I see these on Presto, paying about $10 a pop. Looks like you just go into the establishment and look for the signs - but it says a purchase may be required....some of these are higher end restaurants...$10 barely covers a soda.
Does anyone find these worthwhile? Maybe I am missing something (it happens lol)

It's been a while since I've done one, but I never had to make a purchase.

Several threads discussing these. Yes, some find them worthwhile.

I did search first, I used the terms "debit" and "surcharge" didn't see anything directly using those two terms. Will try again.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

I was able to pull up these in less than a minute

Make sure you are using the search feature that is 'powered by google'

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2023 02:51AM by luckygirl0100.

Ah Visa Debit Card. I was searching for Debit plus Surcharge in the title.
Oh well. Solved.

Click the last link that @luckygirl0100 provided -- Visa Debit Card.

The first link is for a different type of shop which is the Visa contactless job where the pay is worse ($8) and a lower reimbursement of $5.

The second link is for a thread which last had a post 6 1/2 years ago.

thank you for saving me from the PITA of reading what is likely not applicable.

It’s a very simple shop. Don’t expect to make a route of them though, first one I did paid $14, went to do the next one and ALL of them dropped to $10 each. A week later, they had all dropped to $8 each. Waited another month and now they’re all showing $16 each. So confusing and obviously not worth the time unless you are already in or near the location.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/08/2023 08:30PM by misspocos75.

Because they've been around for a few months, there's a good chance that the ones left are specifically tougher shops. Last time I looked I saw fewer convenience stores and pizza shops, and more plate glass and insurance. Harder to blend in as a customer there.

I'm not sure if it was in one of the linked threads, but I recall one of the more successful shoppers saying they did it with an IDGAF attitude for subterfuge. Ask if they surcharge. If yes, try to buy something cheap. If no, take a picture of the counter, walk out without explanation. I don't think I'd be comfortable doing that, but it gives accurate results for the client and maintains a good pace for you.

I wish I had that kind of testicular heft.

@misspocos75 You are confusing two shops as one. The Debit Surcharge shop is supposed to be done with a VISA debit card only when a purchase is required. The Contactless one must be done with a Visa debit or credit that has the contactless technology and with that contactless symbol on the card. Not all debit and credit have the contactless symbol.

The contactless shops have paid $8 and a $5 reimbursement and I have never seen them bonused. The contactless shops always require a purchase and more pics than the debit surcharge shops. The Debit Surcharge shops do not require a purchase unless certain criteria are met. At the beginning of this cycle, the debit surcharge shops started out at $10 with $10 reimbursement, got bumped up in pay to $14, and when they released more last month, the rate went back down to $10 for all of them, including the ones that were $14 the day before. They have since gone back up in pay and are now at $16.

At this stage of the cycle, it is my understanding that you can't build a route of the debit surcharge shops since you can only do 3 from the recently released batch before all in that batch disappear for at least a day. There are a few contactless shops in my area.

They suggest you capture the contactless transaction as a video since the data on the screen moves quickly and doesn't stay there for long. You would do a screen cap of the required shots. I recall myself and other posters having issues when doing this with the app since we got a pixel size error. So the solution was to use software to bump up the pixels. This extra step took a shop that was low pay : low effort and quick to fill out report to low pay : PITA effort to a longer time to complete the shop survey.

@misspocos75 wrote:

It’s a very simple shop. Don’t expect to make a route of them though, first one I did paid $14, went to do the next one and ALL of them dropped to $10 each. A week later, they had all dropped to $8 each. Waited another month and now they’re all showing $16 each. So confusing and obviously not worth the time unless you are already in or near the location.

When researching a location, the instructions say to submit a screenshot if internet research shows the place is not shoppable for certain reasons. But Presto doesn't accept screenshots, says the file is too small. How do you guys make it work? So far, I have been taking a picture of the screenshot with a different phone then sending that pic to myself to download then upload. What a bother. Is there a better way? That's a bunch of roundy-round for just a buck.

I think a screenshot on your phone is a png file. Can you convert it to a .jpg file? Not saying this would work, just a thought. But still an extra step.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/2023 12:09AM by wrosie.

@sestrahelena Is Google or Bing showing that it is closed? I think you still have to do a drive by to get the GPS Check In. Yesterday I did three shops, not all surcharge tasks, and two of them said permanently closed and another had a "others have reported this business no longer exists." Two of the three were in business and the other had a different name, but there was an enterprise operating at that address. You have to go in and conduct that shop.

A couple of weeks ago I did a shop and the address listed was wrong by 15 years. The business had moved from that location to another less than a mile away.

They're being offered at $27 where I live. I did one last week, and it was easy peasy.

@wrosie wrote:

I think a screenshot on your phone is a png file. Can you convert it to a .jpg file? Not saying this would work, just a thought. But still an extra step.

My phone shows is as jpg but a much smaller size than actual photos are. Presto won't accept the smaller size. An error pops up saying the picture must be at least something by something. I forgot the numbers.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/21/2023 02:09PM by sestrahelena.

@heywave wrote:

@sestrahelena Is Google or Bing showing that it is closed? I think you still have to do a drive by to get the GPS Check In.

Google showed what the business was and it is a seasonal operation, and by local law, only allowed to operate at certain times of year. Not anytime soon.
"While verifying store hours, if you discover the location is permanently closed, a
residential address, or an unshoppable business, upload a screenshot of your
findings to the survey and report it as closed. You will receive a $1 look-up fee."
I checked in from home and reported GPS issue, as I usually get an error even if I am in the right place.

Yea, the ones left around me are at $30. Buuuut, in quickly glancing at them it looks like most of them are probably residential addresses or permanently closed locations. So that's why they're the ones left remaining. I would love to do tons of these at $30. But I'm not dealing with the hassles of half pay or screenshots for a buck.

I have done a few of these. I think you only make the purchase if the store advertises a surcharge. Then your receipt proves that they charged the surcharge.

@Snuffycuts99 I see just a few of the old that have been hanging around forever left. Strangely enough, I will see dozens of new ones that will pop up from time to time and lately when I click them, they say this shop is no longer available and all the new ones disappear and only the old ones are left. Has anyone else seen that in their area?

@Paula7928 Yes, you make a purchase if there is a surcharge. The receipt doesn't always show a surcharge. I've had a few signs, employees, or both say there is a surcharge and then there isn't one on the receipt. The receipt doesn't always provide the proof you are looking for.

@Paula7928 wrote:

I have done a few of these. I think you only make the purchase if the store advertises a surcharge. Then your receipt proves that they charged the surcharge.

The receipt doesn't always show the charge. You are also supposed to make a purchase if signage shows a cash discount. No way for a receipt to show that!

The debit surcharge shops are also up to $30 in my area. I did one the other day for $25 at an auto parts store that I had been avoiding because I didn't think there would be anything to buy. But I was down the block the other day, so I decided to take it. They didn't charge a surcharge and no minimum, so it was an easy shop. There's a deli that's up to $30, so I will do it today.

The deli is definitely open.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2023 04:40AM by MisterBill.

I've done several of these but none of my jobs have been approved yet. Fingers crossed!

It seems to me, as they get closer to deadlines, they get less picky with pictures. And not just on these shops, other types as well. I know there are a few of these in the past that some of my photos were not very clear and the instructions put a heavy emphasis on clear pictures. But they went through. Sometimes that happens with gas stations too.

I had one of these the other day where the girl wasn’t sure if a surcharge was added or not. She said “I think so, but we just changed companies, so I’m not sure, but it will show on your receipt if so.” So I made a purchase and noted what she said in the report. Well, payment for the purchase was denied, reason being that no purchase was required. I emailed back, asking what we do in such situations. No answer. I emailed again two days later. No answer. Anyone else have this happen?

@KayDan wrote:

I had one of these the other day where the girl wasn’t sure if a surcharge was added or not. She said “I think so, but we just changed companies, so I’m not sure, but it will show on your receipt if so.” So I made a purchase and noted what she said in the report. Well, payment for the purchase was denied, reason being that no purchase was required. I emailed back, asking what we do in such situations. No answer. I emailed again two days later. No answer. Anyone else have this happen?

Unfortunately, you might have to chalk it up as a loss. I had something similar happen to me with a pharmacy shop, not this type, and they never responded either. I appealed it with no response. So frustrating.

@KayDan Were you paid for the shop, but denied reimbursement or did they deny payment as well?

This has not happened to me on these shops and I am not sure what I would've done in this circumstance other than ask another worker there. I am not sure that I would've thought of that in the moment. If I had, I have no idea what I would've done if that was the only employee in the store.

Was there signage about a surcharge or minimum? We already confirmed that the receipt does not always list a fee on the receipt and they don't always charge a fee even when there is a sign and/or the cashier says there is a fee.

@KayDan wrote:

I had one of these the other day where the girl wasn’t sure if a surcharge was added or not. She said “I think so, but we just changed companies, so I’m not sure, but it will show on your receipt if so.” So I made a purchase and noted what she said in the report. Well, payment for the purchase was denied, reason being that no purchase was required. I emailed back, asking what we do in such situations. No answer. I emailed again two days later. No answer. Anyone else have this happen?

Yes, but mine was a few months ago when the directions AND report form specifically said to ask the employee about a fee and a minimum purchase and discount.
No signage was visible, I asked and was told verbally there was a fee. The receipt was only the credit slip, not a breakdown of charges. I was paid for the shop but denied reimbursement. I was told to change my answer to 'i did not make a purchase' and 'no fees were charged'.

That's the last time I made a purchase even if told there were fees. I only do if I can photograph signage now. The report form doesn't even ask about the employee verbal response now.

I don't see any more of these Debit shops in my area. We'll see if a new cycle comes around and what the initial fee is.

@luckygirl0100 I have done these recently and I thought the survey still asks for the employee response to at least surcharges and minimums.

When there isn't a sign and only the employee is stating a fee, then I tend to get something that is as close to the minimum purchase as possible. I think I ran into a couple of situations where I only received the slip with total and no itemization.