Route Shoppers: Opinion
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You are right and I have edited my post. Self-employed taxpayers can only claim the per diem for meals.
Darn. Here I thought you had found a new tax wrinkle that could be useful.
@bgriffin wrote:
I recently did a route that was about 11,000 miles and 14 states.
That tops my best... 4.500 miles and 6 states. How long were you on the road?
I agree with the others, OP, this sounds like a good beginner route. And as someone else said, be sure to allow extra time for reports!!
Well, I survived! Just submitted the last report.
First day, all shops were relatively routine. Hotel internet worked fine, thankfully! I was able to get a time limit extension on the reports, but in the long run didn't really need it.
Today got off to an interesting start with a revealed audit at a place where new management just took over yesterday. The audit was fine and all, but this new manager was asking me all kinds of questions, not about the results, but about the overall process.
In the long run, a lot of driving, and staying up late with writing the reports. I'd do it again!
Thanks for the help.
First day, all shops were relatively routine. Hotel internet worked fine, thankfully! I was able to get a time limit extension on the reports, but in the long run didn't really need it.
Today got off to an interesting start with a revealed audit at a place where new management just took over yesterday. The audit was fine and all, but this new manager was asking me all kinds of questions, not about the results, but about the overall process.
In the long run, a lot of driving, and staying up late with writing the reports. I'd do it again!
Thanks for the help.
OK I am planning to do my first long distance route. The mileage will come about to be about 400 miles. There will be at least 7 shops for a total fee of $875. The MSC is paying for 1 night hotel. I am staying at a relative's home the second night in order to participate in a Friday night Fish Fry 
. The shops will cover 3 days, Thur-Sat. For food, I'm thinking about picking FF shops along the way as I go. The MSC has already agreed to give me extra time to input the reports. I feel pretty good about it. Anyone see anything that I am missing?
. The shops will cover 3 days, Thur-Sat. For food, I'm thinking about picking FF shops along the way as I go. The MSC has already agreed to give me extra time to input the reports. I feel pretty good about it. Anyone see anything that I am missing?When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou
Backup camera? Extra batteries? Gas shops?
How about to save a little money, get a small cooler and pack it with cold drinks, fruit and a sandwich or two?@CureMS wrote:
OK I am planning to do my first long distance route. The mileage will come about to be about 400 miles. There will be at least 7 shops for a total fee of $875. The MSC is paying for 1 night hotel. I am staying at a relative's home the second night in order to participate in a Friday night Fish Fry
A cooler for sure! Also, Ziplock bags for leftovers from meals!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
yep my first audit was flaked because my camera ran out of juice... so extra batteries or make sure your phone is charging at night before you hit the sack...
you can also buy extra batteries for your cellphone... they are usually pretty cheap... i used to get them shipped directly from hong kong through cellphoneshop.net but i see its no longer working... it was a site that accepted paypal which is best because you have a recourse should anything go wrong
you can also buy extra batteries for your cellphone... they are usually pretty cheap... i used to get them shipped directly from hong kong through cellphoneshop.net but i see its no longer working... it was a site that accepted paypal which is best because you have a recourse should anything go wrong
shopping north west PA and south west ny
yep my first audit was flaked because my camera ran out of juice... so extra batteries or make sure your phone is charging at night before you hit the sack...
you can also buy extra batteries for your cellphone... they are usually pretty cheap... i used to get them shipped directly from hong kong through cellphoneshop.net but i see its no longer working... it was a site that accepted paypal which is best because you have a recourse should anything go wrong
you can also buy extra batteries for your cellphone... they are usually pretty cheap... i used to get them shipped directly from hong kong through cellphoneshop.net but i see its no longer working... it was a site that accepted paypal which is best because you have a recourse should anything go wrong
shopping north west PA and south west ny
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. With it being so hot, I'm going to pull down the cooler now so I don't forget it. As for extra cell phone batteries, I don't use my phone to record. I have a tiny MP3 player that does it. As for keeping stuff charged, I have a car charger with multiple connectors, so I keep stuff charging while I am in the car. I don't have a duplicate DVR, but I do have two cameras. I will definitely have to remember to bring the charger for my DVR and am thinking about purchasing a travel charger for both the car and the hotel. I do have an extra battery, a 7-hour battery in addition to the 3 hour battery. I might think about buying another 7-hour battery as a backup.
I am trying not to add too many shops to the route as I tire easily. I don't know much about gas shops. Are the reports easy? About how long does it take to do a gas shop when you are out on the road? I pretty much know where to find the gas shops in my area, but I am hesitant.
The fruit idea and ziplock bags is good. I like to munch on stuff on the road. Thanks for all the suggestions and keep them coming.
I am trying not to add too many shops to the route as I tire easily. I don't know much about gas shops. Are the reports easy? About how long does it take to do a gas shop when you are out on the road? I pretty much know where to find the gas shops in my area, but I am hesitant.
The fruit idea and ziplock bags is good. I like to munch on stuff on the road. Thanks for all the suggestions and keep them coming.
When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou
Gas shops are not all created equal. So many have gone to full blown audits I wouldn't waste my time unless you can find a mystery shop only, quick stop and quick report. I use a car charger for things like my phone. I've not found it a great option for video cameras because they take so long to charge. I'm not comfortable unless knowing they have had time to charge fully. It seems with seven shops the two batteries should be sufficient since you can charge them in the evening. Just keep track of how long your shops went. When using a five hour battery I would change it out at around three to three and a half hours. Keep in mind how long they charge in the evening. You may want to put the three hour on as soon as you hit the hotel so it will be done before bed and the seven hour can charge overnight.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
@LisaSTL wrote:
Gas shops are not all created equal. So many have gone to full blown audits I wouldn't waste my time unless you can find a mystery shop only, quick stop and quick report. I use a car charger for things like my phone. I've not found it a great option for video cameras because they take so long to charge. I'm not comfortable unless knowing they have had time to charge fully. It seems with seven shops the two batteries should be sufficient since you can charge them in the evening. Just keep track of how long your shops went. When using a five hour battery I would change it out at around three to three and a half hours. Keep in mind how long they charge in the evening. You may want to put the three hour on as soon as you hit the hotel so it will be done before bed and the seven hour can charge overnight.
I have not heard of a five hour battery and would love to get one. Who sells it? I have two seven hour batteries.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
I haven't done a whole lot of several hundred mile road trips, but when I do, I know that after 30-45 minutes in the car I am going to be stiff and it will take some walking to loosen up. If I have a stretch of time like that between shops I probably should make a personal stop so that when I arrive at the shop I am not moving like a robot. I find that a grocery store or larger retailer is worth the stop to walk around some in AC, visit the restroom to tidy up, rehydrate with their water fountain and make a small purchase.
@Flash wrote:
I haven't done a whole lot of several hundred mile road trips, but when I do, I know that after 30-45 minutes in the car I am going to be stiff and it will take some walking to loosen up. If I have a stretch of time like that between shops I probably should make a personal stop so that when I arrive at the shop I am not moving like a robot. I find that a grocery store or larger retailer is worth the stop to walk around some in AC, visit the restroom to tidy up, rehydrate with their water fountain and make a small purchase.
OH MY GOODNESS! You sound like me. Only since I am handicapped, when I get out the car after driving for awhile, I look REALLY REALLY REALLY handicapped LOL
When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou
@LisaSTL wrote:
Gas shops are not all created equal. So many have gone to full blown audits I wouldn't waste my time unless you can find a mystery shop only, quick stop and quick report.,...... I'm not comfortable unless knowing they have had time to charge fully. It seems with seven shops the two batteries should be sufficient since you can charge them in the evening. .
Thanks for the advice, I will just skip the gas shops. For now I need to focus on the higher paying shops.
I am lucky on these shops as they are not video shops, HOWEVER for my benefit, I will video tape them. This will help my memory when I return home. In case the video fails for one reason or another as it has done, I will have my trusty audio backup. My bra will end up being as full as my purse!
When you learn, teach, when you get, give. Maya Angelou
Cubbie, it was the extended battery for my older model camera purchased in 2010. The newer models have the slimmer 7 hour battery. The 5 hour was actually quite bulky, almost doubling the size of the unit. My old camera is still my favorite even though I only have the basic 90 minute batteries for it since the extended battery bit the dust about four years in. I'm not traveling these days so four of those has proven to be more than sufficient for work within a 200 mile radius.
@cubbiecat wrote:
I have not heard of a five hour battery and would love to get one. Who sells it? I have two seven hour batteries.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Thanks Lisa, Wishful thinking on my part that there exists a five hour battery similar to the 3/7 hour batteries.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
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