Maritz gas station "dark audits" - what are they like?
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I average about 30 Maritz gas station audits a month and I love doing them! I would agree that they are "easy" but not necessarily "fast." Depending on which client you are shopping you will average about 25 minutes on site and another 30 minutes uploading pics and debriefing. I wouldn't cross my fingers and hope that Maritz will put a bonus on the shop because you will be surprised how quickly the shops will get picked up by other shoppers regardless of bonuses. Also, keep in mind that you will be doing the "dark audits" late at night so plan on being up late to debrief as well. Additionally, think about your personal safety with the locations you are looking to shop as there is a higher potential for crime and illegal activity at gas stations after dark.
Before they changed to just audits, I did a couple of the mystery shops/audits at night. I found them to be pretty easy. I would think that just the audit part would be easy. However, it takes some time to get prepped for the shop if you haven't done them before. There will be a quiz and some paperwork to print (which you probably know). Also, it can take longer to take good pictures at night.
They need to be done late at night? It's full dark by 6pm here right now, I assumed I could just stroll down around 6 and do it. Is this not correct?
I've done the ones you're inquiring about...after dark...green station..photos only. They are pretty easy. I've done a few without leaving my car.
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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
This time of year I have done them as early as 4:30 pm because it gets dark early. As long as it is dark enough and the lights are on you should be fine. I don't do the night shops in the summer as I do not stay up late enough.
@BlueMoose wrote:
Are they really "fast and easy" as Maritz claims? I'm looking at one that's just a 10-minute walk from my house, worth it for $9 or should I wait/ask for it to be bonused?
they are. i did one that was 5 minutes away for base fee, and i don't do any maritz jobs for base fee, so that should tell you something.
What do you mean by "stroll down?" You need to have a vehicle for these shops. Dark does not necessarily mean night.@BlueMoose wrote:
They need to be done late at night? It's full dark by 6pm here right now, I assumed I could just stroll down around 6 and do it. Is this not correct?
You do not need a vehicle for these shops. You do them from across the street. You can do it as soon as it is dark out, or in the morning before it gets light, as long as the station is open and it is dark out.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2017 12:26AM by Linlam.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2017 12:26AM by Linlam.
The several different brands of gas stations that I perform for this MSC require a gas purchase at the pump. Even the darkness/night eligible ones. Are you supposed to do that on a hover board?@Linlam wrote:
You do not need a vehicle for these shops. You do them from across the street. You can do it as soon as it is dark out, or in the morning before it gets light, as long as the station is open and it is dark out.
Oh Moosie Blue, these shops are easy, so true.
Take many photos of each angle of the site from across the street. Ensure that you include the MID. Examine the "Helios" on the canopy for being lit. Examine the green LED strip on the canopy for being lit.
The report is easy and the $9, worth it. At most, this shop should take no more than 20 minutes. I can do them in 10 minutes. Make sure you have the LOA. Why? Because when the police roll up and ask what you think you're doing, you can show them some type of verification that you're not some wierdo taking photos of a gas station.
PS, if you're a female, smile nicely at the officer and don't go out with him.
Take many photos of each angle of the site from across the street. Ensure that you include the MID. Examine the "Helios" on the canopy for being lit. Examine the green LED strip on the canopy for being lit.
The report is easy and the $9, worth it. At most, this shop should take no more than 20 minutes. I can do them in 10 minutes. Make sure you have the LOA. Why? Because when the police roll up and ask what you think you're doing, you can show them some type of verification that you're not some wierdo taking photos of a gas station.
PS, if you're a female, smile nicely at the officer and don't go out with him.
Do you need to be disrespectful and sarcastic in every response you make? The shops being asked about do NOT require a vehicle or a hover board.
You know the answer to that question!
@Linlam wrote:
Do you need to be disrespectful and sarcastic in every response you make?
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Yes, I do need to be sarcastic. Some people get it, some don't. Some people have a sense of humor, some do not. I feel sorry for those who do not.@Linlam wrote:
Do you need to be disrespectful and sarcastic in every response you make? The shops being asked about do NOT require a vehicle or a hover board.
@Sybil2 wrote:
Yes, I do need to be sarcastic. Some people get it, some don't. Some people have a sense of humor, some do not. I feel sorry for those who do not.
When I read or hear this, I just hum "Simple Gifts".
I think the hover board would be a fire hazard around a gas station so it would be best to stroll right by.
@ xxxxxx-----> it seems, growing some would be appropriate. 35 post is not enough
@ xxxxxx-----> it seems, growing some would be appropriate. 35 post is not enough
When Martiz says dark, they mean dark enough for the lights to come on. It should specify in the notes or the job board when you can do it. I think there is some flexibility in when dark starts due to the time of year and your location.
Thanks, everyone. Based on your replies I went ahead and accepted this shop. Will post about my experience after I complete it the first week of February.
@Sybil2 wrote:
The several different brands of gas stations that I perform for this MSC require a gas purchase at the pump. Even the darkness/night eligible ones. Are you supposed to do that on a hover board?@Linlam wrote:
You do not need a vehicle for these shops. You do them from across the street. You can do it as soon as it is dark out, or in the morning before it gets light, as long as the station is open and it is dark out.
The Maritz "DARK AUDITS" do not require any purchases. Just photos.
Obviously there are "DARK AUDITS" for different clients. The brand I perform does require a vehicle for a gas purchase at the pump and the guidelines specifically say that you can not use one of those gas can/ jug things either. So the hover board would not work for this brand.
@Sybil2 wrote:
Obviously there are "DARK AUDITS" for different clients. The brand I perform does require a vehicle for a gas purchase at the pump and the guidelines specifically say that you can not use one of those gas can/ jug things either. So the hover board would not work for this brand.
To be specific, there are shops that show up on my list of available shops and are termed "Dark Audits", while others are offered as "Evening Eligible" or "Darkness Eligible". Therefore, IMO, Blue Moose is specifically referring to the "Dark Audit" shops offered by the green gas station. These do not require a purchase or to set foot upon the premises, nor are they "reveals" unless questioned by the shop's employee.
My first dark/audit was about 16 miles from my home. I didn't think about the safety factor too much because there's nothing around there besides the c-store.
The shop isn't as difficult as I made it. But would I do another at that location, NOPE! Even with tri colored intersection light, the cars flew by and didn't care if it was red.
I'm called fairly often to shop another dark location. I know where it is. Drive by it at least twice a month. I could easily do it on the way home from one of my routes.
I wouldn't stop at the location during daylight for any amount of money. No way would I shop it in the dark. It might be a perfectly respectable business. I may be missing out on some great homemade TexMex; the store is always busy.
That being said, there are a few places I wouldn't mind doing what they call a dark audit. Another few bucks at the end of the day and I'm going to be up all night writing reports...why not.
The shop isn't as difficult as I made it. But would I do another at that location, NOPE! Even with tri colored intersection light, the cars flew by and didn't care if it was red.
I'm called fairly often to shop another dark location. I know where it is. Drive by it at least twice a month. I could easily do it on the way home from one of my routes.
I wouldn't stop at the location during daylight for any amount of money. No way would I shop it in the dark. It might be a perfectly respectable business. I may be missing out on some great homemade TexMex; the store is always busy.
That being said, there are a few places I wouldn't mind doing what they call a dark audit. Another few bucks at the end of the day and I'm going to be up all night writing reports...why not.
Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!
I have done dark audits, darkness and evening. I believe the dark audits refer to a certain client correctly described as the green brand by French Farmer and pay $9 in my area. When I did this shop it required 3 pictures - left, right and front preferably from across the street. Not only was there no gas or product purchase but it was requested that it be done surreptitiously. Very easy but I don't like them as I usually end my day at 3 o'clock or earlier and really don't want to go out again for $9.
They have specific hours of what they will accept for day and night shops. Read the guidelines and perform as they request the time. Some say dark audits are after dark and if you go there at 5:00 it will ding you that you were there during day light hours. I went to one at 6:30 and they came back on me and said I did it during daylight hours. I argued with them over it because it was clearly dark in the pictures. One of the employees told me I could do them as long as they are dark. Don't believe everything u hear.
Could you please advise me how to access the debriefing. I have tried every way possible on the assignment to access it and am having no luck. I would appreciate any help you can offer.
@queenie1 wrote:
Could you please advise me how to access the debriefing. I have tried every way possible on the assignment to access it and am having no luck. I would appreciate any help you can offer.
First things first. Has the shop been assigned to you? If it hasn't, do that first.
If it has, it should show up on your page referred to as "My Current Shops"
Next, have you taken the test? If so, did you pass? If you have not, you need to take it. If you have and failed three times, call, do not Email, Maritz.
Next, click on the "Visit ID" icon/link of your "My Current Shops" page for that particular shop. That will open to the individual shop's submission information. However, you must first click on the "Print/View Evaluation Form" link in order to gain the access code. Go through those steps and print out or write down the access code.
If you have gotten that far and have the code, all you need to do is go back to the shop's submission page and click on the "enter Results" icon. It will open to the blank spot to enter the access code. Do that and the report submission page should open.
If none of that works, you need to call Maritz, no Emails though!
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