Maritz Gas Station Audit - Looking for some advice

I'm looking for some advice from the more seasoned gas station audit-takers out there. I'm only on my second one for Maritz and I've wound myself up in confusion! A lot of the toppers that I see on each fuel dispenser have generic signs showing the name of the gas station owner or very generic "coffee & donuts" or "Milk available inside". Its not glaringly wrong but it is not an example of current POP or for a specific grocery partner as per the instructions. I know that with the photo that gets attached then the editors can see for themselves and correct if necessary, but I'd rather not get a reputation as being a hardass if I put that the toppers did not have the current materials or message if I'm being too specific with interpreting the POP materials guidance.

I'd love some advice from you guys.

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Follow the guides. The POP is not current. Your photos will show that anyway, at least you will be doing your job.

If you look in your guidelines there is a clause that states that the gas station signage (I almost put the name... ooops) has to be present at HALF of the available spots.

So if there are 8 spots available for advertising... there should be AT LEAST 4 of them that have the gas station current signage.

You do need the guidelines though because it is slightly different for different stations.

Good Luck!!

O.o o.O

Happily shopping New England and beyond!!!!!

That type of thing isn't really being a hardass because it is not a subjective observation. Yes or no, either they are there or not, unlike varying degrees of cleanliness that could be applied. To me it would be overly critical at a gas station to take a white glove to everything.

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.

Don't worry about it. As Kathee70 said, on the one we're thinking of, only 50% have to be current POP, so there's a good chance that you're not getting them in any kind of trouble. But, a milk sign, or a Monster drink ad, is not current POP.

And pay attention for mixed messages on the pump toppers. If there is an authorized message on the pump topper and the station (or its chain) adds their own message to the top, bottom or side of the pump topper, that is considered a mixed message and should be reported on Q29 for the RDS shops.

**************************************************************
One buzzard to another while circling high overhead (paraphrased), "Patience hell! I want to shop somewhere."

Yep... as long as there are no hand written signs, and no mixed signs (as stated above, this would mean 2 advertisements in one sign spot) they can have milk or Monster or any thing. AS LONG AS HALF of the signage is current POP for the branded station.

O.o o.O

Happily shopping New England and beyond!!!!!

Awesome, thank you all. Once you'd cleared up my confusion I actually enjoyed doing the shop!

I've done some shops where as long as the current POP was anywhere visible on the premises, they got a "yes" for that question.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

Good question Harriet. I had some confusion concerning the toppers also. What I do now is indicate pump by pump, in the section that lists 24 pumps, whether or not they ar current POP. I don't consider milk or coffee or safe driving signs to be current POP and so indicate. I made up my own guide or cheat sheet and can zip thru an 18 pump station in 20 minutes (unless cars & trucks are blocking pumps for an extended time).

Thanks Kathee, I'll have to re-read the guidelines - I didn't realize that 50% or more counts as OK. Perhaps we're not talking about the same station though.

@LIJake
You're talking about a different GS than Harriet12. The one with the 24-pump section that you're doing has buttons for each pump number re. POP and CC apps. Harriet12's has a question that asks how many toppers there are and how many are current, but has no section identifying each pump, with a deficiency and required photo if fewer than 50% are current.

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Maritz Gas Station Audit - Looking for some advice

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