So what would you do?

Husband lost his job, so my "fun" mystery shopping has to bring in some more money now (I was only doing 1 or 2 days a week, Ive started doing 5 days now, we have savings so reimbursement shops arent a problem). As a result, I took a route of gas station audits that was offered to me. I had never done gas stations before. 160 shops in about 2 months and a pretty large bonus (large enough that I didnt think twice about it - I should have). Well, I did my first day today - I only ended up doing 6 before quitting (also did 2 retail shops for another MSC). Dealing with rain, one very creepy store manager and his wife, and knowing I still have to go home and do all the reports.. Im just not sure I can get this done. They take a lot longer than I expected also. Im totally willing to do a few more days to see if it gets better. If you were me, would you talk to the MSC now or try a few more days? I'm guessing if I cancel an entire route, I will probably get deactivated by this company?

mdavisnowell seems to have these gas station shops down to a science. I suggest PMing her for advice and for putting things into perspective for you.

Good luck!

(heart)

Every shop gets easier and faster with experience. Good luck to you. I hope your hubby gets another job soon.

What I would do would be to spend the time and look for a part time job.

I really hate to be such a party pooper, but I really think that mystery shopping should not (and even cannot) be a full time livable job. The amount of energy and man hours you would have to put into eking out a decent pay by mystery shopping pales in comparison to other jobs with low entry barriers. You could probably make more money flipping burgers. MS should really be, at best, a supplemental income source.

Bellusion, what is the store brand of the station you are doing and how large is the geographical area?

I am not new to mystery shopping, I'm well aware of how much it pays, when it pays and the work required (up until these gas station audits, haha). It's not a substitute for a full time job nor is it expected to be, I would just rather not drain our savings or have to live on our other incomes alone when I now have a full time babysitter to take advantage of (at least until his next job ). Thanks for your concern though!

MDavisnowell - It is the BP shops, and it's Central Illinois up to Chicago (I live in Central Illinois, my father in law lives in Chicago with a free place for me to stay, so I have no problem with the distance, I need to see him more anyway).

I think I've already decided not to try this again but would definitely like to finish the route I took and not flake.

Basically, what took the longest were all the pictures and making sure the shots came out clear and centered... or are they not that picky about that? By the 6th shop, I definitely figured out how to look for all the answers in one pass (but perhaps there is an even better way)... though at first I hadn't, and so the first shop took almost 90 minutes.. I bet the gas station attendant thought I was crazy (oh and then I had to go back and get a picture I had realized I had forgotten)!

Would be absolutely grateful for any tips you have!

Now that I've arrived home, had a 1/2 glass of wine and relaxed a bit.. I will definitely be back out there tomorrow to try again.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2014 12:05AM by Bellusion.

Bellusion, I don't do the BP audits so I can't help with them specifically. The key to a quick, thorough shop is a complete check off cheat sheet that covers absolutely everything you have to get. Try to keep up your speed throughout the day. It's really easy for me to get slower and slower as I get more and more tired. If you're doing ten shops a day, an extra ten minutes at each location is one hour and forty minutes later you'll get home. As you do more of the same shop you'll pick up speed on both the shop and the report. Work hard to stay ahead of schedule because something will usually go wrong somewhere along the line. Best of luck with your route. I think you'll end up liking it.

I used to do the BP audits, but it was a few years ago. I didn't like them at first, but then they grew on me. I never had a problem with them accepting my photos and I SUCK at picture taking. I'm lucky if I don't have my finger at least partially over the lens and that is not a joke. (Although I've never tried to submit one that bad.) I found that I did get faster the more that I did. Most of the staff I encountered just about fell over themselves trying to please me. The ones that had a problem with the audit are very simple to deal with. Don't take it personally. I would just shrug and say in a bored tone, "Hey, I'm just the auditor. It makes no difference to me whether you comply or not, but I am required to show you this authorization letter before I leave without performing the audit. You can deal with the powers that be later." I don't think I ever left without doing one.

All the branding stuff you have to look for becomes really easy after a while. At first, it seems like a lot to remember but after doing a few they stick right out.

I did my first gas station route this past February and March. The first couple audits took me about an hour to complete. The ore I did, the easier they became. By the end of the route, I could do one in 15-20 minutes to do the audit. I dreaded the reports! They always too me about 30 minutes for each one. It took forever to upload the photos.

I am starting another route of gas shops for another MSC tomorrow. These are not much different than the audits for the other MSC, except they do not require that you upload extra pictures. I have heard from posts on this forum, that the website for this MSC is painfully slow.

Definitely hang in there. The audits get easier and faster with each one you complete.

A cheat sheet definitely helps, especially with the gas station shops. List all the pictures you need and take them all in the same order each time. That will make it go quicker and also be easier when it comes to uploading them to the computer for the reports.

Bellusion,

It is definately true that the more you do the quicker they become. I do not do the BP audits but I do a lot of another brand. I can remember the first gas station shops I did and when I got home I had 50 or 60 photos and had to figure out to which stations they belonged. Then I had to go back to one station because I missed some needed shots. Now I can breeze through a station in 20 or 30 minutes with no problems.

I learned that I needed a clear beginning and end for each shop. My beginning is a photo of the visit detail and the end is a photo of the receipts. Everything in between belongs to that shop. The most important document is the worksheet (or cheatsheet as MDavis called it). This is something that you must develop and work on to be successful. My worksheet is one page with notations of each item or mandatory photo listed and is set up in the sequence that I do the shop. First the pumping of gas, then the convenience store and the photos needed there, then the restroom, them the pump photos and required info, then the main ID and overall photo. If there are infractions, pictures are taken. A few items are left for last - types of oil, time in/out, weather, rating. One more thing, there is a space at the bottom of my worksheet where I sketch (rectangles & squares) the convenience store and the pump islands. Each pump is numbered and checked off as I photo them. I also write the pump numbers in the sequence the photos are taken as I've learned that not all pumps are clearly numbered.

It is a good idea when you return to your car to check your pictures to see if you caught all the pumps and other required photos. Much more efficient then having to return to correct your errors. I use the same routine and protocol for every audit and it helps avoid mistakes, omissions and return visits.

This may sound complicated and intimidating but it's really not. I have come to enjoy gas station audits except when it is raining, sleeting or snowing.

I hope this is helpful and if you have any questions feel free to pm me and I will answer them as best I can.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2014 03:21PM by LIJake.

I agree with the cheat sheet. I do an excel sheet and for each photo and across the top put the address of the station. I put a check mark near the photo taken and if I have more than one photo of something, I put as many check marks as photos I took. I don't know if this is the same MSC I do the audits for but if it is, you state how many of each subject you have and then upload later. It goes faster that way. I also use my good camera with a good zoom so I'm not walking all over the place. Having a clipboard really helps too. I'm to the point I can get them done in about 15-20 minutes. When in doubt, take more photos so you don't miss something.

Great ideas from everyone. My first gas station audit was probably close to 2 hours but now I can do them in about 20-30 minutes depending on how big the station is and how many pumps are under the main canopy. When I drive up and see only 6 pumps under one canopy I am so happy. Don't give up - they get much easier and can even be enjoyable when the anxiety factor is gone. I have had nervous employees or owners (never sure if they own the place or not) wanting to ask me questions and getting all paranoid. I keep it really simple - if they refuse the audit the powers above are notified - not personal at all. I always keep a pleasant smile and do not get flustered and have never been refused. I did have to talk to an owner one time on the phone - no big deal. Just explained that of course he could refuse and I will notify the company that the shop was refused. He immediately backpedaled and I finished the audit. Sometimes I think that they just want to put their anxiety on me and I have enough of my own. Just keep it professional.

I have done several of these and am really starting to enjoy them. I second the "cheatsheet" idea and also agree with reviewing your photos in the car to ensure you have them all. I additionally would suggest that you purchase a cheap digital camera and card reader. I have a cellphone with an amazing camera on it and started doing audits with this, but found I had to 1. Email myself all the pics and 2. Resize almost all of them because even at the lowest setting the photos were still too large for what was allowed by the MSC.
With the cheap digital camera ($60 on Amazon) and card reader I can upload all my photos in one step. Sometimes I will still take all the photos in a little larger size so I have the option to crop any that need that and can then just resize the rest all in one step. This has reduced the time needed to manage photos from over an hour to about 10 minutes.

I complete a lot of other gas stations and find that by taking a picture of my two receipts right before I leave the location it creates a good separation of each location's photos. If I need to go back later it is easy to identify what gas station they photos are for by checking the receipts quickly.

My first photo is the receipt. That way, I know that all of the photos after the receipt belong to the station noted on the receipt. This saves me a lot of time. I can do an audit in 15-20 minutes. The report takes me about 20 minutes; sometimes longer depending on how slow the MSC's website is at the time I am uploading photos. I also have a cheat sheet for each of the stations in which I audit. I found having one sheet to fill out during the audit a lot easier than having to flip through pages upon pages of disorganized guidelines. So, when I get home, all I have to do is reference the cheat sheet when doing the report.

Gas stations are so easy, I stay organized KEY. Use a cheat sheet for sure, start out with 1, 2 3, 4 etc... I always take extra photo's at different angles just in case, then I take a picture of the ground or an apple to separate the photo's so they don't get mixed up and you know when your next shop starts. You can DO IT!

For the route the OP is talking about, cheat sheets are moot as the company sends a double CCP three page packet for each shop, with the auditor retaining the original and the shop getting the copy. There is also a single plain paper addendum for each location with location and cycle-specific questions. The only "cheat sheet" relevant to this client would be a list of required photos.
OP - 1) Don't forget the addendum questions. Sucks to go back because you forgot to see if the graphic on the canopy was a decal or a fixture and you can't tell from your photo because the decals are so realistic, or some such stupid reason to have to go back. 2) Check to make sure you got all the required photos. Going back is the greatest time killer. 3) Time saver: Upload all of your photos at the final screen of report entry - all at once, not inserting them into the report along the way. 4) Time saver: Resize your photos before uploading. PixResizer can resize a batch of hundreds in less than a minute, saving many minutes per shop. The right (smaller) size photos upload much, much more quickly with this MSC. 5) Time saver: Check the street view online before you head out. This MSC and this client in particular are notorious for bad addresses. One stray shop can destroy a route.
Consider for yourself how quickly you need the route bonus. I've done 14 of this client in one day, but my brain was mush and I was miserable. You could conceivably get this route done in two weeks. I'd rather do 9-10 in a day, with a couple easy extras mixed in for a break and for variety, but if you need that bonus sooner than later, then go for it hard because it won't arrive until the last one's done.
All this said, and I just now realize that it's been a week since the thread started. Did you stick with it?

When I started these shops - my first two took about 45 minutes with an additional 20-30 to enter the data and upload the photos at home. I got quicker but it was still a pain. I just recently decided to try entering the shops with my smartphone at the station to see if it was any easier. OMG... It was like night and day. I can now complete a shop in about 20-25 minutes total from start to finish including data entry without any issues.

I use a Samsung Note II Smartphone... My screen is big enough to view the survey. I have also tried my IPAD which also works. My phone gives me the option to select camera shen I click on "Upload a photo" and I snap the picture that matches the question. Maybe this would be an easier option for you if you have a smartphone or tablet?

Misanthrope Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really hate to be such a party pooper, but I
> really think that mystery shopping should not (and
> even cannot) be a full time livable job. The
> amount of energy and man hours you would have to
> put into eking out a decent pay by mystery
> shopping pales in comparison to other jobs with
> low entry barriers. You could probably make more
> money flipping burgers. MS should really be, at
> best, a supplemental income source.

This is my full time business, has been for over 5 years. I make a sustainable living and it is comparable to any job that would require me to work a schedule. I live in a rural area and travel up to 30 miles on a regular basis.

I plan my days, shops and shop budget not only to make cash money but to also pad my house expenses. I have not had to spend any non reimbursed money for groceries in 13 months, I have not had to pay for gas in 9 months, I repainted my apartment for exactly $0 and took 3 vacations this year, Florida (cost me $37 for 14 days), Missouri (cost me $126 for 12 days) and Boston (I made $363 in 4 days.)

I have taken my Dad golfing at courses we would not be able to play at 6 times this year. Seen countless movies with family and friends, been out to eat more times than I can even muster up the energy to count and have taken my grand daughter to many, many amusement parks.

I am able to pay all of my bills, maintain my car and live comfortably all while doing a job that I want to do. I even took this month off because, well, I can.

It takes research, diligence, and many, many hours of getting to know shops, companies and schedulers. I did it and I am happier than I have been at any other job I have ever had, and I have a wide range of experience.

It absolutely is doable for those willing and able to work at building your business, it's hard and takes time but it can be done. This forum will absolutely help you do that. I wish I had found this place years ago.

Now to answer the OP....

Keep calm and trudge on... I can not stand gas station shops!!! That being said, I do these routes all the time because the money is just way too good to turn down, as you know by your post.

Keep in mind these are every 3 months (most of them) so when you are done you will be able to take a nice breather from them. Plan, plan, plan. When I do these I usually don't take any other shops, this is because I want to do as many gas stations as possible to get the route over with.

Every other day, unless you have more than one car to use. I don't so I do other shops in between or I will pick the farthest 3 gas stations and plan a day around them. Find a mall and gather 5 or 6 shops in side or around the area. Do a couple of gas stations before you get there, a few shops when you get inside. Then use the mall wifi to fill out the reports while you relax with a cup of coffee. Finish the remainder mall shops and stations and go home. Have dinner and fill out the rest of your reports.

Once you get into the groove of these audits they are easy. 15 to 20 minutes on site and 15 (depending on the web site) to fill out reports. After as many gas stations as you have taken on you will be on a good roll by the time you hit the 20th one so never fear it gets easier.

PM the shopper mentioned for help, there are ways to maximize your time and get into a routine. Helpful hints and personal experience will allow you to learn and maximize.

Know that I feel for you and just keep thinking of that HUGE check you will get to pay bills with. Don't forget to give yourself a little reward when you are done, even if it is just take out.... no shop, just enjoyment.

Good luck, let us know how you did!!!

I am editing because I should have read more of the posts before I replied... I tend to do that a lot.


I did the BP, that is what I based it on. So....

Make a cheat sheet, big enough to put 5 station names on. Put the pictures you need to take on it, marking the ones that you only need if there is non compliance, questions like, time in/out "uniform" and "rest rooms" . Make copies of this sheet as you will use the same one for all of the stations.

Print out the accepted and NOT accepted promo sheets to take with you and 4 or 5 authorization sheets. Set up a clip board with your first station on the clip board. So promo reference sheets, authorization letters, your check sheet and the mailed check sheet. Be careful to keep checking the updates as they can and have changed promotions in the middle and beginning of the month. Print out new ones as you get them.

I know they mail you out your check sheet that the attendant must sign. AFTER you have checked everything off on your sheet, check the sheet they need to sign, have them sign it and you will be on your way.

BEFORE you get to the station take a picture of the official station sheet with visit number and location. Then get to the station and take your million pictures. When you are finished with the audit and in your car, before you leave the location, take a pic of your store receipt, your gas receipt and one picture of both of the receipts together for invoicing.



Email these pictures to yourself with a title you will be able to determine that this is the location. This way when you enter your reports you will be able to separate the pictures easier.

Now set your clip board up for the next station, taking a picture of the official sheet for your first picture and off you go.

Now I really feel for you because, although I dread gas station audits, BP is the one I really cringe when I accept them. Money and free gas keeps me going back when the price is right. That's why it's a job...

Let us know how you did...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/22/2014 03:20PM by Kathee70.

Kathee70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Then use the mall wifi to
> fill out the reports while you relax with a cup of
> coffee. Finish the remainder mall shops and
> stations and go home. Have dinner and fill out the
> rest of your reports.

Not specific to gas station audits, but now that I finally have a device (chromebook) that I can do this with, I *LOVE* being able to do the quick & easy reports on the road. Nothing left to do when I get home!

Even the reports with more narrative... I enter the date/time/receipt stuff, names/descriptions, and do all the yes/no or drop-down choice questions... then make like a bullet-point list of all the key points in the narrative section... click the "Save for Later"... and when I get home I'll just finish out the narrative.

SO much better. Now, I just need a portable wi-fi thingie, so I don't have to always find a Lowes, Target, McD's, or something.


> Once you get into the groove of these audits they
> are easy. <snip> there are ways
> to maximize your time and get into a routine.

Having a one-page cheat sheet, as others have suggested, is the best. I make one for all my frequent shops. All the key points and required photos ~ customized to the way your brain processes stuff and the way you like to take notes and remember stuff.

But yeah, do a few and they'll become second nature, and therefore, much faster and easier. Not just the shops but the reports too. The first few are always the worst as you feel like kinda an idiot as you keep trying to figure out if you're getting everything.


> Know that I feel for you and just keep thinking of
> that HUGE check you will get to pay bills with.

The *best* motivation for persevering.


> Make a cheat sheet, big enough to put 5 station
> names on. <snip>

I like the multi-location cheat sheet idea!


> Be careful to keep
> checking the updates as they can and have changed

This. Not doing this can really screw you. :/


> Email these pictures to yourself with a title you
> will be able to determine that this is the
> location. This way when you enter your reports you
> will be able to separate the pictures easier.

Also, I take a photo of a specific thing in my car between each shop, when doing multiple locations of the same place on the same day. A quick visual to know where the sets of photos for each location begin and end.


> Now set your clip board up for the next station,
> taking a picture of the official sheet for your
> first picture and off you go.

Just think about where you lay your clipboard down while traipsing around getting photos. I left mine on the hood of my car once... and when I returned a bird had shat on it. :/ Shoulda opened my car door and laid it on the seat.

Are the shops you are all referring to from Maritz? Just curious....

Chix Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are the shops you are all referring to from
> Maritz? Just curious....

It is against your IC to name the MSC and the Client in the same post. As BP was mentioned already as the client, the Company can not be mentioned in this post.

Thanks all for your help. Just an update - I did cancel my route. I made this decision after trying a few more times and speaking to the MSC several times. They were very understanding and did not deactivate me. These routes are not for me and at least I know now.

I can honestly say, the "first" time I do an assignment, (that's never been done before), it does seem a little nerve-wracking but once you get it done, you look back weeks later and laugh at being so worried, about how it will all turn out. ....

So, I think your 6 was rough for the first day, chances are you will go back and breeze through the next 6, and pretty soon, you will have 100 behind you and 60 more to go

I am a positive thinker! It's the only way I can think...

Bellusion....I'm NOT a route shopper at all....too much stress makes it so not worth it....

Bellusion,

Sorry to hear that you decided to deep-six the route but only you can make that decision. Perhaps you can try a smaller route, if the opportunity presents itself in the future. As everyone has said, the more of these shops you do the easier they become. I do a lot of gas stations and, in fact, have 34 booked for the middle of this month but I have never tried to commit to 160. That seems a bit daunting.

Misanthrope Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I really hate to be such a party pooper, but I
> really think that mystery shopping should not (and
> even cannot) be a full time livable job. The
> amount of energy and man hours you would have to
> put into eking out a decent pay by mystery
> shopping pales in comparison to other jobs with
> low entry barriers. You could probably make more
> money flipping burgers. MS should really be, at
> best, a supplemental income source.

However, there are people like me who need the flexibility of mystery shopping. I am full-time caregiver for my disabled son, and I cannot hold a full-time, time clock position. I am finally making almost $40 a day in my new home (Billings, MT) and see that improving steadily. I will not only make a living, I will be earning $1200/month by Spring. Sure the hours are long, but any business owner will work 75 to 90 hours a week. I like being my own boss!!