New bie question - Gas station audits

Trying to sign-up for a gas station audit for the first time with MF. How are these, easy/hard?? I am yet to do any MF assignments, hence the questions. The brief description says it needs 2 pictures, one of the gas station another the sign.... One of the overall gas station, how do you take those without being spotted? From across the street, from your car? The other picture, what is the that? The gas price sign, the main brand sign? Sorry if these are naïve or dumb questions.

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No dumb questions here. They want a picture of the price sign not a picture of the brand. For the picture of the overall gas station I stand as far away as I can safely do so. Usually it’s from the sidewalk or curb. It could be done from your car but you have to do it from an open window and make sure nothing from the car itself is showing. Take the pictures after you finish the shop. No one will notice. When you request a shop, look to see if it includes a revealed audit after. I don’t think the pay justifies that, so I stick with the unrevealed version of the shop only.

I totally agree. The revealed audit has 40 pages of guidelines and doesn't pay any more than an unrevealed audit until they get to the end of the month and are desperate. They are $14 now and started at $8. Like Kenasch said, just take the photos after the shop. The attendant will likely not even notice you. I take them from across the street when necessary to get the full view, but they are relatively easy, really. Go for it! Do one. The rest get easier and will be a piece of cake. The hardest thing for me to remember is if the bathroom door had a "clean" sign on it, or whatever that question says.

They want those 2 pictures plus pictures of any issues. They're much harder here in NJ where someone pumps your gas. It's very hard to remain covert.

The audits are more complex, but I can still be in and out in 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the station.

And even worse in NJ is that some gasoline shops want you to buy $1, $2, or $5 of gas. Because NJ (and Oregon) require full service, asking an attendant for $1 of gas (less than 1/2 gallon) is absurd.

@thegov2k2 wrote:

They want those 2 pictures plus pictures of any issues. They're much harder here in NJ where someone pumps your gas. It's very hard to remain covert.

The audits are more complex, but I can still be in and out in 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the station.

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

With a gas station mystery shop, its a good idea, if possible, while shopping to try and wait until you can get a customer right behind you in line. (but don't spend so much time doing this that the clerk is thinking you're stealing stuff). But if possible, if you can manage it when someone in line is behind you (if said customer has a bunch of lottery tickets in their hand ready to go, then you're in luck, because that transaction will fully be taking the clerk's attention for a little while), that clerk will become focused on them while you're getting your phone out and taking photos.

Also, scope out the location as soon as you pull into it, while fueling (fuel slowly, don't fully engage the handle), and while walking from the car to the store to find where any infractions might be. Then, when you leave the location, you know right where to take your pictures quickly, get in the car, and leave.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2019 12:39PM by tcurione.

At least you get to buy gas on these. There's a shop out there that requires you to pull up to the dispenser and evaluate the island, but no gas reimbursement.

I have a very clean windshield.

Thank you so very much for your suggestions and ideas!

In my opininion consider other mscs for this if these are the non reveals. Much shorter and you dont have to take pictures of every little thing. I cant speak for audits where you reveal yourself as I havent done those.

If you do decide to do these they are pretty easy though.

Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.

As I pull in a picture of the price sign is taken and usually blurry (clocking in). As I get out of the car, a picture of the pump is taken. Walking to the store the washer fluid station is captured. 2 pictures of the restroom are captured. A picture of the canopy is taken returning to the car. A then drive across the street take 3 overall pics and 3 price sign pics. A picture of both receipts is captured with the cashier information written on the back with any issues(clocking out). This usually takes 10-minutes or less. Yes, there are more pictures than required but, it beats returning to the location or a shop rejection.

I have my phone out with the flash off. As I go into the bathroom, I take a photo of the door.

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New bie question - Gas station audits

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