How far would you drive for a fast food shop?
Sure, if I had nothing else to do, might as well get a meal out.
8 miles is 16 miles roundtrip. At the IRS mileage rate, that is $10.48. That leaves $12.52 to pay for the meal. I am willing in the scenario to value my time at $0 if the food is reasonable and the report and prep time are reasonable. Will the food cost more than $12.52? I suspect that it will. I will probably not do it unless I am really bored or I really like the food (like an Arby's gyro).
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
8 miles is not horrible. I would take it as it is a decent fee.
It would probably take the same amount of time to drive 8 miles as to cook lunch or dinner and do the dishes. So yes if I had nothing else to do I would.
If I really liked the food, I would. As myst4au says, after you figure in the cost of the meal, gas, and your time, it's not much of a fee. But, yeah, if my day was free and I wanted to take a ride and have a tasty meal out, I'd do it.
I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
You did not mention if the meal is reimbursed, that would make a huge difference.
If the food is something, you really enjoy and you would normally drive 8 miles to eat alone, that’s also a plus.
If you have a vehicle, that gets very very good mileage, that’s a plus too.
And if you’re going to make money on the project, then yes.
But if you’re not into the food and you have a low mileage vehicle and the food isn’t reimbursed so you’re only going to make a couple dollars, then probably no.
If the food is something, you really enjoy and you would normally drive 8 miles to eat alone, that’s also a plus.
If you have a vehicle, that gets very very good mileage, that’s a plus too.
And if you’re going to make money on the project, then yes.
But if you’re not into the food and you have a low mileage vehicle and the food isn’t reimbursed so you’re only going to make a couple dollars, then probably no.
The OP said that the $23 includes the cost of the meal.
@misspocos75 wrote:
You did not mention if the meal is reimbursed, that would make a huge difference.
If the food is something, you really enjoy and you would normally drive 8 miles to eat alone, that’s also a plus.
If you have a vehicle, that gets very very good mileage, that’s a plus too.
And if you’re going to make money on the project, then yes.
But if you’re not into the food and you have a low mileage vehicle and the food isn’t reimbursed so you’re only going to make a couple dollars, then probably no.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Only if I really liked the fast food joint in question. But to each their own.
Personally, I don't eat fast food, so no. But where I live in New England, eight miles is nothing. My nearest grocery store is six miles from me, and we generally have to drive all over the place to do anything at all. So, if it was a shop I'd want to do, I'd do it - but I'd hope there are other shops in the area as well.
I've done more for less. But lately I do nothing at all.
It also depends where you live - 8 miles in urban LA area can take you 2 hours! but otherwise, yes - I drove once all the way from LA to Santa Barbara for a lunch shop in a casual restaurant. The pay was low ($5) but the shop reimbursed for a full lunch for two, and then I took a few shops along the way... especially if you have nothing else to do that day - go for it! 
There are several conditions that would need to be met for me to consider such an assignment. They are:
1-No guest requirement.
2-A shop window of at least three days and any open hrs.
3-A food I thoroughly enjoyed.
4-A report not to exceed 15 minutes.
5-A location I did not consider objectionable.
If, though, I were able to schedule additional work, shopping or otherwise, I would waive some of the above.
1-No guest requirement.
2-A shop window of at least three days and any open hrs.
3-A food I thoroughly enjoyed.
4-A report not to exceed 15 minutes.
5-A location I did not consider objectionable.
If, though, I were able to schedule additional work, shopping or otherwise, I would waive some of the above.
@shopperbob wrote:
There are several conditions that would need to be met for me to consider such an assignment. They are:
1-No guest requirement.
2-A shop window of at least three days and any open hrs.
3-A food I thoroughly enjoyed.
4-A report not to exceed 15 minutes.
5-A location I did not consider objectionable.
If, though, I were able to schedule additional work, shopping or otherwise, I would waive some of the above.
This shop you do alone, doing it now on a Sunday (hoping other shops open up before than) Report takes maybe 5 minutes.
Sounds like a Panda Express. I usually try to group them together, but it sounds like this is a lone wolf. I like to pick up the ones in casinos so I can lose my shop fee (and more) playing black jack :-)
I have, but I don't make it a habit. If I am going to be in that area, yes.
Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.
That distance isn't really much of a factor for me. The main criteria for is whether I want to leave home for just one shop. If I feel like driving somewhere anyways, or particularly like the food, then I might do it. Otherwise I would prefer to stay home and cook, not to save money but because I like my cooking.
@johnb974 At that price maybe but I would hold out for $25 if possible. When the coney dogs were at another MSC I was driving 200 miles and doing two shops for $ 160 and also for the hamburger Guys for $80 but I like their food and would shop at Sam's Club for gas and Groceries. It use to be a good thing to do SMALL out-of-the-way places but it seems the days to cover mileage at the government rate are gone for the most part.
CHEAP is the new thing the MSC is looking for now
CHEAP is the new thing the MSC is looking for now
@johnb974 wrote:
I have a fast food shop 8 miles from me, no other shops in the area today. The shop pays $23 including the cost of the meal. You have nothing else to do today. Would you take it?
I live in the Phoenix area. The farther you get out of Phoenix, the higher the fee gets. Today one was posted for $33 plus $10 for food in a city 15 miles from my home. I try and schedule other shops in that city to really give me incentive to take it, but I would only take it if I was heading that way anyway.
In general I travel 0 km for a fast food shop.
But, there are days I just feel like a drive. There might be an errand I need to do near by.
But, there are days I just feel like a drive. There might be an errand I need to do near by.
When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
Alexander Den Heijer
I would do it if I liked the location and it was reimbursed. I would try to run some errands in the vicinity.
There are no fast food shops within 30 miles of me. So, yea, if it was something I really wanted to eat. But it also depends on the time of the month and how much gas I have. Money gets a little funny at the end of the month, and the end of the first week of the month. So during those times I may wait to assign it if it's still available later.
It depends if I like the place. Maybe I find an errand to do in that direction. Or a bookstore or coffee shop I like.
I thought it was a Sonic you were referring to. Are you sure you cannot grab a gas station in the area? But, it is not a terrible distance by any means.
@purpleicee wrote:
I thought it was a Sonic you were referring to. Are you sure you cannot grab a gas station in the area? But, it is not a terrible distance by any means.
It is a Sonic, but I'm out of rotation for the gas station shops in the area.
Darn it! @johnb974 - OTOH, I did notice the Sonic rotation was lightened a little. I was able to schedule some without a 30 day usual wait. (Unless that was dropped for locations that had to be done.)
I'd do it. Easy report. Okay food for fast food.
As the LA people have said it could take two hours. I regularly can drive an average of 14 mph in LA traffic. But aside from being slow it is annoying and if it is a fast food place some in LA do not offer parking so that may be another headache. I probably would only do it if going in that direction for a doctor visit or some such. And no Sonic around here so it would need to be a place I like most of which are no longer shopped.
As for the car cost of getting there...even though I can get reimbursed and will definitely deduct all the miles on my schedule C at the govt rate it seems myst4u did not take into account that the mileage is deductible and also if you have an efficient car it really does not cost me that much. Yes for a business that I do daily I do need to take into account all the car expenses but for a one off I would not consider my insurance cost which is a cost even if i leave my car in the garage all year.
As for the car cost of getting there...even though I can get reimbursed and will definitely deduct all the miles on my schedule C at the govt rate it seems myst4u did not take into account that the mileage is deductible and also if you have an efficient car it really does not cost me that much. Yes for a business that I do daily I do need to take into account all the car expenses but for a one off I would not consider my insurance cost which is a cost even if i leave my car in the garage all year.
Several years ago I went of town and where I was going they had a Five Guys.
I drove a few miles for the Five Guys.. The food was pretty good
I drove a few miles for the Five Guys.. The food was pretty good
I would drive a few thousand miles for such a shop if the fee justified it. The same as any other shop.
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