Is anyone doing one of these shops this weekend?

I have asked the scheduler a couple of questions and they tend to be not answered in a very friendly way. I had another question - the survey states that each person can order a draft beer, house wine or soft drink. The issues is, the beers appear to all be bottled. Also, and this will sound silly, does one ask for a glass of the house red? The menu has only wines by the glass and they are all specific (Pinot Noir, Malbec, etc.). I feel like the last time I saw house wine on a menu was a cheap happy hour menu at some mom and pop place.

I wouldn't mind being able to order a glass of wine but the idea of ordering a house wine has me on edge lol. I'd rather get iced tea and not sweat a $$$ reimbursement over the wine I order.

Thanks for any advice on this one.

And just a rant, it really is frustrating when the schedulers are unhelpful and seemingly purposefully. We're expected to follow the instructions completely and outlay a lot of cash and sometimes just want some confirmation of the requirements. As per usual, the instructions have instances of differing information. And there are definitely warnings that if you don't get it right you won't be paid.

Is your shop the newer shop for four people and larger reimbursement? Or the usual one? The newer shops are sitting on the board here.

It may be location specific, but you may be able to get a glass of wine during Happy Hour.

For the usual shop, my guest and I try to avoid the weekend at STK and go during Happy Hour. The location we go to is flexible and honors Happy Hour in the dining room too, beyond the bar. We usually get the signature cocktails, but not wine though.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2025 11:42PM by Okie.

@Okie wrote:

Is your shop the newer shop for four people and larger reimbursement? Or the usual one? The newer shops are sitting on the board here.

It may be location specific, but you may be able to get a glass of wine during Happy Hour.

For the usual shop, my guest and I try to avoid the weekend at STK and go during Happy Hour. The location we go to is flexible and honors Happy Hour in the dining room too, beyond the bar. We usually get the signature cocktails, but not wine though.

Newer shop. And it specially says what I wrote above. Google told me I guess you can literally ask for the house.

No cocktails are allowed on this one.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2025 11:52PM by olympia tennenbaum.

I haven't done the new shop yet. Sorry, I re-read your post and looked at the MSC site. To be really safe though, maybe go with the soft drink. In the past, I've ordered a bottled beer when draft beer wasn't available. I explained it, and the shop was approved.

But in the shop comments for this one, it says, "If you fail to order one of the required dishes, your shop will be rejected, and you will not be reimbursed for your meal or paid for your shop (unless they are out of an item). If they are out of an item, please do not order anything in its place and note this in your report."

Maybe play it on the safe side. Or if you have the reimbursement amount to maximize, you can go for the house wine.

Okie, sorry didn’t mean to sound short. I’m on mobile and can’t seem to escape awful auto correct.

Drinks “may” be ordered but are not listed as required.

*sorry, edited for typing issues

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/09/2025 06:37AM by olympia tennenbaum.

My interpretation is that the operative words are CAN CHOOSE. "You and your guests may order one beverage each (other than water). You can choose a draft beer, house wine, or soft drink. Only one beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink) is allowed per guest."

'Shall' or 'must' are not used. Verbiage is a bit muddy, but I don't read this to mean that cocktails are not allowed. Hopefully, the scheduler clears things up!

I received a nice response to my question. I haven't been to this restaurant before so I was unsure if the entrees are large and work well for sharing or if one person in the group is supposed to order two vegetables rather than an entree or??? I just was unsure how exactly you pull off ordering three entrees for 4 people (and look natural while doing so?) The response was yes, you just order everything for the table to share. This is not how my friends and I would normally dine so it seems quite odd to me.

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

Okei sorry didn’t mean to sound short. I’m on mobile and don’t seem to escape awful auto correct.

Drinks “may” be ordered but are not listed as required.

No worries, I didn't take any offense! I glanced over some items. If you're able to, maximize the reimbursement amount for the items that are flexible.

I haven't signed up for this shop because adding more guests just allows more room for error. Someone who isn't used to mystery shopping may forget and start eating the meal before I can take a picture. Also, the picture of the group makes me leery. Does the restaurant end up seeing the picture when the report is turned in? Won't that out you as the mystery shopper? It would make a really good night out on the town though.

@Mert wrote:

My interpretation is that the operative words are CAN CHOOSE. "You and your guests may order one beverage each (other than water). You can choose a draft beer, house wine, or soft drink. Only one beverage (alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink) is allowed per guest."

'Shall' or 'must' are not used. Verbiage is a bit muddy, but I don't read this to mean that cocktails are not allowed. Hopefully, the scheduler clears things up!

I didn't bother asking the scheduler. Their response most of the time is read the guidelines.

Some of you all must have iron ear drums. By all accounts these places are louder than a heavy metal concert.

I am looking forward to hearing how it all went. Months ago I checked their menu and it seemed for the regular shop, no matter what cheaper items I ordered off the menu, I would still be over the reimbursement allotment so I have never done this shop . I remember asking if we could order off some special lower priced menu they had at the time and was told no. My local location is in a high priced hotel in a ritzy section of town. My daughter worked there one summer when she was in college as the spritzer girl by the pool. She told me she was treated like a slave and looked down upon by the guests at the hotel. I remember telling her to work into the conversation that she was on her summer break from college and after she did that she was treated much better by the clientele.
As for ordering house wine, I have been to many restaurants where the house wine is a named wine which is on the menu. I would not hesitate to ask if they have a house wine, what wine it is and how much it cost. I do that all the time on my own dime.
This new shop looked intriguing until I started to wonder who I would invite and they warned that without the four there would be no pay. I have no family here to invite that I would drag to the place, although this restaurant may not need much dragging but inviting 3 friends leaves 3 opportunities for one of them to opt out at the last minute. So I decided not to do this one either.

I wouldn't worry about the house wine being plonk at STK.

@Mellifluy wrote:

I haven't signed up for this shop because adding more guests just allows more room for error. Someone who isn't used to mystery shopping may forget and start eating the meal before I can take a picture. Also, the picture of the group makes me leery. Does the restaurant end up seeing the picture when the report is turned in? Won't that out you as the mystery shopper? It would make a really good night out on the town though.

I think that is completely valid. I explained it all and gave everyone a mnemonic device to remember what to order. One friend started drinking as soon as the drink arrived.

The picture was completely freaky. I really hope it doesn't get sent to the restaurant. It would definitely make it more difficult to shop there.

I've shopped there several times and have had the same waiter more than once and he has never recognized me so that seems to be a decent track record. Now, if my face is plastered up on the wall somewhere, that could be awkward!

We shall see how the report comes back.

I gave my friends a whole speech about not touching anything etc, and one friend did pick up their soda and start drinking immediately! Luckily there was no where to upload the drink photos so it did not end up mattering.

I think it was a little stressful taking a group and trying to photograph everything. Luckily (?), it was a horrible night for service so even if we were behaving strangely there was no one around to notice it. Unluckily, it was a horrible night for service.

It was kinda fun to get to take friends out. It was not a carefree evening. The food was typical STK if you've been there. There are some things on the menu that I love. Most of the required dishes were not those things.

@sandyf wrote:

I am looking forward to hearing how it all went. Months ago I checked their menu and it seemed for the regular shop, no matter what cheaper items I ordered off the menu, I would still be over the reimbursement allotment so I have never done this shop . I remember asking if we could order off some special lower priced menu they had at the time and was told no. My local location is in a high priced hotel in a ritzy section of town. My daughter worked there one summer when she was in college as the spritzer girl by the pool. She told me she was treated like a slave and looked down upon by the guests at the hotel. I remember telling her to work into the conversation that she was on her summer break from college and after she did that she was treated much better by the clientele.
As for ordering house wine, I have been to many restaurants where the house wine is a named wine which is on the menu. I would not hesitate to ask if they have a house wine, what wine it is and how much it cost. I do that all the time on my own dime.
This new shop looked intriguing until I started to wonder who I would invite and they warned that without the four there would be no pay. I have no family here to invite that I would drag to the place, although this restaurant may not need much dragging but inviting 3 friends leaves 3 opportunities for one of them to opt out at the last minute. So I decided not to do this one either.

I was thinking of SteveSoCal and how they have had some shopper get togethers in the past. I think this would be the perfect opportunity - meet, no one has to pay, everyone knows the drill!

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

We shall see how the report comes back.

I gave my friends a whole speech about not touching anything etc, and one friend did pick up their soda and start drinking immediately! Luckily there was no where to upload the drink photos so it did not end up mattering.

I think it was a little stressful taking a group and trying to photograph everything. Luckily (?), it was a horrible night for service so even if we were behaving strangely there was no one around to notice it. Unluckily, it was a horrible night for service.

It was kinda fun to get to take friends out. It was not a carefree evening. The food was typical STK if you've been there. There are some things on the menu that I love. Most of the required dishes were not those things.

How about your house wine and draft beer concerns? How did those play out?

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

I was thinking of SteveSoCal and how they have had some shopper get togethers in the past. I think this would be the perfect opportunity - meet, no one has to pay, everyone knows the drill!

I am completely down for a meet up shop in West LA some time! STK is kind of halfway between @sandyf and me

Roy's used to have an occasional shop where you could bring three people and it was a decent reimbursement. You had to say it was someone's birthday but they allowed you to order the signature martinis, so that always made a good shopper get-together.

I have shopped STK many times in the past in both the old and new location, back when I was fighting to make the reimbursement work. I would definitely not touch the food or drink before the pic, and could manage with house wine...

@SteveSoCal wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

I was thinking of SteveSoCal and how they have had some shopper get togethers in the past. I think this would be the perfect opportunity - meet, no one has to pay, everyone knows the drill!

I am completely down for a meet up shop in West LA some time! STK is kind of halfway between @sandyf and me

Roy's used to have an occasional shop where you could bring three people and it was a decent reimbursement. You had to say it was someone's birthday but they allowed you to order the signature martinis, so that always made a good shopper get-together.

I have shopped STK many times in the past in both the old and new location, back when I was fighting to make the reimbursement work. I would definitely not touch the food or drink before the pic, and could manage with house wine...

I already did it so it has to be someone else!

@soonerself wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

We shall see how the report comes back.

I gave my friends a whole speech about not touching anything etc, and one friend did pick up their soda and start drinking immediately! Luckily there was no where to upload the drink photos so it did not end up mattering.

I think it was a little stressful taking a group and trying to photograph everything. Luckily (?), it was a horrible night for service so even if we were behaving strangely there was no one around to notice it. Unluckily, it was a horrible night for service.

It was kinda fun to get to take friends out. It was not a carefree evening. The food was typical STK if you've been there. There are some things on the menu that I love. Most of the required dishes were not those things.

How about your house wine and draft beer concerns? How did those play out?

They have no draft beer (I already knew this) and when we tried ordering the house wine the server basically said the wines by the glass were on the back of the menu. The server mentioned some red blend and those of us who were drinking ordered that.

My shop has not been approved yet so we'll see if there are any issues.

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

@soonerself wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

We shall see how the report comes back.

I gave my friends a whole speech about not touching anything etc, and one friend did pick up their soda and start drinking immediately! Luckily there was no where to upload the drink photos so it did not end up mattering.

I think it was a little stressful taking a group and trying to photograph everything. Luckily (?), it was a horrible night for service so even if we were behaving strangely there was no one around to notice it. Unluckily, it was a horrible night for service.

It was kinda fun to get to take friends out. It was not a carefree evening. The food was typical STK if you've been there. There are some things on the menu that I love. Most of the required dishes were not those things.

How about your house wine and draft beer concerns? How did those play out?

They have no draft beer (I already knew this) and when we tried ordering the house wine the server basically said the wines by the glass were on the back of the menu. The server mentioned some red blend and those of us who were drinking ordered that.

My shop has not been approved yet so we'll see if there are any issues.

Thanks. It is odd that the guidelines state draft beer when STK doesn't offer it (only bottled). And, of course, no mention of "house wine" on the menu either. I have a question into the scheduler as well.

The main issue is that the people who make up these seemingly random assignment details often have never been to the restaurants, or know much about them. And they are apparently not paid enough to do the due diligence of researching the menu when creating assignments.

I don't know a times if it's the client corporate staff or the MSC staff who are so unaware. There's one shop I do where the client has apparently asked for the shopper to spend at least 4 hours on location, but the client policy is 3 hours maximum. The MSC has assured me the request came from the client...

@soonerself wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

@soonerself wrote:

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

We shall see how the report comes back.

I gave my friends a whole speech about not touching anything etc, and one friend did pick up their soda and start drinking immediately! Luckily there was no where to upload the drink photos so it did not end up mattering.

I think it was a little stressful taking a group and trying to photograph everything. Luckily (?), it was a horrible night for service so even if we were behaving strangely there was no one around to notice it. Unluckily, it was a horrible night for service.

It was kinda fun to get to take friends out. It was not a carefree evening. The food was typical STK if you've been there. There are some things on the menu that I love. Most of the required dishes were not those things.

How about your house wine and draft beer concerns? How did those play out?

They have no draft beer (I already knew this) and when we tried ordering the house wine the server basically said the wines by the glass were on the back of the menu. The server mentioned some red blend and those of us who were drinking ordered that.

My shop has not been approved yet so we'll see if there are any issues.

Thanks. It is odd that the guidelines state draft beer when STK doesn't offer it (only bottled). And, of course, no mention of "house wine" on the menu either. I have a question into the scheduler as well.

My schedulers at that MSC always just write, "Read the guidelines." No idea why they are so unhelpful.

I'm doing this shop tonight. It's definitely a different shop with a different focus than the STK shops that I have done in the past for a different MSC. House wine - I am interpreting that as a wine that is on the lower to the middle of the price points by a glass. Asking for house wine at STK is going to raise eyebrows - house wine is something you ask for at Olive Garden, not at STK.

I'll stick to a lower cost glass of wine and if they tell me they won't pay for it, then I'm happy to pay for it myself - I still got a killer amount of food with a very generous reimbursement for little to no actual work. It's really a very cool shop and I (along with my three friends) are looking forward to it. I'm going with people who have travelled with me before and know the drill, so I'm not worried about them eating something before I can take a picture of it.

Perhaps there are different schedulers in different areas - the one in my area responded almost immediately to my one question and she was super helpful!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2025 08:57PM by MickeyB.

Agreed on the wine. My scheduler responded as well and just said to not get an expensive glass of wine.

BTW, I also did the Kona Grill version of this shop a few nights ago...very low stress and very easy report compared to standard shop reports. Interestingly enough, "House Margarita" was a requirement in those guidelines even though there's no such thing on the menu. We ordered a Kona Margarita and it was fine.

@soonerself wrote:

Agreed on the wine. My scheduler responded as well and just said to not get an expensive glass of wine.

BTW, I also did the Kona Grill version of this shop a few nights ago...very low stress and very easy report compared to standard shop reports. Interestingly enough, "House Margarita" was a requirement in those guidelines even though there's no such thing on the menu. We ordered a Kona Margarita and it was fine.

How long did it take for your job to be approved? I saw the confirmation from my friends’ surveys but I’m paranoid something could have gone wrong. Having someone else fill out the survey was probably the most stressful part for me.

Thanks!

I wonder if this is for a competitor and not STK and Kona. Seems like it would be based on the weird guidelines and ordering requirements.

I saw that one, but passed because they want you to bring 3 other people.

@olympia tennenbaum wrote:

How long did it take for your job to be approved? I saw the confirmation from my friends’ surveys but I’m paranoid something could have gone wrong. Having someone else fill out the survey was probably the most stressful part for me.

Thanks!

Mine was approved the next day. However, I think I was scheduled on the tail end of the Kona shops, while you appear to have shopped on the frontend for STK...i.e. they have some time to get the STK shops done since some of us still haven't gone. The available date for my STK shop was through 2/13.

I actually drove home and had my friends email me their pics and fill out their surveys during the drive so that there was no chance they'd delay or forget.

@foodluvr wrote:

I wonder if this is for a competitor and not STK and Kona. Seems like it would be based on the weird guidelines and ordering requirements.

I wonder if it's for items that don't sell as well as others, and they want feedback.