exxon mobils…
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
But the MSC doesn't think you need to be paid for your time filling out the reports.. just for the time you spend onsite doing the audit.
Being paid for the time on site is even questionable unless there is a bonus.
I picked up some once they hit $30 that were close to home and another one at $40 on the way to a good paying gig. Do you mean have I had any luck asking for a bonus? Absolutely not with the current scheduler for my state - never have and don’t even try anymore.
I use them because I have so many in my area and they pay for my gas. Most times I get 2 gallons and move on to the next gas station.
@patman9760 wrote:
I picked up some once they hit $30 that were close to home and another one at $40 on the way to a good paying gig. Do you mean have I had any luck asking for a bonus? Absolutely not with the current scheduler for my state - never have and don’t even try anymore.
you must be talking about the monthlies, i’m talking about the quarterlies which make up 98% of locations in my area, and are only bonused at 12.50 currently. the scheduler in my area is good(i know a couple at the msc that are useless bothering with), but with the new manager, even she has not been able to get approved anything above job board fees for me. definitely not worth it.
On Monday, triggered by a FB memory, I was looking back at an old route I did with EM quarterlies where I made slightly over $900 to do 16 stations by traveling six hours north of me on these exact dates, May 30 & 31, in 2017. (without looking at the specifics I believe its about 11 quarterlies and 5 monthlies).
Today, all 16 stations are available again. I would make $400 by doing them. This particular area, they struggle with every period, for every client they have.
Around that year, I had an EM phone scheduler tell me over the phone that the client would really prefer if mostly everything was done before the third month begins. That may have changed now, but this served as a great example with how much more efficient the old company was at getting them off the board and I believe a big part of that too was the generous date ranges that you could pick from until things for very late in the process.
Today, all 16 stations are available again. I would make $400 by doing them. This particular area, they struggle with every period, for every client they have.
Around that year, I had an EM phone scheduler tell me over the phone that the client would really prefer if mostly everything was done before the third month begins. That may have changed now, but this served as a great example with how much more efficient the old company was at getting them off the board and I believe a big part of that too was the generous date ranges that you could pick from until things for very late in the process.
When 50% or more of the locations ge completed in the last two weeks of the quarter, it is no longer a true mystery shop. Smart station owners and managers know that the evaluation has to be coming soon and can prepare. That's why the client would prefer that they not all get done at the end of the quarter. But the MSC doesn't care. They HATE these gas contracts they inherited from the previous company.
Yes - I was referring to monthly shops. I just checked my email and the quarterly shops here are at the same rate you mentioned. All the more reason to take some time off to rest! 
@jay225 wrote:
you must be talking about the monthlies, i’m talking about the quarterlies which make up 98% of locations in my area, and are only bonused at 12.50 currently. the scheduler in my area is good(i know a couple at the msc that are useless bothering with), but with the new manager, even she has not been able to get approved anything above job board fees for me. definitely not worth it.
In my opinion, there are a couple (or more) things happening.
1) As stated in another thread, there are some shoppers self assigning everything on the Job Board as soon as they (either monthlies not rotationally assigned or quarterlies) appear on the board. This is because there seems to be no penalty when the shops are not done and fall off of the shopper's list.
2) The MSC has been clever in putting all the available shop dates into the first week (this would be for the monthlies). As stated above, there are shoppers who gobble them up and then allow them to fall of their list.
3) The schedulers seem to be not as responsive to shopper queries.
4) I believe that some shops are just removed without penalty to the scheduler if not done.
5) My shopper friend in another state has informed me that many of the shops in the Chicago area have been purchased by another company. The stations are being either closed down and rebuilt to the purchasing company's name while others have been transitioned into a subvariant gas station belonging to the new owner.
1) As stated in another thread, there are some shoppers self assigning everything on the Job Board as soon as they (either monthlies not rotationally assigned or quarterlies) appear on the board. This is because there seems to be no penalty when the shops are not done and fall off of the shopper's list.
2) The MSC has been clever in putting all the available shop dates into the first week (this would be for the monthlies). As stated above, there are shoppers who gobble them up and then allow them to fall of their list.
3) The schedulers seem to be not as responsive to shopper queries.
4) I believe that some shops are just removed without penalty to the scheduler if not done.
5) My shopper friend in another state has informed me that many of the shops in the Chicago area have been purchased by another company. The stations are being either closed down and rebuilt to the purchasing company's name while others have been transitioned into a subvariant gas station belonging to the new owner.
got another silly email yesterday from the company yesterday… exxon mobile lol… the new manager must be used to phone shops. of course it was touting ishopfirst… no thanks. any of you guys get their “care” package a few weeks ago? a vest, and a letter thanking me for being one of the top shoppers blah blah blah.
You mean the vest with their name plastered all over it, so we can advertise for them while we're working? Maybe pique the interest of those who see us, become new shoppers who might work for less thereby becoming our own competition? That vest? The vest, postage and merch that they chose to spend lots of money on instead of using that money to pay us fair fees? That vest? Yeah. Got it. And it sure pissed me off. Now that someone has brought it up, I can unleash my anger! Any ideas how to cover that name? Duct tape maybe?
Yes I got some swag. They want me to advertise to other new potential shoppers so that rates will
go down even farther. I did like the pen and the lanyard but they don’t replace decent pay.
I’ve seen so many people here repeating that the MSC hates the gas station audits. If so they would demand lots more money and take chance the client would leave. Instead they’re adding new brands. One person claimed the MSC hates gas station audits so much they’re adding new ones to make up for it? That seems bizarre and highly unlikely. If the previous MSC could pay more, then I’m sure the new one is laughing all the way to the bank over these shops.
I’ve only been shopping since the spring of 2020, and I’ve noticed fee reductions with the same MSC. Shops I did for $37.50 in 2020 I have to do for $20 in 2022. (I could refuse, but this is my only source of income atm).
Another brand by the same MSC is way down in bonuses offered this quarter as well. And offering an $11.50 bonus instead of $12.50? Cheap.
go down even farther. I did like the pen and the lanyard but they don’t replace decent pay.
I’ve seen so many people here repeating that the MSC hates the gas station audits. If so they would demand lots more money and take chance the client would leave. Instead they’re adding new brands. One person claimed the MSC hates gas station audits so much they’re adding new ones to make up for it? That seems bizarre and highly unlikely. If the previous MSC could pay more, then I’m sure the new one is laughing all the way to the bank over these shops.
I’ve only been shopping since the spring of 2020, and I’ve noticed fee reductions with the same MSC. Shops I did for $37.50 in 2020 I have to do for $20 in 2022. (I could refuse, but this is my only source of income atm).
Another brand by the same MSC is way down in bonuses offered this quarter as well. And offering an $11.50 bonus instead of $12.50? Cheap.
Lol I had the same thought. No way am I advertising for them to recruit competition for me. The vest was way too small anyways. But I actually appreciated the thought. And I can use the iPad they included in mine.
@jay225 wrote:
got another silly email yesterday from the company yesterday… exxon mobile lol… the new manager must be used to phone shops. of course it was touting ishopfirst… no thanks. any of you guys get their “care” package a few weeks ago? a vest, and a letter thanking me for being one of the top shoppers blah blah blah.
Not the first time I have seen them spell it like that, either. Hopefully they are better on any professional correspondence they might have with EM. Got the care package, I'll use the pen but that's it. Somewhere a marketing exec is hoping that shoppers will fall for the recruiting scheme. Let's hope that very few do.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2022 11:04PM by KA047.
I will definitely not be using my care package. I will use the pen as long as no one is watching. But I will not advertise for them. It is also a tone deaf slap in the face to send us that while attempting to lower our pay.
I believe that the gas brand contracts that they inherited from the previous company are relatively favorable to the client and became less viable over the past few years. My guess is that their new gas contract is much more profitable than the existing ones. I think one of the reasons why the previous company sold off their mystery shopping division was because of these relatively client friendly contracts. From what I've been told from some schedulers for multiple companies, the sales teams are on crack.
I believe that the gas brand contracts that they inherited from the previous company are relatively favorable to the client and became less viable over the past few years. My guess is that their new gas contract is much more profitable than the existing ones. I think one of the reasons why the previous company sold off their mystery shopping division was because of these relatively client friendly contracts. From what I've been told from some schedulers for multiple companies, the sales teams are on crack.
How many shops have y'all done to get that swag? Never know, it could become collectible I wish I had something with logos of the defunct companies I contracted for back when I started working.
I wish I had something with logos of the defunct companies I contracted for back when I started working.
Oh hey...I didn't get any sweet package from EM...I have a nice big vest I use for Shell, but I don't wear it on the EM shops. Maybe they figured I don't need a vest since I don't wear it anyway...feeling unappreciated...boo hoo...ha ha!
*****************************************************************************
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
The care package was from the MSC for completing gas station shops across all brands. I estimate I've done at least 1000 locations over the past 12 months. I grossed about 120K last year, and the gas stations make up at least 50% of my work. I always wear a vest, even for brands that don't require it. It is safer, and people seem to seem more comfortable with me around them taking photos when I'm wearing it. It makes me look more official.
That said, I will not advertise for the MSC and wear their vest. There are a couple of independent schedulers that have been good to me, and I will do my best to help them out. However, the MSC deserves no favors from anyone...ever.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2022 05:28PM by thunderdeacon.
That said, I will not advertise for the MSC and wear their vest. There are a couple of independent schedulers that have been good to me, and I will do my best to help them out. However, the MSC deserves no favors from anyone...ever.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2022 05:28PM by thunderdeacon.
Why won't you wear a vest for the gas station shops? You get paid the same. All I care about is getting paid.
I wear a vest on the gas station shops, even ones that don't require it. My safety is more important than their requirements.
deleted
Moderator Note:
It is a Forum violation to list the MSC when the Client has already been named in the title. Your quoted portion was also removed because it contained the name of the MSC.Please feel free to re-post after editing your comments.
@johnb974 wrote:
But you are doing work for MSC. I don't care who's name is on the vest, as long as I get paid. I've done gas station shops for MSC, but have never seen a vest with their name on it.
John apparently you can't follow what people have been saying.
You apparently didn't qualify for a free MSC branded vest that they sent to some shoppers.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2022 05:19AM by wrosie.
If they sent it to you, they must like you, so why complain?
Do any of the gas audits still require the face mask in the safety vest photos? I haven't done any of these for a while. Some time back for the Yellow stations you even had to carry the guide (instructions) with you and take a photo of yourself holding it. Just some of the dumb things have been through with these companies over the years. 
Well, I've always assumed that I work for myself, choosing which jobs to take, which MSC that I'll do a job for and what day and time of day I'll do that job. Therefore, I don't tell folks who I'm contracting with, what I'm receiving in compensation for that contract work and especially not wearing an advertisement for that company in which I contract my work.
However, as a rule, I wear a safety vest as part of the contract requirement and as a regard for my own safety. I also believe it makes me seem more of a professional, performing work that customers recognize and feel more comfortable with as I walk about taking photos.
The downside is that customers come up to me, complaining about something the gas station is doing and now, especially now, with gasoline prices through the roof, I receive multiple complaints about the high cost of gasoline. I just nod in agreement.
I know I'm just an average looking person, but for some reason when wearing the vest, I've noticed the truck drivers (big rigs) getting flirtatious, cops grinning at me and some customers referring to me as "sweetie" or "honey". Maybe it's the color (pink)?
However, as a rule, I wear a safety vest as part of the contract requirement and as a regard for my own safety. I also believe it makes me seem more of a professional, performing work that customers recognize and feel more comfortable with as I walk about taking photos.
The downside is that customers come up to me, complaining about something the gas station is doing and now, especially now, with gasoline prices through the roof, I receive multiple complaints about the high cost of gasoline. I just nod in agreement.
I know I'm just an average looking person, but for some reason when wearing the vest, I've noticed the truck drivers (big rigs) getting flirtatious, cops grinning at me and some customers referring to me as "sweetie" or "honey". Maybe it's the color (pink)?
DUDES!!! I messed up and got a post deleted for violation of the rules! So sorry, I guess I forgot what the original subject was.
Anyway, here is a modified version of said post:
It is not the wearing of a vest we are objecting to. It is the wearing of a vest stamped with (MSC name and slogan) we are objecting to. I use a vest when required but a generic one.
The point is, (MSC) wants us to market them as we work. For no extra pay. And bring in new shoppers to further reduce our pay.
Anyway, here is a modified version of said post:
It is not the wearing of a vest we are objecting to. It is the wearing of a vest stamped with (MSC name and slogan) we are objecting to. I use a vest when required but a generic one.
The point is, (MSC) wants us to market them as we work. For no extra pay. And bring in new shoppers to further reduce our pay.
If the vest has the name of the MSC on it....so much for the NDA. LOL
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
It is a Forum violation to list the MSC when the Client has already been named in the title. Please feel free to re-post after editing your comments.