Maritz dark audit

March 21, 2016 11:55PM

I decided to give them a try given the bonus they are offering. I created a route for myself but am concerned about timing. Does anybody know what time these gas stations turn on their lights? I called one and they said they close at 7:30 and I don't know if it will be dark enough by then. (and it is an hour away)

The dark audits I am referring to are non revealed and all you do is take 3-4 photos.

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March 22, 2016 12:07AM

I see a lot of these on their list with some really great bonuses. However, with the time change, they are not for me!
A lot of these stations have their lights on timers while others are initiated by the attendants. So, its really hard to give you a straight answer.
I suggest you look at when it gets dark around you and take it from there.
The easier suggestion is to do these in the morning. For me, sunrise is still late. I've done many of the "yellow" and the "blue" night shops in the morning hours. Try asking the station when they open and then just adjust your route to do a few each morning. You do know that you can do shops for this MSC earlier than their published dates, right?

March 22, 2016 12:14AM

I did 3 or 4 of these when they first came out and found them very easy, both the photos and the report. Although taking covert pictures from across the street with a main highway in between was a bit sketchy. I believe most stations turn the lights on within 1/2 hour after sunset. I would have done more if there were additional stations within 5 or 10 minutes of my home. In my opinion, if you are OK with working at night and they are now bonused, you can make a very nice evening's pay.

March 22, 2016 12:19AM

I wish I would have done the shops before Daylight Savings but then again, the bonus just went up today. The total is $27/shop. I am watching the sun setting as I type this and will call Maritz in the morning to see if they can give me an idea. I called a few of the stations already; will call the rest in the morning to see when they close. Doing before sunrise wouldn't work; too many to do. Here is what I am hoping will work. I accepted 7 shops, 3 within one city. Round trip shows 2 hours 41 minutes. I think if I arrive at the first station at 7:30 pm, the lights should be on. And then I can knock out the rest of them and out and hopefully get to them before they close.

March 22, 2016 12:52AM

When I did them, I decided that lights should definitely be on at dusk, not necessarily at sunset when it is really still quite light. So I asked Google when dusk was at my location. For comparison, here is what I got just now:
Dusk: 7:42 EDT
Sunset: 7:16
There were some locations where there was nothing across the street. Nowhere to park and nowhere to walk safely. I was told that in those cases it was alright to get as far away as possible on the premises or an adjacent building. There usually wasn't any doubt about was or wasn't turned on.

Question for the OP: In your second message, you said you were going to arrive at 7:30 PM. But in your first message, you said that they close at 7:30 PM. I think one of them must be a typo?

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

March 22, 2016 01:18AM

It wasn't a typo but actually, i decided not to do the one that said they closes at 730pm. And i agree with the dusk theory, that's why i said 730 and not 715

730 seemed dark enough tonight that i think they will have lights on. Thanks for your input.

March 22, 2016 02:39AM

What time does the stations open if they close at 730? If the shops are 2h41min (RT) from you and they are $27 a shop, is it worth it? Sounds like you're chasing money. Unless you have a boatload of shops along the way, coming and going, is it worth it? Will you be spending more than $81 to get there, including the up to $15 in gas and the up to$3 in store? What happens in this town where the gas stations closes at 730?

March 22, 2016 02:54AM

Sojo - there is no "$3 in store". There is no purchase requirement at all. If all goes as expected, they do not even know that you were there. No reveal unless absolutely necessary. I think that you are thinking about a different shop.

That does not change the fact that you asked a good question about whether even at $27 each, it makes sense to drive 3 hours (I am rounding up). At 50 mph, 2:40 would be 133 miles. At the IRS rate of $0.40 per mile, that works out to $71.82 for a fee of 3 x $27 = $81. So, 3 hours (optimistic) of time for a net $9.18 means that I personally would not do it. Or maybe all 7 get done on the same trip, meaning 7 x $27 = $189 - $71.82 = $$117.18 and I would definitely do them.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

March 22, 2016 03:23AM

Well then let's make sure the Shopper has at least 4 different credit/debit cards to pay with

I would not want the original credit card to be flagged because of "so called over use" in a short time period.

I performed some of those night time audits. Some after midnight and a few at 500am.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2016 03:23AM by sojo917.

March 22, 2016 03:35AM

There is no purchase requirement. No need for any credit cards. I think that you have these confused wit the "Evening Eligible" audits. As far as I can tell, the OP is discussing a different client, and an audit where a total of 3 photos from across the street are required.

@sojo917 wrote:

Well then let's make sure the Shopper has at least 4 different credit/debit cards to pay with I would not want the original credit card to be flagged because of "so called over use" in a short time period.

I performed some of those night time audits. Some after midnight and a few at 500am.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

March 22, 2016 04:07AM

@SHOPPER--------->Do the 7 shops, drive the round trip mileage, go when the lights are on or when dusks hits, and buy gas if you want to. I will support you. Use whatever payment method you like. I will not brow beat you. If the TRS wants to give you credit for your mileage, that will be a good thing. 'nuff said

March 22, 2016 04:08AM

repent repeat delete

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2016 04:10AM by sojo917.

March 22, 2016 11:27AM

@myst4u - Yes, your last sentence is correct. All 7 one trip. But now i do wonder if it's worth it. $118 for 4 or 5 hours of "work" including drive time and debriefing? And that's if i don't have problems. But then again, money is money. I have the time because business is slow. One advantage is that its mostly interstate, so, 70 mph. And you were right about the 133 miles so it shouldn't take me the full 2:40. I had not considered that. I was considering taking 2 other routes, if tonight's trip went well, but they are both highway driving, not interstate so I am going to pass on them. (Unless bonus goes even higher

@sojo - I wondered the same about a town with a gas station close at 7:30. Lol

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2016 11:52AM by Kristie6923.

March 22, 2016 02:23PM

@myst4au, you used the correct mileage rate for your calculations, but made a typo in the post. Mileage for 2016 is 54 cents not 40. I'm just throwing it out there in case someone doesn't realize it is higher.

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March 22, 2016 02:27PM

Thanks Lisa. If I factor in the time I have spent calculating, calling the stations, mapping it, etc, I am not sure I would be making any money. lol

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2016 02:37PM by Kristie6923.

March 22, 2016 03:16PM

@Kristie6923 wrote:

Thanks Lisa. If I factor in the time I have spent calculating, calling the stations, mapping it, etc, I am not sure I would be making any money. lol

Ha! Except now you'll know a lot more than you did the next time these come up, and may be able to wait for or negotiate higher bonuses.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

March 22, 2016 04:14PM

^^^^Exactly. Like registering is sweat equity for all mystery shoppers, learning how much time and cost is involved shopping far flung areas is sweat equity for route shoppers. If you can't remember approximately how much it costs and how much you need for future trips, be sure to keep a running list. Having it near your computer or the most likely place you will take a phone call is critical. The last thing you want to do when a scheduler calls with a big bonus offer is tell them you need a few hours to figure out what you need

March 22, 2016 06:40PM

Thanks Lisa. I have no idea how I managed to type 40 instead of 54. It hasn't been 40 cents per mile since 2005. When I was looking that up, I came across a site which breaks down the mileage rate into different components, and then does that for different size vehicles. Really nice: [www.companymileage.com]

@LisaSTL wrote:

@myst4au, you used the correct mileage rate for your calculations, but made a typo in the post. Mileage for 2016 is 54 cents not 40. I'm just throwing it out there in case someone doesn't realize it is higher.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

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