BP/Amoco Shops - the Latest Round

This is rather odd:
Some years ago, I did a BP shop where i was chastised, or reminded by the editor, that with all BP or Amoco shops, I was supposed to park my auto at a pump, go inside, do my mystery shop portion (restroom, etc) make a purchase and then go outside and purchase fuel. Then reveal.
I was so used to doing the opposite as required by all the other gas stations that I simply forgot that this particular brand wanted it done opposite of the others.
So, imagine my surprise that in the latest round of this brand, the shortened guidelines instruct the shopper to do just that, purchase fuel, then go inside and do the inside portion before the reveal.
Yet, when examining the long guidelines (extremely long!), it reverts back to the old way - park car, go inside, do mystery shop, make inside purchase and then go outside and purchase gas.

Me - I'll go with the old way and hope the long guidelines are the more correct method.

And wonder who does the proofing!

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Doing some of these shops for the first time. I appreciate you mentioning this as I didn't catch that my first time through the guidelines. I'm going to contact the scheduler to see which way they actually want me to do it. I hope it's get gas, then go inside for purchase and bathroom, 'cause leaving my car at the pump while I go inside and do that stuff could potentially be annoying as hell to other customers. And I'm not about being inconsiderate and pissing off other customers.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks

I have never done BP's any different than any other gas station brands. I park at the pump, pump the gas, put the receipt in my car, go inside and buy something. Go back to my car, get my vest and the LOA and introduce myself. One editor ONE time, asked if I did it in the wrong order, and I said I did. I do it on purpose, because I can't walk very far, and making an extra trip into the store before the reveal, if the pump doesn't give me a reciept, adds to my pain. And every step I take, causes pain. And I'm not going to change that. The editor never said another thing to me about the order of my actions, and the previous MSC paid me for every shop I did, without any further questions.

Only self-important a-holes leave their car parked at a pump while they go do something else...

Have synthesizers, will travel...

@Morledzep wrote:

I have never done BP's any different than any other gas station brands. I park at the pump, pump the gas, put the receipt in my car, go inside and buy something. Go back to my car, get my vest and the LOA and introduce myself. One editor ONE time, asked if I did it in the wrong order, and I said I did. I do it on purpose, because I can't walk very far, and making an extra trip into the store before the reveal, if the pump doesn't give me a reciept, adds to my pain. And every step I take, causes pain. And I'm not going to change that. The editor never said another thing to me about the order of my actions, and the previous MSC paid me for every shop I did, without any further questions.

I'm trying to understand how it saves you a trip. In both scenarios you are making two trips inside the store. Surely in the first scenario where you pump gas last, you can get your fuel receipt on the second trip just before you reveal. And if you do pump gas first, wouldn't it be possible to just reveal after the inside purchase, and then put your vest on when you go back outside?

Look at page 5 of the Shopper Guidelines (long version).

It Specifically states:
Step 1 Mystery Shop - evaluate restroom and make purchase.
Step 2 Reveal - get your LOA, badge, etc and reveal.
Step 3 Audit, section 7 Purchase gas.

It seems clear to me. I would love it if it were similar to every other gas station. But rules is rules - especially when called out by the editor.

Since BP shops are probably the strictest and full of parsimony, the last thing I want to do is get flagged for not following the order of performing the shop. Its bad enough that the shopper cannot use a photo used previously, but must use a unique photo.

@mystery2me wrote:

I'm trying to understand how it saves you a trip. In both scenarios you are making two trips inside the store. Surely in the first scenario where you pump gas last, you can get your fuel receipt on the second trip just before you reveal. And if you do pump gas first, wouldn't it be possible to just reveal after the inside purchase, and then put your vest on when you go back outside?

If the pump doesn't give me a receipt, then when I go into the store and make my purchase, I can ask for the fuel receipt. Then I can go back to my car, park it (I won't move my car until I get a receipt), get my vest and the LOA. One trip during the mystery portion, one to introduce myself, one for the leave behind.

I don't do these anymore because I can't walk this far without assistance now, because the pain is not as easily managed anymore. I still take the test every round, in case I have a good day or find a small station. I've thought seriously about taking my H-Wave machine with me so that I can get some relief, at least in my knees while I'm entering the info in the shop form, but that proved impractical.

I didn't notice that the guidelines stipulate a credit card or BP gift card should be used, as debit cards likely won't work at the pump. I don't have a credit card and I don't know that I'll be doing enough shops to want to buy a BP gift card. Has anyone here had issues with their debit card not working at the pump?

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks

well, if your card is backed by a credit card company, like Visa or Mastercard, if the pump doesn't accept debit it'll automatically default to credit, and you'll have to enter your zip code instead of your pin number.

@French Farmer wrote:

Look at page 5 of the Shopper Guidelines (long version).

It Specifically states:
Step 1 Mystery Shop - evaluate restroom and make purchase.
Step 2 Reveal - get your LOA, badge, etc and reveal.
Step 3 Audit, section 7 Purchase gas.

It seems clear to me. I would love it if it were similar to every other gas station. But rules is rules - especially when called out by the editor.

Since BP shops are probably the strictest and full of parsimony, the last thing I want to do is get flagged for not following the order of performing the shop. Its bad enough that the shopper cannot use a photo used previously, but must use a unique photo.

I agree is it better to play it safe, especially if you rely on the income. But I personally would would push it on this one and buy the gas before the reveal, especially since the shortened guidelines indicate it is okay. I don't know why they put is as step 3. Probably they are just trying to save a few dollars by not having to reimburse the gas if the station refuses the inspection, and don't really care other than that. And the times on the receipts will be in the correct order, so the occasional overzealous editor shouldn't be an issue.

@Morledzep wrote:

well, if your card is backed by a credit card company, like Visa or Mastercard, if the pump doesn't accept debit it'll automatically default to credit, and you'll have to enter your zip code instead of your pin number.

Thanks, I appreciate this info.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks

@retrodaddy wrote:

I didn't notice that the guidelines stipulate a credit card or BP gift card should be used, as debit cards likely won't work at the pump. I don't have a credit card and I don't know that I'll be doing enough shops to want to buy a BP gift card. Has anyone here had issues with their debit card not working at the pump?

My debit card has only worked twice on a route and then will not. In the past, I've used my credit cards - and they only are good for a few shops and then get refused. It seems okay if you have numerous credit cards, but on the other hand, it becomes an issue when the bill comes due.
Someone in a previous comment on another string suggested using a gift card. I have since, began doing so for most of my gas station shops. So, now i get an E/m or Shell or BP/Amoco specific gift card. You fill it with your debit card and then go on your merry way. So far, I have found that you can load one with whatever amount you choose.

FF, I had the same problem - getting my debit card rejected after 2 shops. I found that it was the banks policy, so I had a discussion with a manager in a different bank that I dealt with. Their policy is different, and I have used my debit card up to 8 times without it getting rejected. I much prefer using a debit card to a credit card as, in most cases, debit is the same price as cash and credit is usually more expensive.

parsimony and gas are a volatile mixture!

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