Address Discrepancies
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I have found google maps is HORRIBLE when it comes to finding gas stations that you have a bad address for. I would suggest you try the gas station brand's website. Or google the location (not maps) and see if that works. Like if it's bgriffin fast n kwik in BFE, NE then google bgriffin fast n kwik bfe and you'll probably find a link with a good address and/or location.
Also gas station addresses are HORRIFIC. I would guess 10-20% of them have bad addresses in their systems.
Also gas station addresses are HORRIFIC. I would guess 10-20% of them have bad addresses in their systems.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
For my area Google Maps works well, though I know that others have issues with it. You may want to look at the Street View along where you think the station should be. I usually double check using MapQuest.com if something doesn't look right. Also the suggestion of checking the gas station brand's website is good. You can also check GasBuddy.com and put in the zip code to see what comes up nearby.
I did do that, that's how I realized the errors. But will the company still pay me? Like if their address says 1140 Oak Lane, but that branded site is actually at 11040 Oak Lane, or if their address says the city is Portland, but the branded site is actually down the road in Smithville, or their address says Rt. 243, Freemont, but the address is actually 24895 Smith Highway, Freemont for that brand. These are all just examples, but basically how it is.
As long as you go to the correct store they should. I have found that in a lot of rural areas the address the station gives is whatever tiny little town they're in but the ACTUAL address is a larger nearby town. Like let's say there's some tiny little community called Griffinville and it's near a small incorporated town named Arkndovetown. They'll give the address as Griffinville but the correct address is Arkndovetown. Same spot, but one is the correct address and one is not. Also a lot of stations have been in business for decades and never update their address, so indeed 30 years ago it might have been Rt 243 but is now Smith Highway.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2015 04:55AM by bgriffin.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2015 04:55AM by bgriffin.
Thank you, I'm sure you're right. Guess I just needed some reassurance. Caught me off guard that all 4 had discrepancies. I'll let you know how it goes!
Call the number in the report details, Asked the receptionist where they are located. Ask for landmarks if the area in not familiar. And lastly and a MUST, report the address discrepancy in your narrative for the report.
Most gas stations open at 0700 in the morning, so calling that early is no "problem" for them
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2015 05:23AM by sojo917.
Most gas stations open at 0700 in the morning, so calling that early is no "problem" for them
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/2015 05:23AM by sojo917.
That's what I would do: call! Get the address of the station attached to the phone number in the instructions and that should solve the problem. Then detail it in narrative.
It went well, I found them all, reported the address issues. One was attached to a bar and I was approached by an intoxicated patron with a drink in his hand, blood red eyes, and slurred speech, wanting to know why I was taking pictures. I stood my ground and asked him if he was the owner, and when he said no, I said it was none of his business then. Then he said he was sent out here to find out what I was doing, I said if the owner wants to come out, I will gladly talk to him. He then proceeded to lean against my car and I had to tell him to please get off my car so I could leave. Very scary! Never doing that one again!!!
Glad it worked out for you. Of course on a future visit the drunk would probably not have been in the bar. He probably was sent out to talk to you just to get him out of the bar.
If you look at the receipts, 99.9% of the time one of them, either the pump or the store, will be the address that the MSC is using. Out of the thousands that I have done and the hundreds of "wrong" address that I have reported, never have I seen the MSC change the address - they stick with the receipt.
Knowing where these locations actually are is a valuable asset. Other shoppers will just give up when they can't find the location based on the bad receipt address, and the MSC will have to bonus the shops to get them filled. Let them linger on the board, or watch for them to return to the board next time and make a few extra bucks.
Knowing where these locations actually are is a valuable asset. Other shoppers will just give up when they can't find the location based on the bad receipt address, and the MSC will have to bonus the shops to get them filled. Let them linger on the board, or watch for them to return to the board next time and make a few extra bucks.
Weird but I actually did NOT have to get receipts on this one. It felt wrong but I guess photos were the receipt.
@arkndove wrote:
Weird but I actually did NOT have to get receipts on this one. It felt wrong but I guess photos were the receipt.
Sounds like a corporate "Appearance" audit where the company wants to make sure the station complies with their corporate standards. I've done a few of those and like them. No purchase necessary, pretty good pay for a half-hours work. But I will admit I have never been accosted by a drunk while doing one of them!
Delizzy
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If at first you succeed, try not to look astonished!
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If at first you succeed, try not to look astonished!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/13/2015 02:12PM by Delizzy.
I'm guessing arkndove was doing a shop that required a purchase but not a receipt. There ARE some MSCs who trust shoppers.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
Yes bgriffin, you are right. It did require a purchase but specifically said not to upload a receipt if one was given. None were given. Not sure about the trust part though as several photos were required while trying to remain anonymous. These were small places, down long country roads, 2 had bars inside, one was a kiosk, and one had the pumps blocked off because lightning knocked them all out .They wanted the same photos I have had to take on revealed audits. Impossible to get all these without being seen. I think I'll stick to the revealed from now on, this route and that drunk traumatized me haha!
@arkndove wrote:
I did do that, that's how I realized the errors. But will the company still pay me? Like if their address says 1140 Oak Lane, but that branded site is actually at 11040 Oak Lane, or if their address says the city is Portland, but the branded site is actually down the road in Smithville, or their address says Rt. 243, Freemont, but the address is actually 24895 Smith Highway, Freemont for that brand. These are all just examples, but basically how it is.
Sometimes they want you to just go to that address, and if it's not a gas station, photograph what's there and leave. Other times they want you to go to the new address if it's not that far away. I would read the guidelines and double check exactly what they want you to do.
@DrSquash wrote:
@arkndove wrote:
I did do that, that's how I realized the errors. But will the company still pay me? Like if their address says 1140 Oak Lane, but that branded site is actually at 11040 Oak Lane, or if their address says the city is Portland, but the branded site is actually down the road in Smithville, or their address says Rt. 243, Freemont, but the address is actually 24895 Smith Highway, Freemont for that brand. These are all just examples, but basically how it is.
Sometimes they want you to just go to that address, and if it's not a gas station, photograph what's there and leave. Other times they want you to go to the new address if it's not that far away. I would read the guidelines and double check exactly what they want you to do.
While they do sometimes pay you for going to the location even if the business isn't there anymore, I don't think that's usually what they want to know. More likely than not, the client has not completely updated their database. The address being off by one digit or the wrong town being listed tends to be a mistake on the part of the schedulers, I think, though I see some schedulers advertise a shop in one city when I have done the shop before, and I know for a fact that they knew it was in a different one. In general, I refuse to work with these schedulers.
Having a slightly wrong address listed can happen anywhere, but the wrong town being listed tends to happen when they want you to go into the suburb of a large city. Unless you just passed by that location really recently and know for a fact that it's still there, it's good to do a reality check on the shop first. Some shops even require you to call ahead to verify that the location is still there and what the open hours are. If you find that the shop is not in existence anymore, it's better to just let the scheduler know about it beforehand than assume they will be satisfied with a photo. If the scheduler is honest, this will probably also make them be more likely to work with you in the future.
My understanding is that in most cases the client is supplying the addresses and phone numbers of the locations to the MSP. While there may be a typo at the MSP in entering the shop into their system, most of the time the client's lists are what is likely to be out of date. You can tell the scheduler, the scheduler can relay that information to the MSP, the MSP can relay it to the client but at the end of the day if the client doesn't update their records what can be done?
The MSC can give some polite variation of, "We found out this location doesn't exist anymore. Are you sure you would still like us to send shoppers there, or should we update our database?" Unless the client wants to check up to make sure that somebody isn't continuing to run a business without a license or is behind on a moving date, there isn't much reason to send a shopper out. All it takes is a short communication with the client's representative to the MSC to set a general policy, although the representative may have to check with other people first. It could take awhile for one hand to talk to the other, but it isn't technically difficult and could make the shops more efficient.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2015 04:33AM by OceanGirl.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2015 04:33AM by OceanGirl.
I am agreeing with Flash and also saying we go to the location to take a picture to show the Client that the business is not there or to show something else is in its place. The scheduler wants to get paid and so don't we. So the scheduler probably is paid more than us for a closed shop. It is probably in their contact with the Client that it the shop is preformed and the business is found to be closed, we the MSP will still get paid. While, "We" only get a mere fraction of that pay
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When we call the location and we get an answer, we are to note that in our narrative. If the location is closed we are too note that. or call the scheduler. If the town is off by a number in the zipcode or name, I would line up other shops in the town, so that I can have a fruitful visit.
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When we call the location and we get an answer, we are to note that in our narrative. If the location is closed we are too note that. or call the scheduler. If the town is off by a number in the zipcode or name, I would line up other shops in the town, so that I can have a fruitful visit.
@sojo917 wrote:
If the town is off by a number in the zipcode or name, I would line up other shops in the town, so that I can have a fruitful visit.
It's not always possible for a shopper to do that, though.
Of course, if the building has been vandalized since being sold or something, that could also be useful information for the client to know. One might wonder if it were a disgruntled employee or if a chain were being targeted.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2015 04:40AM by OceanGirl.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/2015 04:40AM by OceanGirl.
The MSC in question pays full fee as long as you go to the right location.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
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