As everyone should be aware by now, BP gas station shops are (IMO) the most difficult, demanding and generally the most exacting for both the shopper and the station owners (or employees).
As the shopper, I always look for the obvious compliance issues as well as the minor (anal in my mind) compliance violations. When I haven't the editor is always sure to point them out.
The pump has some adhesive, mark it off and take the photo, a minor scratch, a dirty skirt, wet pump island, the employee not wearing the nametag, etc, etc. You know the drill if you've done these.
For BP/Amoco shops, due to their guidelines of separate, unique photos that must not be reused, I take at least 2 photos of every pump along with a couple of closeups.
So, here is my little story: There is a particular BP station that I've done several times now. It is a small station in a very small town. It is what my partner would term a "Mom and Pop" owned station.
The first time I did it the male owner (husband, I'm assuming) was nice, even charming. Even after I announced that I was there for BP's site inspection. I glanced over to the woman employee and was a bit surprised at the obvious dirty look.
I did my job, noted the violations (minor in my opinion) - a diesel island wet, the pump's skirt dirty - it happens. I left the Leave Behind sheet, noting that the 3 questions were answered yes, yes, and yes. I gave it to the female employee and got a curt remark and another dirty look. I left wondering if I had done something offensive.
The second time, the next go around, that same, female employee was working. She was pleasant enough until I did the reveal. Then, her attitude changed. It was a strange mood swing with her saying something to the effect, "Oh, you were here last time".
I did my inspection, went in with the Leave Behind sheet, presented it to her and noted how she just grabbed it, did not even bother to look at it, snarled something disagreeable and then stomped away in a huff.
This past week, I was there again for the latest round. The same female employee was there along with another employee, a teenage girl at the counter. As I walked through the aisles, the woman asked me sweetly if she could help me find something. I just said thank you, I've found it. The teenage girl at the counter was pleasant and she thanked me for my business.
Then, I did the reveal! I presented the LOA to the teen. She smiled and then told the woman employee. The woman employee looked at me, dawning on her that I was apparently the villainess from her past. Attitude changed and she made a snarling growl of reply and a flip of her hand.
When I came back in to turn in the Leave Behind, even the attitude of the teen counter girl had changed. She gave me a dirty look and snatched the sheet out of my hand, stomped over to the woman and handed it to her.
I said thank you and left, shaking my head in disbelief.
In all my years of doing this, I've never been treated that poorly. And, I should add, I've never reported the odd attitude of this location.
Maybe I should.

If they are nice before the reveal, I don't say anything in the report, even if they get snippy afterward. My fear is the station owner will tell a different story, and they will take the station owner's side. I only had one diificult station I can recall. The owner was always following me around and complaining about the last report, and his station really did need work. I think the only reason he was in business is because the Greyhound stopped there. I noticed the other shopper in the rotation often skipped his station. I would have, but the bonuses were too good. I was relieved when he finally rebranded.

There needs to be a category for Gas Station shops, just like there is for Mystery Shop Discussion and Mystery Shopping Company Discussion.

Maybe we can have a new category created called Gas Station Discussion. It seems there are so many people fascinated/commenting on these.

I'm guessing the poor attitude is probably a result of being held to the guidelines you mentioned. Unfortunately, the employee is taking it out on you.

Some of the station owners resent having to pay for the mystery shops. I have had them complain about the fees they are charged.

Since we're talking about BPs.. I have some doozies around here. There is one in the nearly big city North of me, the owner follows me, or my son when he does it, all over his lot trying to explain things that we don't even care about. One time I asked to use the restroom as a customer, he said he didn't have one, then when I went in to reveal, he started making excuses and he insisted that I take pictures of the restroom that he wouldn't let customers use. We go there every round, and he's ALWAYS on about something, BP didn't do this, or BP didn't do that, as if I have any control over what BP does for him or to him..

There is another one, actually not far from the previous station, owned by a really nice Indian couple. They are friendly, sweet and very helpful. Always willing to lend a hand if I need it while I'm there. They tried bribing me in the beginning, but I told them that I can't take what they are offering because of the appearance of impropriety, and they understood and smiled, they've never anything since.

BP stations are different. I don't know why, I don't understand. All of the owners are extremes, one way or the other. They are either scammers and haters or they are friendly wonderful helpful people. And BP doesn't do anything for them until they get the reports, even if it's not something I report, they get long needed repairs after they get shopped. Both of those stations I talked about didn't get permanent signs, canopy facia paint and helios or pump toppers until the problems had been reported TWICE when they first signed up with BP.

I have a couple of questions. Does it state somewhere that we have to leave behind the leave behind? I keep overlooking it apparently, and I have never left anything behind. Today, I was offered a drink.... anything I want... (so I asked if he had any whiskey) ...Now I am offered something probably 7 out of 10 visits to stations, and I always say no. Not today. Does it state somewhere that we cannot accept something to drink, especially on a hot day? Apparently, I keep overlooking that in the guidelines.

The sole purpose of the leave behind is that you are required to leave it behind.

@1forum1 wrote:

I have a couple of questions. Does it state somewhere that we have to leave behind the leave behind? I keep overlooking it apparently, and I have never left anything behind. Today, I was offered a drink.... anything I want... (so I asked if he had any whiskey) ...Now I am offered something probably 7 out of 10 visits to stations, and I always say no. Not today. Does it state somewhere that we cannot accept something to drink, especially on a hot day? Apparently, I keep overlooking that in the guidelines.

@1forum1 wrote:

Does it state somewhere that we cannot accept something to drink, especially on a hot day? Apparently, I keep overlooking that in the guidelines.

It used to be, but actually I can't remember seeing it included since the current MSC took over these stations. This always annoyed me, because it's very customary for a retail environment to give a cheap item like something to drink to a vendor as a courtesy. In no way is it an intended bribe. Most of the times when we are offered these by the stations even though we are not a vendor, it's the same exact situation, they're offering as a courtesy but the MSC (old one at least) had us thinking there was an ulterior motive.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2025 01:21PM by KA047.

I think most of the time it is just a courtesy, but every so often you can tell it is an attempted quid pro quo. But even if we could take it, I probably never would because I already bought whatever they were offering at a previous stop, or just bought it minutes before from that very person as my required purchase, lol. What gets me though is that one MSC, I forget which, which explained that even if the store is giving away free tacos or sodas or whatever to every customer as part of a promotion, we are not to take them because it would be a bribe. Um, no, I'm taking the taco.

As an Addendum to my original experience: Later, in this past week, I talked to the owner/employee - I'm not certain of a different BP.
They informed me after the reveal that due to the previous shopper's report, they were required to attend, in person a training seminar. This was because, as the employee stated, the shopper had found enough errors or violations that it had triggered a response from their jobber and the company itself.
I just said something like, "I'm sorry to hear that, but I suppose it was helpful".
Then, I was offered a free drink or anything I needed.
I declined, but did thank them.

OTOH, I did a Shell that was owned or operated by an Hispanic couple. For my $2 inside purchase, I bought a fresh enchirito - it was very good - amazingly hot at the tongue and the back of my throat and then later in my stomach.

I'm sorry. After enchirito, I lost my focus.

@1forum1 wrote:

I have a couple of questions. ..........Does it state somewhere that we cannot accept something to drink, especially on a hot day? Apparently, I keep overlooking that in the guidelines.

In the latest quiz for E/M shops, at its end, they do state something about prohibiting the acceptance of free items offered by the site.
Oddly, I can find no mention whatsoever in either of their published guidelines, commercial and regular.

Somehow I passed the quiz without even noticing that. Maybe I was on autopilot.

In years past, I got paid a nice amount to do these in a rural area. Someone picked them up for just over base fee.

Gas station owners are usually fined for violations. BP is the most heavy-handed with the fines, which is why I believe the editors are very picky. BP will make money off every violation, and for all we know the MSC gets a kickback for every violation found.

Dirty pump skirts, stickers on pumps, things we might consider minor, can add up quickly into the hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of dollars. I had one owner show me his fines from a report I turned in. It was over $7,000. From what I recall he had more than just cleanliness issues going on. I never took the frustration of owners personally except for two times: When a woman harassed me and sent her boyfriend after me, and when an owner threatened to jerk my phone out of my hand. I ended the inspection mid-way through the former, but I pressed forward on the latter. I reported the behavior of both stations and I never did those again. As long as the owner was just complaining, I'd let them vent at me, show some compassion, then explain that I was the middle man. For BP owners especially, I didn't hesitate to tell them how picky the editors were and while I may try to overlook something minor, I'd likely have to add it in once the editor caught it. Once they understand, they were good with me. By the end of it we'd shake hands, and I'd move on. Owners make very little off fuel sales. Their money comes from the c-store and/or auto-repair business, if they have it. I have often wondered if it is worth the expense (and headache) to be a branded station.

Exxon is another one that has fines and pushes for upgrades when there are issues. When the name tag had to be worn by the employee, if they didn't have it own, it was a $100 fine charged to the owner.

I never accepted anything free from stores. I had one owner who would beg me to take whatever I want, including free gas. I always refused. I later learned from one of his employees that he always accosted the health inspector, too, and tried to bribe them.