I've done thousands of Exxon/Mobil, Shell, Sunoco, Gulf, etc. I have my first BP shop on Saturday. It is part of a 400-mile route with other gas stations. The guidelines are extensive, to say the least. I have not received the BP hard copy guideline book yet. I am wondering if anyone has tips for me on this shop. Did you miss anything when doing the shop? It is a 235-mile round trip if I miss something. I cannot believe anyone would do this shop for the $10 plus fuel.

BP is very particular with photos. Take extra, extra, extra, photos. They like each one to be unique and if it looks like you submit an identical photo that you used on another question (even if you didn't) the editor will question it and place a hold. They also like to know where the infraction occurred so you must make sure you zoom out to include additional identifying things with the infraction. If it is a dispenser, be sure to include the number in the photo.

I have honestly been sent out to capture additional photos that the editor did not accept even after challenging them on times I felt that I was right and it was what the guidelines stated (I lost).

Good luck with these. I have 10 ft. poled these shops personally. You will be very succesful if you: 1. Read both the book and all extra documentation the MSC adds because many requirements have changed since the books were sent out and those updates will be in the documents. 2. Take A LOT of photos at different angles. 3. Double check work before leaving. Just some tips for you from where I messed up. You will be fine.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2017 08:00PM by Relly.

I also do a lot of E/M and Shell shops and have been trying to get on the BP route program. A lot of Gulf stations have converted to BP in my area and I have picked up a local temporary route but I am still not a part of their route program. I have a bit of a problem as I don't do 400 mile routes. Instead I do daily routes of no more than 150 miles, usually much less. Like the Shell stations, I take a lot of pics, just in case. I have found that the BP editors are not as picky as the Shell editors but good advice from Relly on the photos. You definitely have to wait for the guide or you will be in trouble. You will have some homework to do once you receive it. I
understand they offer bonuses for completing routes but I don't know how much. I did recently ask for a bonus of $20 for 13 shops of @ 140 miles a day for 2 days involving a $17 toll. I was offered $10 which I declined but countered with $15, which was rejected. I'll try again later in the month if still available. I do find some of the requirement a bit funky, like parking then completing the C-Store and restroom portion before revealing and then moving your car to a pump, doing the fueling part and then re-parking. Seems a bit backwards but can't be avoided. I like the MSC and the BP schedulers and supervisors are responsive and cooperative.

Be sure to take a photo of the sign on the pole, if it is present. They call it something weird like the lead-in sign or something like that. I never did see that in the guidelines, but a photo is required if it's present. You'll see that at the end. I had to crop a photo the first time and it was accepted after being placed on hold for the photo.

Thanks, everyone. Good helpful suggestions. I'll have to study the guide book...still not sure what a lead in is, though.

I've done bunches and bunches of BP and have no idea what a lead in is. LlJake, the bonuses for completing routes of BP vary. There is no set amount, and the amount for a route can change from the last one to the next one you do, even for the exact same route. I believe it depends on available shoppers. If you have completed a route successfully but a new "hungry" shopper appears in your area, they may well offer it to them at a lower price. So while I really enjoy the routes for the most part, I am careful to do a lot of other things and not just routes, although they can be pretty time consuming. If you want to do routes, when the BP's appear on the board at the end of the quarter that somehow didn't get done, take them, even at base price. That should put you in the system as a BP Shopper. Like you, I only do day routes, and I stay busy during route season so you should be able to find a few that suit you.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

I've done bunches and bunches of BP and have no idea what a lead in is.

It's a sign on a perimeter pole. I think they call it "light approach POP".

I agree with what Relly said about the photos. Take extra. I finally ended up making my own sheet of things to check at the pump to make things go faster onsite and with uploading photos. However, I didn't shave much time off because of the "across the street photo" requirement. It takes time to park across the street, take a few shots after traffic clears, then fight traffic to get back across the street (unless you are out in the country).

I didn't find BP to be harder than Shell, just different photo requirements.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2017 01:42PM by christinereed.

Ah...light approach POP...now I get it. Thanks!

Thanks for the info CoffeeQueen. Much appreciated. I have done 29 BP's in the past couple of weeks all local (within 30 miles and no tolls) and at base price. When I go out of my self imposed local area I ask for bonuses. Sometime I get them, other times I do not. I realize and understand that the MSC is holding off for a better proposal and if a "hungry" shopper grabs the route so be it.

Christin, I am usually able to satisfy the across the street photo by walking past the edge of the station property and snapping a pic from the sidewalk, gutter of adjacent business property. On rare occasion I walk across the street (depending on traffic) for the pic. I have not found it necessary to drive across the street. And I don't recall ever having an overall shot rejected.

Hopefully you get offered some routes next time. Crossing my fingers for ya.

@LIJake wrote:

Thanks for the info CoffeeQueen. Much appreciated. I have done 29 BP's in the past couple of weeks all local (within 30 miles and no tolls) and at base price. When I go out of my self imposed local area I ask for bonuses. Sometime I get them, other times I do not. I realize and understand that the MSC is holding off for a better proposal and if a "hungry" shopper grabs the route so be it.

Christin, I am usually able to satisfy the across the street photo by walking past the edge of the station property and snapping a pic from the sidewalk, gutter of adjacent business property. On rare occasion I walk across the street (depending on traffic) for the pic. I have not found it necessary to drive across the street. And I don't recall ever having an overall shot rejected.

@LIJake wrote:

Christin, I am usually able to satisfy the across the street photo by walking past the edge of the station property and snapping a pic from the sidewalk, gutter of adjacent business property. On rare occasion I walk across the street (depending on traffic) for the pic. I have not found it necessary to drive across the street. And I don't recall ever having an overall shot rejected.

Good for you. I have done photos from the corner of the property when absolutely necessary, because there just is no way to do the "across the street", for instance it is an entrance ramp to the highway. But, they stated in the guidelines that you must take it across the street if at all possible. In the last three weeks I did 20 visuals and 10 consumer audits and was able to take the photo across the street for those.

I guess I took them too literally. It sounds like it could be like the no photos with a cell phone rule, lol.

I think what they are looking for in the OA shot is a full view of the station. When I look into my viewfinder and can see the MID, the forecourt and building I'm OK. I don't have a problem using my cell phone camera as I prefer my digital camera for various reasons. Very rarely do I have to play frogger and attempt to cross the street for the photo. Do any of you remember frogger?

They got very picky about the across the street rule for the Visual Standards. It had to be from across the street unless it was impossible or unsafe. I prefer to take them from a corner of the lot as I feel like I can get more in the shot. Most of the time it's difficult to get the MID in from across the street. But for VS I gave them what they wanted.

I did the shop yesterday. Had it not been HEAVILY bonused, it would be on my 20-foot pole list. 56 pictures. A very nasty manager. And now I wait for it to go on hold for some ridiculous reason...

janalou, Having done thousands of gas station shops you are an experienced shopper in this category. I'll bet when you first did E/M or Shell you were on the safe side and took too may photos. I did 11 BP's last week and averaged 20 pics for the Visuals and a bit more for the Regular - 54 seems way too many. While each brand has their annoying idiosyncrasies, I find E/M, Shell and BP about equal in the inspection and the report. Keep at it - try some more BP's.

@LIJake wrote:

janalou, Having done thousands of gas station shops you are an experienced shopper in this category. I'll bet when you first did E/M or Shell you were on the safe side and took too may photos. I did 11 BP's last week and averaged 20 pics for the Visuals and a bit more for the Regular - 54 seems way too many. While each brand has their annoying idiosyncrasies, I find E/M, Shell and BP about equal in the inspection and the report. Keep at it - try some more BP's.

The shop went on hold last night for 4 items. Glad I took so many photos from different angles. 54 was too many, but it worked out this time.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/14/2017 06:46PM by janalou.

I don't do EM but I've done tons of both Shell and BP. I find the BP In general to be easier, as they don't require the inside shots of food products. Once you learn what they want it gets a lot easier.

I messed up on the front shot of the canopy. Luckily I had a couple of other shots that worked. Also, the. 45 degree pump angle.

@janalou wrote:

I messed up on the front shot of the canopy. Luckily I had a couple of other shots that worked. Also, the. 45 degree pump angle.

Those got me too. So after doing them do you think you will continue?

I'll do more if they become available.
This one was 120 miles away, though...

I messed up on the front shot of the canopy. Luckily I had a couple of other shots that worked. Also, the. 45 degree pump angle

Those got me too. So after doing them do you think you will continue?[/quote]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/15/2017 12:49AM by janalou.