Gulf gas stations
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Around me, it appears to be the stations that the other MSC never seemed to shop. Is it possible that both MSC's are going to have Gulf?
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I just did three Gulf stations today, mystery only, from the same MSC that I've been doing them for for about a year now.
The Gulf stations I saw were clearly mystery/reveal just like the other brands this MSC does.
In some areas near me, some of the Gulf stations were associated with Cumberland Farms convenience stores. Cumberland Farms sold their convenience stores in some states to Circle K. Circle K is using a different MSC, with very different expectations. I have been doing them, and the ones I have done have required only a single photo if everything is compliant. It turns into a very easy reveal.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I called the new Gulf company to ask about the requirements for the $10 shop with reveal. I've done a few for the old company and if they were like those, I think $10 + $2 for gas is too low, but the old ones were pure mystery shop, if I recall. The schedulers knew nada, as usual. She basically read verbatim what I read on the site. When I asked how many questions and what the form was like, she finally determined that the paperwork was not yet ready and basically could not answer any questions about the shop other than it's a mystery shop with reveal and starts 7/1. I'll hold off until more info is available. If it turns out to be like the dreaded yellow/orange stations, I'll pass until bonus time.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I'm with you MsJudi. But I think it sounds like the Pegasus stations at about $5 less. I got the same response from the schedulers and will also wait. I may take one close by for early July just to test it. That will give me a better answer than we can now get from the MSC.
If the new company is the same one that has the yellow and green stations, I'm not seeing any on the board here. However 3 are on the board at the old company.
I don't see any Gulf on the yellow station company board either. Must not be available in this area. That makes me wonder if it's a contract on only part of the Gulf stations or if its a "look see let's do a few" on the part of the MSC and the client to check each other out.
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
Same MSC that has Pegasus, Seashore & Yellow Green. I think it probably is a "look see". As I said, once I start to get July filled in I will take one for my "look see".
In my area, the remaining Gulf stations are done by a completely different MSC for the past few months (not the MSC that has Pegasus, Seashore & Yellow Green). They have all of the Circle K shops, and last year they had the On The Road stores, but apparently not this year.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
it is worse than the pegasus station and I took a bunch and not gonna take anymore. Way too much needed for the money. And the submission is also too lengthy, with a couple narratives that make you go back and add more till it deems that you've said enough.. I did them for the other company, who didn't pay much as it was, but they paid more than this and was much less time consuming.
If that was the experience that Onepotatotwo had, then Gulf / Circle K must be shopped by a different MSC in their area of the country. The ones I did as recently as this month were easy, and did not have any significant narratives.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
They went pretty quickly in my area so I didn't get a chance to test a couple out. I did get a call last week from the MSC asking if I could do a couple but they were in an area where i need bonuses to go to so I declined. The scheduler confirmed that the gas purchase reimbursement was $2.00 and not 2 gallons. That's an embarrassing 2/3 of a gallon around here. It looks pretty much like a seashore shop for 2/3 the pay and I'll continue to pass.
Made worse by the fact that most Gulf stations around me are mom & pop full serve and they get visibly angry when you try to put $2 worth of gas on a credit card. I had one guy ask me if he should just throw the gas in the trash because the cc fees will be more than the money he makes on the gas.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
The Gulf shops around here in the last year or two have not had a gas purchase unless there is no convenience store or kiosk to buy something for $1 or $2.25 (with severe restrictions on what you can buy) if it is now a Circle K location as well.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
@myst4au They've since changed MSC's.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I am talking about the current MSCs. There are two of them in my area. I have done over a dozen shops (combined) for them this year. 5 were in the last month. I am providing current information for my area of the country.
@Hoju wrote:
@myst4au They've since changed MSC's.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
They just barely showed up in my area on the new MSC board. Looking at the project details it says 9 overall photos plus photos for all no answers. "This visit will consist of evaluating the Fueling Experience, Customer Service, Store Experience, and Restrooms. "
It sounds a lot like the Yellow stations. I"ll probably grab some when they get bonused, or I get bored. Whichever comes first.
It sounds a lot like the Yellow stations. I"ll probably grab some when they get bonused, or I get bored. Whichever comes first.
$10 plus $2 worth of gas... yay.
I guess I'll be sticking to my policy with this MSC of never taking an unbonused shop.
In fact, we should just change the name from "Bonused shop" to "more appropriately priced shop"
I guess I'll be sticking to my policy with this MSC of never taking an unbonused shop.
In fact, we should just change the name from "Bonused shop" to "more appropriately priced shop"
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
A ton of them just showed up for Sep. I called - still $10 + $2.00 gas and $1.00 in C-store for a total of $13. Or about 1/3 less then Pegasus, Seashore and yellow/green. I like gas stations but not at $13. I will wait until the end of the month and take them if bonused. It seems that some shopper(s) in my area are desperate enough to take them at base pay as they were scooped up in July.
I'm not desperate and I took four. Going to try them out and see what I think. Yes, I agree it's not attractive money but I do other shops that don't excite me but add to my total. I'm not hopeful I'd ever see a bonus in the area where these shops are located. If the money vs. time involved doesn't work for me then I won't take others at base rate. If they're quick and easy, that might be another story. I'm certainly not driving anywhere special for $13 but if I can add one or two to an already okay day without extra driving then I have a better day.
Speaking of cheap shops, yesterday I did two banks at $8.00 and time inside was two minutes at each bank. Report was a five minute breeze. Figure the hourly on that. These were offered by one of our MSCs who catches a lot of flak for low pay. Not always, aha!
Speaking of cheap shops, yesterday I did two banks at $8.00 and time inside was two minutes at each bank. Report was a five minute breeze. Figure the hourly on that. These were offered by one of our MSCs who catches a lot of flak for low pay. Not always, aha!
Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.
I gotta start doing those banks.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
I will start off by saying that bank shops are my favorite, but sometimes they go south. I went to one for a quick and easy teller shop on Saturday. There was one teller. One CSR. There was a customer there cashing out accounts due to a relative having died. Each one required reams of paperwork and calculations of the current value of CDs and the attention of the both the teller and the CSR. After 30 minutes, I was helped. I was out in 2 more minutes. $15
Then I went to another bank for for a quick and easy teller shop on the same Saturday. I was in and out in 3 minutes for a $12 fee.
Today I waited 40 minutes to see a CSR. Went to the next branch of the same bank, and was in and out in 10 minutes. $20 each.
I like bank shops, because in the vast majority of the cases, they are quick and easy and they mostly do what they are supposed to do.
Then there is my world-record worst CSR shop where the Financial Advisor spent almost all of the time (15 dreadful minutes) explaining that she was being demoted. I didn't have to wonder why. Sad to say, I felt good about earning $14 when I wrote up that report.
Then I went to another bank for for a quick and easy teller shop on the same Saturday. I was in and out in 3 minutes for a $12 fee.
Today I waited 40 minutes to see a CSR. Went to the next branch of the same bank, and was in and out in 10 minutes. $20 each.
I like bank shops, because in the vast majority of the cases, they are quick and easy and they mostly do what they are supposed to do.
Then there is my world-record worst CSR shop where the Financial Advisor spent almost all of the time (15 dreadful minutes) explaining that she was being demoted. I didn't have to wonder why. Sad to say, I felt good about earning $14 when I wrote up that report.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I did some last time they were offered. They were similar to the Orange/Yellow ones, but with lower starting pay. The ones I did were bonused each with $15-$17 on top of the starting fee + x.Those were worth it. I will not take them for $10. My schedule is full so I'll wait to see if they get bonused again. There is a lot involved for the $10 fee and low reimbursement. If they get taken, I won't mind.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I finally did one of these for the new MSC. It is more work than a green station but it's not bad. It's much like a Shell. What baffles me is how I'm supposed to provide a picture of something that ISN'T there. They are supposed to have a minimum of 4 of a certain POP. They had none. I just submitted a second picture of the gas pump. Not sure how I was supposed to demonstrate that. I got this one bonused to $20 total so it was worth the pay on a slow day.
I just take a wide picture of the grassy area or sidewalk between the station and the street, where a sign or banner might typically be sited. If nothing else, it shows I remembered to look for the promotion.
If I can get these bonused so that I can buy more than an embarrassing $2.00 (less than a gallon) worth of gas I would consider them. I agree, they are similar to the seashore stations, which are not my favorites. I don't like the narratives as I can not get emotionally involved with a gas station. I tried 4 or these a couple of months ago, one of which was full serve. Not happy with charging 2/3 of a gallon of gas. I also had a problem taking a picture of something that is not there and capturing the area where a banner or sign might be but isn't is a good idea.
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