He looked like the guy who used to semi-stalk my partner!

Whoa! Back up and tell the story.

As I rolled up to my first GS shop, my cell rang. Its my mortgage company. I've been attempting to make an over the phone payment and now they are returning my call. This is a call that I will not, shall not, let go to voice mail (it is the 15th after all and I know that I will not be near a WiFi hotspot to make an online payment).

While talking to the nice mortgage service person on the phone, a man walks up. I look at him and my eyes get wide. I know I cringed when I saw him. He looks like Max, the guy who used to semi-stalk my partner. But it cannot be Max. Max is old, doesn't drive and speed walks everywhere. This charmer is younger. One of Max' kids? No. Max, to my knowledge has never procreated.

He waves to me (from a safe distance, i might add).

"Do you have any change?"Geez, I'm on the phone! I shake my head no.

"Oh, okay. I'm outa gas," he explains. Well now I feel sorry for him.

After finishing my phone payment, I walk over to him. He is now just staring at this gas pump, disconsolately, while his pickup sits silent and dead.

"I can give you $5 worth of gas. Will that help?"

I swear it was like a ray of sunshine hit him in the face.
He grinned and said, "Thank you! I'm only a few miles from home and thought I could make it back!"
I guess I've done it too - driven somewhere without my cell, without any money or whatever, not thinking of what could possibly happen.

So using my card, we put a little over $5 into the old Chevy. My donation to the cause was whatever the amount that was over the $5. A few cents maybe. I try to do this (giving to a stranger) without judgement or anything. I won't give money, but will buy someone a sandwich (or gas in this instance) or whatever.

So that's my story. I was wondering how I was going to use my maximum amount of gas reimbursement per shop ($5) that day. I did have two 5 gallon cans in the trunk and I knew with the amount of shops I was doing that day, they would be filled before I could not max out my reimbursement. Is that selfish?

Disclaimer: I am a firm believer in giving without expectation of return and of doing so anonymously. So, maybe I violated the latter (although I think I am anonymous here - still I am telling this tale as the French Farmer - so maybe I am breaking my own moral code and I'm doing it for my own selfish purposes and/or I'm over thinking this - whatever).

PS: We have numerous cars at home. During months like this one when my shop load is heavy, I ensure that they are all filled with gas. Then, I give it to people, like this gent, who obviously need it.

OK, I just did it again. I'm going to shut up now. I just thought it was an interesting little story of serendipity.

very nice of you!

When "everybody wins, nobody loses" all is right with the world. Well done!

I don't think your story was self-promoting. I found it inspirational.

I occasionally put gas in a strangers tank when doing gas stations. It's just fun to see the shock on their faces. I just explain that I need a receipt but don't have room for more gas. I've had them offer to pay me for it but I tell them I'm going to be reimbursed and not to worry. I don't like carrying gas cans in my car (the smell) so when its full someone else has to get the gas.

I think that was lovely. I actually work part time in a gas station and keep a fiver on me for those situations. When someone comes in with a handful of change or 86 cents they scrounged from under the seat, I can't stand to leave them in the lurch. I am not rich but have enough for all immediate needs, so I wouldn't like myself if I didn't help my brethren.

Please people don't store gasoline in your trunk. It is UNSAFE!!! Bookwormmom good for you. I look for opportunities to do things like that too.

I don't think anyone stores gas in their trunks. However, transporting an empty gas can to the gas station and back shouldn't be a problem.

Even carrying it around (which was what I meant sorry I wasn't clear) can be dangerous especially any kind of distance.

I asked the attendant to put a small amount on one the pumps since I had already filled my gas tank but forgotten about my gas shops. I get the receipts and let someone have a nice surprise.

Thank you French Farmer

But allow me to be the curmudgeon here, how is this related to mystery shopping?

And yes an empty can of any volatile flammable liquid may, and at times can, contain enough fumes to start a fire.

If you are planning on living a long prosperous life, you MUST think safety first. Educate yourself, take a CERT training (https://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams) and possibly a CPR/ First aid course at the Red Cross local chapter.

Knowledge is Power, so go do it right now!

Wassim,
Since MSers who do gas station routes spend much more time at gas stations than most people, a tale about an encounter at a gas station is as relevant to MSing as were Cettie's tales of being chased by a goat or finding a body. Fortunately this particular tale was less harrowing than some of the shopper adventures recounted here. The forum is as much about the unique aspects of the lives that we lead because we do these assignments as it is about the nuts and bolts of how to do a professional job of any assignment.

As for safe handling of flammable liquids, you make points that will be good for people to explore. And those points are just as relevant to MSing as the OP.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2017 02:14PM by walesmaven.

Yup. FF was on a shop. Shop-related story with a positive message.

This is like the third time in as many weeks I've seen a post asking, "what does this have to do with mystery shopping?" I've been here for years of threads going off topic and general stories of what happens on shops. I'm not getting paid to be here and feel no need to constantly stay on point. This isn't a classroom. It is an informal group of people chatting about mystery shopping and other things in general. Emphasis on "informal."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2017 06:15PM by LisaSTL.

I am guilty as charged, Lisa. I hijack threads all of the time. Darned squirrels.

Sorry if you thought I was excluding myself from thread hijacking, LOL!

No apology necessary. I usually try to redirect the thread back to it's original content but I can't think of anything relevant right now.

Let me ask you. How is it NOT related to mystery shopping ??

Now that was a relevant question, Boutique!

On a related note: I took the pizza from my Papa John's shop to Goodwill and gave it to their employees at the drop off door because we won't eat it, my neighbors didn't want it, and the panhandler on the corner by the expressway turned it down, too. The guys at the back of Goodwill seemed tickled, so I guess it worked out. But that's not as philanthropic as FF's story was.