Need help on Gas Station audits.
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You can name the station since you haven't named the MSC. If you will name the station, perhaps I can help you. I shop a few different kinds of stations.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Just do it. It's not that bad. Go through the instructions step by step, take your pictures in order. Double check that you have everything. DON'T FORGET TO GET THE RECEIPTS!!!!!!!!
Revealed audits are easier in my opinion than most mystery shops because you don't have to "remember" anything, you go in with notes and can write everything down.
But don't forget the receipt. I had to re-do one (luckily it was local) because he failed to give me the receipt for the inside purchase (while on the mystery shop portion) and I forgot to ask for it.
I know your fear -- I was apprehensive about these at first. I took a local one and realized they weren't that scary after all. I hope to do a route of them in a month or so, catching all the small-town stations in northern Arizona.
If you have the ones where they need the time stamp on the photos, check your camera before you go out, put in fresh batteries (and carry spares) and make sure the date and time are correct. If you find it failed to put the timestamp on, don't despair, there is free software that can easily put it on there for you.
You can do this. Try to do just one the first day if you can.
Revealed audits are easier in my opinion than most mystery shops because you don't have to "remember" anything, you go in with notes and can write everything down.
But don't forget the receipt. I had to re-do one (luckily it was local) because he failed to give me the receipt for the inside purchase (while on the mystery shop portion) and I forgot to ask for it.
I know your fear -- I was apprehensive about these at first. I took a local one and realized they weren't that scary after all. I hope to do a route of them in a month or so, catching all the small-town stations in northern Arizona.
If you have the ones where they need the time stamp on the photos, check your camera before you go out, put in fresh batteries (and carry spares) and make sure the date and time are correct. If you find it failed to put the timestamp on, don't despair, there is free software that can easily put it on there for you.
You can do this. Try to do just one the first day if you can.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
I have done a few different brands and they seem daunting at first, but you do get the hang of it. For the first one or two you will want to go through one question at a time, but then you will get the flow and pick up on multiple areas with a fairly quick walk through. They all have a list of required shots, so make sure you grab those as you will be sent back without. I usually grab to at different angles just to be sure.
I would expect your first time to be almost double what you get to two or three shops later.
I would expect your first time to be almost double what you get to two or three shops later.
Gas shops are easy as long as you don't do them for the one msc
that still lives in the dark ages and their antiquated way of doing things
that still lives in the dark ages and their antiquated way of doing things
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There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
techman01
Posts:1,292
[ PM ]
" Gas shops are easy as long as you don't do them for the one msc
that still lives in the dark ages and their antiquated way of doing things"
Would their gas stations include a hitching post and water trough?
Posts:1,292
[ PM ]
" Gas shops are easy as long as you don't do them for the one msc
that still lives in the dark ages and their antiquated way of doing things"
Would their gas stations include a hitching post and water trough?
New shopper February 2013
Central and Southern Tier of New York
Yes, there is more to NY than NY City.
Any help is appreciated.
Central and Southern Tier of New York
Yes, there is more to NY than NY City.
Any help is appreciated.
And buggy whips.
.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Piece of cake. Don't print out that whole form every time. There's a short version before the long version, and you can print the long version once and use it for reference as you fill out the short one. You need to print out the last few pages for the forms there. The first one will take longer, but it's all there on paper. All you have to do is follow the directions. Do one pump at a time and look at all items related to that pump. Make sure you check off each picture you take so you know you took them all. Enjoy. It's not hard.
You could also use a 7 inch tablet and enter the report in real time
as you go along and then have nothing to do when you leave the
station.
as you go along and then have nothing to do when you leave the
station.
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
teriria I really feel for you because I suffered extreme anxiety when it came to do these shops too. This is what you do. You make a conscious decision to take your time and take as long as you need to do it. No rush. I also said to myself that if I messed it up I would consider the cost of not getting that shop fee as a training cost so that I would know better how to do it next time. These shops do get easier. Just go into it with the attitude that you'll do your best but if you get it wrong then you will know better for the next one.
Jpgilham is right. This is why I suggest only booking ONE the first day, so you can do the shop AND do the report AND realize if you made any mistakes so you don't make the same minor error or misunderstanding on all the shops.
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I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
:
==============================================================
I pray it does not occur that the last thing I did before I died was vacuum the house or eat broccoli.
Okay, explain it like I'm a 6 year old. What technical item do I need to have so that I can route shop and enter reports along the way. I took your advice and started input on my smart phone. Saved me abunch of time while doing the reports. This works well with the Sonic shops also when you have to wait 10 minutes after the meal.
techman01 Wrote:
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> You could also use a 7 inch tablet and enter the
> report in real time
> as you go along and then have nothing to do when
> you leave the
> station.
techman01 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> You could also use a 7 inch tablet and enter the
> report in real time
> as you go along and then have nothing to do when
> you leave the
> station.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. The tablet could be a variety of devices - IPad is an example but there are more cost effective ones on the market. Has anyone done these shops with a Samsung Note? The new Samsung that is a little larger than the typical smartphone. techmanO1 any advice?
I wouldn't use an ipad since depending on which msc's
you shop for, it may not be compatible with their website
and because the ipad is way overpriced.
Your most cost effective today is google's nexus 7 tablet,
you can pick it up for 199 from staples.
It's 7 inches and if you have a smartphone it will connect
wirelessly to the phones internet thru mobile hotspot so
you can enter reports on the go.
Say your doing a revealed gas audit, you can enter as you
go, and take the pics with the tablet and attach the right
to the forum.
It will take a little practice getting used to it, but once you do,
going home and not having to enter most reports is a big positive,
even if it takes an exta couple minutes on site to do it this way
you shop for, it may not be compatible with their website
and because the ipad is way overpriced.
Your most cost effective today is google's nexus 7 tablet,
you can pick it up for 199 from staples.
It's 7 inches and if you have a smartphone it will connect
wirelessly to the phones internet thru mobile hotspot so
you can enter reports on the go.
Say your doing a revealed gas audit, you can enter as you
go, and take the pics with the tablet and attach the right
to the forum.
It will take a little practice getting used to it, but once you do,
going home and not having to enter most reports is a big positive,
even if it takes an exta couple minutes on site to do it this way
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
I'm nervous about gas station audits too because I live in New Jersey with full service stations. It just would seem so obvious since you would have to ask for the $2 of gas. And then there are the unannounced shops - I can't see how I'm suppose to take pictures of the pumps when someone is outside all the time and most places don't have a separate person to run the convenience store. I keep turning them down, but maybe someone will persuade me otherwise.
Simple. Bring a gas can. Gas for weedeater...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
on full service stations you don't usually need to take
pictures of the pumps on unannounced ones...
pictures of the pumps on unannounced ones...
= + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = +
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
There are no stupid questions, but there are a lot of inquisitive idiots
==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==
When you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody
beyoden Wrote:
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> I'm nervous about gas station audits too because I
> live in New Jersey with full service stations. It
> just would seem so obvious since you would have to
> ask for the $2 of gas. And then there are the
> unannounced shops - I can't see how I'm suppose to
> take pictures of the pumps when someone is outside
> all the time and most places don't have a separate
> person to run the convenience store. I keep
> turning them down, but maybe someone will persuade
> me otherwise.
You can always get more than the max amount that will be reimbursed. I generally get at least $4 at a full serve station.
Definitely read the specs. One MSC's big revealed GS does not require a gas purchase at full serve, and their big unrevealed GS shop requires a pump purchase but does not require a pump photo at full serve.
And different MSC's have different specs for different clients for when there is no shop.
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> I'm nervous about gas station audits too because I
> live in New Jersey with full service stations. It
> just would seem so obvious since you would have to
> ask for the $2 of gas. And then there are the
> unannounced shops - I can't see how I'm suppose to
> take pictures of the pumps when someone is outside
> all the time and most places don't have a separate
> person to run the convenience store. I keep
> turning them down, but maybe someone will persuade
> me otherwise.
You can always get more than the max amount that will be reimbursed. I generally get at least $4 at a full serve station.
Definitely read the specs. One MSC's big revealed GS does not require a gas purchase at full serve, and their big unrevealed GS shop requires a pump purchase but does not require a pump photo at full serve.
And different MSC's have different specs for different clients for when there is no shop.
NJ shopper here. I take a photo of the pumps even though it is not required and find it easy. I pull up to a pump that has another island next to my car. While the attendant pumps, I take a photo of the other pump. I lean over and take a photo through my open car windows of my pump while it's pumping or shortly after. If I ever think it's not feasible to do this, I skip it, knowing it's not required, but that seldom happens. I find it good to review for anything I might have missed since the actual shop goes so quickly. As far as buying $2 worth of gas, I almost always get at least $10 unless I'm doing a route and my tank will be too full, as has happened a few times.
Last week I had to chuckle when I pulled into a station and knew I needed to get at least 2 gallons, but my tank was really full. I handed the attendant my card and said, "Fill it Up!" It took a grand total of 2.05 gallons...phewie. The guy probably thought I was a nut case, but who cares. I made it..He said, with his heavy accent, "It's full?" I said, "Oh, I guess so," with my best dumb blonde act (I'm blonde so no offense meant).
Last week I had to chuckle when I pulled into a station and knew I needed to get at least 2 gallons, but my tank was really full. I handed the attendant my card and said, "Fill it Up!" It took a grand total of 2.05 gallons...phewie. The guy probably thought I was a nut case, but who cares. I made it..He said, with his heavy accent, "It's full?" I said, "Oh, I guess so," with my best dumb blonde act (I'm blonde so no offense meant).
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
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