This thread is about filling stations, not MSPs. It is about, but not limited to, Amoco, ARCO, BP, Chevron, Citgo, Conoco, Cumberland Farms, Exxon, Flying J, Gas City, Ltd., Getty, Gulf, Hess, Kroger, Love's, Lukoil, Marathon Oil, Mobil, Murphy USA, Phillips 66, Pilot, QuickChek, QuikTrip, RaceTrac/Raceway, Royal Farms, Shell, 7-Eleven, 76, Sheetz, Sinclair, Speedway, Sunoco, Texaco, Travelcenters of America, Valera, and Wawa. If I've left anyone out, it's about them, too. Since we are talking about the filling stations, we should not name the MSPs in this thread.

Please post your questions, ideas, routines, and tips. Let's help each other.

Keep a spare set of batteries in your digital camera bag.

If you can capture numerous issues in one photo, submit that photo for every relevant question in your report. It was an obvious timesaver for me, but I'm sure many shoppers take and submit separate photos for each infraction. That just isn't necessary.

Each shop should take no more than 20-30 minutes, once you've done a few and are familiar with the requirements. If you're taking longer than that, then you're probably being too thorough. Time is money, obviously.

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.

You put more effort into it than I would have. I've done ExxonMobil audits at stations that didn't have numbers, and the shop was accepted no problems. I just capture a small snippet of background with each pump, or take each pump at a slightly different angle (slightly left vs slightly right vs straight on). So long as the editor can tell that you captured photos of X distinct pumps, I assume that covers their requirements, but YMMV.

If it comes to taking pictures of occupied pumps, I take a photo as tightly as possible from both the left and right angles. Generally between the two photos, it gets them what they want.

The biggest time saver that I've found may not apply to everyone, as I bring my DSLR and a mid-range zoom lens with me if I'm taking more than 5 pictures. But, if you can, learn to walk and shoot and learn how to take more than 1 photo from the same position.

For instance, on the BP audits, I can generally capture the MID, the "overall" shot, the 45 degree pump island shot and the canopy shot from one standing position by simply turning or adjusting the zoom level. Then, on my walk back, I can usually get the required pump photo, while using the camera's zoom to check out other pumps for violations.

Another one that is audited in the midwest is Cenex. It was a new MSC to me, so it took me an hour (it didn't help it was a truckstop, so it was huge...lol). Normally I do Conoco in about 20-25 minutes as those are very easy and straightforward.

racetrac is by far the easiest, no pictures and no receipt required! And the pay is the same as the others!

I'm too scared to do these after hearing about franchise owners yelling at auditors and chasing them off with guns! I have also read that some are nice and just chat with you, but I am not lucky that way!

These are a lot of effort for the money if you actually do a good job.

I swore off them but still do them if the price is right.

I just did a mobil for $28 and a BP for $20 (plus $6 of gas)

If you are doing these for $10 you are either doing a poor/quick job plus if you add in travelling time, the uploading of all the pictures, to me its not worth the effort.

To me at $20 it starts to become worthwhile.

Personally I want to actually do a good job, not skim through.

I agree these shops are not a good deal at $10.00, with exceptions. Sometimes I'll add these $10 stations into a large route that has bonused stations. If there's no extra driving involved and the location is not huge (20 pumps or two canopies) it may work for me.

For all of my stations I do a quick cheat sheet to mark off my required pictures. It seems if I don't have my cheat sheetI always forget one of those required pics, usually the inside counter or safety vest.

I don't walk in with a "your busted" attitude either. I just tell them I am there to do an audit on behalf of the client, I will walk around take some pictures and then I will be out of your hair. Many, many times I get an appreciated response vs. a "OH NO!"

I do ms and ms with reveal at Chevron, bp and Texaco. They are easier than audits - even the reveals. So far, no one was mad at me and they smiled when I asked if I can take their picture.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2012 02:11AM by cubbiecat.

Pretty much 100% agree with Secretagentmom

Im always super nice, give the impression we are working together.
Always thank them for their help before I leave.

Taking pictures of the pumps while busy. I just write 1-10 and take pictures of any free pumps marking them off until I get them all.
Making your own required photos/things cheat sheet is a must in my opinion.




SecretAgentMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> For all of my stations I do a quick cheat sheet to
> mark off my required pictures. It seems if I don't
> have my cheat sheetI always forget one of those
> required pics, usually the inside counter or
> safety vest.
>
> I don't walk in with a "your busted" attitude
> either. I just tell them I am there to do an audit
> on behalf of the client, I will walk around take
> some pictures and then I will be out of your hair.
> Many, many times I get an appreciated response vs.
> a "OH NO!"

My problem is the camera that has the date stamp also has a movie button next to the shutter. I usually average one movie pump per station and am really mad if I don't notice the mistake till I get home.
I really need to invest in date software so I can use my good camera for these jobs.

I use a checklist also and do the pumps as quickly as I can. I don't wait for someone to finish pumping. I move onto the next pump and get it as soon as its free.

Aside- just did my first gas shops for Ritter. 5 required pics and an in store purchase. Whoo hoo was that a quick one.

This is a tip for Newbies who don't work the stations yet. Some of the stations can be booked in advance, so you can set up a route in an area. The stations themselves may not pay big bucks, but now you have a base to which you can add bonused shops and anything else you can find along the way. I am nearly always able to add more shops to these routes. Just a couple more shops added on to a few routes throughout the month will make a lot of difference in income.

I had one MSC wanted me to to do a $10 gas station today, when I politely suggested that $10 was not enough for the travel plus work involved plus filling out the report she suggested $10 was a good price and some people were doing them for $4!

And to paraphrase my dear old mom, if all those shoppers were jumping off a bridge would you? You place the value on your time and if others severely undervalue themselves it's not your problem.

To drive somewhere and do a single $10 shop of any kind is not a good deal for the shopper. What works is stacking up several for a good day's pay. I had a call this week offering two stations at $10 each, and I offered to do them on my next route to that area, which is later in the month. They wanted them right now and I couldn't do that, but hey, I might have been going that way and it would have added $20 to the day. I never discourage them from calling me because we might be able to work something out, you never know. If I'm driving by anyway, it's not a big deal to stop and take a few pictures, but I'm not going to jump off bridges either, Lisa. I understand exactly what you're saying. It has to work for the shopper.

But my reference was to shoppers taking them at $4 not $10. It also didn't sound like dwater had a route planned where they could fit nicely, totally different animal. I've found that as soon as I set a minimum and say I will not take a job for less something always comes up to make that small shop end up being worthwhile. Maybe it's in the same mall and I don't have to move my car, maybe it takes 10 minutes on site with a report I could do in my sleep. But even on the way it is hard to justify $4 for something that could end up taking an hour. Sometimes we just have to draw a line in the sand.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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.

And that is while your have some gas jockey with a towel on his head yelling and screaming to get out of his gas station!

That's more than a bit racist.

I've really had very good luck dealing with people in the stations. I approach carefully and I stand aside until the customer line is down. I introduce myself and say something along the lines of "My name is Mary and I represent ____________. We do the audits for your station and if it's OK with you, I'd like to do an audit today and take some pictures. If you need to call someone to get this authorized, I'll wait." This let's them understand they aren't being pressured and they have options. If someone declines an audit, it's not a big deal for me. I do what I can and take overall shots off premises. The MSC will pay me for going there and making an effort.

I think its important to break down your hourly wage with a spreadsheet.

Its also important to break down the job itself and reinbursements.

As an example if you had a $10, 24 pumps station that was a dump and probably had a ton of negatives plus only $1 in "gas back"

versus a brand new gas station with 6 pumps and $6 "gas back" which is unlikely to have many problems.

The problem I have is by taking these underpaid jobs I feel I am hurting myself as there are not too many MS where I live.

I personally value my time at a certain rate.

I also get offered a lot of one off merchadising jobs. I have a flat fee for one off jobs even in my home town.
I explain politely that that is my min fee for the job.

I would say 70% of the time they accept it, 25% of the time they come back to me after they realize they can't get anyone to do it, 5% of the time I scare them off.

I have never cancelled a job, never flaked on a job. not once.

I always try my best to do a great job. I pride myself on giving 100%

I feel that is worth something.




MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To drive somewhere and do a single $10 shop of any
> kind is not a good deal for the shopper. What
> works is stacking up several for a good day's pay.
> I had a call this week offering two stations at
> $10 each, and I offered to do them on my next
> route to that area, which is later in the month.
> They wanted them right now and I couldn't do that,
> but hey, I might have been going that way and it
> would have added $20 to the day. I never
> discourage them from calling me because we might
> be able to work something out, you never know. If
> I'm driving by anyway, it's not a big deal to stop
> and take a few pictures, but I'm not going to jump
> off bridges either, Lisa. I understand exactly
> what you're saying. It has to work for the
> shopper.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's more than a bit racist.

No that is reality. At least in New Jersey. ALL of the pumps are NOT self-service and Most of the gas jockeys are of the persuasion mentioned. Many get a bit upset when they see a shopper taking pictures.

Referring to a turban as a towel is wrong. Making a blanket statement is wrong. I've done more than my share of gas station audits and have actually been treated worse by people of other "persuasions." BTW, a turban is worn by more than one religion and ethnicity.

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 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.

I've never had an issue with pumps of no number. Always have been accepted. They usually look at a previous audit to verify that it is the correct pump for that number. If no number is on the pump, are they marking decal missing and putting in the comment, pump not numbered?

I haven't run into having my reports rejected for not having a pump number. Yet, that is. I submitted a couple of stations recently that had one pump that was unnumbered, and those reports went through. But, it was just one pump so it was pretty obvious which pump it was in the string of pumps since all the others were numbered.

At one time, I got on chat with the company and asked if I could hang my own number on an unnumbered pump and photograph it. There was no definitive answer that day, but here's what they told me: "The client wants a picture of the pump as it is so we don't think you can add anything to it." Based on that, I've submitted some reports that had one pump or more pumps unnumbered. It's very common for the diesel pumps and/or the diesel slaves to not have numbers showing. So far, they haven't been kicked back.

I want to be clear that in my report I label each pump picture with a pump number as I think it should be numbered, whether it is showing a number or not. We are all aware that some of the stations number on the canopy columns, which usually won't show in the pump picture, and some don't bother to number at all.


It sounds like from your post that at least part of the editors have started insisting on a pump number in the picture. Now if Exxon/Mobil will insist on a pump number on the pump at the staton we'll all be hunkydory, won't we?

I don't know what we should do, but here's what I'm going to do, starting now. I have a set of bold pump numbers in plastic holders clipped together on a ring which I've been using to shoot numbers before I shoot pumps at an unnumbered station. I can lay the ring of numbers on top of the pump and let the correct number hang down. I will then take shots of the pump with MY number, and then take shots of the pump without a number. I will submit it without a number and with a number. There are two slots for every pump, plus some extra slots at the bottom. Photographing it both ways is all I can do.

I'll handle it this way until I get clarification or other instructions from Corporate Research.

Ideas? Feedback? Suggestions?

I wouldnt do the extra work. I just keep on submitting and mark down the pump number was missing. You aren't getting extra for doing the extra, and since their msc is generally not the personable type, I wouldn't bother.

I try to be in and out of every station as fast as possible. I recently did a route overnight, and I was out of each station in well under 10 minutes since no one was around. I could snap everything I needed right in order and get out.

I will say I also just tell them I'm here to do your monthly(or quarterly) audit and take pictures as needed of the station. Most know already and a couple will turn to someone else and ask and they will say ok. One guy told me to take the pictures but he wasn't going to sign(that happened this week).

I've done Exxons, Shells, Citgo, BP, and Chevron (when they were still in this area). I have had one complete refusal only. The way I explain it to the employees is, "I'm mainly here because the parent company wants pictures of the advertising, to see what you have up". Make sure you qualify "pictures of the advertising" with "mainly".

MDavisnowell Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't run into having my reports rejected for
> not having a pump number. Yet, that is. I
> submitted a couple of stations recently that had
> one pump that was unnumbered, and those reports
> went through. But, it was just one pump so it was
> pretty obvious which pump it was in the string of
> pumps since all the others were numbered.
>
> At one time, I got on chat with the company and
> asked if I could hang my own number on an
> unnumbered pump and photograph it. There was no
> definitive answer that day, but here's what they
> told me: "The client wants a picture of the pump
> as it is so we don't think you can add anything to
> it." Based on that, I've submitted some reports
> that had one pump or more pumps unnumbered. It's
> very common for the diesel pumps and/or the diesel
> slaves to not have numbers showing. So far, they
> haven't been kicked back.
>
> I want to be clear that in my report I label each
> pump picture with a pump number as I think it
> should be numbered, whether it is showing a number
> or not. We are all aware that some of the
> stations number on the canopy columns, which
> usually won't show in the pump picture, and some
> don't bother to number at all.
>
>
> It sounds like from your post that at least part
> of the editors have started insisting on a pump
> number in the picture. Now if Exxon/Mobil will
> insist on a pump number on the pump at the staton
> we'll all be hunkydory, won't we?
>
> I don't know what we should do, but here's what
> I'm going to do, starting now. I have a set of
> bold pump numbers in plastic holders clipped
> together on a ring which I've been using to shoot
> numbers before I shoot pumps at an unnumbered
> station. I can lay the ring of numbers on top of
> the pump and let the correct number hang down. I
> will then take shots of the pump with MY number,
> and then take shots of the pump without a number.
> I will submit it without a number and with a
> number. There are two slots for every pump, plus
> some extra slots at the bottom. Photographing it
> both ways is all I can do.
>
> I'll handle it this way until I get clarification
> or other instructions from Corporate Research.
>
> Ideas? Feedback? Suggestions?

Mary, I like your flip chart number idea. I'm going to make a set with my Cricket and then laminate them. I can put one number on each side so the stack wouldn't be too large.

I'm thinking then I could set it like a table tent next to the pump to be sure of the right picture identifying the right pump. I wouldn't be obscuring any part of the pump or its appearance, and it would simply be a way to make sure my uploads are correct. I'll be interested to see what CoRI tells you.