Gas Station Inspection Pushback
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"If the owner/manager has not informed you of these periodic mystery shops and inspections, then I am guessing they are not particularly important. However, it is my understanding that the refusal of the inspection is an automatic fail. I am guessing they would want you to go ahead and allow the inspection.
You are welcome to call, but I can't wait too long to get started. I am sorry that you are in this position. You may want to ask the owner/manager about it so you are more prepared and informed in the future."
You are welcome to call, but I can't wait too long to get started. I am sorry that you are in this position. You may want to ask the owner/manager about it so you are more prepared and informed in the future."
Guysmom - for me. I started out on gas stations. I did not know there was anything else. I started out on Gigspot. I got in with a company that treated me good and they had a lot of gas stations. So, the faster I would get the farther I would go. I didn't start have issues with people calling the cops or being followed until 2020. I failed to mention that I ultimately stopped doing gas stations in 2020 until about 2024 because I had a gun pulled on me. I still do them, just not as often.
I was able to make routes out of both Marathon and Citgo when they were with the previous company. Now I don't do as much. But that was my appeal, I was making a lot of money and didn't know there were other stuff to do until late 2018 early 2019. I didn't know about video until 2019. So I baby stepped my way up.
I still do gas station, just not on the big scale like I did.
I was able to make routes out of both Marathon and Citgo when they were with the previous company. Now I don't do as much. But that was my appeal, I was making a lot of money and didn't know there were other stuff to do until late 2018 early 2019. I didn't know about video until 2019. So I baby stepped my way up.
I still do gas station, just not on the big scale like I did.
@guysmom wrote:
@Dino29 wrote:
I've talked to so many store managers or owners on the phone. I leave the letter, explain myself and move on. I have had customers call the cops on me, I've been followed from one location to the next, and I have had my photo and my car, and my license plate photographed.
I don't do gas station shops just because of instances such as the one listed above. There are many other instances with gas station shops that I've read about over my 20 years of MS'ing, both on this forum and on the old Volition forum. So I'm just wondering......what is it about these gas station shops that mystery shoppers find worth doing? Just curious. TIA!
@thunderdeacon wrote:
"If the owner/manager has not informed you of these periodic mystery shops and inspections, then I am guessing they are not particularly important. However, it is my understanding that the refusal of the inspection is an automatic fail. I am guessing they would want you to go ahead and allow the inspection.
You are welcome to call, but I can't wait too long to get started. I am sorry that you are in this position. You may want to ask the owner/manager about it so you are more prepared and informed in the future."
And, gosh, I would hate for you to get into trouble. (But said in more subtle way, depending on circumstances.)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2026 02:26AM by mystery2me.
Yeah, I used a variation of that. Is there anyone you can call?
When I suspect the site employee is uncomfortable with the LOA content I smile and offer to help them understand the purpose and procedures. When I suspect it is a language or reading comprehension issue I share a physical copy I keep with me & share view of the letter as I read it out loud. If they are not knowledgeable and ask to call their Mgr it is a reasonable request to protect their site. No matter, we have to remain respectful.
Reminds me of the following I have heard from foreign relatives.
What do you call a person that speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks one language? American.
Reminds me of the following I have heard from foreign relatives.
What do you call a person that speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks one language? American.
Usually, when I run into a language barrier, I explain what I am going to do, using the name of the gas brand liberally, and then just go ahead and complete the job. They may not understand what I just said, but they can pick up cues and let me go ahead. Half the time they are faking knowing English anyways and just say yes to everything. I don't mean to sound like I'm taking advantage. I am authorized, after all, and no harm or deceit is being done. If a torso picture is required, I take the counter pic.
I want people to be clear and comfortable about what I'm doing. If they don't get what I'm doing, I encourage 'em to call a manager or owner. Haven't been turned down yet.
I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
@emm2131 wrote:
When I suspect the site employee is uncomfortable with the LOA content I smile and offer to help them understand the purpose and procedures. When I suspect it is a language or reading comprehension issue I share a physical copy I keep with me & share view of the letter as I read it out loud. If they are not knowledgeable and ask to call their Mgr it is a reasonable request to protect their site. No matter, we have to remain respectful.
Reminds me of the following I have heard from foreign relatives.
What do you call a person that speaks three languages? Trilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks two languages? Bilingual.
What do you call a person that speaks one language? American.
That sounds very time consuming. I would only do that if the shop is highly bonused. Otherwise - time is money. Get in, get out - that's me.
My standard spiel is "I'm going to take a few pictures inside, then a few pictures outside, and then I'll get out of your hair." If they ask what it's for, I simply tell them that it's a marketing audit, the company wants to make sure all of the advertising stuff is in it's proper place.
If at that point they say they'd rather I leave, then I do. If they say they want to ask their manager, I say that's fine, but I'm running late, so I'm going to start taking my pictures. If your manager says they want me to stop, I will, and I'll leave.
And as I said before, I've only been turned away once. I've been yelled at a couple times, but they let me finish. And one time a station owner mistook me for someone else and I had to explain that I never did those things to him, and I would never do that (he apologized and let me continue my audit).
If at that point they say they'd rather I leave, then I do. If they say they want to ask their manager, I say that's fine, but I'm running late, so I'm going to start taking my pictures. If your manager says they want me to stop, I will, and I'll leave.
And as I said before, I've only been turned away once. I've been yelled at a couple times, but they let me finish. And one time a station owner mistook me for someone else and I had to explain that I never did those things to him, and I would never do that (he apologized and let me continue my audit).
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