I have been looking at possibly trying my hand of some of the Gas Station shops but it asks for a picture of the restroom. Those who have done these types of shops, do you just take a picture of the general restroom area and the sinks/mirrors?

Yes you just do the best that you can to get as much in one photo as possible. Then if there are infractions, you can take close up pictures of whatever might be damaged or dirty. Some platforms allow multiple photos. If I'm using a platform that allows more than one photo, I always take two overall pictures of the restroom. One of the sink area and one of the toilet area. If the platform only allows one photo, I just do the best I can.

If you follow the guidelines and make sure you have all your photos, you should not have any problems getting the shops done correctly. They're not that hard. The hard part is when a location is busy. Or the clerk is not helpful. Sometimes the guidelines say to wait 10 or 15 minutes before giving up on taking a restroom photo. If the restroom is continuously occupied for 15 minutes, that's 15 minutes you lose and then you have to explain why you weren't able to get a picture. That's relatively rare, though. Another issue is trying to get pump photos and overall POP photos when the fueling area is busy. Some locations are always busy, and the fueling area is never going to clear out. So you're going to have to play musical pumps and try to get a quick photo in when there's no faces visible.

If you're going to be doing them for base pay or a small bonus, little things like having to wait on the restroom can be extremely annoying and cut into the bottom line. I only do them when they're highly bonused, so having to wait on the restroom is no big deal. I'm getting paid well. I strongly suggest you take a look at how much travel you might be doing and make sure that whatever the locations are paying are worth your time, effort, gas, and mileage.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2022 06:10PM by thunderdeacon.

Also, gas stations that can be completed on site, using an app, have been awesome. I can do more in one day and don't have to file reports after I get home. I've done thousands, and even using the app, I will tell you I am STILL on site about 40 minutes. But I am old, slow, and VERY THOROUGH.

I have been told by station managers "Wow, the guy who normally does these is in an out in less than five minutes! I really appreciate your being more thorough." It blows my mind that anyone can do a revealed audit in 5 minutes. But many shoppers do -- how else could they do 43 in 2 or 3 days? Or 80+ in five days?

@bgibson wrote:

I have been looking at possibly trying my hand of some of the Gas Station shops but it asks for a picture of the restroom. Those who have done these types of shops, do you just take a picture of the general restroom area and the sinks/mirrors?

I always take 2 photos - one of the sink(s) and one of toilet. I try to get as many of the other accompanying items to the particular fixture included in the photo (sinks would have a paper towel dispenser or hot air blower, toilets, well, you know).
For some gas stations they ask for a photo of both restrooms, even if they're both unisex. But, its those restrooms meant for the opposite sex that have always given me the problem. Especially so for those that can accomodate more than one person.
Do make certain they're empty - call out "Maintenance" or something like that, and, be sure you're wearing a safety vest - so at least you appear not to be some weirdo taking photos of toilets, etc.

Thank you so much. All of that information is super helpful.

To be more on point, yes, you open the door to the restroom and take a photo (or more). I generally ask an employee to knock on the door and check to make sure the restrooms are empty. It's part of their job, and most clerks are truly helpful, if you don't act like a bully or jack@@@.

Most of the gas station shops want you to get a good picture of the toilet and as much of the rest of the rest room as you can get. And the better paying shops on the Sassie platform, you only get to load ONE restroom pic, unless there are infractions.

In restrooms with multiple stalls I open the stall door nearest the sink. I take a picture of that toilet and as much of the sink area as I can get. Then I take pictures of the infractions if there are any. And urinals don't count as toilets.

Do yourself and all the rest of us favor and don't do any gas station shops until they are bonused more than double the original pay. We aren't trying to starve, Or work ourselves into an early grave just to get by.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2022 04:05AM by Morledzep.

Cease. Not that long ago, you weren't using apps to do shops. I am impressed how far you have come!

When I started shopping five years ago, gas stations were paying the same as they do now. However, the old company would bonus them quickly, so they are paying less than five years ago. And the old company did have an app, although there were issues with it periodically. I haven't done a gas station for over a year because of the lousy pay.

@Equine24 wrote:

When I started shopping five years ago, gas stations were paying the same as they do now. However, the old company would bonus them quickly, so they are paying less than five years ago. And the old company did have an app, although there were issues with it periodically. I haven't done a gas station for over a year because of the lousy pay.

Yes.
And, I remember when that company (the one with the grandmas) took over, how elated I was when they increased the amount of gasoline reimbursement was increased to $5 (Blue shops). The old company only reimbursed such a small amount that it didn't make much financial sense to do the shop.
But, I agree, it is now time for the fee itself to be increased.

To digress, what I've noticed this year are shops only assignable for the first week of the month - pretty difficult to make a route. Then, as the shops remain, they schedule out further by a few days without any bonusing.

Maybe that's only happening near me. I say this because the scheduler I work with is an independent scheduler - I note on her FB page that she works with a number of MSCs, not just the one that handles the Blue, Yellow and Green shops.
I have given up in trying to negotiate any bonus for any far away shops that make no sense to do since they are single drive shops.

I complete them on site just using Sassie or Shopmetrics on my mobile browser. Sassie takes a little longer, but I still think it's much preferable then trying to keep everything organized and report at the end of the day for several locations.

A gas station can take me anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes depending on the brand, how busy the location is, how many infractions there are, whether or not a photo of every pump is required, and which platform I'm using. Even if I was doing a station that was fully compliant and not reporting on site, there's no way I could ever get everything done in 5 minutes. The clerk could be exaggerating a bit. But if somebody is doing a gas station in 5 minutes, or maybe even 10 minutes, I don't think they're actually looking things over thoroughly. Of course, in life you get what you pay for. If a company is only paying $10 or $15 a location, they're probably going to get people that aren't doing a good job sometimes. I know there are many of you out there that do an amazing job even for pitiful pay. I will just say that the MSC is lucky to have you, but I would never do that.

There are varying opinions out there, but I think gas stations are easier in the long run if you report them on site. The app is great, and using shopmetrics on a mobile web page is great too. Sassie is more bulky, but it can be done.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Also, gas stations that can be completed on site, using an app, have been awesome. I can do more in one day and don't have to file reports after I get home. I've done thousands, and even using the app, I will tell you I am STILL on site about 40 minutes. But I am old, slow, and VERY THOROUGH.

I have been told by station managers "Wow, the guy who normally does these is in an out in less than five minutes! I really appreciate your being more thorough." It blows my mind that anyone can do a revealed audit in 5 minutes. But many shoppers do -- how else could they do 43 in 2 or 3 days? Or 80+ in five days?

@thunderdeacon wrote:

There are varying opinions out there, but I think gas stations are easier in the long run if you report them on site. The app is great, and using shopmetrics on a mobile web page is great too. Sassie is more bulky, but it can be done.

Curios to know if you take the pictures as you go, or do you take them and then add them at the end.

Also, it is not uncommon for me to make all my observations and notes (and restroom pics) before I ever reveal, and then spend 5 minutes getting the same required pics I've taken thousands of times before. It doesn't take that long to get a dozen or so photos when all you are doing is taking pictures. Spending time doing reports as you go and taking photos in order and waiting for them to upload does not necessariy equate to doing a more thorough job, although I'm sure it can help.

I take a few pics at the beginning, (restroom, employee) and then take and load the rest as I go. I load the pics that I took at the beginning as I go through the report, answer the questions, and take/load the other photos.

I was thinking about the total time at the location in my comments above, including the mystery part. Maybe someone could do the revealed part of the shop in 5 mins if not reporting on-site and the location was relatively compliant. But not 5 mins from arrival to departure.

@mystery2me wrote:

@thunderdeacon wrote:

There are varying opinions out there, but I think gas stations are easier in the long run if you report them on site. The app is great, and using shopmetrics on a mobile web page is great too. Sassie is more bulky, but it can be done.

Curios to know if you take the pictures as you go, or do you take them and then add them at the end.

Also, it is not uncommon for me to make all my observations and notes (and restroom pics) before I ever reveal, and then spend 5 minutes getting the same required pics I've taken thousands of times before. It doesn't take that long to get a dozen or so photos when all you are doing is taking pictures. Spending time doing reports as you go and taking photos in order and waiting for them to upload does not necessariy equate to doing a more thorough job, although I'm sure it can help.

Right. I wasn't commenting about your post, just thinking of the perspective of the clerk or manager. Before the reveal they may not notice us taking notes in our vehicle, walking around the store, and checking the restroom.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2022 07:13PM by mystery2me.

@mystery2me wrote:

Right. I wasn't commenting about your post, just thinking of the perspective of the clerk or manager. Before the reveal they may not notice us taking notes in our vehicle, walking around the store, and checking the restroom.

For most of the gas stations that you reveal yourself before performing the audit, taking pictures should only happen after you reveal yourself. The exception to this is, one of the stations (might be Circle K but I may be wrong) wants you to evaluate the restroom and take the restroom pictures before you make your purchase inside. But I don't take my tablet inside during the mystery shopping portion of the shop, so all of the pictures that I take are after I reveal myself including the restroom pictures..

On all of my gas station shops, I do the mystery with shop portion, I don't do anymore or any less wandering around the shop than a normal customer would do. I buy my cookies, I get my gas, and then I start Inputting the mystery shop portion into into the survey. When I get to the 1st question that I cannot answer or picture that I cannot post because I haven't taken any pictures yet, then I put on my put on my traffic vest and I sling my tablet strap over my shoulder and I go and reveal myself.. I take all of the inside pictures, then I take all of the outside pictures.. Then I go to my car and I input everything before I leave the site. That way I know that I didn't skip anything, and I didn't miss any necessary pictures. I have also learned that it never hurts to take extra pictures of the gas pumps and islands from different perspectives. Sometimes they come in handy later.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2022 07:46PM by Morledzep.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Also, gas stations that can be completed on site, using an app, have been awesome. I can do more in one day and don't have to file reports after I get home. I've done thousands, and even using the app, I will tell you I am STILL on site about 40 minutes. But I am old, slow, and VERY THOROUGH.

I have been told by station managers "Wow, the guy who normally does these is in an out in less than five minutes! I really appreciate your being more thorough." It blows my mind that anyone can do a revealed audit in 5 minutes. But many shoppers do -- how else could they do 43 in 2 or 3 days? Or 80+ in five days?

I can assure you that I do a thorough job, but yes for Marathon I can do more than 40 in a day... finished 83 between this past Saturday/ Sunday and that was with a 3hr drive to/ from the area. I don't waste time.

My restroom photos get taken before the reveal. Too many times in the past I have had employees run to clean the restroom as soon as I reveal, sometimes going as far as to pretend they need to check with the manager before I begin. That leaves me standing there waiting for them to finish, and not spending time being thorough elsewhere. Plus, waiting for the restroom to be free is the number one time waster. Best to get that out of the way at the first opportunity. None of the projects specifically prohibit taking the photos. Yes they say to take the pictures after the reveal, but I think it is reasonable to assume they mean so as not to give away your anonymity.

@mystery2me wrote:

My restroom photos get taken before the reveal. Too many times in the past I have had employees run to clean the restroom as soon as I reveal, sometimes going as far as to pretend they need to check with the manager before I begin. That leaves me standing there waiting for them to finish, and not spending time being thorough elsewhere. Plus, waiting for the restroom to be free is the number one time waster. Best to get that out of the way at the first opportunity. None of the projects specifically prohibit taking the photos. Yes they say to take the pictures after the reveal, but I think it is reasonable to assume they mean so as not to give away your anonymity.

I guess I do it differently, I hand the person at the counter the LOA and whatever leave behind forms that I'm supposed to. I tell them I am going to take some pictures and then I will get out of their hair. I backup a few steps and take the picture of the counter, Tten the picture of the room, then I go to the restrooms and I take the pictures of the ladies room 1st because that's easiest for me, and I get my vest pic, then I bang real hard on the men's room door, then go in and take those pics. I get all of the inside pictures, then I go outside and I take all of the outside pictures.

I have yet to have a manager or a counter person make me stand at the counter and wait while they go in and clean the restroom (I wouldn't wait anyway). I do often have managers tell their employees to run out and empty the trash cans at the gas islands. I had one last week tell his guys to run out and clean the fronts of the gas pumps After I revealed myself.

Thanks! Getting an iPhone and unlimited data plan was a game changer for me. Steep learning curve, few stumbles on the way up.

My unlimited data plan is $50 a month through Verizon. Pays for itself with one gas station!

@Equine24 wrote:

Cease. Not that long ago, you weren't using apps to do shops. I am impressed how far you have come!

Yes, very simple. Some washrooms are very small so it's a bit challenging. Just stand back and capture as much of the washroom as you can. If there are any dirty areas such as the sink or toilet, I would take a separate picture of that as well.

@ceasesmith wrote:

Also, gas stations that can be completed on site, using an app, have been awesome. I can do more in one day and don't have to file reports after I get home. I've done thousands, and even using the app, I will tell you I am STILL on site about 40 minutes. But I am old, slow, and VERY THOROUGH.

I have been told by station managers "Wow, the guy who normally does these is in an out in less than five minutes! I really appreciate your being more thorough." It blows my mind that anyone can do a revealed audit in 5 minutes. But many shoppers do -- how else could they do 43 in 2 or 3 days? Or 80+ in five days?

I have been told the same thing before, because I like to be sure my job is done right. The managers don't seem to mind and they like it more because I actually took my time.

Yes! It takes at least 15 minutes to do one professionally, accurately, and courteously. Especially with multiple photos. I always try to take extra pictures too. You never know.

A good example: The other day I was doing an appliance shop that needed an exterior photo. Well, I was having a BAD mystery shopping day. So I thought two photos of the exterior would be enough to cover me. However, when I was uploading them I noticed my finger was over the lens on both. As I said, it was a BAD day for me.

My bad day included a bank shop that wanted a $1500 minimum daily balance, a fast food shop that gave me the wrong food, an appliance shop that the salesperson could not be located, and this appliance shop that also included a salesperson that could not tell the difference between a front load washer and a dryer.

My opinion of the 5 minutes in and out, is that the employee at the gas station is just giving you a very generic time.
I can do the shop parts like gas purchase, C-store purchase, RR pix and all the external pix in quite a short time - 9 or 12 minutes. Sometimes, when the site has only 2 or 4 pumps, it only takes about a maximum of 7 or 8 minutes.
However, I view the site from my vehicle when I'm approaching or sitting at the stoplight. At that point, I'm noting everything about the building the MID and the lot.
But, I do stay on site, downloading everything into my traveling laptop, reviewing each photo, then naming them and finally filling out my own personal worksheet that is specific to the brand. I stay until I have checked off all of the pertinent areas that are asked in the report.
Doing this was once explained to me by a policeman friend as why they stay after they let their ticket individual leave. Write everything down while it is fresh in your mind.
Maybe the guy who supposedly is in and out in 5 minutes does not do that? Maybe he does.

When planning my itinerary, I allot 25 minutes per revealed gas audit, 10 minutes for non-reveal, and 12 for conditional reveal (80-90 percent end up being reveal.) Some go longer, mainly due to lots of cutomers, most go shorter. I usually finish early. I do the reports at the end of the day.

I don't shop ALL brands so I'm not familiar with every single guideline but for MOST they only want one picture of each 'type' of infraction. So once I see/photograph a dirty pump I don't even look at the others for that. Once I see an empty/missing topper frame? Done, on to the next question!
Missing towels or squeegie? No need to check the rest, and I can scan the lot quickly looking for this as I walk inside.
I use an app (MobiAudit, Presto, ect) and my report is submitted before I drive off.
I don't 'rename' photos.
Open bathroom door, hold with foot & photograph (for small single user restrooms)

Again, it's really not that hard. I can easily take photos as I walk. I take multiple required photos from the same vantage point, just zooming/ focusing on different objects like MID, building, canopy.