The latest Maritz Frustrations

I just completed a number of Yellow gas station shops for Maritz. One or more of their erstwhile editors has now changed the rules or interpretations of what photos work, or don't work. I don't think these editors understand that almost every gas station is different....some have a ton of acreage, some are on very small lots, and some are graded up a hill while others are flat....anyway, here is what I was given for two of the 'holds' this afternoon....
"Overall Vistt (sic) - need photo - Please provide a closer Forecourt photo that clearly shows a drive path, some canopy columns, and some of the canopy underside as per the example on page 11 in your guidebook."

(Drive Path??? really???) (The photos look pretty damn good to me!)

"Overall Visit - need photo - Please provide an Overall photo that shows the entire site including the entire canopy like the example in the guidelines. A photo taken from across the street often works well."

I don't think they understand that "across the street" is sometimes across an eight lane (or more!) highway!!! I wish they would call, or show some consideration, because when I email them back (the ONLY way to contact Maritz' editors), it is a hit or miss proposition as to whether my photos get accepted or not....makes havoc of my schedule!

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I had an inordinate number of holds. The main causes: 2-my document which met their criteria was on a similar piece of paper. They judged the two as one. I had my 10 seconds of hissy fit and submitted a new photo for each.

I had to state for three reports that I checked the pocket of the folder for the sheet that has not usually been included with a certain product inquiry.

I had to add a few comments for the self-evident for two.

1 My bad. I attached the wrong photo.

So it goes.

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
Yep.
I get holds for some things not outlined in their instructions.

"On hold. The interior shot and product shop are from the same area."

Well, so what?? My fault for not commenting that the shop is so tiny and the product shelves are so tall that the best shot is naturally from the same area.

How about, "you need to change your answer because I don't see anywhere evidence of the (insert your answer)." My view: You don't believe me? Then it should be outlined in the instructions to provide a photo. And I take lots of photos, lots!!

I just sigh and move on. Lesson learned. I'll comment more and I'll take specific photos.
The editors are impossible to communicate with. I have had success in talking to a good scheduler (there are some that are far better than others) or in some cases, a supervisor. If the supervisor agrees with me they can override the editor. Quite often simply submitting a second photo also works. It doesn't matter that the original photo may have been a better shot. I feel that the editors are finding fault to validate and justify the need for their existence. I understand that if they reviewed and OK'd every report they wouldn't be needed. But what they do is an overkill. It is very frustrating and needlessly time consuming which is why I only fill in with yellow stations and resign myself to playing the game.
I stopped doing the yellow gas stations shops when the editors insisted I use a digital camera for my photos rather than my smartphone camera. I do not own a tablet so that was not an option for me. I tried to explain my camera phone had MUCH better picture quality and resolution but they insisted it had to be a digital camera. Really??? I also had several issues with the editors not accepting photos which meant return trips to the locations so I decided it was not worth it for me and choose a different client at Martiz to shop for.

Has anyone else been able to use a smartphone camera for yellow shops??
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