I don't mind either as long as I'm PAID!

BuffaloNY101
I did a couple of non reveal Chevs (non bonused) as part of a route last month to get an idea how they compared to the Ks with detail involved and ease of submission. There weren't that many left on the board either. After they got bonused, I reached out to the scheduler to see if they could go up on the C store and gas reimbursement.

Maybe this one was an outlier, but I explained that the Chev C store didn't offer items under a $1.00 (the other one did not have a C store). The cheapest thing was a fountain drink for $1.59. They had peanut butter cups for $1.99. She said no to the reimbursement and said just get a small candy. I had written in the initial note the store didn't have any small candies and if I say the cheapest thing the store has for sale is $1.59, isn't that clear enough? I told the scheduler that I was going into my pay to satisfy the purchase requirement.

They were only paying for exactly 1 gallon of gas which wouldn't be a problem, but this is where you had to time the flow. Pass if it is under 11 seconds and Fail if over. So you had to go over a gallon on this and go into your pay to satisfy the fuel component.

I can't tell if people are jumping on the September $14 Shells because I didn't pay attention to how many they were offering, but I only see one listed now. Glad to see all Valeros are still available and no one is doing them for $12.

@heywave wrote:

BuffaloNY101
I did a couple of non reveal Chevs (non bonused) as part of a route last month to get an idea how they compared to the Ks with detail involved and ease of submission. There weren't that many left on the board either. After they got bonused, I reached out to the scheduler to see if they could go up on the C store and gas reimbursement.

Maybe this one was an outlier, but I explained that the Chev C store didn't offer items under a $1.00 (the other one did not have a C store). The cheapest thing was a fountain drink for $1.59. They had peanut butter cups for $1.99. She said no to the reimbursement and said just get a small candy. I had written in the initial note the store didn't have any small candies and if I say the cheapest thing the store has for sale is $1.59, isn't that clear enough? I told the scheduler that I was going into my pay to satisfy the purchase requirement.

They were only paying for exactly 1 gallon of gas which wouldn't be a problem, but this is where you had to time the flow. Pass if it is under 11 seconds and Fail if over. So you had to go over a gallon on this and go into your pay to satisfy the fuel component.

I can't tell if people are jumping on the September $14 Shells because I didn't pay attention to how many they were offering, but I only see one listed now. Glad to see all Valeros are still available and no one is doing them for $12.

As for the non-revealed unless employee out of uniform:
Yes, the $1 reimbursement is low but often a single cheese stick, a small pack of those cracker and pb sandwiches pack of peanuts, or as you said fountain drink. Yes, you only get a $1 so figure you pay for something you like at a reduced rate. Arizona teas still $1 or $1.10 at most. 59 cents for a drink not bad. As for the timing use a stopwatch or count to yourself. I stop at 1 gallon and go over by 10 cents at most usually 3 to 5 cents and that was when it was like $5.70 a gallon. So worst case you're out 80 cents from the pay of $8.50 and a gallon of gas. If $7.30 pay worst case and a gallon of gas is not worth it, I understand and just don't do it but if close by or on a route of other shops a half hour total time, 15 mins on site 15-minute report and that could be high timewise, it's a fair pay rate.
I have never done a shell as the forum and requirements scarred me with the tape measuring components. At a high enough rate one day I will try one. At $14 the new starting for Shell and Exxon/Mobil no way not worth it but it is a pay increase for when they get bonused. Like i said before $40 minimum for me. I need $100 to try Shell then I decide and that Shell would have to be close by to a route as there are none in my immediate area.
Valero again not hard but they have to be done in daylight a issue for me reverse of others with nighttime required stations. $12 starting way too low I need at least $40.
My personal favorite is Gulf easier revealed audits 25 to 40 minutes on site 20 minute report and I have done for several from $100 to $150 pay and one for $450 my highest ever pay for any one shop.

The market cap of Shell is 1/5 of a trillion dollars; Exxon is double at 2/5 of a trillion. Until shoppers cease working for nothing, nothing is exactly what will be paid. When all is said and done, this IS business!

@shopperbob

I don't think the market cap of Shell & Exxon is relevant. They aren't hiring and setting the pay for shoppers. The MSCs are setting the rate. I would love to know what the MSCs earn per store. Granted, they are providing data to the end user that we gather.

Someone here or in another forum mentioned that a small business owner claimed that he paid almost $100 per report. I would hate to think that the MSCs are making 80% and we get 20%, if we are lucky, on every shop or audit.

I doubt that MSCs lose money even when they have to heavily bonus stores. They just don't earn as much overall, but they most likely, as others have noted, have a quota to fill and/or deadline to meet which may influence their performance bonus.

heywave opines--I don't think the market cap of Shell & Exxon is relevant.

Bob's reply--I disagree, as the value of a client is proportionate to payment.

heywave adds--They aren't hiring and setting the pay for shoppers. The MSCs are setting the rate.

Bob comments--In some situations, they may be true, but not with all clients. In my 19+ yrs. in this business, I have been fortunate to be involved in a few conversations dealing with the inner workings of operations.

This CITGO requirement of anonymity is ridiculous. Plus no reimbursement for the required purchase. It's hard to find anything in a convenience store under a buck. Maybe a fountain drink.

@foodluvr wrote:

Agreed. I have no preference but sneaking around at a gas station might as well be a reveal. I had a citgo shop that went sour and I was threatened even after I showed a loa. Makes you almost want to turn that into a revealed after getting the mystery shop portion out of the way.

I prefer revealed. No worry about being seen taking pictures or being suspicious.

I haven't done a covert operation in a while. When I did, they were all heavily bonused shops at tiny gas stations out in the middle of nowhere. It was stressful but worth the bonus. I'd take them at $60 2010-2012. Miss those shops.

I do worry that I will miss out on some nicely bonused covert shops since I've already outed myself.

Did my first covert shop in nearly a decade. 11 guideline pages of things I need to memorize and watch for is not worth $10 and a sandwich. Too much prep time. If I mess up, I have to do it all over again and be out of pocket. Yuck.

I much prefer overt.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/30/2022 11:58PM by Miss Tori Shopper.

My area is not so large, although I took one years ago, I don't take revealed mystery shops at all. Overall, I have a lot more opportunities and a longer shelf life as a shopper in my area if I maintain my anonymity. On the one I did years ago, a couple years after that shop, I ran into one of the people involved and they still remembered me. The restaurant made a big deal out of earning the mystery shopping award. I mean like clapping when I presented the award. I think everybody there (customers and employees) all remembered it. I think it really was a good and exciting workday experience for all involved, but that was it on my revealed shops. Everybody in town does not need to know that I am a mystery shopper, and I will have a whole lot more work if they don't.

I enjoy revealed. Less prep work, less things to remember. I have my clipboard with all my instructions. My two favourite have no covert part to them at all.