The 2 gallons of gas required C-store shop question...

I have not done the "you must buy 2 gallons of gas shop" but this MSC says "2 gallons of gas and a purchase required--reimbursement is $5.00...Okay, if gas is $2.40 a gallon, lets say, and you need 2 gallons that leaves you 20 cents to buy a product. What am I missing here?

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Not missing a thing. When gas went down to $1.75 briefly, it was sweet - I got $4 of gas and then spent $1.07 in the store. Now that gas prices have gone up, you are spending the $5 on gas ..... and going in the hole for the store purchase.

you need gas for your car anyway..its not like they are making you buy something you won't use..its more like a coupon buy a half gallon, get 1.5 gallons free.

I love these shops, I just budget it so that the in store purchase comes out of my shop fee. So instead of getting $5 reimbursement and $9 as a fee, I just assume I will get about $7 reimbursement, after gas and a 20 oz mountain dew, and a $7 fee. Its still a good deal for me, as there are 4 different gas stations that are about a mile from my house, and I need the gas anyway, and I will buy the mountain dew at some point.

Thanks! I wondered how you guys worked this out

I do those shops as well. But, there's a full revealed audit after. I wait until the fees get higher before I do them.

There are actually two different shops. One is a full revealed audit. The other is simply a mystery shop where you purchase two gallons of gas and an item inside the store and you do not identify yourself to the attendant. I think they both pay the same. The audits can only be done during daylight hours. The regular mystery shops can be done 7AM-8PM. Both require photos.

I have done shops where it is a mystery shop and revealed audit. I have to buy at least two gallons of gas and then I have to go inside the store and buy some merchandise and then I have to go back and reveal myself and do a full audit with pictures.These shops are for Market Force

Yea, there are two types of shop for the same client and the same MSC...one is revealed and one isn't....same base pay. I love the mystery ones because they are quick and easy!!

I have not seen mystery shops anymore in my area. I used to like doing them. They were fast and easy.

They just switched all the easy mystery shops into shops and audits. Same price. One took 10 minutes. The new one can take up to one hour. They are actually being picked up. I don't get it. I could do 4 in an hour. Now I just won't do them.

Around here they alternate mystery shops and audits, month to month. The audits themselves are easier than for another MSP, but a good bonus on a mystery shop trumps all.

Different in NV...Maritz also does gas shops, two different stations...a yellow and a red, white and blue (some might be the "star" station). I have been doing the yellow lately, and it is mystery and reveal. Required UP to 2 gallons of gas and a purchase of up to $2. If the shop is done dusk to dawn, there is a $7.50 bonus. Here, because my "employer" does the scheduling, they add a few dollars, so fee is $15 and expenses is $10. I did 2 Thursday, husband and dog came (he drove) cuz the stations were about 60 miles each way, and got $15 gas bonus for each (employer offered $20 and I asked for 30...I'm learning, guys). But, because we did them LATE...10 ish, I was up ALL nite cuz I could not stay focused and had another to write up from earlier...then ran out for a PO shop. Don't know how you guys do routes!!! I was up for a day and a half. S2

@Jay C wrote:

There are actually two different shops. One is a full revealed audit. The other is simply a mystery shop where you purchase two gallons of gas and an item inside the store and you do not identify yourself to the attendant. I think they both pay the same. The audits can only be done during daylight hours. The regular mystery shops can be done 7AM-8PM. Both require photos.

This was the "mystery shop only" hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. by the BIG mystery shopping company..

No you are not missing anything. When gas goes up you are getting paid very little for this shop. I justify it with "well I needed gas anyway" but am not taking these as reveal shops. There are 2 - easy mystery shop and a reveal shop. They pay the same but the time for the reveal is not worth the money being offered. Kinda sneaky of the MSC - offering these 2 shops at the same pay.

@Canuck wrote:

I do those shops as well. But, there's a full revealed audit after. I wait until the fees get higher before I do them.

Have my first one today at a 7 multiplier. It's over 50 miles away one way. The only reason that I took it is because I have to go to a place just up the street for my normal job which will pay me to drive there and back plus reimburse me more than half the fed rate for mileage. Might just turn into a $200 day: Through three different companies spread out over the next month or two.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2015 04:32PM by 2stepps.

Yes - I only take the mystery shop. I won't take the reveals.

Would you do the gas purchase, store purchase and the reveal for $30?

More money makes a lot of things much more acceptable to me.

@AustinMom wrote:

Yes - I only take the mystery shop. I won't take the reveals.

Thanks. I was wondering about the reveals....and they are paid the same rate, the reveal and the mystery shop..hrmm.... I think the reveal should pay just a little bit more

I guess I could use the mentality: "Hey, I need some gas today and a candy bar!"

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The 2 gallons of gas required C-store shop question...

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