Hello and good morning once again. I'm curious about these gas station audits for Exxon, Chevron, Shell and Phillips I see from time to time. Has anyone had a really negative experience from the station employees once you do the "reveal" part of the shop?

No overly negative experiences after 100's of gas station shops. The only remotely negative thing was when a fairly new employee asked for my ID and called a manager before allowing me to complete the audit.

Nothing negative. I too have had the manager called ( not that often). The manager has told employee it's ok.

Not really negative, but quite interesting: On a July 4th, the owner did not believe a
real
company would order an audit on a National Holiday. As for the LOA AND ID, he said "anybody" could print those off (obviously, he couldn't know I'm such a tech idiot that it would be impossible for me! ).

I documented what happened, and was paid in full. I believe it was $175.

Not in a long time. I had a green owner tear up the NCR form, throw it in the trash, and then go off on me about the company. Had a yellow owner ask me to wait and then while I was waiting and talking to someone from the old company a policeman told me to leave. Both were a long time ago with the old company.

No, I've not had any bad experiences. A few months ago I had an Exxon owner refuse the audit due to an ongoing problem with Exxon and fees due of some sort. He allowed the photo of the refusal form on the counter and I was paid. His problem was with Exxon, not with me and he was cordial about me being there, just did not want the audit and said he wasn't going to pay for it..done..end of story...good-bye..thank you.

The locations get FINED for the stores that rhyme with Bell if they refuse audit or dont fix issues that repeatedly being reported.. thousands of dollars i was told. The red white and blue will fine them and debrand them after too many issues. They dont want their logo on stations that are are filthy or dangerous.

I've had some negative interactions over the years. I had a Texaco "employee" chase me out of the building and tell me that he wasn't an employee and he wasn't the owner but he was behind the counter and he was taking money from customers. I finished that shop all except for one picture inside I don't remember which one. And I explained in the comments what happened. I got paid for it.

Another time I was doing a Chevron audit, there were two elderly blonde ladies behind the counter. I gave them the LOA, explain that I had a few pictures to take inside and a few pictures to take outside and then I would be out of their hair. I got that line about anybody could print this page "offline" and we want to see a badge. We all know that the mystery shopping company doesn't give us badges. I tried desperately to remain pleasant but after several minutes of them demanding a badge or proof that I was supposed to be there I told them I gave you the loa that proves that I'm supposed to be here and and the owner was notified in email that I was coming on this date. The ladies said we never got an email. I told him that I can't do the audit if they don't allow me to. And if they don't want me to do it, you tell me to leave. And they said well then you better leave. So I did.

I believe that they spoke to the owner while I was in my car submitting the closed location report, and they waved at me and tried to get me to come back as I was driving away. Either that or they were trying to get my license plate to call the police, I'll never know.

I've had a few negative experiences, but not as bad as some have posted in the past. Mainly, that the employee is annoyed that they didn't know there was going to be an audit. I had one employee that only spoke Spanish and I don't know if she understood anything I was trying to say. I eventually completed the audit though. There was another location that had drug paraphernalia and the employee tried to talk me out of taking pictures, but he never said no, so I continued to snap pics. I haven't been back to that location, so I have no idea if he still stocks that stuff.

It has been a complete rarity to have any problem at a fuel station. Once in a while an attendant is defensive about not having a uniform or a name tag. I just listen and tell them not being given a uniform, name tag or insufficient uniforms to get through the week(laundry issues) may be on the owner/Manager. I advise them they may decline the pic and if they persist you take the picture of the counter.

I do one G Fuel station that has what they feel a legitimate beef with their Supplier, the Fuel Company and a previous evaluator. We now have a rapport but it was a poor encounter by them the first time. I make the fuel purchase and walk into the office/no store and deliver the LOA. I listen briefly to gage my initial reception but before it escalates I state I will respect their situation and I sympathetically advise I will take the minimal necessary pictures from the public sidewalk and I refer to the pictures named on the LOA. I do not take pictures of employees or inside the building but I describe everything in comments.

The only recurring problem once in a while is when the employee disappears to put on their uniform. You politely wait and take the picture they consent to and record the situation in comments or as directed on the survey. Don't be critical. I don't even acknowledge it. Just make an objective observation. "Attendant X departed briefly after delivery of the LOA. It was recognized upon their return they had changed into a XYZ logo uniform shirt."

Restrain any criticism or recognition of site infractions with employees. They get defensive and it just uses up your time. When they ask/tell me "Everything is good. Yes?" I just smile and say it was nice to meet them and perhaps I say thank you for being so gracious to me.

Be brave! Be confident. Be objective.

Have you guys ever had any language barriers with store personnel?

@metro25782 wrote:

Have you guys ever had any language barriers with store personnel?

Just had my worst on Monday. 7-11 with P66, and it was rare to do the interior eval. Normally the instructions are not to do the interior stuff.

I had to ask about credit card applications because I did not see any on the counter. CSR just nodded at me with a blank stare to each question I asked.

So fun.

Those are the best. The clerk actively pretends to understand and just says yes or nods.

I had one really bad experience and the last 10 years of mystery shopping. The experience I had was more of a cultural problem. I had arrived at gas station location where the person who was behind the counter told me that he did not talk to women unless they had a head scarf and were modest. He told me that women are to be seen and not heard and refused to give me permission to audit the location. I was polite and left the store called the company that I was working with, notify them of the issue and they told me that I would get paid for the location and to handle it as if it was refused. About 4 months later I drove past the gas station and the company that they had been with DeBranded them and they changed and went with different company, which I also audited for. I was offered that location to audit at a premium amount and took it and when I returned the guy that I seen, that gave me the hard time was no longer working there and the person behind the counter was very friendly.

My best piece of advice is this. If you ever have an issue, don't be afraid to contact your mystery shopping company, they really stood behind me and I really appreciated that.

I've had some use their phone to interpret what I was asking. That's always fun, but it works.

Are these getting bonused anymore?

I haven't seen it in my area and I won't do them for base pay and reimbursement since I do have to travel a little bit.

@piebaby wrote:

I had one really bad experience and the last 10 years of mystery shopping. The experience I had was more of a cultural problem. I had arrived at gas station location where the person who was behind the counter told me that he did not talk to women unless they had a head scarf and were modest. He told me that women are to be seen and not heard and refused to give me permission to audit the location. I was polite and left the store called the company that I was working with, notify them of the issue and they told me that I would get paid for the location and to handle it as if it was refused. About 4 months later I drove past the gas station and the company that they had been with DeBranded them and they changed and went with different company, which I also audited for. I was offered that location to audit at a premium amount and took it and when I returned the guy that I seen, that gave me the hard time was no longer working there and the person behind the counter was very friendly.

My best piece of advice is this. If you ever have an issue, don't be afraid to contact your mystery shopping company, they really stood behind me and I really appreciated that.

WOW...talk about awkward.

A girl I went to school went into the Army. She told me this story. She was in Kuwait and made corporal. Her captain told her that there was this good restaurant in Kuwait City. So one day she and some other female soldiers drive into KC and they go to this place. The place is pretty empty and a bunch of male bus boys were standing around. They were about to leave when nobody would serve them. This girl runs up to them from the back of the house; hair wet and out of breath and takes their order. At the end of the meal Arlene asks her what the deal was and she said without a hint of anger or chagrin that "men don't wait on women". She further said that she usually doesn't work as a server; she was slicing vegetables in the back and was sent home to get a clean shirt which is what took so long.

True or not? I don't know. But it sounds like it could be.

@wrosie wrote:

Are these getting bonused anymore?

I haven't seen it in my area and I won't do them for base pay and reimbursement since I do have to travel a little bit.

The ones in rural Texas are always bonused to some degree for the big "I" MSC..which is why I have began to consider doing these.

It sounds like I may have to take advantage of the open carry laws in Texas if I do though. Just kidding.

Never in history of doing 100s, but saw the new ones that require a torso picture and thought to myself - this is the line I don't cross. lol....come on give me a break.

I once did an E/M shop in a small town. The station's owner greeted me after the reveal and stated quite emphatically, that I must take only photos of the counter if I was waited upon by a woman. For men, he said, I could take a photo of their torso.
"Okay," I said.
From then on, I always took the photo as he had instructed.
Recently, i did the same shop. The owner waited upon me.
After the reveal, he stated how fair I have been over the years.
When I mentioned the torso photo versus the counter photo and how he had instructed me to take it (man versus woman), he explained further.
His explanation was that he did not want his female employees to have their chests put on the internet with someone's face photoshopped upon their chest.
"Oh," I remarked.
I walked away mouth agape.
Whatever.

I find that almost 100% of the clerks are friendly and helpful. Most recognize me as having shopped before. Yesterday, I did a pilot at a store that I used to do and the clerk was so happy to see me. She told me that since she had not seen me in such a long time, she was worried about me. I used to be able to elf assign myself monthly to shops in my area and now I am unable to do so.
On rare occasions, the clerk will call an owner to see if I am legit.

@metro25782 wrote:

Has anyone had a really negative experience from the station employees once you do the "reveal" part of the shop?

I have had some interesting ones, that's for sure. I was doing an audit for a major convenience store chain once and a few of the managers wanted nothing to do with me. He said anyone could print these LOA and he kind of tossed it back in my face, extremely rude. Another manager got verbal hostile. I was about to leave but before I could go, he called his manager, who told him I was authorized to be there. He apologized after I had already closed the report with "refused by management" note.

One of the more hilarious encounters I had was with a Red White And Blue shop owner who asked if I could relay a message to corporate for him. He said "Tell corporate to ****** my ***** and ***** off, go to ***** and any other profanity he could think of. He explained to me why he hates corporate in great detail, revealing some rather interesting policies on their end. It's tough on some of these gas station owners. He was actually very nice and kind, making sure that I knew he had no issue with me doing my audit, he just hated the gas company. He seriously wanted me to relay the angry message, which I did.

I was once howled at by a guy at a pump. All I knew was this guy yelled at me for taking pictures he thought included him or his car. I explained I was working and I had not included him or his vehicle in any picture. He yelled at me, "Women don't belong in construction. I am going to call my Congressman." A while later I rec'd email from the MSC asking about the situation. That is when I figured the guy was the Manager or Owner who was called by the Clerk. I responded with details and never heard again and have done the site a few more times with no problem.
Negative encounters are extremely rare.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/11/2023 05:08PM by emm2131.

emm2131 reminded me of perhaps the most negative incident, involving a customer.

I was doing a Yellow/Red, and walking around the lot in my vest minding my own business and focusing on taking pictures.

Apparently some guy thought I was an employee and said something to me from across the parking lot. As I wasn't paying attention to anything but the job at hand, I didn't hear him, much less respond. He ended up driving his car over to where I was and started verbally abusing me.

I was more than happy to return the favor...

I had an Exxon owner refuse the inside portion, but told me I could take outside pictures. I did it, but reported everything I had seen (uniform, oil, bathroom) so it didn't save them. The next time everything was fine.

I had that happen once. I just reported it as refused, and got paid. That was before we got half fee, so I might do it differently now

I'd say that pretty much all of my negative experiences with staff are because they don't like me taking a picture of the drug paraphernalia. If it's a small amount that they could possibly move quickly, I take it as quick as they can while trying to take the photo while they are not looking. Sometimes, they might need to turn away while turning on the lights or something. Had one demand that I didn't take a picture of the paraphernalia, but little did he know I had already taken it, so I could go on my way without needing to talk about the topic any further. (I'm sure he didn't like getting that report!) Otherwise, if there's too much of it for them to possibly move, I wait until the end. Haven't gotten a rude customer in a while. (knock on wood)

Funny experience on a Valero that I had done a few times, and always had drug paraphernalia (it was about six weeks into the shopping period). When I went in on the mystery shop, I saw the typical case was empty, so I'm thinking "oh good, they finally got the message". Then while in line, the customer in front of me asks, "where do you have the bongs now?" The clerk told them they had to get audited first then they would put them back. Would've noted that on the report, but eventually I did notice another paraphernalia item that allowed me to still mark the place off for it.

I had the police called on me yesterday. I think it was a customer that called, because the guy inside already had the loa and he smiled and everything was okay. Lady in a white Mercedes drove up while I was taking pictures of the island and I was sitting in my car doing the report and a policeman walked up to my window and asked me what I was doing. I told him and explain that it's just a marketing audit and I was just finishing my report and then I was going to go away and he says okay no big deal just somebody said you were taking pictures, as if taking pictures in public places now suddenly against the rules?

Heck, I had the police called on me at a Sonic. And it had nothing to do with taking pictures.

@mystery2me wrote:

Heck, I had the police called on me at a Sonic. And it had nothing to do with taking pictures.

Were you eating too loudly?