MDavisnowell Wrote:
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> I have recurrent issues with reports on stations
> requiring a photograph of every pump. For me,
> these are Exxon Mobils. You may have a different
> chain with the same requirement.
>
> Many times part or all of the pumps will not be
> clearly numbered on the face of the pump. This
> includes pumps with no numbers, numbers on the
> sides (don't you hate those), and numbers so small
> or faded they cannot be checked on the camera
> display of a full pump picture. Then there is the
> problem of blocked pumps.
>
> My normal procedure is to start at one end of the
> pumps and photograph each pump in order, getting a
> full face picture of the pump top to bottom.
> Problems arise here, wouldn't you know. These
> stations have customers, and they park in front of
> the pumps, sometimes to buy gas. Or not. Then
> they shop, or eat lunch, or visit. Another thing
> that will happen is that the help will park in the
> shade at a pump. I've seen this when there's not
> a customer on site. Lots of luck trying to wait
> out that situation. Don't these people care that
> I'm on a schedule? No. This is the kind of
> customer/employee behavior that can possibly get
> you out of order on the pumps, and make you nuts
> when the pumps aren't clearly numbered.
>
> After an unbelievable debacle at a couple of
> stations last week (finally got it fixed), I have
> made myself a set of flip card numbers inside
> plastic sleeves held together with a clip ring.
> In the future, at each pump without a LARGE clear
> number, I'll photograph the appropriate number
> before I start on the pump.
>
> So, this is my plan, and I counting on all of you
> out there in Forumland to make suggestions on how
> to do this better.
>
> I start at one end of the pumps, and I photograph
> every pump, no matter whether I can get a full
> face shot or not.
>
> If someone is parked at the pump, I get what I can
> of the full pump from a side shot. Then I move in
> on the pump and get closeups of the top, center,
> and skirt section of the pump. Only then do I
> move to the next pump. If someone is actually
> pumping and in the picture area, I wait until they
> finish pumping and get out of the picture.
> Sometimes they really leave. WooHoo! I have
> learned to never leave the pump without something
> in the camera.
>
> After I have photographed all the pumps, I go back
> on the occupied pumps and photograph any that have
> opened up. If the pump is still occupied, I take
> another picture of the vehicle at the pump, which
> will show a later time shot than the first set and
> will prove I tried again.
>
> I'm not saying that it's OK to submit less than a
> full face top to bottom picture of a pump, but I
> have done it sometimes and had it accepted. I
> upload extra pics of that pump in the extra pics
> section at the end of the report. To quote the
> usual unidentified suspect, you didn't hear it
> from me and I never said it would work for you.
I have a question on these. I was talking to a fellow shopper who is very experienced in these Exxon shops. Recently has began running into the problem of the editors red lining the shops because there is no pump number. He has explained to them there is no pump number, but they come back saying there is no pump number and red line the jobs. What do you in these cases? Looking for advice. I do alot of Exxons too so looking for some answers here.
How in the world do you show a pump number when there is none?
Thanks in advance.