I knocked out 38 visits this week, including an overnight loop. The loop came about thanks to some big bonuses for Exxon hitting. These would be the first I have done under the new (not improved) program.
While I can see where the MSC has tried to allow for better flow so report submission can be on the spot, it proved to be pretty clunky out in the boonies. In this case, my loop took me to Jackson WY and back, through one of my favorite areas on the planet.
Biggest issue was the Take Photo function in SASSIE not working consistently. Between that, and slow upload times here and there, I went back to my old MO of getting the pictures and submitting the report later. This worked OK, except for managing pump photos, which are too small in the SASSIE browser to see details like small pump numbers. I ended up going through photos in my app and noting the order of the pump photos, reversing that order to input them for the way the SASSIE photo browser displays them vs. the iPhone Photos browser.
Only real difference I could see vs the old version and the update is no individual check boxes for pump cleanliness. And as a result, no more grid to print out for keeping track of pump photos.
One big factor that made this loop work: because the stations are remote, they are small. Most had only 4 or 6 pumps. I can see it being a drag trying to get a report done in real time at one of the stations with double digit pumps, especially running out-of-order at a busy station. Scrolling back and forth in SASSIE on a phone is not my idea of a good time.
The other updated program is for Phillips Conoco 76, and their project has been updated to include the company's Fuel Forward app. I applied for and received a P66 credit card and linked it to the app. Only 1 station out of 23 I visited this week did not work with it.
Best thing about this is I can pump small amounts of gas without the dreaded praying-for-a-receipt-mantra. It's SO nice when you finished the previous long day of driving with 5 Chevrons and a close-to-full tank of gas. Return day was all P66's, so I could just pump until full and then figure out how much to spend in-store
While I wound up doing $2 at 4 of my 5 Exxons (all receipts printed...yay), I would go on to lower the bar this trip, purchasing $1.10 in gas at a P66 stop. So proud! LOL
Only had to ask for a printout once after I switched to credit cards when the app shut me out for too much use after 10 stops over the course of 2 days. That was for $1.50, and when the guy pulled the receipt he first thought it was a mistake. I went with my Mr. Big Spender line, and he asked if I had filled a gas tank. Need to remember that bit in the future...
The app is pretty slick, and I haven't even looked into the rewards management aspect of it. As a rideshare driver, I'm glad to have another fuel source/payment method to maximize discounts and spread out the payments for my biggest business expense. The only thing that is a bit wonky is the receipt experience. Took me a couple of stops to figure it out.
There's a button to view the paper receipt, and that is the way to go... you get a reverse-image from a physical receipt, but all the stuff the MSC wants to see is on there, and, more importantly, my reports are being accepted.
The e-mail receipt function is useless for our purposes. You get a message with total bare bones info and a bunch of nice colors filling up screen area. Biggest peeve with the app: if you get a paper receipt prompt (and accept) at the pump, the view function in the app gives you a zoomed view and you cannot grab the necessary details.
With the flexible reimbursement structure in the P66 program (what makes it the fave for me), I wound up buying a bunch of small amounts of gas while running full on fuel, and putting the in-store purchase (I now have a huge inventory of 5-Hour Energy) and using ApplePay at the register. This limits the amount of cash I need, and it lets me max my cash flow.
I've got another day trip of 7 more P66's at higher bonuses than this last round (and I will try not accepting a printed receipt should I get the prompt to see what happens). I should wind up getting fully paid by Tuesday the 15th, but thanks to the Apple Card being the slickest credit card known to mankind, my payment is due September 30, giving me a 6+ week float on income vs outgo.
Even pre-inflation, I've always made it a game with the $1 reimbursements. I try to buy as much as I can for over $1 without it being so little over that the cashier goes for the spare change stash or just rounds it down. I love coming home with a massive amount of change, and I offload it to a jar just inside my backdoor. Should funds get a little tighter than I like, a quick trip to the credit union coin counter (membership thanks to mystery shopping) solves it.
Only one encounter this trip got a little testy after a double.
Shelf tag for Grandma's cookies was $1.09. SOLD.
Rang up at $1.58 with tax. Mentioned it, and the clerk pointed out the price stamped on the package in black ink on a dark background that could barely be seen.
I declined, noting that was too big a discrepancy, and opted instead for my fallback, the 2-for-$1.09 peanuts (salted dry-roasted, which is my preference, though hard-to-find), and those rang up at $1.46.
I pointed to the price printed clearly on the packaging in nice contrast, noting that stuff seems to be ringing up at wrong prices these days. The clerk actually asked the manager if she should fix the price for me. Oh, the irony.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2023 03:33PM by CoolMusic.
While I can see where the MSC has tried to allow for better flow so report submission can be on the spot, it proved to be pretty clunky out in the boonies. In this case, my loop took me to Jackson WY and back, through one of my favorite areas on the planet.
Biggest issue was the Take Photo function in SASSIE not working consistently. Between that, and slow upload times here and there, I went back to my old MO of getting the pictures and submitting the report later. This worked OK, except for managing pump photos, which are too small in the SASSIE browser to see details like small pump numbers. I ended up going through photos in my app and noting the order of the pump photos, reversing that order to input them for the way the SASSIE photo browser displays them vs. the iPhone Photos browser.
Only real difference I could see vs the old version and the update is no individual check boxes for pump cleanliness. And as a result, no more grid to print out for keeping track of pump photos.
One big factor that made this loop work: because the stations are remote, they are small. Most had only 4 or 6 pumps. I can see it being a drag trying to get a report done in real time at one of the stations with double digit pumps, especially running out-of-order at a busy station. Scrolling back and forth in SASSIE on a phone is not my idea of a good time.
The other updated program is for Phillips Conoco 76, and their project has been updated to include the company's Fuel Forward app. I applied for and received a P66 credit card and linked it to the app. Only 1 station out of 23 I visited this week did not work with it.
Best thing about this is I can pump small amounts of gas without the dreaded praying-for-a-receipt-mantra. It's SO nice when you finished the previous long day of driving with 5 Chevrons and a close-to-full tank of gas. Return day was all P66's, so I could just pump until full and then figure out how much to spend in-store
While I wound up doing $2 at 4 of my 5 Exxons (all receipts printed...yay), I would go on to lower the bar this trip, purchasing $1.10 in gas at a P66 stop. So proud! LOL
Only had to ask for a printout once after I switched to credit cards when the app shut me out for too much use after 10 stops over the course of 2 days. That was for $1.50, and when the guy pulled the receipt he first thought it was a mistake. I went with my Mr. Big Spender line, and he asked if I had filled a gas tank. Need to remember that bit in the future...
The app is pretty slick, and I haven't even looked into the rewards management aspect of it. As a rideshare driver, I'm glad to have another fuel source/payment method to maximize discounts and spread out the payments for my biggest business expense. The only thing that is a bit wonky is the receipt experience. Took me a couple of stops to figure it out.
There's a button to view the paper receipt, and that is the way to go... you get a reverse-image from a physical receipt, but all the stuff the MSC wants to see is on there, and, more importantly, my reports are being accepted.
The e-mail receipt function is useless for our purposes. You get a message with total bare bones info and a bunch of nice colors filling up screen area. Biggest peeve with the app: if you get a paper receipt prompt (and accept) at the pump, the view function in the app gives you a zoomed view and you cannot grab the necessary details.
With the flexible reimbursement structure in the P66 program (what makes it the fave for me), I wound up buying a bunch of small amounts of gas while running full on fuel, and putting the in-store purchase (I now have a huge inventory of 5-Hour Energy) and using ApplePay at the register. This limits the amount of cash I need, and it lets me max my cash flow.
I've got another day trip of 7 more P66's at higher bonuses than this last round (and I will try not accepting a printed receipt should I get the prompt to see what happens). I should wind up getting fully paid by Tuesday the 15th, but thanks to the Apple Card being the slickest credit card known to mankind, my payment is due September 30, giving me a 6+ week float on income vs outgo.
Even pre-inflation, I've always made it a game with the $1 reimbursements. I try to buy as much as I can for over $1 without it being so little over that the cashier goes for the spare change stash or just rounds it down. I love coming home with a massive amount of change, and I offload it to a jar just inside my backdoor. Should funds get a little tighter than I like, a quick trip to the credit union coin counter (membership thanks to mystery shopping) solves it.
Only one encounter this trip got a little testy after a double.
Shelf tag for Grandma's cookies was $1.09. SOLD.
Rang up at $1.58 with tax. Mentioned it, and the clerk pointed out the price stamped on the package in black ink on a dark background that could barely be seen.
I declined, noting that was too big a discrepancy, and opted instead for my fallback, the 2-for-$1.09 peanuts (salted dry-roasted, which is my preference, though hard-to-find), and those rang up at $1.46.
I pointed to the price printed clearly on the packaging in nice contrast, noting that stuff seems to be ringing up at wrong prices these days. The clerk actually asked the manager if she should fix the price for me. Oh, the irony.
Have synthesizers, will travel...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2023 03:33PM by CoolMusic.