Calling gas station before shop
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Why would you drive anywhere (especially "all that way" ) for $3?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 12:40AM by iShop123.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 12:40AM by iShop123.
The fee is lowered if the location is closed.
Although reading it now, I see if the location requires a visit and is closed, the pay is 50% of the original fee. So it would be more than $3 but not worth my time still in the event they were closed.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 12:48AM by jgoodwin.
Although reading it now, I see if the location requires a visit and is closed, the pay is 50% of the original fee. So it would be more than $3 but not worth my time still in the event they were closed.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 12:48AM by jgoodwin.
Google Maps will usually tell you this, and street view mode is good for seeing what kind if service they have. I went to a couple stations recently that closed at 5:00 because they were mechanic's garages instead of convenient stores. Luckily I made it in the nick of time at both. Got to watch out for those. And especially on Sundays. Google Maps won't tell you if they recently went out of business or changed brands, though, so it may still be good idea to call. You could say you left something there and wanted to know how late you could come and get it. This could be a hat, gas cap, glasses, or anything that doesn't identify you like a credit card or phone.
Or you could just call and say "Hey, what time do you close on Thursday?"
Because you're talking to a gas station attendant who really couldn't care less who you are when you're on the other end of a phone call. You're overthinking this. Just call.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 01:42AM by Hoju.
Because you're talking to a gas station attendant who really couldn't care less who you are when you're on the other end of a phone call. You're overthinking this. Just call.
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Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Seriously, nobody cares that you're offended.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/17/2018 01:42AM by Hoju.
I agree with Hoju, but I would ask something more open ended like What are your hours? Once they say 7a.m to 5p.m for example, you can say every day? I can vouch that as someone who used to work at a gas station, much crazier calls do come in. However if the employees have been prepped to be on their toes for a mystery shopper if you get too specific this will alert them.
Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.
Thanks - that was my concern, tipping them off that a shopper is coming.
Good suggestions
Good suggestions
I would call, especially if it's a longer drive there. Unless I live close by, I call all the shops. Disguise your voice if you want. I can sound like a man on the phone when I want to. If you don't call and you go and they are closed, you will get the $3 fee. So, it's best to call and get the 50% fee. That's why I always fill out the "Did you call and what did you find out" part of their form on all of their shops so I can get the 50% if a location is closed. If I have been filling out "No, I didn't call" I may be deactivated for putting yes on the only one that was closed. Know what I mean?
You could use a gas price website like gasbuddy.com. You can search by zip code and see if anyone has reported pricing recently. Most of the stations in my area are updated daily. Doesn’t give hours but let’s you know they’re selling gas.
Calling works, but try to avoid calling early morning, around lunch or late afternoon, when they are likely to be busier and the clerk lets the phone go to voicemail.
Calling works, but try to avoid calling early morning, around lunch or late afternoon, when they are likely to be busier and the clerk lets the phone go to voicemail.
I don't have ANY problem calling just to say "hey, how late are you open today?"
Or you could call and say, "how late do you sell beer?" If you live in a state that sells beer at gas stations.
Why are you worrying? Just ask for hours. Even if they do suspect the call was a shopper, which is unlikely, they still have no idea which customer it's going to be. And in the even more unlikely case they do identify you on the day, they aren't likely to call you out or say anything about it. As long as you don't come out and admit it, it's not your problem.
Use google maps to determine convenience store or garage.
If its a convenience store: "How late do you sell Powerball/Mega Millions (or equivalent game in your state) tonight?" The answer should probably be 10pm, so you'll know they are open at least that late. If they state an earlier time, they will probably mention "until we close at 9", for example.
If its a garage, "My tires keep running low on air, do you have someone there that can look at them? How late?"
If its a convenience store: "How late do you sell Powerball/Mega Millions (or equivalent game in your state) tonight?" The answer should probably be 10pm, so you'll know they are open at least that late. If they state an earlier time, they will probably mention "until we close at 9", for example.
If its a garage, "My tires keep running low on air, do you have someone there that can look at them? How late?"
Asking for a receipt for a $0.99 candy bar is 10x more suspicious than a call asking for hours. Don't worry about it. Don't rely on Google Maps for correct hours. I've been burned more than once when it's wrong and I arrive when they're closed.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2018 07:05PM by quovatis.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/18/2018 07:05PM by quovatis.
@jgoodwin wrote:
....................................... and what do you ask to not seem suspicious? Am I overthinking it?
"Hello, according to my GPS you are five miles from where I am. Are you a gas station? and are you open?"
You might want to ask also what are their hours, so in case they say they are open, you won't get there after they are close.
@quovatis wrote:
Asking for a receipt for a $0.99 candy bar is 10x more suspicious than a call asking for hours. Don't worry about it. Don't rely on Google Maps for correct hours. I've been burned more than once when it's wrong and I arrive when they're closed.
I've really stopped worrying about being outed by asking for a receipt. I've done tons of gas station audits and mystery shops at the same locations for a few years and not once have I seen conditions change for the better after I reported something negative. Well, one gas station did finally replace the missing toilet seat, but that was about it.
Half of my stations have seen me before *(already and I haven't quite hit the year mark yet). I agree the receipt for a 1.00 or less item is more likely, but shortly after you ask for that receipt you reveal anyway. As for MF, I only do those if a) I'm going that way b) it is heavily bonused. I normally don't base a route around a "maybe". If you plan your routes correctly, even if one of your stations is closed or debranded, just make sure it's during normal open hours and you will be fine. If you do a route with 4 or 5 (or more) $25-50 shops the lose will be absorbed, you will still make enough to cover your route and much less to report later.@thegov2k2 wrote:
@quovatis wrote:
Asking for a receipt for a $0.99 candy bar is 10x more suspicious than a call asking for hours. Don't worry about it. Don't rely on Google Maps for correct hours. I've been burned more than once when it's wrong and I arrive when they're closed.
I've really stopped worrying about being outed by asking for a receipt. I've done tons of gas station audits and mystery shops at the same locations for a few years and not once have I seen conditions change for the better after I reported something negative. Well, one gas station did finally replace the missing toilet seat, but that was about it.
Okay, here is what I want to know about gas routes. How do you keep all of those photos straight in your phone if you do more than one in a day? I mean, I come out of the gas station with about 20, probably more, and they all look the same. So, what is your secret to organizing your photos when you are taking them?
Happy Camper
I take a photo of the receipts at the end of the shop. So, each shop ends with receipts. And typically, the first photo of the next station is a bathroom picture.
How to call a gas station and not sound suspicious? Ask if they do service. Hey, do you do oil changes? I have a nail in my tire, can you fix that?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2018 02:13AM by Rousseau.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2018 02:13AM by Rousseau.
It depends on the type of stations and how far apart they are. If you are doing 2 or 3 of the same type back to back with the same brand, then always take a separation picture. A separation picture can be a picture of your dashboard a picture of your watch or as mentioned earlier the receipt. If you have to drive an hour to the next shop it's easier because there is a gap in the time stamp.IF you have a brand E. followed by a brand C, then another brand E it's easier still. The first picture is normally the bathroom, but in some case, there is no bathroom. This is especially useful when doing Circle stores. (when all the pictures are bathroom or amenity infractions and sometimes no picture at all). I have typed up "cheat sheets" for each of the stations except Brand C which has its own cure sheet on the second page I write address, hours telephone number gas price and leave blanks for the answers. I use carbon paper and use the carbon copy for input. At the bottom of the cheat sheets sometimes I write an infraction list although I don't always use it, just depends on how many I'm doing that day.
I use the video recorder on my phone. First shop, gas station or other.
Click video start and say: Arrived Phillips 66 701 N. 1st st 10:07. Pump clean, no graffiti, there's paper towels...etc. Take any pics. Record further shop notes. Click video start and say: leaving Phillips 66 701 blah blah 10:21. Take pic of steering wheel's Volvo emblem. Next shop, rinse and repeat. All shop notes are separated by the Volvo emblem. I upload the photos directly to all the company's website's report unless it's a Maritz CX gas station. Then I upload the main photos to my computer at home also because they nearly always need something that I already provided or that they think is different than the pic I took so I can send them another pic or clip a pic I have and send them that.
Click video start and say: Arrived Phillips 66 701 N. 1st st 10:07. Pump clean, no graffiti, there's paper towels...etc. Take any pics. Record further shop notes. Click video start and say: leaving Phillips 66 701 blah blah 10:21. Take pic of steering wheel's Volvo emblem. Next shop, rinse and repeat. All shop notes are separated by the Volvo emblem. I upload the photos directly to all the company's website's report unless it's a Maritz CX gas station. Then I upload the main photos to my computer at home also because they nearly always need something that I already provided or that they think is different than the pic I took so I can send them another pic or clip a pic I have and send them that.
Yes, it's a great idea to include a pic of the receipt among the other pics. You'll never loose your receipt if you have your phone automatically download photos to the cloud. I toss my receipts before I leave the shop unless it's a large receipt like Jiffy Lube's 8x11 invoice because my phone pic may have blurred a corner. I scan those at home.
I take a photo of something like my car or my purse on the seat to divide stations. Sometimes if I'm doing several of the same brand and need to know the exact address of the one for the photos, I'll take a photo of the address page of the report. That's how I keep the photos separate. If you don't separate them, it can get confusing indeed.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
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