Rant

So I did some Shell shops on the "Magic" platform. I read the published guidelines, etc.
My first thought is Good Grief! Who wrote these?
Nowhere does it say that your photos must be over the minimum size of 1799 pixels!
Nowhere does it say that you must get the hours of operation and the site's telephone number.

Of course, they (the MSC) want the shopper to fill out the report while on site, on their smartphone. That's where you find out that, Oops, we want the telephone number and, by the way the hours.
But, for some poor fools like me, who live out where cell service is questionable, filling out the report while on site, let alone just checking in is an absolute challenge and, sometimes an impossibility.
You walk around with your phone held high just to get a signal. Try to fill out the report that way, especially when the temps have not seen zero degrees for days, the wind is howling and various other weather elements are increasing your frustration. You cannot even sit in your semi warm vehicle to attempt to fill out the report.
Of course, if you've done these shops previously, you knew that and would have done that (collected phone and hours information). Maybe.
But, the pixel size request! SMH
The same size photos I took with the MSC's other famous brand (E/M) that they also moved to the Magic platform, never asked for the minimum size of 1799 pixels.
So, I'm complaining because the guidelines were obviously written by someone who hasn't done a shop.
Simply put, just have in your guidelines all the needed photos - you know, MID, Restrooms, Overall of the site, etc. Add that they must be a minimum size. No surprises.
Next, just put down all the required info, Tel numbers, hours, etc. Make it simple - list what you want.

Sorry Rant Over

For now.

Apparently you've never done a Shell shop before. You have always needed the phone number and the store hours. The picture size is a Presto thing.. just increase the size settings in your phone when you take the pics. Transferring them from one device to another will reduce the size of the pictures, so you should do the report on the same device that you took the pictures on.

I think the point of the rant is you should be able to see the requirements before doing the shop, not after you are already there. And any time I am told to call and verify hours of operation, that is just to make sure I don't go when they are closed.

I'm going with French Farmer. Many of us know what has "Always been" required but there are many who are new, never tried this assignment, or thought requirements had changed since since they weren't mentioned in the instructions. I tried a few onsite submissions. Nope. Transferring the gallery photos to the laptop at home worked fine. I was able to sort, group, rename and upload in half the time the app takes. Plus, on the computer, there are no weak signal issues and the pages don't jump all over as badly.

Also, I feel a little bad for any new people who follow the photo examples. One shows an example of a "reader board" which is only a store front and there are no questions about reader boards anyway. Another brand says they have included photo examples in the survey but there are none.

Mobile technology simply does not exist without a connection and for this app, the connection must be stellar or you will waste hours trying to do the impossible.

I'm staying with the old fashioned way. Take the photos, make some notes and bring everthing home to complete in comfort. I use the app only to check in, time in and time out. Soooo less stressful!

Regarding a pilot: Pffft!
A. Why would MSC waste time and dollars on something that shoppers will eventually figure out for themselves. Or not. Whatever, right?
B. It probably costs them much less to reject shops that have been done incorrectly due to faulty instructions, another shopper will pick up the job and do it.
C. If a pilot were done, it would probably be done by the company's upper-level management who have partaken of the, "We're trendy, cool, infallable and the best in the world" Kool Aid. No negative issues would be found.
D. They are of the belief that the magic app is the be-all and end-all. If concerns are raised by outsiders (us - not company people) they simply say we're wrong. It works fine, everywhere, all the time. This I have heard from several people, first-hand, during phone seminars.

@mystery2me wrote:

I think the point of the rant is you should be able to see the requirements before doing the shop, not after you are already there. And any time I am told to call and verify hours of operation, that is just to make sure I don't go when they are closed.

Exactly!
I have done the Shell shops for quite some time. The older instructions were more explicit than what is now being published as "Shopper Guidelines".
Remember when they wanted a photo of the shopper, wearing the safety vest and holding the instructions?
So, no, I'm not a newbie at this. I have a worksheet that I use for each shop. On it is the space for site hours and telephone number as well as a checkoff space for safety vest photo, etc.
As for photo size, like all the other items I ranted about, just be upfront about it. Some shoppers like myself have smartphones that capture photos at a lower pixel.

I do not, as young folks state, have a dog in the fight. I am neither contracted with this MSC nor do I normally work gas stations.

I agree with both FF and Helena. This is business and, in my opinion, the MSC has failed to uphold their end of the deal. As to assume, we all know how that breaks down into ass u me. This is similar to unwritten rules; they foster ambiguity.

I'm sure, if you send an email to whoever is watching the Presto shops, and there IS someone. You can complain about the picture size thing. That is a known Presto issue. And then you'll be able to upload any size picture you want. The guidelines are still the same, they put a fancy new cover page on it for 2024. Nothing has changed inside. It's there to read, ANYONE can read it if they are interested, it's available before you even sign up for the shops or take the certification test.

The picture size is not in the guidelines because it isn't supposed to be an issue for these shops. In the way back machine all of the gas station shops required tiny pictures, 480 x 640 or something like that was the largest the picture could be. And that was in the guidelines and the instructions. I remember sitting for hours and resizing the pictures to get them small enough. And also, not being able to do the entire shop on my mobile device because I couldn't reduce the size of the pictures that much without the help of my desktop computer. I even bought a tablet that could take the pictures at that size, but the tablet was made of brick and no amount of cell tower signal was enough to upload pictures.

@Morledzep wrote:

... The guidelines are still the same, they put a fancy new cover page on it for 2024. Nothing has changed inside. It's there to read, ANYONE can read it if they are interested, it's available before you even sign up for the shops or take the certification test.
...

Are they still sending you the printed version?

I too remember having to set for hours to resize to those very small photo requirements, my photos looked better before they made me resize them. They have always asked for the phone number, (no big deal), but having to take note of the hours every time...I wish they would stop that. I have stations that have totally different hours for everyday of the week. Why? I have no idea; I just wish they could get rid of that question.

I also have an area with little to no cell service. When I go to that area it reminds me of the old "Can you hear me now?" Verizion ads. Because the internet only works if you stand on one specific side of the lot, REALLY takes its time, and on windy days, you might as well just go home and file the report.

@Morledzep wrote:

I'm sure, if you send an email to whoever is watching the Presto shops, and there IS someone. You can complain about the picture size thing. That is a known Presto issue. And then you'll be able to upload any size picture you want. The guidelines are still the same, they put a fancy new cover page on it for 2024. Nothing has changed inside. It's there to read, ANYONE can read it if they are interested, it's available before you even sign up for the shops or take the certification test.

The picture size is not in the guidelines because it isn't supposed to be an issue for these shops. In the way back machine all of the gas station shops required tiny pictures, 480 x 640 or something like that was the largest the picture could be. And that was in the guidelines and the instructions. I remember sitting for hours and resizing the pictures to get them small enough. And also, not being able to do the entire shop on my mobile device because I couldn't reduce the size of the pictures that much without the help of my desktop computer. I even bought a tablet that could take the pictures at that size, but the tablet was made of brick and no amount of cell tower signal was enough to upload pictures.

Okay, I dislike belaboring my point - specifically what has been left out of the latest shopper guidelines. Here are the 2023 guidelines. Note how specific they are:

BEFORE YOU GO
There are a few questions on the survey you’ll need to capture before you leave. Make
sure you know the following:
1. Were the c-store’s hours of operations posted on the front door? If they aren’t posted,
ask.
2. Is there an ATM onsite
3. Is this location open 24/7
4. Is there an onsite restaurant (quick serve/sit down) that shares the same building or
property.
5. What is the location’s phone number? – ask the staff to confirm.
6. Does the location sell diesel fuel at any pump underneath the Shell-branded canopy?
7. Does the location sell tobacco products?
8. Is there a Shell credit card application holder at every pump and in good condition?
9. Is the Shell branded merchandiser (gift card display) accessible and fully stocked in
the transaction area or payment area?
• All denominations of Shell Gift Cards ($25, $50, $100).
• Current Shell-branded brochures: Shell $aver Card® brochures, Fuels
brochures, Grocer Rewards brochures (if applicable), and Fuel Rewards
Network™ (FRN) brochures (if applicable)
• Shell credit card applications: Shell Drive for Five® Card applications, Shell
MasterCard® applications, Shell Fleet Cards applications
• Shell $aver Card® brochures, Fuels brochures, Grocer Rewards brochures,
and Fuel Rewards Network™ (FRN) brochures (if applicable)

As I have ranted about this, I'll belabor the point once again: Note above the 2023 published guidelines for the shopper, in particular, 1, 3 and 5.
This MSC also has the E/M shops. With their Pilot shop and hence forward in 2024, they specifically mention needing only one photo of a pump, specifically the one where fuel was purchased. If I did as you suggest, continue as what was usually done in the past, I would have taken a photo of every pump.
Their guidelines for 2024 are clearly defined - the Shell guidelines are not.
Much like their Marathon guidelines, the MSC deigned to omit that new for 2024 was the photo of the site's interior.
So yes, I could do what I have done in the past, however, a new year, a new platform, a new way of filing the report could make one think that perhaps some items would not be needed as was asked for previously. If you had done their E/M shops in 2023 and now 2024, you might consider that.
So, in closing note that the entire section of "Before You Go" was left out.
Was it by design?

e/m has an interior photo requirement now?

@jay225 wrote:

e/m has an interior photo requirement now?

No, referring to Marathon.

I apologize for any misunderstanding.

Why would you assume that because one client wants less information that Shell does also?

The Shell shops haven't changed significantly in 10 years and 2 different MSC's. They are NOT Exxon, not the same company, not the same shop requirements. You're still going to take pictures of BOTH restrooms, the food offer, the product offer, the counter and the inside of the store. You're still going to take the pictures of each pump. And all the other same outside pictures. Nothing with Shell has changed significantly.

I really don't understand why you would think that because they went to Presto that they were going to be like the new version of the Exxon shops. That just doesn't make sense.

@Morledzep wrote:

Why would you assume that because one client wants less information that Shell does also?

The Shell shops haven't changed significantly in 10 years and 2 different MSC's. They are NOT Exxon, not the same company, not the same shop requirements. You're still going to take pictures of BOTH restrooms, the food offer, the product offer, the counter and the inside of the store. You're still going to take the pictures of each pump. And all the other same outside pictures. Nothing with Shell has changed significantly.

I really don't understand why you would think that because they went to Presto that they were going to be like the new version of the Exxon shops. That just doesn't make sense.

Oh! Okay!

Cheers!

Some things I noticed:

1. The overall interior picture is not mentioned anywhere in the instructions but still required.

2. The POP question asks if there is campaign promotion. It does not specify current or expired. If there is signage you'll need a picture of it but no picture needed if not. This is opposite the previous POP pic requirement where you needed a photo if there was none.

3. On the rare occasion that you might have to present a reward, good luck. The code is buried somewhere in the bowels of the survey. And it produces only that. A code. I have yet to find the letter that should accompany it with employee instructions on how to redeem the code which, way down in the guidelines, says you should have printed before you left home. Lucky I had a few old ones on hand. Hope they're still valid because for the life of me, I can't find that letter in the new report. I think I saw it once but now it is lost forever to me.

4. Because it is Presto, you will need to physically take two separate pictures of a gas receipt that did not print at the pump or any other photo that you may have used twice in the old reports such as the counter photo doubling as the employee not in uniform photo. Presto may reject photos that have been used twice.

5. Presto bites.

Has the pay and reimbursement changed on these since they moved to Presto?

mjt, no

ses, I agree, but I've never used any pictures twice anyway.

Service, did you try a different mobile device?

For a long time after the current MSC bought out the previous MSC, I could do the reports on the previous MSC's website and mobile app on my phone, but Sassie would NOT work. I spent 3 hours at an Exxon one day and finally gave up and went home. The scheduler gave me all kinds of crap about it (no it wasn't Nikki), and insisted that my device was the problem and not the Sassie website or the current MSC. After that I invested some money I couldn't really afford to spend getting a new battery, and a brand specific car charger for my lap top. I took the pics on my phone, transferred them to the lap top, changed the picture size, and uploaded all of the pics using the lap top, in the car, onsite, using my phone as a hotspot, even though I couldn't upload the pics or save the report to save my life on the phone. That worked for a while, then when the phone company had a deal on a tablet that I could just barely afford, that had 5G capabilities, I grabbed it and never looked back.

I agree with you, Presto works better on mobile devices all day, every day. Up until recently it's been kinda glitchy in low signal areas. That seems to have been overcome for the most part though.

@ServiceAward wrote:

@sestrahelena wrote:

5. Presto bites.

I get you dislike it. I am trying to understand why I have such a drastically opposite experience with it than it seems others do.

I do not understand how anybody does surveys in Sassie while on-site. I wasted an hour trying to do one of the gas surveys where they want you to submit the report before you go to the next location. Even though I saved the report every 10 minutes, when I tried to submit, the system said I was logged out. I lost everything.

I've had the same problem with Sassie after the last Samsung update. Before that, my only issue was reception. After the update, Sassie constantly shut down, as did the Shopmetrics site, but only for one MSC. Much time was wasted re-entering reports. Then I tried Presto via phone web browser. It still requires full reception bars, which is a rarity where I travel, or tells me I'm offline. When it does work, the pages jump all over the place. It makes me dizzy. And what I see on the screen is often not what Presto thinks. I choose answer C on the phone screen but Presto itself has not yet caught up to the display so when it finally does, it shows that I've chosen answer A. I have learned that I have to wait until Presto decides where it wants to be. So I just quit trying to report onsite. I just do it at home. No muss, no fuss.

An added bonus is the safety factor: I'm no longer hanging around gas stations longer than necessary. I am a prime target for carjacking or robbery as an old person and when all my attention is focused on my phone and report I am terribly guilty of not paying attention to my surroundings.

ses, why aren't you using the Presto app? I wouldn't try to use the website on a mobile device browser. Not for Presto anyway, The shopmetrics platform is a different story, it works better through the website than the stupid NEXT app.

I had tried the app years ago. Found it difficult to use and usually told me I was offline when I wasn't so after much frustration, just deleted it and never thought about it again.

Good idea, though. I will try it anew on my next batch.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2024 03:45PM by sestrahelena.

Apparently the client does read this forum, because they cancelled all Shell shops until further notice yesterday while they worked on Presto-Shell reporting issues. The result is that I had to wipe four day's (21 Shell shops) off my work schedule and remove over $400 of this month's expected income.

I agree that it is more difficult to report gas station audits on Presto, but I managed to complete my first two days of Presto Shell shops at an average time of less than one hour each.

@Morledzep wrote:

I wouldn't try to use the website on a mobile device browser. Not for Presto anyway, The shopmetrics platform is a different story, it works better through the website than the stupid NEXT app.

I installed Firefox browser on my smartphone and use it instead of the browser that comes pre-installed. It is much, much easier to use the NEXT app to report postal shops than to use the web browser. However, the Shopmetrics platform works much better than Presto app for gas station audits.

Weren't all the Shell shops due by 1/19?

Ses, 1/21. They all fell off our lists, but are not back on the board. I've been watching all day. We were frozen out, the deep freeze and dangerous conditions started the day that the shops were supposed to start, and today is supposedly the last day of below freezing temps. I never got to leave the house. My son went out and did a couple of his, but getting there and getting back was an adventure. And he wasn't appropriately dressed for the weather. So he lost a LOT of them.

I did every one of my Shell shops before they were due. I was paid already too. Some of the first photos I resized using the Photoscape program. Others were done after adjusting my photo size on my device and taking into account the requirements and ways to work around poor signals.
The thing is, are we certain that the shops were pulled for the reasons cited? Or, are they part of the MSC's plan to pull them and then re-release them later? They did something like that last August through November 2023.

Edited to add: Yes, temperatures were and are below freezing and sometimes below zero. I don't mind that as much as what often accompanies that - blowing and drifting snow that makes traveling dangerous and not worthwhile.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2024 07:46PM by French Farmer.

I'm pretty sure they just expired and will be re-posted later after MSC calculates how many have been done and how many more need done this next round.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2024 08:05PM by sestrahelena.