My compliments to SA for a thorough covering of Okie's request for assistance; I am unable to add any suggestions concerning completing the assignment.

I will add, though, my position on service station shops is one of the money must be inordinately high for me to accept that work. The reasons are that any ONE of the voluminous pics is able to be cause for rejection and the oil companies are multi-billion dollar enterprises that, in my opinion, have a considerable need for shoppers.

My last station was in Sept. of 2022 for $28+ reimbursement. I only agreed to the work, due to driving within a block of the location on non-shopping business. As it was, factoring my being unfamiliar with the shop, the report and a wait while the manager confirmed the LOA, the work timed at approx. 80 minutes. It was definitely too much time for too little money.

I've only done several of these, nowhere near the number others have done (they're just not my cup of tea so I wait for higher pay). But I will add to be prepared for customers staring at you in your neon vest, wondering what you're doing. If you are someone who easily feels self-conscious, just know that you will stand out. Many will try to avoid being in your pictures or ask you not to take their picture. If there are a lot of customers when you're there, trying to make sure no one is in your pictures could make the shop take longer. Also, be very alert as to traffic coming in and going out. Look both ways and be careful.

Everything that Service said, except I would highlight, and underline this sentence over and over..

"Never - ever go behind the counter."

I would also add: Since the big 3 (E/M, Shell and BP) went over to the Presto App, be aware that for folks like me who do shop in rural areas, the cell service can be absent or one bar of service. So, my suggestion is this - as you are approaching your shop, check your cell service. I have learned from doing several shops that they have no cell service at the site but do have enough a mile or less away from the shop. What is important is to login to the app as soon as you are close enough. and have service. It releases the shop and you can go on your merry way. Plus, when you do arrive, if you do have service, you can resubmit that you are at the site.
I have found for many of these no service sites that they (strangely) almost always ask about rewards if they are Shell shops. As you become a seasoned veteran, you realize those sites have no service and that they undoubtedly will ask for the rewards. Meaning, of course, you have to give them their rewards reward. So, just login near enough with cell service, write down the code and do the shop.
Also, because I do these rural shops without service, I cannot do them on my phone. So, I load my photos into my laptop (that I always take with me) and finish the shop at home or somewhere that I can get WiFi.
I have other suggestions but will leave that to others (unless they do not mention them).

And BTW, SA, how kind of you!

I had to laugh at “understated orange.” -lol- Okie, I would get as bright as you could possibly get. I no longer do gas shops (other than Chevron customer first - totally different animal) because a semi almost mowed me down while I was taking a nighttime “overall” photo along a highway.

My piece of advice is more about selecting shops. If you’re doing those that require a photo of every pump, pull the location up on google maps first and see if the pictures show how many pumps they have. Having to dodge customers at 16 pumps could add a significant amount of time if the station is busy.

Best of luck to you - let us know how it goes.

I've wacked my weeds and flown my kite (Just kidding, SA!) so I'll chime in. Okie, 11 photos and signed form tells me which project it is so, to add to what's already been very well advised, my three tips:

1. Smile. It can be disarming and might help nervous employees feel more comfortable.
2. Present the leave behind form with the signature page face up, tell them that it is their copy to keep once you get a signature and a quick pic. Most of the time this is sufficient for them and saves you the added time of reviewing it, which could require lots of explaining and conversation. If a manager is on duty and asks me to review, which has never happened, of course I would.
3. To save time on the road, prefill the printed forms with dates, locations, numbers, etc., the night before. I even pre-sign my own name.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2024 12:57AM by sestrahelena.

In all the years of doing many gas station shops, I can only think of 1 or 2 that were refused. At one the owner was involved with a dispute with the oil company and did not want to be charged for the audit. There is a refusal form you take a picture of and submit that as proof. I was paid but, no gas reimbursement because the pumps were all blocked off. It has since become a different brand.

They expect the shops/audits and very rarely refuse them. Don't worry about that.

I work the MS side of the gas station thang, so usually I am exempted from revealed audits, but I can only echo SA's impressively thorough remarks:

•Don't worry about being rejected. Be pleasant and confident and you shouldn't have a problem.

•Get at least two shots of everything picture you take, and take from different angles when you can. Makes it easier to get past a pesky editor if a shop is returned.

•Pay close attention to the POP information provide by the MSC, and make sure you are thorough when looking for it, especially inside the store. A sizable chunk of gas station audits covers current POP deployment, and there can be a lot of it to look for.

I would suggest going in and performing your mystery shop. When you return with the LOA, tell them you're a mystery shopper for XYZ Gas Crop and now you need to do an evaluation. Inform them that the letter you handed them is a Letter of Authorization. Then be quiet. Let them read. Ask if they have any questions. Then if not asked, describe that you will take whatever pictures inside and most of them are taken outside. if they need to call someone, wait and let them do it.

The main part is the evaluation. You can do reports online. Reread your guidelines onsite. If any doubt, take a photo. You can review back in the comfort of your car or home and decide if there was an infraction. Take at least two photos of everything you photograph.

ServiceAward, I too have done well over a thousand revealed gas station shops, and I can vouch that you have covered it well. You even gave away one of your secrets that I also use but would never voluntarily admit to. I have been refused by a manager maybe 5 times total in more than 15 years of doing these audits. No problem, the shop instructions cover that and still pay full price. The OP should take the time to read your post and the client shop instructions several times before his/her first audit.

Smile, be nice, don't intimidate, and never use the word "audit." I say "evaluation" or "picture day."

The less mystery shopping experience you have with this kind of shop, the more pictures you should take while on site. And, for those shops that required you to upload on site while doing the survey, never use the "take picture" option. Always use your camera app to take the picture, and then go back into the survey and upload from the photo file on your phone. That way, if the client app or website crashes, times out, or whatever, you do not have to start all over taking pictures.

I'm curious which shops still pay full price when the shop can't be completed. Certainly none with Ipsos. All of their shops get "Reduced pay" in that case. After all, if the inspection is refused or the site burned down an hour before the attempted evaluation, it is ALWAYS the shoppers' fault and we will be appropriately castigated for our errors!


rg

@AZwolfman wrote:

ServiceAward, I too have done well over a thousand revealed gas station shops, and I can vouch that you have covered it well. You even gave away one of your secrets that I also use but would never voluntarily admit to. I have been refused by a manager maybe 5 times total in more than 15 years of doing these audits. No problem, the shop instructions cover that and still pay full price. The OP should take the time to read your post and the client shop instructions several times before his/her first audit.

I was asked to come back once because the owner was in India. After reviewing the LOA, he still politely asked me to come back tomorrow after he had a chance to talk to the owner. I was going to write it as a refusal, but realized that I had not asked for my gas receipt. I did go back, had a long talk with the guy that it could lead to a fail and completed the shop.

I've gotten gas and the fee from IPSOS and once the store cost.

I have been stiffed for reqired gas and store purchases made before a refusal. Keep a close eye on those at payday.