Bill, I do a lot of gas stations but I'm not familiar with one that pays $25 with a $2.00 reimbursement so I can't address that one in particular. I would expect that report to be detailed, and I would expect it requires pictures. The gas station shops can be overwhelming during the first one or two shops of any particular brand. Each brand will have a separate set of instructions and a steep learning curve.

I don't think gas station shops are too difficult for a beginner, but since you've never done one I'm going to say you will probably have to readjust how you think about a shop. Give yourself plenty (as in lots) of lead time to prepare for the shop, and make up a cheat sheet that hits all points required. I suggest going to some station you are not shopping and making a dry run. Eventually any particular gas station will get easier. If you're not getting faster and having a better understanding of what you're doing after a few shops, you aren't doing it right.

Is this listed as a "mystery shop and revealed audit" or just a "mystery shop" (there are a few that are pure audits, but they're dead easy)?

I think I've done this shop, I vaguely remember one where the gas was $1 and $1 inside. (Most are $5 or 2 gallons of gas)

They're not hard, but if it's the pure mystery shop there is a lot to remember. The audits are actually easier the first time, because you're buying gas like a normal person, then you go in and check the restroom like a normal person. Then you buy a soda or candy bar at the counter like a normal person. Get receipts from both the pump and the cashier (not like a normal person; you'll usually have to ask for it in the store). Then you go out and drive around the corner of the building to make your notes on the survey form. At that point you'll see if you forgot something in the mystery shop part. If you forgot the inside receipt, you go back in and ask them to reprint it. Then you give them the letter and tell them you're doing the audit.

During the audit, you can double check anything you forgot to notice during the mystery shop part of the job.

For the audit, you have a step by step list of things to look at, things to take pictures of, questions to ask. So that part is easy and you're not trying to sneak around and hope they don't notice you noticing that there was spilled water all over the floor somewhere.


The gas station pure mystery shops aren't hard, but they go pretty quick and there's a lot to remember. If you've done a few audits first, your eyes will be used to looking at the window washing supplies, checking for credit card applications, looking to see if trash cans are clean and not full, note if the cashier is in uniform, remember the name and description, etc. So use an audit to learn the terminology and figure out where things are. It will make it easier to automatically check for them when you won't be able to double check while reading the instructions on your clipboard.

I blew my first-ever gas station shop/audit because I forgot to get the receipt from the cashier and didn't realize it until I went home and I didn't have it to upload. Luckily they let me re-do the shop the next day. Since then I have had to have several reprinted. I'm just too busy trying to memorize his description and name to think about asking for the receipt. So I go back in and say, "I forgot to get my receipt and my boss won't reimburse without receipts any more. Can you reprint it?" and they have always been able to reprint it. But I'm getting better. Although sometimes I have to go back in and ask a question to get another look at the cashier, though, because it seems I just can't hold that many facts in short-term memory any more and if I ask for the receipt, I forget what color his shirt was.

There are 2 gas stations audits that I do. One is revealed and the other is just buying gas and purchasing something inside. The revealed audits were a pain to me at first because there was so much paperwork. Once I did a couple they became easier because all of the paperwork may not pertain to the station that you are auditing. I have NEVER seen racing fuel but there are questions pertaining to that type of fuel. The gas stations with few pumps are the easiest for me to do and if they do not have a store even better. A last note I would not do a gas station audit for less than $25 because they can be a real PIA and time waster if the station is not in compliance and there are a lot of extra pictures to take - $7.00 is not enough.

If they are the same $25/2 shops I do, there are a lot of photos but if you develop a system that works for you, the report in the end is pretty easy. I put a check mark for each photo I take of each item so when I do the report I know that there are 4 photos of this, 2 photos of that--I print off the required photo sheet so I have all the info. I also take a photo of any "special" questions--one likes to know which brand of oil they sell, so I take a photo of that so it's easier to remember. I also take the photos on my nice digital camera so they are easier to see if they are clear while taking them and easier to upload. I've done several of these shops one at a time, but I'm doing my first "route" of them so I will see how it goes reporting several in a day.

Be careful regarding whether the photos should be time stamped or not (some shops require it; some don't want it). Put new batteries in, check the date and time, check the resolution. In the event the date and time should be on the pictures but isn't, there is free software on the internet that you can use to put it on there after the fact. I use Time to Photo.

My suggestion is to try one and see how it goes. It may seem overbearing at first but they will get easier and quicker as you do more. Choose one close to home so if you have to go back for a correction (missed pump, bad picture etc) you won't waste a lot of travel time. The first time you do 2, 3 or more in the same day it will be important that you have a clear beginning and end photos for each visit. A suggestion is to take a picture of the visit ID sheet as the beginninng and the receipt(s) as the end photo. Every thing in the middle belongs to that shop.

As mdavis suggested, create a cheat sheet, that is, a list of all the photos required and required info for the visit.

Good luck.

All of the suggestions are great. Here is mine:

After you have taken all of the required photos and have checked them off on your cheatsheet, download them onto your laptop whilst still at the gas station.

I do this for a variety of reasons - I can make certain each photo is correct and legible is the most obvious. There are other reasons too and you shall understand them as you become more proficient.

That is a GREAT idea!!! I've only one one in a day but for my route coming up--it will certainly help not mixing up the photos!! Thanks!


Tatjana Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All of the suggestions are great. Here is mine:
>
> After you have taken all of the required photos
> and have checked them off on your cheatsheet,
> download them onto your laptop whilst still at the
> gas station.
>
> I do this for a variety of reasons - I can make
> certain each photo is correct and legible is the
> most obvious. There are other reasons too and you
> shall understand them as you become more
> proficient.

I take a blank shot between shops so I don't get the photo's confused. I really like the idea of taking a pik of the CPI before the shop or downloading to computer once the piks are taken. I usually do not bring my laptop but may try this next time.

I take a shot of my car's clock at the beginning and end of each series of pictures.

Or, you could photograph the receipts at the end of each series. Kill two birds with one stone.

All good info for a beginner. Try one, go slow and take your time. When you think it's done check your paperwork at least one more time. Much easier to correct while you are still at the location. It's a learning experience. Before you know it, you will look back and smile.

Tatjana, I've been thinking about downloading pics to a laptop in the car. Where do you put the laptop? My front passenger seat is full. Do you think it will set securely in the back seat? Also I've got some reservations about taking a laptop in the car in the Texas heat. It gets unbearable in the car while I'm doing a station and I wonder if that will fry up the laptop sooner. Any ideas on this, anyone.

I don't know that I would take my laptop if it was going to be extremely hot. I was planning on just taking photos of the ground or something to separate the shops but I like the idea of taking photos of my car clock and/or the receipt too. Now I think I might leave my laptop at home . The viewfinder on my digital camera is good enough to see if the photo quality is good--plus it has a built in stabilizer so it's hard to take a bad shot

Try one for now. See how you like it.

People have mentioned some awesome ideas.

I have not done any revealed audits that include gas purchase but of the ones I do, I can offer what I do. I never spend more than 10 minutes at a location (unless it's busy) because I make sure to prep way before. I've been doing them long enough now that the gas attendants recognize me which helps a great deal as well. I use a tablet and smartphone for my audits. Originally I did this to save money on ink/paper but now it's routine for everything. I've saved so much money doing so. There is one MSC and client that wishes for paper copies and I respect that. I make "events" for the assignments in my Google Calendar, paste all the survey questions, required info, etc. Sometimes I make a PDF document with all the questions - putting at the top the most important things to remember e.g. **GET A RECEIPT** The tablet captures their signatures and takes a decent photo too so I pretty much have everything I need.

I actually did a completely brand new gas shop (not revealed) a few days ago. I was able to self-assign back in June so I had an idea of what MSC/client wanted e.g. Pump number used. After submitting the report, it wasn't as hard as it appeared at first. I have several more to do and it will be a breeze. Again, make note of the questions or observations you think you are going to forget. I always do a look through before I even get out of the car or to the location itself.

I wish I could be more helpful.. biggest tips to take out of my post is to try one shop first and to prepare ahead of time.

About the laptop, put it under your seat.. never leave valuables out in the open. While I think the computer is an amazing idea, that wouldn't work for me. If it works for y'all, excellent! Just be street smart. Doesn't matter what kind of hood you're from.

Perhaps you could carry it in a backpack.

Got my route done. The audits are pretty easy, mostly just photos, but with a good camera, that's easy. Even if every question had a no-it still wouldn't take very long, but I only had a few no's today . The photo upload went well. Taking photos of the receipt to separate the shops worked great--when I uploaded them, I just looked for the new receipt and highlighted the rest until the next receipt. They mainly uploaded in semi-order for a change too . Took me 2 hours to do the 5 reports, and that is with having to sign in about 20 times for the first two reports and not being able to get on the site, then clearing my cookies so I could do the last 3.

I'm glad you have that attitude. Saves more shops for me. I have never seen a gas station shop being offered for $25 in my area unless it was out in the boonies and at the end of a reporting period.

I'm thinking that one way to keep the pictures separated without downloading each station to a computer would be to carry a case of cards and just use a different card for each station. This seems like a hassle until you consider what I got into last night. I did eight stations and toward the end my camera took a pretty hard lick. Guess what? Yeah, all jumbled up. Had to work each pic by its time stamp to be sure I had it associated with the right station. Oh my, wish I had shot each one on a separate card. Or maybe only two stations to a card. That idea is looking better and better.

I take a photo of my car's clock and then my contract (MF) and then the car's clock again at the end. That is shop one done.
Then I do the same with the other ones.

That works great for me, too, except when it doesn't. Since I've been doing this, I've had multiple times that my pictures were jumbled in the download to my computer. It was always on a day I'd given the camera a pretty good hit one way or the other. Once I dropped it. That was an interesting reporting night.

LOL..I guess so, Mary. You poor thing you!

Re: laptops in your car: I have taken mine in the winter as well as summer. Most of the time, the vehicle I use does not have AC - it can get rather warm!

Here is how I perform the shop: I keep my laptop on the front passenger seat. After taking all the photos and doing all the required audits, I plug in my camera to the laptop. Sitting in the driver's seat, I fill out my cheatsheet with all the various findings as I await the computer to start up. Note: I have a different cheatsheet for the various gas stations as each has different requirements. I then download my camera's photos for the shop into the computer to a file for that particular station. Then, I review each photo for clarity, etc as I re-name each one. It takes a little time, but it does help the reporting process go smoother and swifter upon arrival at my designated online connection. Besides, I can always re-take a poor photo. After ensuring all photos are correct, i turn the computer off. I do not leave it on!

With regard to heat and computers: it has been my observation that it is not so much the outside temperature affecting the computer as much as it is the computer's ability to stay cool whilst in operation. Therefore, it is important (IMO) to only run the computer for the short periods of time. Besides, it allows the battery to stay charged.

Nonetheless, I always have with me on the floor of the passenger side a thing referred to as a 'Power Inverter'. I keep it plugged into my car's cigarette lighter/power source. For saving its battery charge, my laptop is plugged into it. Typically, when I am ready to start my computer, I start my car, turn on the power inverter and then the computer. When finished, I turn off the computer and then the power inverter. It is important to do the startups and turn offs in this sequence. As was explained to me, some cars have power outlets that are always live. That means that if you were to keep your power inverter and computer on whilst your car's engine is off, you might potentally dis-charge the car battery to a point where it would not start.

Lastly, when I am only doing one or two stations, I may not bring my laptop. That is why it is important to have your cheatsheet. On my cheatsheet, I have a blank line after each pump number. When I review my photos on my camera's viewer, I check off on the cheatsheet's pump blank spot when I have ascertained the photo has been taken.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/17/2014 02:05PM by Tatjana.

Great suggestions and user friendly . I do quite a few gas shops. I have never ever seen one that offered more than 6.00 pay 5.00 gas and 1.00 purchase however. The only exception to that rule was I did three or four spying shops from a company spying on another company. They paid for two gallons of gas and 2.00 inside purchase.
I don't own a lap top so that's out. I do have one question though, how do you re-size your photos? I spend more time uploading re-sizing and renaming pictures than I do on the reports.
I have a good camera and download with the window function on my computer. I then must proceed to re-size every picture to format size requested by company 640 x 480. Do you have a program you use that helps with this?
I am so pleased I found this forum a few months back. I have learned a number of things from you most excellent shoppers. I look forward one day to being able to perhaps return the favor and one day help someone else as much as I have been helped.
I am in the sticks out in Texas so most shops are at a minimum 20 miles from me I shop with in a 50 mile radius. That makes my return round trip no more than 100 miles. I hardly ever do a lone shop it is always multiples.

Hmmm..hi

I am in the sticks too in Texas. Are you the one stealing my shops?

J/K

Google Irfanview. I use it to resize all my pictures. It's called batch resizing and takes a few seconds to do them all. It's a great program and free.

So? Now that I've given you great advice, don't steal my shops, okay? hahahah

Are you the one stealing my shops? winking smiley LOL!
you take these no pay long haul shops too!!!LOL!

Wow thanks for the heads up on the program I shall use it. It has been the most annoying thing in my gas shops.
simply because it takes so many pictures.
I am having a hard time with those late night darkness hour shops. I think bedtime at ten pm. Soooo there for, late evening should be 7 or 8 pm but the sun is still out around here. So I think trying to make the extra 5.00 per shop is futile on my part.Ha ha ha

Thanks for the reply. Happy shopping, don't let the mosquitoes carry you away.

Can't you change the size on your camera settings to avoid resizing later?

All my photos are taken at 1040 x ? whatever it is. It's the next higher one from 640 x 480. My reports and photos have always been accepted and the photos of receipts are much clearer than at 640 x 480. I started doing this years ago when I had feedback that my receipt could not be read. I had a hard time getting all the small print to show clearly at 640 x 480. It is much faster for me this way. I know most companies say all photos must be 640 x 480 but I'm just saying what I do and it works for me with CorRi, Maritz, Market Force and all other companies and most all require photos of something nowdays. I have never had a company question my photos since and they are not too large this way.

MsJudi, have you tried the macro setting for receipts? Techman suggested it a while back and since them my receipts come out clear as a bell on the first try and at any resolution.