Soul

Hopefully the guys who badmouth schedulers, editors and MSC will keep safe. We don't need anymore violence directed at mystery shoppers!

Actually, I don't think that I'll be doing those types of assignments anymore. My contact died suddenly in mid-October of this year.

Eric, Sorry to hear that.

Amyway hope you have a peaceful 2018.

In my neck of the woods, some of these gas stations that I've audited have bars inside them. I either have to walk through the bar to evaluate the restroom, or I walk in and there are a bunch of locals just hanging out inside the store drinking or sitting on stools right up at the register drinking! They all turn to stare at you as they know you don't belong there, ugh! One time I was taking photos outside after having gone in and a very drunk man approached me staggering. He had a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other and in a slurred voice wanted to know why I was taking pictures. At this point I had gotten back in my car and locked the doors and had the window cracked. I don't know where I got the nerve, but I asked him if he was the manager. He said "No", and I told him it was none of his business then. He slurred that the cashier told him to ask me and I said if she wants to know she can come ask me and I will show her my credentials to be here. He walked away and she never came out, but she did challenge my description of her sleeveless black leather vest she was wearing with nothing on underneath haha! After a few confirmations from me, my shop was approved, but I'll never go back to that one again!
Oh yeah, and just remembered something funny. I went through a bar to get to the bathroom and men sitting at the bar started saying stuff to me so I hurried up and got in the bathroom real quick. Once inside, I couldn't find the light switch anywhere! I ended up taking photos in the complete dark using my flash! When I came out, I noticed the light switch on the outside of the door! I got out of there as quick as possible and haven't been back yet LOL!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2017 03:48AM by arkndove.

There have been a few times on a non-revealed gas station shop that were dangerous that I've had to reveal. I don't pay attention to rude customers, I just smile really big and stare at them. But, there have been gas stations that are, for example,8 miles off of the highway on an Indian Reservation,with absolutely nothing around for 4 or more miles and I'm on their property or on the highway taking pictures you better believe they see it. When I've been confronted I tell them what I'm doing and I pay them a million compliments about their station and customer service so I get out of there alive and with my bonus.

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I like classy locals, I like classier locales, LOL. But I don't mind dressing down and visiting the hood on occasion. It's interesting.

Most people wouldn't boast about blending in with the drug takers and homeless bums! You go girl!


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I have done well over 500 gas station audits (they are my main source of income). I travel around a large area. I have several locations that make me uneasy (usually due to the large amount of gang related graffiti). Interestingly the only issue I have had was at a location I have visited for years as a customer! A customer came up to me and started yelling at me for taking pictures of cars. He was "informing" me that it "illegal" to take pictures of other people's license plates. I explained my purpose (I get this question A LOT, especially now that I generally use the apps to submit these shops) and the guy didn't back off. I starting walking towards the door to the store while he was yelling at me. He backed off before I got inside, but I found out later that the cashier had been watching the whole time as was ready to come help if I needed it. I was shaken, and stopped my audits for the day. I have since returned to this location several times as a auditor and never seen the guy again. His reaction did make me wonder if he was running from the law.

Hey, trailer park, your "hood" must look quite different from mine, LOL. We don't have many homeless here, or trailer parks, for that matter.

@TrailerParkCityBrian wrote:

@JASFLALMT wrote:

I like classy locals, I like classier locales, LOL. But I don't mind dressing down and visiting the hood on occasion. It's interesting.

Most people wouldn't boast about blending in with the drug takers and homeless bums! You go girl!


.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2018 05:44PM by JASFLALMT.

I urge our shoppers to be aware of where they'r doing routes, not knowing areas can bring problems, and there is always a reason you get a large bonus, not because our beloved MSC's are so generous (get real), it's usually because no one takes those shops, or they are very rural. I am talking about large cities (because that's what I know). Inner cities have dangerous areas, and hopefully, your smart enough not to go anywhere for a buck.
I could do jobs in a town 1 hour from me that are always bonused, but no, only because I don't know area, and would rather play safe. Not nearly as dangerous as So. Central, full of gang bangers and violence. Bottom line, be careful newcomers.

I hear ya, Irene. Where I live if I go 20-30 minutes away from home I run into cornfields, tractors, and Amish people with horses and carts.

In regards to shopping in "the hood," I am very lucky to be very much a man and a very large one at that. I'm a gentle giant, but I don't look like someone to be messed with. It really helps me, because I generally don't have to worry about being messed with. I can only imagine being a small female doing some of the locations that I have visited. I know you all are strong and can hold your own, but you have so much more to deal with and worry about. I salute you.

I just did a night time gas station mystery shop. This gas station was also a convenience store. It's in an area that is right off an interstate highway where there is a truck stop, super 8 motels etc. It was shocking how many degenerates were there engaging in entrepreneurial capitalism. I had to tell the convenience store security guard what I was doing and asked him to escort me. He was happy to do it. He cleared a bunch of people from the property and walked with me for the main id and overall pic. They have their own little world down there and it seems to work for them. My heart almost beat through my chest though by the time I was done which was like 6 minutes later. I gave him my convenience store purchase and you'd think he was going to cry he was so happy.

Irene, the mystery shopper that was murdered just so happened to have been a good friend of mine. She was murdered a little more than three years ago in a outlet shopping parking lot in California by an unknown assailant.

I'm curious: I looked up the location online and it reportedly has a pretty low crime rate - basically not a bad area at all. Is this your understanding as well?

@Eric in Tampa wrote:

Irene, the mystery shopper that was murdered just so happened to have been a good friend of mine. She was murdered a little more than three years ago in a outlet shopping parking lot in California by an unknown assailant.

@Eric in Tampa wrote:

Irene, the mystery shopper that was murdered just so happened to have been a good friend of mine. She was murdered a little more than three years ago in a outlet shopping parking lot in California by an unknown assailant.

Sorry to hear that....was the outlet in Camarillo or Barstow, or do you know?

What happened to Cettie, she could add some stories to this thread.....

The report said the cause was undetermined, she may have had a very bad fall.

@spicy1 wrote:

The report said the cause was undetermined, she may have had a very bad fall.

Your not saying she passed are you?

Not Cettie.

@spicy1 wrote:

Not Cettie.

OH good.....

Like spicy, last I heard the cause of death was undetermined. Apparently it was not a robbery. I always thought it was most likely a hit and run driver.