Soooooo, the price is looking kind of right at the moment for me to complete one of those extensive gas station audits, but I have NEVER done audits before. They are currently at about 40 bucks (give or take) and they'll probably go higher by Monday since there's quite a few in this area. Anywho, I have always shied away from them because of the time it takes, as well as the overkill in requirements. Does anyone like these shops? Have you ever had your report rejected on one of these shops? I would hate to drop below the requirements because of an audit on my first shop for this company, but nothing else this company offers in my area is even worth a second look.

I had one from Maritz reject because of demands for photos that could not be taken during the visit because of where a broken down beer truck was parked. There was no answer for that except to go back and take more photos and I found a polite way of telling them what the could do with the shop because there was no reason to go a significant distance only to field further complaints. The same shop had already had arguments over a shot from a distance that could only be taken by going through the barbed wire into a field with bulls. I decided there was just enough bull with this shop already.

I had had many accepted previously though they took somewhere between too long and forever both on site and reviewing and renaming the masses of photos taken to make sure I had a perfectly focused, properly bright photo of each item. So that I would NOT get grief.

Yeah that's exactly what I'm afraid of. If I miss one thing or if a picture isn't exactly how they want it, they may just throw out my report! There goes hours of my time that can never be replaced. Plus, this company wants LOTS of pics. Like, seriously? The original commission was $6.00. I'm so surprised at companies who want their businesses EXTENSIVELY evaluated for close to nothing!

I just did a shop for them and had one of my usual mis-adventures. It was a closed location and I managed to get threatened with arrest by a police officer if I didn't leave immediately. In the process I managed to fall in a deep puddle, twist my ankle, break my camera and have my paperwork blow away and go over the ledge into the river alongside the location. It was also over 120 miles round trip.

The company called me today, not to question that shop but to ask me to go twice as far for one tomorrow. I laughed hysterically.

For Maritz or Cori?

All I know is, a famous gas station "sounds like bell," had a big photo audit for a grand total of $6 bucks. I didn't want to really do it but it was on the way to a grocery shop so I agreed to go for a paltry 6 bucks.

It RAINED hard the entire time I was there!! Just try to take pictures with the "driving rain," the kind that must blow in your face, in your eyes, on your camera, on your clothes. So you struggle with the umbrella in one hand and the camera in the other and blowing wind trying to hold the camera and the umbrella.

It was the most frustrating and exhausting $6 buck shop I ever did.

Once was enough..

So for 40 bucks they must want you to "pave the sidewalk" while you are there! lol...

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/16/2011 10:57PM by SunnyDays2.

If is is Cori, be sure the date stamp is on the photo. I had 1 rejected a couple of weeks ago for forgetting to turn it on. I had turned it off for one of Maritz's and forgot to turn it back on. Maritz has at least one editor that is hard to please.

Cettie Wrote:
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> I just did a shop for them and had one of my usual
> mis-adventures. It was a closed location and I
> managed to get threatened with arrest by a police
> officer if I didn't leave immediately. In the
> process I managed to fall in a deep puddle, twist
> my ankle, break my camera and have my paperwork
> blow away and go over the ledge into the river
> alongside the location. It was also over 120
> miles round trip.
>
> The company called me today, not to question that
> shop but to ask me to go twice as far for one
> tomorrow. I laughed hysterically.

Wowzers! I feel your pain cause that sounds horrible. Do you think you will still get paid for it?

I will definitely get paid for it, I made copies of all our written correspondence and it was a nice $120 fee quoted in the e-mail from the supervisor. I've been with them for 17 years now and they know better than to poo in my cornflakes.

Cetti,
I love your attitude! Clicking on thre "like" icon is just not enough when the poster is as eloquent as you are.

If you've never done one before and it is a long distance I would never recommend you take the job. On the other hand, if they are close, go for it. The jobs are a PITA, but not so much that $40 plus is not worth the time. The big issues are the date/time stamp, no way they will accept the job without that and remembering to get every single required photo. If you have and are familiar with any type of photo editing software that will allow for batch resizing and renaming it will be easier and if you have a program you've never used before it could be great practice.

Other than the date/time stamp, I've made two bone-headed mistakes on these that are easy to avoid (and I've done over 600 jobs for the company). Once I didn't pay attention and was editing while the photos were still on my SD card. I accidentally deleted one and was not able to recover it like I could have if it was on the PC and had been sent to the Recycle Bin. Another time I transferred the photos and still lost one in editing. Now I copy them from the card onto my PC into a folder for "raw" photos. I then copy a second time into a folder and edit, name and resize those copies. Maybe 5 minutes extra work, but worth it when they are bonused like that

@Cettie...Good cause that $120 sounds real nice.

@Lisa...Thanks for the tip. I do have a camera with a date and time stamp, but I'm not familiar with editing photos. I usually just take a pic and my camera gives it a red, yellow, or green focus stamp. Green means the focus is on point. What kind of editing did you have to do with the photos?

My main thing is that an eyesore to me, might not constitute an eyesore to them. I always notice little things that nobody else does. Then they'll think I'm picky and dishonest. No bueno.

I did not know to take a picture of what was not there. The station did not have a windshield washing unit anywhere. I learned you were to take a pic of the island showing that the unit was not there. I did get paid for the shop.

People handle the photo resizing and naming differently. Many adjust the megapixels on the camera, some size after, some rename some don't. I used to change the setting on my camera now I take them at the highest setting. Microsoft Office Picture Manager was part of my software and I really like it. I can name them and resize in batches. Do yourself a favor. Editing and uploading pics takes some time. Be honest, but be objective. This is not white glove time, they are gas stations after all This is a time when those extensive instructions come in handy.

Thanks Lisa

I will never do another one of these facility inspections...taking pics of the gas pump, and the rest of that crap. What a bunch of bs.

One tip I have is to be sure to check off the pump on your clip board. Some of these stations can have 16 or more pumps and with cars going in and out you can't do them in numerical sequence.

Another thing is to note the flaws on the pumps in your paperwork. You can't tell the close up of a dent on pump5 from pump 11 so it is easier if you note it on your paperwork as pump 11-dented, duct tape on decal. Then when you are going thru your photos you can tell what flaws are which.

Expect about 30-45 minutes at the station and another 20 renaming and organizing your pics when you get home.

Most of the time I do get to take the pics of the pumps in order. I've found that taking a few extra minutes on site sometimes saves me headaches since I can then rename them as a batch. Most of mine have still been in that 20 to 30 minute range with another 15 to 20 on the pic editing and report. If you have the patience to wait them out until they hit $20 plus then it's not half bad. I also tend to take them on a more seasonal basis. If it's 70 degrees and sunny I'd rather be doing those than hanging out in the mall

I did one for Cori and took pics of the pumps but they wanted 2 pics of each pump. I will never do another one of these. I felt ike a blooming idiot standing in the parkling lot waiting for the vans, trucks and cars to leave so I could take a picture of the gas pump.

I just did my 1st one for CORI...misread the instructions...not to mention the extensive video presentation you have to review to qualify to do their audits...

I went inside to pay for the required gas at the pump...this store was so tiny, less than 100sq.ft...everything could be evaluated while at the counter, except the bathroom which was on the outside...I took the required pics of pumps & bathroom...as I was submitting the report..it was then that I realized I was suppose to make an inside purchase other than the gas...I submitted the report, entering $0 for additional purchase...

It took 24hrs for the editor to email me with an error for the shop...she quoted a comment of mine in the narrative where I described the store as being well stocked despite it's small size...the question to me was..."How did I know it was well stocked if I didn't purchase anything?

I responded by honestly admitting I had misread the instructions...and made the required observations of the store when I went inside to pay for the gas...she responded back that the client would not except the report without the 2 receipts and suggested that I could redo the shop at the same bonus as the original...reluctantly,I agreed to redo...

What puzzles me though...the point of the inside purchase is to evaluate the interior of the store the employee and the service provided...why should I have to purchase something additional besides gas if I went inside to pay for the gas?

Life's great mysteries, blaqwumin. One of the stores in my area you can pay for a gas purchase outside or inside. My guess is that the two purchases is trying to determine that you did actually go inside. When I used to do these I would pay for my gas, go pump, pull in front, go in and use the restroom and then pick up my inside purchase. It was a gamble at best because if they spotted me taking photos of the pump there could have been problems. I never liked these shops and the pay just made them that much less interesting. But they fly off the board here at the original fee offered, so obviously somebody out there can hardly wait to get them.

Flash Wrote:
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> Life's great mysteries, blaqwumin. One of the
> stores in my area you can pay for a gas purchase
> outside or inside. My guess is that the two
> purchases is trying to determine that you did
> actually go inside. When I used to do these I
> would pay for my gas, go pump, pull in front, go
> in and use the restroom and then pick up my inside
> purchase. It was a gamble at best because if they
> spotted me taking photos of the pump there could
> have been problems. I never liked these shops and
> the pay just made them that much less interesting.
> But they fly off the board here at the original
> fee offered, so obviously somebody out there can
> hardly wait to get them.
.....................................................................

I don't recall what the original fee was...this shop paid $27...don't remember if I get reimbursed for the gas & misc. purchases...since this was my 3rd shop for this MSC...trying to establish a repore is why I will redo...however...I probably won't do anymore of this type...

I've been selected(I think) by this MSC to do a special training project with their new "Owners"...project starts in Jan.and will take 3mos to complete...in addition to getting paid you will earn a Samsung Galaxy Tablet at the end of the project...I'm assuming I've been selected since I went thru a 3hr training session on site a nice resort hotel in my area...apparently this is a 1st & a pilot for the MSC & their new Owners...

Soooo...I was being humble as not to get myself kicked out of this project....one would think that one has nothing to do with the other...but I learned in the Navy..."ASSUME"...makes an ASS-U-ME...so trying to play it safe...this project is quite interesing...never mine the Tablet...

blaqwumin, you get reimbursed a buck for gas and a buck for the inside purchase.

lucky7s, they must not require 2 pictures. I rarely submit more than one of a pump unless they is an issue I want to highlight.

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> blaqwumin, you get reimbursed a buck for gas and a
> buck for the inside purchase.
>
> lucky7s, they must not require 2 pictures. I
> rarely submit more than one of a pump unless they
> is an issue I want to highlight.
...........................................................................

When I read your post...I initially thought that doesn't make any sense...as small as it is $2.00 is $2.00...then my analytical mind said to "me go back and read the reimbursement policy for this shop"...you're right !!!

..............................................................................
[During your audit, you will need to make 2 purchases; a fuel purchase and in-store purchase. You will receive a maximum reimbursement of $1 for each purchase ($2 in total].
..............................................................................


I still think the whole concept is stupid...which is why I won't be doing any more of these...I don't mind the Audit types though...that require more pics and an inside purchase...for the right fee.

Would I lie to you?

LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Would I lie to you?


LMAO...Of course you would...just kidding...

I have high regards for your comments on this forum...sounds like you've been around the block far longer than me and most other who post here...

Yeah, but I only lie to people who live close enough to be competition!

Thank you for the kind words, but there are others who's experience and expertise I can only strive for. I just happen to be more verbose and enjoy spouting my opinion, LOL!

LisaSTL...

I forgot to mention your explanation made more since than the Auditor's did..."The Client wouldn't accept the report withou 2 receipts"...

I noticed that. My impression is they prefer 2 receipts, but will accept 1 as long as it includes 2 purchases. The reality is what you said before, a gas receipt paid for inside would certainly prove both points.