Sorry, I disagree.

When I plan a route, it usually is between my house and 100 miles away. Can I grab water from the house? Sure, but it's not going to stay cold, and it may not last. When you are auditing a bunch of gas stations, in the Texas heat, cold water can be your best friend.


SAMMYSLY Wrote:
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> Seems to me if one is mystery shopping to make a
> little extra cash and they are buying bottled
> water with some of thier mystery shopping earnigs
> they are spinning their wheels and getting nowhere
> fast. Ride the ferris wheel! Water is free at home
> and don't tell me you have never seen any of the
> dozens of reports on 20/20 or 60 minutes showing
> that bottled water is not any better for you then
> most tap water. Taking the dollar or two they give
> you and spending it on gas is the best way by far
> to spend the money wisely.

robinhardage Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sorry, I disagree.
>
> When I plan a route, it usually is between myhouse and 100 miles away. Can I grab water from
the house? Sure, but it's not going to stay cold, and it may not last. When you are auditing a
bunch of gas stations, in the Texas heat, cold water can be your best friend.
>
> SAMMYSLY Wrote:
Seems to me if one is mystery shopping to make a little extra cash and they are buying bottled
water with some of thier mystery shopping earnigs they are spinning their wheels and getting
nowhere fast. Ride the ferris wheel! Water is free at home and don't tell me you have never seen any of
the dozens of reports on 20/20 or 60 minutes showing that bottled water is not any better for you
then most tap water. Taking the dollar or two they give you and spending it on gas is the best way by
far to spend the money wisely.

Totally agree with Robin. In addition, we are not talking about spending mystery shopping earnings on bottled water. We are talking about making a required reimbursable purchase. Many of these shops require a gasoline purchase (small, reimbursed) AND a purchase inside the store ($1, reimbursed). The $1 reimbursed purchase for merchandise inside the store is what we are discussing. Candy, water, gum, bottled water are great choices ..... I go with the canned tea almost every time.

I usually catch these when they are bonuses. So I use the total amount and make my purchase and buy gas. I just look at it as reimbursement. Now I don't see the old ones only, the ones that must be announced. I personally don't like those.

I have bought 2 cent double bubble...and asked for the receipt....but I am a little old lady....that can act very senile...lol

Even though the reimbursement is only $1, I usually look for energy drinks on sale and get 2 or 3, depending on the price for my husbands lunches. I've also bought pop for myself, especially on hot days.

Individual granola bars, small packs of almonds, cheese sticks, chips --- I just buy littler versions of things I might get at the store.

You can't buy a lotto ticket because you can't get a receipt for that. No receipt, no pay. I go the candy and peanut route. Works good for me.

I purchase either the water, brisk tea, chips or coffee.

cjbstar, who in the world told you no receipt for lottery tickets? I ask for a receipt whether I am shopping or not and whether I'm paying by cash, credit or debit card. Anytime you give any business money, you are entitled to a receipt.

The real problem with lottery tickets is they are sometimes not an allowed purchase.

I usually get a lighter (resell to neighbors- on the cheap) or small box of matches (gas stove) or small can of food (I am vegetarian and diabetic) and toss stuff in a box in the back floor (kids are grown and gone) and when somebody tries to borrow what I don't normally have, we check the box.

The canned food is a great idea! It won't be long until the food banks will be kicking their campaigns into high gear.

One of the MSC's have it their guidelines that you can't buy a lotto ticket because they do not generate a receipt.

The individual toilet paper is 99 cents. I don't buy them because I don't like the quality. I usually buy the grandma's cookies for 99 cents.

Lottery tickets usually cost $1, unless you get a power ball.

I do a lot of these kinda shops and the ones that I do have restrictions, no tabbaco and no lottery so I usally just buy a newspaper for fifty cents or a small bag of chips for 0.99, no sales tax here in PA on food

Gum

Hi,

I usually buy a small coffee..

Savana23

We just consider it a discount or coupon on the purchase. I go by the overall fee when deciding where to go. You can most times find something you would have purchased anyway.

I usually get the cheapest item available such as gum or Planters nuts which are usually 2 for a dollar. The problem with spending $5 as suggested above is that the items are so over priced in the convenience store. I often use the same logic with the gasoline purchase if the location's gas price is much higher than other stations in my area. I buy the minimum amount of gas rather than over pay.

I get aggravated when the station's gas prices are higher than others. But look at it this way, if they are priced a dime more five gallons will equate to a 20 cent discount per gallon and still net you a 10 cent per gallon savings. I weigh the time it will take for that extra stop and we all know, time is money!

I buy a large can of Arnold Palmer Lite (1/2 lemonade and 1/2 iced tea) for .99 cents plus tax. So refreshing on a hot and humid South Florida day and it is helping me to break my McDonald's sweet tea habit. I swear I need a 12-step program for that stuff.

I like the $1 lottery ticket that someone posted....I will have to try that and see if I can get a receipt. I wonder if any companies will let you upload a picture of the lottery ticket - can't remember if a date is on it when you purchased its.

You will need a receipt because it will have both the date and time. Be very, very careful about purchasing a lottery ticket on a shop. It is not always an allowable purchase and could then invalidate the shop.

niclinblue Wrote:
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> Are you guys only getting $1.00 reimbursement for
> the gas and $1.00 reimbursement for a purchase in
> the store? Only $1.00 for gas????


If you think about it, you're going to need to buy gas anyways. So going over is no big deal, as long as you stay below the comission.

granola bars usually around 79 cents....good late night snack...while putting in reports