Buffalo Wild Wings

Beginning in 2006 and through 2024, I completed approx. 55 assignments at that eatery for five different MSCs. The fees I received were from $5 to $30 last year. This year, though, and according to an offer today, the money has escalated to $75 for several locations. Has the work become that much more difficult?

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You have done the "audits?" I remember doing the dining shops years ago. Since then, it has become more difficult in that they expect you to sit there for an hour and watch everything the bartender is doing. I would rather have just a simple dining assignment. I'm not interested in tracking all kinds of transactions.

I once was assigned by the MSC that just lost to the current MSC. I got the instrx and saw them and say "oh hell no." It's not worth my time. obviously someone thinks it's worth it. Just like there are people making $3 phone calls too.

Daddy, I began yrs. ago with the shops and then transitioned to the audits; last yrs. visit was an audit. I have never seen those above $30 and then only days before the end of the quarter. A fee of $75 is one that caught my eye, as the quarter still has 2 wks. to run.

So you don't mind doing that work?

i would rather do a BJ Brewhouse bar shop where I can order, eat, enjoy my time and still make as much without the hassles. i saw the form with the previous company to the current and I was not wanting to even get involved with that. Yes, $75 is enticing. That certainly might get me to change my mind.

I have seen some people posting payment issues with the current MSC. maybe that is why?

@shopperbob wrote:

Beginning in 2006 and through 2024, I completed approx. 55 assignments at that eatery for five different MSCs. The fees I received were from $5 to $30 last year. This year, though, and according to an offer today, the money has escalated to $75 for several locations. Has the work become that much more difficult?

whoa, whoa, whoa. Where the heck are you? $75? And are we talking about the bartender compliance shops?

I live in a semi-rural area that's gradually becoming less rural because one of the fastest-growing MSAs in the country is about 50 miles west. However, the new MSC doesn't seem to be known by a lot of people in my area (even though they're headquartered in that very same fast-growing MSA ha ha ha!). I don't touch these at base, and I couldn't, anyway, because the new MSC has an "age-out" restriction (50 I think) and I'm older than that. But when the hard-to-fill locations get bonused up and they're desperate, they come ask the old man (me). I've made $40 a pop on these but $75? They'd never last that long here. There are four locations within my driving distance and even when I get the $40 for two of them, the other two disappear around the same time, so there's at least one other graybeard in my area who responds. Where the heck can you get $75?

The Terminator is in Ohio. Forgot what city.

Since the offer arrived today, it was easy to locate in my trashcan. There were 14 cities in 9 states.

I quite enjoyed the food and the $30 fee for the audits was acceptable. The only requirements I recall were a drink, payment with cash and a single hr. for the visit. As I employed my VA card, I was able to increase my order by10% and remain under reimbursement.

I am in Dayton, but the shops did not exceed $15; such an amount did/does not interest me. As I recall for my hometown, they start at $10 the first of the quarter and escalate as time passes, but this is definitely the first occasion I have seen them over $30 anywhere. As was mentioned in the thread, it could well be the payment problems some folks have experienced.

@shopperbob wrote:

I quite enjoyed the food and the $30 fee for the audits was acceptable. The only requirements I recall were a drink, payment with cash and a single hr. for the visit. As I employed my VA card, I was able to increase my order by10% and remain under reimbursement.

compliance shops now also require a food item (a snack like 6 boneless wings is acceptable), but you can now pay with credit. In fact, herein lies a pet peeve of mine, because on one hand, they say cash is preferred, but you have to tip exactly 20%, which is not usually possible in cash unless you want to hang an "I AM A MYSTERY SHOPPER" sign around your neck by asking the bartender for change of a $1 so you can make the cents part of the tip work out and hit the 20% figure exactly. (I learned this the hard way, I once tipped in cash a little above the 20% figure and my grade was busted down to an "8" for it. Idiots.)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/18/2025 02:41AM by KokoBWare.

Sounds like if cc payments are now allowed calculate 20%.

But then the question becomes pre-tax or post-tax. I dont tip on taxes and most establishments that provide suggested tips on the receipt now recognize that.

Chili's tip suggestion is post-tax. I just went there for the burger, fries, drink deal $10.99. The suggested tip amounts were all post-tax. I'm not tipping on tax either. they get PRE-tax percentage.

I just saw one for the bar. You get reimbursed $30, paid $10, and have to stay for an hour observing the bartender. Doesn't seem worth it.

@xbirdnerdx wrote:

I just saw one for the bar. You get reimbursed $30, paid $10, and have to stay for an hour observing the bartender. Doesn't seem worth it.

Depends on what one likes to do. I don't mind getting paid to drink.

They used to have pretty good burgers. Seems like you should be able to get a burger or something else to eat and a drink and while away an hour of time.

@wrosie wrote:

Sounds like if cc payments are now allowed calculate 20%.

But then the question becomes pre-tax or post-tax. I dont tip on taxes and most establishments that provide suggested tips on the receipt now recognize that.

BWW provides suggested pre-tax amounts at 18, 20 and 22 percent. They're down to the penny, which is why I say you really have to pay with credit, even though the guidelines say cash is preferred. How likely is it that you'll have exact change? I never do.

The logical solution would be for the editors not to freak out if you go a smidge over 20%, but they do.

On my last shop for this client, my tip was 31 cents short and I was docked 2 points. As a part of the report addresses if the tip were placed in the bucket, use of a credit card would nullify that query.

Many yrs. ago, I was a few cents short for another of this MSC's clients and also had 2 points deducted. In my opinion, one need employ common sense, but I accept their practice requires exactness.

@shopperbob wrote:

On my last shop for this client, my tip was 31 cents short and I was docked 2 points. As a part of the report addresses if the tip were placed in the bucket, use of a credit card would nullify that query.

The question about the tip bucket is not keyed solely to your tip. You're supposed to observe how others' tips are handled as well.

That being said, we're increasingly a cashless society, and I've been on a few of these in which nobody tipped in cash.

KoKo, thank you. I had not completed one since last year and had forgotten that a shopper should be watching for all cash tips..

One company offers $2.40 for phone calls. I read the guidelines very closely. It would take approximately 20 minutes from beginning to end (reading guidelines, printing guidelines, calling store, filling out report with approximately 18-22 questions, proofreading reading report, submitting and then approving feedback or correcting report. Haley, scheduler, reached out to me asking me to do three of these shops. She did not want to take “no” for an answer. This is below my state’s minimum hourly wage to do three.

It is interesting to hear your thoughts on these hardware mystery calling shops. Maybe I over analyzed them.

The CC thing changes everything.

The combination of cash-out-of-hand and a relatively slow-paying MSC made BWW shops dead to me.

Off to check what is available in my area!

Have synthesizers, will travel...

Whelp... I thought I knew who the current MSC for BWW is, but I'm not finding anything.

Hint?

TIA...

Have synthesizers, will travel...

You will find them on Presto. Its a three initial company

@CoolMusic wrote:

Whelp... I thought I knew who the current MSC for BWW is, but I'm not finding anything.

Hint?

TIA...

Our BBW here closed several years ago..

I enjoyed doing the shops

Found some BWWs in my area, but it took me so long I am now too old for the project. Bastards!

Have synthesizers, will travel...

@CoolMusic wrote:

Found some BWWs in my area, but it took me so long I am now too old for the project. Bastards!

Near the end of the quarter, they allow some room to work with on the age requirement. At least they have with the end of this first quarter. So it may not hurt to reach out in late May/early June to see if they have waived the age requirement again.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/24/2025 02:52PM by KSSPete.

@CoolMusic wrote:

Found some BWWs in my area, but it took me so long I am now too old for the project. Bastards!

Don't give up the ship. As I mentioned above, they'll waive the age maximum once the hard-to-fill locations bonus up to a certain level (at least $25, though I've done them for $40).

I just picked up a Buffalo Wild Wings shop with a different company! This is the company that shopped them a LONNNGGG time ago....zero shop pay, but $35 reimbursement. Report looks easy. Will take the hubs to the b dubs on Sunday night for some wings.

Here is your hint...this location is literally beside two other locations shopped by the same company: a mattress store and Larry, Daryl, Daryl, Daryl, and Daryl's burger joint.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/08/2025 07:27PM by gigishopper.

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