I would like to get some general information from those of you familiar with this shop. I have done hundreds of gas station audits, but none for this brand. The base fee for this brand is higher than the other audits for the same MSC, so I'm wondering why? Is there something additional that merits the higher pay?

Thanks all.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/28/2016 04:01PM by 89lulalula89.

I've done the Mystery Shops for this brand, but not the audits, so I'd be interested to hear the answer to this too. I can say that in my area there are a TON of these still on the board. They don't look very popular here, so I'm curious what others' experience with them is (it's all academic for me, since I do the Mystery Shops for the same brand, I can't do the audits).

Lula, I have done these audits for the past six years. The major difference in procedure on this audit compared to other brands I do is that on this audit the shopper leaves a carbon copy of the written report, which is filled out on site. The data from that report is entered online and uploaded to the MSC. Like any new brand these will be difficult at first and get easier for you the more you do.

As to the fee being slightly higher, remember there is no reimbursement for gas or inside purchase. I consider it priced in line with the fee/reimbursement totals on their other shops.

One advantage to the shop which is important to me is that I can wear the orange vest into the store from the beginning. It is not necessary to make a trip back to the car or to strip off the vest and put it back on before the next shop. I usually book a day of the same brand, or if not able to do that, I will do all of these in a row if possible so I am not in and out of the vest.

@MDavisnowell

Thanks for the great info. Does leaving the report sometimes cause the employee/manager to question some of the report answers, specifically negative answers? Or do you just leave the station before they can ask questions? And are you actually using carbon paper? I haven't even seen one of those since high school (which was quite a long time ago).

You have to go over the report with the manager on the photo audits. It is usually fine, but every so often managers get upset.

Lulu, here's how I handle the report. I fill it out completely, sign and date it, and then I approach the cashier. I say "I need to get a signature and a date and then we'll be done." The cashier usually just signs and dates the report. I tear off the bottom (yellow) copy and say something like "Thank you very much. I'll see y'all again in a few months." Usually that's the end of the interaction and I'm out of there.

If a cashier/manager wants to go over the report, I will but I don't suggest or encourage it. Really, there's not much point. I have a picture on every infraction and if they question a marked infraction I suggest we just flip through the pictures on the camera so they can take a look. I assure them I'm not the final authority and that someone up the line at the brand corporate office will go over the report and assess each question and picture.

Only once did I encounter an obstinate and unreasonable manager who insisted I change several infractions to yes answers. Eventually I said something like "I won't change the report. If you don't want to sign off I'll leave you a copy and be on my way." He signed off and I didn't hear anything from the company.

I had an issue another time I'll give you a heads up on so you don't make the same mistake. I was auditing a cesspool station in Grand Prairie when the district manager or whatever he was came by and followed me around talking up a streak, questioning me about what I thought and how they were doing and the price of eggs,etc. I told him I was just there to gather information and take pictures that went to corporate, that I didn't have a problem with his station. Wrong.

After I sent in the report he took some kind of exception because the MSC called me wanting to know what I told him. I said, well, I had the same conversation with him I have with everybody that jumps me about the audits. I told him I was there to gather information and take pictures and I didn't have any final say on how it went at corporate. But, I should have told him I had no personal opinion or comment and was not a final authority instead of telling him I had "no problem". That was the wrong terminology to use.

Hope this helps if/when you encounter one who wants to talk or skew the report. Most of them are just trying to get a leg up on how they did but you're not really supposed to comment on that. Then you have those who are actually trying to sugar you into improving their numbers, as in, for example, "Gosh, I didn't get the notice until Friday and I don't work weekends. That's not enough notice. I've been here since daylight trying to get everything ship shape etc etc etc. We're working on this/that/everything right now." Like they don't know it's coming every three months or whatever.

Just remember you're there to gather information and take pictures of the situation that presents itself and when they got their notice or how hard they work or don't work doesn't play into it. I just say something like "That's a shame, I really hate to hear that" and I go right on about my business.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2016 01:58AM by MDavisnowell.

That is all really great information. I don't love the idea of going over a report with a manager. It just gives them an opportunity to try and argue their way out of issues. Thanks for the info. I will have to put some consideration into this one before making a decision.