boo!

Are our pictures placed on "wanted" posters in the back? Are they shared amongst stores or kept just for each store? Wonder if there is a "dark website" for a listing of pictures of 5G shoppers.

@hbbigdaddy wrote:

Wonder if there is a "dark website" for a listing of pictures of 5G shoppers.

Not sure about Five Guys, but maybe the other big MSC has an internal database of the shopper selfies.

Unrelated, but for the selfies, I just try to have fun with it now, where I'll be cheesin' with teeth!

I remember the selfies with some restaurant. Was it Red Lobster? They still doing those? I never did one.

Red Lobster (I don't think it's being shopped anymore) did require it, but not Outback Steakhouse. There was a large lobster planted on the sign at one of them, and I would pretend that I was being attacked. That was the only one I got a 9 and not a 10. Same editor, but I guess she didn't share my sense of humor at the time.

I wonder if 5G really goes thru all the trouble of rolling the tapes, watching who a shopper is, timing how long they are in the place. A LOT of trouble for what? Last shop the manager came to my table and asked how everything was- but he also went to 2 other tables and did the same so I doubt he knew I was a shopper. This is not a high security top secret possible tragedy event that will result in the end of the world if a report does not reflect a perfect visit. with speedy service and fries shook 15 times. So not going to get paranoid about being watched. I often hit the rest room BEFORE I enter- the rest room is in the lobby area- so they would not see me go in there in the camera in the main dining room. I think some people take the seriousness of these shops a bit too serious! LOL Personally I think 5G would be better off spending resources REDUCING the price of their food or improving the quality instead of having people with digital watches timing the service. The $5 Mc Donald's meal special tastes a lot better than 5G and is much lower priced! The last visit the food was OVERPRICED and I got diarrhea the next day from the greasy food. The place was empty I suspect nearly $19 for a burger fries and small soda is a bit too much for some people! I will think twice about taking another shop as even with a somewhat bonused shop fee I was out of pocket on the reimbursement.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 03:07PM by Fatlady.

Reading some of that (also, tapes?!), I'm starting to remember things now. I forgot about their peanuts being available when making observations and being able to doodle with crayons. Not now, but maybe I'll look into asking about being reinstated or visit one for the fun of it with my niece sometime.

I looked at the Five Guys menu, and dang, it's been a while. Just curious, what do you all usually order?

I'm assuming a small little fries could feed two. And a small little (insert ham)burger could feed a child. And just grab the large cup (pay for a regular) and refill the drink.

I order a small hamburger, a small fry, and (usually) a large drink (they hand me the cup). I leave full and slightly under budget after tax. Even a small order of fries is sometimes too much for me to eat.

@Okie wrote:

I looked at the Five Guys menu, and dang, it's been a while. Just curious, what do you all usually order?

I'm assuming a small little fries could feed two. And a small little (insert ham)burger could feed a child. And just grab the large cup (pay for a regular) and refill the drink.

hahahah! You must be a small eater. The small fries are not really enough to eat. The small burger is a single patty. The small burger is smaller than a McD burger- Everything is over priced- go and try a shop and see if you come out not having to eat a meal when you get home.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 05:14PM by Fatlady.

Is it even more of a giveaway if I use the word "little"?

My husband and I share the meal and usually end up pitching some of the fries.

@Fatlady wrote:

hahahah! You must be a small eater. The small fries are not really enough to eat. The small burger is a single patty. The small burger is smaller than a McD burger- Everything is over priced- go and try a shop and see if you come out not having to eat a meal when you get home.

I order a bacon cheeseburger (two pattys) full of toppings, little fry and large drink and ask for a water cup. My husband and I share and its plenty for us.

@Okie wrote:

I looked at the Five Guys menu, and dang, it's been a while. Just curious, what do you all usually order?

I'm assuming a small little fries could feed two. And a small little (insert ham)burger could feed a child. And just grab the large cup (pay for a regular) and refill the drink.

Your perception of size and weight appears to be seriously flawed.
Five Guys single patty weight = 3.3 ounces (that is what is on a Little Burger)
McDonald's single patty weight = 1. 6 ounces; Five Guys wins
McDonald's Big Mac weight of the two patties = 2 x 1.6 ounces = 3.2 ounces; Five Guys wins again, but close.
The amount of fries varies from location to location and from visit to visit. I have never felt that there were not enough fries to eat.
I did two Five Guys shops this week and was filled up both times. I have done 35 Five Guys shops so far this year. In 2023, I did 48. In each case, I was satisfied with the amount of food.

Edited to add: The USDA and other nutrition sites indicate that 3 ounces of uncooked beef is a single portion and the amount that should be included in a meal for a person eating a normal diet. Some references say that 3.5 ounces is a serving. As noted, the Five Guys Little Burger, single patty, is 3.3 ounces.

@Fatlady wrote:

hahahah! You must be a small eater. The small fries are not really enough to eat. The small burger is a single patty. The small burger is smaller than a McD burger- Everything is over priced- go and try a shop and see if you come out not having to eat a meal when you get home.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 06:58PM by myst4au.

I wish people would stop whining about the cost of 5G. So what. That is their business model. They choose to target people with higher incomes. Just like Lexus makes more expensive cars. They let Toyota deal with the people not willing to pay more.

@Fatlady seems very delusional about MCD. Maybe she is a shareholder. I agree with @myst4au that portion sizes vary from location to location, but the single patty burger is bigger than most other single patty place. I usually get the full burger because I don't care if I come out of pocket $3, I order what I want to eat, not what keeps me under the $17.25 reimbursement. Just like I will order 2 entree item at Panda Express even if it costs me 72 cents more. It's worth the extra food.

MCD is crap quality. The Coca-cola is top notch. I will give them that. The fries are like crack if you get them within first 3 minutes of being made. After that, they are not so good.

I will take 5G all day every day over MCD. If I can't afford (or don't feel like spending $20 of my own), then I will go to Chipotle for $10 before I ever go near a dump like MCD.

Perhaps portion size and quality vary location to location. The 5 Guys near my home do not provide anywhere as large as the meals shoppers above have mentioned. My wife and I could not make a 5 Guy shop adequate for dinner if we shared it. Perhaps the Fatlady and I are in the same skimpy meal area..who knows? As for Fat ladys reference to Mcd, their meal deal has a sandwich, tenders, fries and a drink for $5. I have bought it for my grandkids….a lot more food than a 5 Guy shop meal.and I am nit a McD shareholder. I would go with McD $5 meal deal get a couple if really hungry for about half of a 5g meal. Just my opinion

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2024 09:06PM by OldmanJames.

@OldmanJames

I could buy 3 Kia for the price of 1 Lexus. I'm not buying crap when I can buy the better product.

the full size (not single patty) is plenty for 1 person. I am a former offensive lineman (high school/college). The amount of food in the 2 patty burger and fries is sufficient. Do I want more, yeah, it would be cool to have a 3 patty burger, but not necessary. I do not leave feeling hungry.

I never claimed I could split the burger. I know wifey only gets the regular cheeseburger at In N Out which is smaller, so she could split a 2 patty burger with someone. But NOT me. i need the 2.

Yes, you can get all kinds of crap for $5 at MCD. Knock yourself out. I am not interested in crap. I enjoy FRESH potatoes, free (not so free peanuts), quality milkshakes. The only winning thing at MCD is the Coca-Cola receipt and how they have that perfected. That is unbeatable. But I don't want to be at a dirty place with kids flying all around with parents not caring how they behave. I'll pay more for better food and to not deal with the crowds. If I want value...then I choose Chipotle. I can't remember the last time I ate the garbage that MCD serves.

Nothing wrong with that $10.99 deal that Chili's is offering. I will take that too.

Before they had little fries they just had the regular size. This was 6-7 years ago. At one 5G I used to visit they would give people so many fries that they could fill I the 2 lb bag of frozen potatoes you buy at the supermarket. Enough to feed a family of 4 and have plenty left. Groups of teenagers would go there after school and share 1 order of fries among them.