I have been looking at the posts on these audits and have decided this is something I would be interested in doing. I am asking for tips on how these are done. I am not asking for any MSC that has these nor am I asking for chains these are done at. I would like to know the process on how they are done. I live on the West coast so would like to know if they are done for West coast gas stations. Once again, I am not asking for the MSC name nor the name of any chain. Thank you.

In order to make any money on these you need to organize them into routes. Sometimes the MSC will offer what they consider to be routes but really are just a collection of random locations. Don't go by that. You have to add in locations that make sense to you. Then you have to negotiate. ANyone that does gas stations at base pay are doing every one of us a terrible disservice. They are absolutely not worth it and never will be worth it at base pay. Learn to negotiate if you're not comfortable with it.

That a good start?

With most of them you make a small gas purchase and then move the car and go inside to make a small store purchase too. Once that's done you go back to the vehicle, collect up your forms, intro letter and put on your divine fashion statement safety vest. Once they know you're there and why, you then begin taking photos and looking things over. I always make sure to take the photos first (and extras of each) just in case they change their minds and try to tell you to go away. I had that happen more than once but by that time I had most of my photos taken. Once you get the hang of it you can knock those off in half an hour or less. Even the ones around here that require a photo of each pump aren't that bad---but we don't have too many places that have more than 6 or 8 pumps at most.

@Cettie you are lucky with 6 to 8 pumps. I am happy if a station has only 8. 10 to 12 is the norm and i did one with 16.

Can you tell me how you negotiate ? If the MSC lists them on their website for $8 a shop, do you call them to negotiate if no one is taking them? Or do you call them as soon as you see it listed? Or do you email them?

Depends entirely on the MSC. If they're newly posted, then there's no chance you'll get more money. If they already have a small incentive, you'll have a much better chance of getting them to improve on it if you can take a bunch. If the end of the month/quarter is coming? That's when you really have the upper hand.

I have two routes that I am given quarterly because nobody else will do them. I make about $100/hr including drive time. It's stupid money and I'll bend over backwards for this MSC to get them to keep giving it to me. Thing is, I absolutely love the route. It's a gorgeous trip. I don't understand why nobody else does it.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/05/2017 04:58PM by Hoju.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

@Cettie you are lucky with 6 to 8 pumps. I am happy if a station has only 8. 10 to 12 is the norm and i did one with 16.

I was thinking the same thing! One negative about being in a very populated area! Most of mine are around 12 pumps.

Thank you all. Would a laptop computer and digital camera work the best for these? I don't trust my cell phone. Thank you.

@Clamchatter wrote:

Thank you all. Would a laptop computer and digital camera work the best for these? I don't trust my cell phone. Thank you.

I did them for a long time with those two items. You do need a printer for the Letter of Authorization to give to the attendant. You will need to know how to move the pictures from your camera to the computer to upload them to the form. Either a USB or a memory card but just make sure you are familiar with the process before you start.

Good luck, I'm sure you will do great.

" ANyone that does gas stations at base pay are doing every one of us a terrible disservice."

Hoju, I have to disagree with this 100%.

The more shoppers who take these shops at base pay, the better!!!! It means the bonus money will still be available to me and thee!

@ceasesmith wrote:

" ANyone that does gas stations at base pay are doing every one of us a terrible disservice."

Hoju, I have to disagree with this 100%.

The more shoppers who take these shops at base pay, the better!!!! It means the bonus money will still be available to me and thee!

Hmm... I wonder if that would be the case. Perhaps you're right!

@Hoju wrote:

Depends entirely on the MSC. If they're newly posted, then there's no chance you'll get more money. If they already have a small incentive, you'll have a much better chance of getting them to improve on it if you can take a bunch. If the end of the month/quarter is coming? That's when you really have the upper hand.t.

i got several bonus already & we are still in 1st week of new month & quarter.

I live in a rural area and am happy to get them at base pay. I have to drive 100 miles round trip and fill my day with shops and my nights with reports. I can't do it every day; it kills me!

so you drive 100 miles to do a few jobs for $10 each?

Yep. Can do about 8-10 jobs a day. Hard way to make some extra cash!

And you're happy to do it, huh? To each his own, I guess.

I am doing gas stations here in the four corner area. I have done them for two different companies. I have made mistakes that I can not shop some shops again. Best advice is to wait till they put incentives on the shops you want or make a route list of the shops you wish and the price you need and email it to them if possible. The one company I am shopping I have found is to linted your route to no more than 20 shops and set your price to what you have to have and do not give in on price for they will counter offer if they think they price is to high or they think they can get it cheaper. The end of the quarter is the best time to pick them up and never when they first show up for they will pay more. Carry an empty gas can for sometimes the shops will fill your tank and you have no where to put the gas. READ the directions carefully on each client for each one is different and they ask for different things and requirements ( one asked for $ 5 in gas but another one will not pay for more than 2 gallons and will hold up paying if you go over the two gallons.) Take clear pictures and at least two of everything just in case one does not come out. I have made check list of the photos required for I have forgotten that money shot that you have to have to get paid. What till the end of the report to add pictures for some times they will only ask for certain ones instead of the 20 or more they have asked for each questions in the report. Keep all pictures until after you get paid for the editor will most of the time ask for a different picture than they one you submitted or it does not answer the question they have asked, also take high quality megapixels for you might have to crop a photo to get something you forgot take the photo of then crop and resize down for filing the report. Mine I start at 1024 x 768 and reduce down to 800 x 600. I have found that doing the shop properly and reporting takes me about 1 1/2 to 2 hours for each shop. At present I have 60 shops I have to finish in 7 days and over 1700 miles to drive with 4 motel rooms for $ 35 per shop plus shop fees. .

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2017 10:58PM by bmttinman.

I need the money, just don't want someone else to take them. Sometimes I can wait depending on what's out there. Holy cow! 60 shops in 7 days? Guess I'm getting too old for that! LOL!