Luckily I got the pictures I needed. I thought I was being discreet until the owner came running out the store asking, "What are you doing?! Why are you taking pictures?! This is my property!" I was totally taken off guard. I didn't know what to say. I made up some lie about being an art student. I wasn't scared, but I'm still a little shaken up because this has never happened to me before.

I've read on the forum about this happening to other shoppers. I was able to get all the information I needed to do the shop. But, am I supposed to report this to the MSC as well? I'm thinking of keeping it to myself because I don't want the MSC to stop giving me jobs because they think I'm not discreet.

Nevertheless, I will continue to do gas shops...in another month of so when I stop shaking. LOL!

Didn't you have a letter of authorization to be there in case you did get caught? I know all of the ones I have done...discreet or open audit I have a letter to hand over in this very situation.

I wouldn't worry about not reporting it to the MSC, you should it was part of your shop and when the report gets to the owner they may make an issue of it.

No biggie...relax, be calm, it happens.

you should of had a letter of authorization

Excellent point! I just reviewed the guidelines again and this MSC did not attach an authorization letter to the instructions. The instructions did not tell me to introduce myself, nor did it say what to do if I'm questioned. The shop doesn't say if it is a revealed shop or not. It's ambiguous. I assumed it was unrevealed because it didn't say otherwise.

By the way this guy acted, he has probably been shopped before and didn't like the report that was given.

It is understandable that a property like a gas station might be more sensitive about random photography around and inside the plant because of the heightened potential for malicious behavior there. At least as compared to--I don't know--your local McDonald's or Taco Bell. Rigging pumps, rigging credit card readers, and arson are just a few crimes that might be facilitated by the largely unsupervised, high-traffic area and generally "seedy" atmosphere one is bound to find at a gas station.

Our MSCs are understanding when it comes to discretion and photography. There are people all over snapping random pictures with their cameras and iPhones. There is a difference between setting up a tripod and waiting for the sun to move into just the right position and pulling out your iPhone and extending your arm for a few photos.

Unless your report or the MSC asks whether or not anyone saw you taking photos or the interaction you sustained with the owner is one (or part of one) you need to evaluate for customer service or hospitality, then you do not need to report the occurrence.

In my experience: When shops require that we do strange things that have the potential of being noticed and called out, like taking photos in a place or situation others ordinarily wouldn't or tasting every soda on the fountain or acquiring a price quote for a high-end woman's evening dress when you're a 21 year old male, it's good to have several worked-out and practiced explanations in your back pocket.

I don't understand what happened. I do BP gas shops and am always given a letter of authorization. I dont take pictures or give it to them until after I've done the mystery shop portion, and then I go in and smile (like "you're on Candid Camera, isn't that great?" and introduce myself. And they know all about being shopped and sign the letter, and agree to a photo of themselves, smiling.

Hard to understand how your MSC sent you out without a letter.

Don't tell me the MSC, but what gas company?

I've been chased, too. I got a footrub and a vodka martini from Mr. MissyH71 after I told him my tale of danger, intrigue and suspense.

I've found that people wbo own/work at rural gas stations are WAY nicer than those in cities....

It was an E&C Mystery Shop (Sunoco).

Does Mr. MissH71 have a brother

Oh, wait a minute.. I "liked" Lisa's reply..

I'm married.. *sigh*.. guess I can't ask that question!!



LisaSTL Wrote:
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> Does Mr. MissH71 have a brother

Sunoco has a letter of authorization. If for the MSC that I have been shopping it for. It is attached to the printable checklist. It prints out on the very last page. It tells you in your instructional video that it is there. You may want to double check. I keep it folded in my back pocket when on shops for them, just in case.

r@iny, just start introducing DH as your first husband and you'll be getting those foot rubs and martinis

I'm not demanding - I'll settle for just the foot rub

Hey SecretAgentMom, I didn't do this Sunoco shop for the MSC you are thinking of. I'm aware of the letter being located at the end of the printable checklist. I did it for a different MSC. It was an E&C Mystery Shop which operates different types of gas stations. THis one just happened to be a Sunoco.

Wait, you can get foot rubs at Sunoco now?

This was likely a distributor shop. Each gas brand is shopped several times. With the biggest culprit being Shell from what I can tell. They are shopped by 4 different msc's every month. Corporate, c-store, distributor, franchise and competitor quarterly

I'm sorry you were terrorized.

You need to keep up, LOL!

spaztck Wrote:
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> Wait, you can get foot rubs at Sunoco now?