Gas station audit for $9!!!
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I dropped mine after I went to report them and realized that it was a mystery shop then and audit. My bad. I'm not doing those.
Me too as I just reported under the MF thread. I don't remember a qualifying question mentioning the audit. I just assumed it was the same shop as before.
You're scaring me. I printed a book worth of instructions, but haven't even looked at them yet. Are these the yellow seashore shops?
No they are not the seashore shops so don't worry too much. Still deciding if I am going to cancel or not. I really hate canceling but just do not want to do this audit. My base for these types is at least $20 and that is when there is a small purchase - not the 2 gallons that they want and an extra purchase. Plus gas is up so I feel that these will be pretty much "free" audits. Sad ; (......
Whew! I almost felt badly about cancelling a buttload of them but I see that everyone else is on board...
It definitely wasn't obvious that it was a revealed audit when we signed up for them. Sneaky, sneaky.
It definitely wasn't obvious that it was a revealed audit when we signed up for them. Sneaky, sneaky.
I've been keeping daily track of these shops. The number of available shops in my area keeps increasing. I think many, like those in this thread, myself included, didn't realize that it included an audit portion. Shoppers around here are cancelling these assignments without hesitation.
I remember doing these around November last year. They can be easy to perform, especially with practice, but can be very time-consuming, depending on the number of infractions present, the size of the station, and how busy it is. I recall getting several dirty looks from folks as I was glancing over their shoulder to evaluate the pump. A lot of it was probably because I was being too aggressive. I also didn't have a safety vest and clipboard at the time. Anywho, with the amount of photos involved, time needed to understand the guidelines, and longer uploading time, I would say that a $20-25 fee is fair.
I remember doing these around November last year. They can be easy to perform, especially with practice, but can be very time-consuming, depending on the number of infractions present, the size of the station, and how busy it is. I recall getting several dirty looks from folks as I was glancing over their shoulder to evaluate the pump. A lot of it was probably because I was being too aggressive. I also didn't have a safety vest and clipboard at the time. Anywho, with the amount of photos involved, time needed to understand the guidelines, and longer uploading time, I would say that a $20-25 fee is fair.
Yup, I took five before I realized I had been suckered!
I only took one this month, thankfully, but thanks to this thread I discovered it was an audit and canceled it. I never cancel shops with MF, but I did. Totally unfair IMO. I've done a few for over $20 and would not do them for less than that.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
They bumped up the fee to $10 in my area, now. The Mystery Shops around me fly off the boards, but people don't seem to be biting on the audits.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
On the list of available shops it does not mention that there is an audit. It's only when you go to the next page that the audit is stated. Easy to be mislead, particularly if you've done these before as only mystery shops. With all the pictures needed and other audit info to be provided, still not worth it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2016 11:40PM by kenasch.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2016 11:40PM by kenasch.
Both are still offered. You just have to be aware which version of the shop you're shopping, whether the mystery shop only or the mystery shop / audit combo.
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I just had to edit my post. I meant to write the list of shops does not show whether it includes the audit. So you have to look at the details on the next page to find out. Easy to be misled if you are not careful.
I would select the option (if still available) that states the fee is not acceptable to you when you cancel.
I had to cancel. I had every intention of doing these shops - I had 4 scheduled - and went to print out the information. I was still a little angry about them sneaking an audit in and then I read the instructions. Not only the 2 gallons, an inside purchase and an audit, they also wanted details about the car wash, restaurant and all of the hours of the station. I felt so overwhelmed and knew I would need to print out at least one of the 34 page instructions. By now I was losing money and had to bail. Probably a deactivation in the future.
A lot of people cancelled them once they got a look at the requirements. I don't think deactivation is a foregone conclusion. There were lots of them that showed back up on the board in my area after (I assume) people took them and then cancelled when they saw how much work was involved for the fee. They're up to $15 plus reimbursement in my area and there are still lots available.
I like the Mystery Shops and will scoop those up when they're posted, but an audit for the same fee and with kind of a sneaky listing seems a little bit like a dirty trick to me. I cancelled a handful a few days after I accepted them... if they want to deactivate me, I'll be disappointed, but it's their loss: I'm pretty awesome.
I like the Mystery Shops and will scoop those up when they're posted, but an audit for the same fee and with kind of a sneaky listing seems a little bit like a dirty trick to me. I cancelled a handful a few days after I accepted them... if they want to deactivate me, I'll be disappointed, but it's their loss: I'm pretty awesome.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
It looks like these just posted again; both MS and Audit. The audit says "changed fee' on the right side in red on the actions column. The fee is the same $9.
The new ones posted in my area seem to be Mystery shops this time: not audits. There are a few audits in my area that are up to $20 fees, but the new MSs are posted at the usual rate. I checked very carefully this time before signing up for any 
Shopper in California's Bay Area
There are both audits and mystery shops in my area. They look exactly alike on the board, some fee and reimbursement, and same hours. The audits do say on the qualification questions that they are audits.
Gas stations shop are almost always worst than you expect them to be.
I cancelled a gas station MS. It was an audit AND a mystery shop that only paid 14.00. I also had to buy at least 2 gallons of gas which here in Cali is almost 3.00 a gallon. Also, if I buy the cheapest item in the convenience store( for 1.00). I'm only getting paid 7.00. No thanks.
Their gas station/audits did tick up to $14 but hardly any biters....@calicakes wrote:
I cancelled a gas station MS. It was an audit AND a mystery shop that only paid 14.00. I also had to buy at least 2 gallons of gas which here in Cali is almost 3.00 a gallon. Also, if I buy the cheapest item in the convenience store( for 1.00). I'm only getting paid 7.00. No thanks.
There are four left in the Indy area. I usually do 5-6 in the $15-$25 range. First they are in the inner city which I love, because the lack of competition gets me bonuses.
Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
I signed up and did not realize how much it involved. Did not cancel but I don't think I will do another one.
@calicakes wrote:
I cancelled a gas station MS. It was an audit AND a mystery shop that only paid 14.00. I also had to buy at least 2 gallons of gas which here in Cali is almost 3.00 a gallon. Also, if I buy the cheapest item in the convenience store( for 1.00). I'm only getting paid 7.00. No thanks.
Hmmm, check your MSC's description of the shop. All of the gas station mystery shop - audit - reveals that I do, always reimburse for expenses incurred such as what you describe.
Are you saying there is no reimbursement? Otherwise, your math is wrong.
Lately, because of the low gas prices, I've gone to carrying two 5 gallon gas cans with me. I've also gone to using other vehicles to accommodate the amount of gas I'm being reimbursed.
@French Farmer wrote:
@calicakes wrote:
I cancelled a gas station MS. It was an audit AND a mystery shop that only paid 14.00. I also had to buy at least 2 gallons of gas which here in Cali is almost 3.00 a gallon. Also, if I buy the cheapest item in the convenience store( for 1.00). I'm only getting paid 7.00. No thanks.
Hmmm, check your MSC's description of the shop. All of the gas station mystery shop - audit - reveals that I do, always reimburse for expenses incurred such as what you describe.
Are you saying there is no reimbursement? Otherwise, your math is wrong.
Lately, because of the low gas prices, I've gone to carrying two 5 gallon gas cans with me. I've also gone to using other vehicles to accommodate the amount of gas I'm being reimbursed.
NOt the company I am dealing with. The requirements are at least 2 gallons of gas and something from the convenience store. The reimbursement is 5.00 total. No matter how much the gas costs. So, because its almost 3 bucks a gallon, I go over the reimbursement and go into the fee.
@calicakes wrote:
@French Farmer wrote:
@calicakes wrote:
NOt the company I am dealing with. The requirements are at least 2 gallons of gas and something from the convenience store. The reimbursement is 5.00 total. No matter how much the gas costs. So, because its almost 3 bucks a gallon, I go over the reimbursement and go into the fee.
Gas is $3 a gallon in California now? Wow. The price had gotten down to $1.39 but has gone up and is now hovering between $1.89 and $1.99 here. I was really enjoying the low gas prices.
Yep, I paid $2.97 a gallon for the cheapest gas a few days ago.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
One of the qualifying questions asked if I was aware that it was an audit and mystery shop. Since I did not want to do the audits, I did not schedule. Did find a couple of mystery shop only to do and I made sure to print the CPI in case questions arose.
The first time I accepted a gas station MS and audit (Nov. 2015) they paid $40. Now they're only offering $9 and sneaking in the audit. They are also offering de-brand and new station audits for the same cost. I accepted one and went ahead and did it, but won't accept any more.
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