Gas Station Purchases - What small items do you buy?
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I just returned home with a fountain soda, honey bun and glazed donut. When asking for a receipt "My wife has an app that scans receipts for points, you trade the points for giftcards. It is called Punchcard."
I like to get the 79-cent slushies or $1 for any size fountain drinks. And I always ask for a receipt for my Receipt Pal app (or for reimbursement purposes if I'm with my hubby on a work trip), even when I'm not MSing. I've never noticed that I get looked at funny for asking, but then again, I almost always pay with a debit/credit card so a receipt just comes with the purchase.
@sstazz wrote:
I just returned home with a fountain soda, honey bun and glazed donut. When asking for a receipt "My wife has an app that scans receipts for points, you trade the points for giftcards. It is called Punchcard."
Lol hopefully that's not what you're saying right after you ask for a receipt.
I'd only justify 'why' if they ask 'why,' which has happened to me before. The attendant was curious to why I needed a receipt for a $0.19 purchase. I tell them something similar to what you stated, except I tell them I use Receipt Hog.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
Only when I get the puzzled look. Yesterday I purchased a .25 cheese cracker.
@sstazz wrote:
I just returned home with a fountain soda, honey bun and glazed donut. When asking for a receipt "My wife has an app that scans receipts for points, you trade the points for giftcards. It is called Punchcard."
Never heard of that. Now I have something else in my back pocket besides, "I'm on per diem and this is an expense for my expense report."
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
I did the same thing this month, but I noticed it as I was heading out the door to do the shop. They must have changed something about the way the jobs were listed this month: I'm usually pretty good at recognizing the audit vs. Mystery shop with this brand. I cancelled all the audits I had signed up for, too. The MS is worth the low fee and low reimbursement, but an audit just isn't.@SoCalMama wrote:
I did two of these today, as I was at a resort far from home.
I bought A & W Rootbeer 99 cents and Fritos $1.49.
Then I got home and realized that I had selected the mystery shop & revealed audit. I'd NEVER EVER do that for that fee. My bad. I wasted some time, oh well. I cancelled everything.
Go check and be sure that you didn't select the audit.
@figs4me wrote:
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
I did the same thing this month, but I noticed it as I was heading out the door to do the shop. They must have changed something about the way the jobs were listed this month: I'm usually pretty good at recognizing the audit vs. Mystery shop with this brand. I cancelled all the audits I had signed up for, too. The MS is worth the low fee and low reimbursement, but an audit just isn't.@SoCalMama wrote:
I did two of these today, as I was at a resort far from home.
I bought A & W Rootbeer 99 cents and Fritos $1.49.
Then I got home and realized that I had selected the mystery shop & revealed audit. I'd NEVER EVER do that for that fee. My bad. I wasted some time, oh well. I cancelled everything.
Go check and be sure that you didn't select the audit.
I agree. In the past, it was easy to see that you were getting the audit. This time, you had to catch a line at the top of the page once you made the selection. I'm guessing that I am not the only person to get home and notice half-way into the report that they should have done the audit.
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
@SoCalMama wrote:
They did not mention the shops were audits on the job board, but did make short reference to a revealed audit on the acceptance page. I missed it too, and cancelled several audits after printing the paperwork, and seeing the requirements.
Someone else posted a comment about forum members/shoppers being a paranoid bunch. After reading some of these comments, I have to agree. Who cares if the clerk gives you a weird look? Maybe it is gas from all the crappy food that they eat working at the gas station or c-store. Don't overthink the situation. Just get your receipt and head off to the next job.
I agree. If the reimbursement is for an item up to a dollar, why not get more bang for your buck (pun intended) and buy something as close to a dollar as possible. Like I said in another post, the fresh fruit in my area is $0.99 and there is no tax on food.@jay225 wrote:
@litjourney wrote:
I buy the absolute cheapest item that they carry. A 35 cent pack of Wrigleys, 25 cent Now & Later, 25 cent lollipop - anything that cuts into my fee as little as possible.
you're not increasing your fee by getting something getting something 25 cents, it just goes toward reimbursement... might as well use up the dullar.
@jay225 wrote:
you're not increasing your fee by getting something getting something 25 cents, it just goes toward reimbursement... might as well use up the dullar.
It'll help stay within the $5 reimbursement limit if gas is ~2.25-2.50 / gallon...
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
There are different shops. I think the original person who mentioned a $0.25 cent purchase was probably doing the shop that reimburses up to $5 for two gallons of gas (which in California, routinely cost more than $5 just on their own), and another inside purchase. They were minimizing their out of pocket costs since they had to make a purchase, but wouldn't be reimbursed anything for it.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
There are different shops. I think the original person who mentioned a $0.25 cent purchase was probably doing the shop that reimburses up to $5 for two gallons of gas (which in California, routinely cost more than $5 just on their own), and another inside purchase. They were minimizing their out of pocket costs since they had to make a purchase, but wouldn't be reimbursed anything for it.
Exactly. If we're talking about gas station audits, which typically covers 2 gallons of gas and a $1 reimbursement purchase, then I typically get something I'm craving or some juice for the road.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I think I'm officially addicted to the Hot and Spicy peanuts.
@jay225 wrote:
2 packs of planters honey roasted peanuts. probably the best deal they have there for $1
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Hello, my name is KathyG and I'm a nut-oholic.@KathyG wrote:
I think I'm officially addicted to the Hot and Spicy peanuts.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
The Japanese style peanuts are crunchy, salty, sweet and spicy. Yum!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2016 12:10AM by figs4me.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2016 12:10AM by figs4me.
@CaliGirl925 wrote:
There are different shops. I think the original person who mentioned a $0.25 cent purchase was probably doing the shop that reimburses up to $5 for two gallons of gas (which in California, routinely cost more than $5 just on their own), and another inside purchase. They were minimizing their out of pocket costs since they had to make a purchase, but wouldn't be reimbursed anything for it.
Why would shoppers take a low-paying shop with a required purchase that is not reimbursable? Yes, I know we are all ICs and we can pick and choose which shops we want to do but don't come into the forum to whine about it.
FYI: Even though I quoted CaliGirl925's post, my post is not directed specifically at her. Her post gave a clear explanation of the particular shop.
There's a fee in addition to the reimbursement. I sometimes take that particular shop because it's a legitimately quick and easy shop and report, the reimbursement is for something useful to me, even if it's not completely reimbursed by the shop, it's still a required business expense that's deductible. Also, there are lots of locations near me that are on the way to and from the places I'm going anyway.
Those are the reasons I take the shop sometimes. Other people probably have different reasons.
Those are the reasons I take the shop sometimes. Other people probably have different reasons.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
I buy a 2 liter of soda to take to my full time job. Usually the RC or Nehi brands are 99 cents. This keeps me from buying soda in the vending machine. The cafeteria here at work is not open to us on night shift so all we have as a cafeteria is the vending machine. I look at that as a positive for the shift as it saves me money.
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
Back when I would have routes of gas stations it started taking some creativity for someone who doesn't eat candy or drink soda. I would stock up on Starbuck's Double Shots even though they were over the reimbursement. My attitude is the money back from the MSC made them either the same price or cheaper than buying them at the grocery store. I also started looking for non-food items, such as travel size tissues or travel size anything for that matter. Even at other stores with low reimbursements like Lowe's, they actually have individual packets of aspirin or Tylenol.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
On another site, the shopper said she tried to buy things for her Christmas list. I've tried to do it, but usually wind up with a soda or gum. I guess her Christmas presents weren't purchased at a gas station.
I get the soda or arizona drinks or the candy 25 cent boxes or the peanuts or the 99 cent single serve cheese stick. 1 or 1.08 if taxed.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Oh. Yes. I sometimes get the $.25 hot tamales because I like them anyway.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
It is $1 for a purchase and $5 for gas - total of $6. For the purchase I get water or peanuts (2 small tubes for $1).
Fountain drinks - refills are cheaper here. Lottery tickets (if not forbidden).....hey maybe you will win and it will be the best paying mystery shop EVER
@lbtweety47 wrote:
It is $1 for a purchase and $5 for gas - total of $6. For the purchase I get water or peanuts (2 small tubes for $1).
There are many different types. Some don't reimburse at all.
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I usually buy a pack of $0.59 sunflower seeds or peanuts. Maximize that profit margin.
Please read your Sheet, no lottery tickets, LOL. If you are desperate for something I do the can tea for they are around a dollar in most shops or take a refillable cup and do fountain drink.
99 cent bottled water. I take it home and use it in my Kuerig for good coffee.
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