Route tips?
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I wish they would put that functionality into Waze.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
If you're a spreadsheet type of person, you can just open up the spreadsheet and click / copy on each location if you use your phone as your GPS.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
Since its a one day trip this don't apply but for multi-day trips try to have your last shop of each day near your hotel since if you miss that last shop you can just start earlier the next day and get it the next day. If doing multi day routes try to get multiple days you can do the shops like shops do from 6/1 to 6/4. Extensions on reports are crucial. Try to find a place you can stop on route with free wifi. Take snacks and drinks. Schedule time off after long routes usually multiple day routes to recoup. You don't want to do say a 3 day route of 22 shops then have a day right after with 4 shops at home. I just did this 3 day route and took the next 2 days off. I am a night bird so I just entered my reports late night after each day.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
I know when I do long routes I just complete the reports in my car before heading to the next shop. To have to go home after 6 hours of routing and then have to do 6 reports is to exhausting. When I get home and I know I have no work on reports is great!!!
Thank you, that's great info! I use my iPad, but I always need to make sure the pics are upright.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
@LisaSTL wrote:
Only you can decide how many. Here are some questions to ask yourself.
Are you comfortable with your on site time estimates? Are you familiar with traffic in the area? Have you accounted for longer wait times because it is a holiday Saturday? Have you gotten the okay to do reports the following day? Is a seven to eight hour day your max or do you feel fine working ten plus hours? Do any of the shops have time restrictions?
If I could shout the above advice from Lisa to you, I would. I know my routes and the average amount of time they involve. But then there are days, when car accidents happen, road construction has started or a shop that normally takes 5 minutes, lasts over an hour.
In the beginning it may be in your best interest to do less.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
My first big route trip was a success!!! I didn't hit any unexpected delays and was actually able to pick up another shop while I was on the road. Definitely going to start doing route shops at least 1-2 a month! Thanks for all your advice!
Great advice from everyone, wish I had known this stuff 1 1/2 years ago.
I will now add my 2 cents.
If you have a CC that pays back cash when you pay it off every month use it. Pay it off every month so you get the cash back.
I live in a rural/tourist area. I travel with coolers so I can take advantage of better grocery prices. I compare the prices before I leave home and make a shopping list. The grocery store is also a nice way to rejuvenate and still be productive.
Get yourself one of those coupon wallets. I think Dollar General sells them for $2. Label the tabs so they coordinate with all of your road expenses, such as meals, fuel, etc.
If you decide route shopping is your cup of tea...make sure you get a decent night's sleep. That alone makes the day better.
Oh and if you one to use blue language, let it fly as long as you're in the car all by yourself. Sometimes that's better than a restroom break.
I will now add my 2 cents.
If you have a CC that pays back cash when you pay it off every month use it. Pay it off every month so you get the cash back.
I live in a rural/tourist area. I travel with coolers so I can take advantage of better grocery prices. I compare the prices before I leave home and make a shopping list. The grocery store is also a nice way to rejuvenate and still be productive.
Get yourself one of those coupon wallets. I think Dollar General sells them for $2. Label the tabs so they coordinate with all of your road expenses, such as meals, fuel, etc.
If you decide route shopping is your cup of tea...make sure you get a decent night's sleep. That alone makes the day better.
Oh and if you one to use blue language, let it fly as long as you're in the car all by yourself. Sometimes that's better than a restroom break.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
What's blue language?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Definitions of blue language include indecent words, scatological terminology, swearing, etc. That should give you an idea.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
What's blue language?
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
@MA Smith wrote:
Get yourself one of those coupon wallets. I think Dollar General sells them for $2. Label the tabs so they coordinate with all of your road expenses, such as meals, fuel, etc.
That my dear is a spectacular idea!
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
Thanks, but I don't see how it applies to what MA wrote.
I don't use blue language very often.
I don't use blue language very often.
@myst4au wrote:
Definitions of blue language include indecent words, scatological terminology, swearing, etc. That should give you an idea.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
What's blue language?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I took it to mean using some salty language while she's driving a long route is a stess reliever for her.
@HonnyBrown wrote:
Thanks, but I don't see how it applies to what MA wrote.
Thanks three! Yeah, that's when I use blue language frequently. The freeways in MD are worse than LA.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Also, bring extra cash in case the store's credit card machines quit working. Also, when doing multiple gas stations, some will not let you use the same card more than 2 times in 24 hours in the same brand of station so it is best to have multiple cards or gift cards as well as the cash.
Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.
I wish I could find gas station shops. I am never able to find any in my area.
This was a great thread. I learned a lot, good information and zero snarkiness. Brianne1429 - you should be able to find gas stations in your area. They are heavily shopped. Google the gas station name and mystery shop and see what it lands you. Scour the forum for gas stations and there are many tips about who shops who. Try jobslinger as there are many hints about where to find shops - good luck - and thanks for the helpful thread.
@Brianneb1429 wrote:
I wish I could find gas station shops. I am never able to find any in my area.
When you do find them, you'll note that you usually have to buy some gas. If you do several on the same day, you may find you're filling up the tank on your vehicle.
I either spread them out (because I don't have access to a second vehicle) or take along a gas can so I can get "lawn mower gas" when I'm on the shop.
Yeah you need to start on an empty gas tank 
.
.
What credit card do you use? I never heard of a CC not paying you cash back or not giving you reward points if you don't pay off your bill every month.@MA Smith wrote:
If you have a CC that pays back cash when you pay it off every month use it. Pay it off every month so you get the cash back.
Man, I need to figure out what company this is.
Several MSPS do gas stations but one does at least 4 different brands. That msp is huge hint the one that does Lowes Home Improvement shops.
@Brianneb1429 wrote:
Man, I need to figure out what company this is.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Just so you know, more than one MSC does LOWES 
Just so you know no only one MSC currently shops lowes the other is a scheduling company that for some reason has a sassie page. They are scheduling for the MSC who currently does Lowes.
@sojo917 wrote:
Just so you know, more than one MSC does LOWES
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
I have seen that one but I always request them and they sit in the pending folder for 15 days until they are gone. I have only done one lowes shop for them and I seem to never ever be able to get any of the other shops I request. It is so frustrating. I did some gas station audits this weekend but they didn't reimburse for gas.
Next time you see a gas station shop you want, apply for it online and then call them. They like calls.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
They love calls. And if your willing to do it at base rate they will love to assign you. I would suggest doing one close at base rate to prove yourself before asking for incentive. I believe once you do 5 total shops you can self assign.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
Thank you, bgriffin!
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
@Sybil2 wrote:
What credit card do you use? I never heard of a CC not paying you cash back or not giving you reward points if you don't pay off your bill every month.@MA Smith wrote:
If you have a CC that pays back cash when you pay it off every month use it. Pay it off every month so you get the cash back.
There is a certain person, aka MA Smith that trashed her credit rating. So, MA Smith only gets the 1% back from PayPal. It will be better in 6 months.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
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