The only time I give them info like distance and travel time is if they are questing why I need so much. I don't care if it is next store to my house I am still not doing a sleep number shop for $10 or even $20. So distance is not the only factor at times. I don't throw a ridiculous to me number unless I don't want to do the shop but would for a nice pay day. I also have had my ridiculous number at times accepted. So i wasn't planing on going 100 plus miles one way but for $300 for one shop sure I am leaving now.
Also as Troy alluded to never mention other shops you could get or even already have. If you have 3 shops at say $20 assigned and need that one shop for $50 to make it doable and there is another in that area for $20 you see I ask for $75 on the $50 one and $50 on the other $20 one. Now if you get either your profitable one more so and if you get both well hell yeah and if you get the $75 ask one you can come down on the other one to $40 or $30 and still getting a bonus or take at base rate as a favor or cause it is easy enough at base and now you found another shop out that way.
Sorry if that was confusing.
Key
3 shops already booked at $20 each
1 shop call it X at at $50 not booked asking for $75
1 shop call it Y at $20 not booked asking for $50
Total needed to make it worth doing $110 already at $60
If you get X or Y at your ask then can negotiate or even take the other at base rate.
Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.