IPSOS gas station audit

I've continued doing a lot of these and I'm getting more of a system down. It's true that the editors seem to have a different opinion on what constitutes a white glove audit. I've just kind of gone into the mode of taking tons of photos just so I have one available if an editor requests a new photo of something. I've gone through a lot of back and forth with editors on some of these, but as I find what they typically want, the editing process has become much smoother. And, goodness, the fees just keep increasing! They just put $70 fees on some of the more remote locations. I picked up a small route of 4 to do this week for $280. And the nice $7 fuel reimbursement will more than cover the fuel costs for the route.

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OK. I've read that they want 2 overall photos but guidelines say just one.

Any other requirements that are not in the guidelines?

There's 8 of them on my job board at $70....seriously considering this!!! But they are way, way too far away to run back and retake any missed photos.

@ceasesmith wrote:

OK. I've read that they want 2 overall photos but guidelines say just one.

Any other requirements that are not in the guidelines?

There's 8 of them on my job board at $70....seriously considering this!!! But they are way, way too far away to run back and retake any missed photos.

Take a photo of the leave-behind sheet. The whole sheet, not just the part you write on. It is the very last question of the survey, but is not in the guidelines anywhere I can see.

Thanks, Canuck!!!

I have only done one so far and one debrand. But I had absolutely no issues with the regular audit and for the debrand the editor worked with me and was very understanding of the unique limitations of that particular site.
I think the phone app is way too slow. If I take any further ones I will do the photos on site and go home to do the reports. If you create a cheatsheet and make sure to get lots of photos of every little thing, everything should be fine @ceasesmith.

I've always seen this client, even with their old MSC, as being more "white glove" in reality then the other stations done by the old MSC which say "not a white glove". I've treated them more strictly and have not had an issue with editors, with either MSC. Someone said that the client is probably difficult to work with, and I have this impression too, so for Ipsos, they probably will be in a more white glove mentality for their first official cycle with them.

@ceasesmith wrote:

OK. I've read that they want 2 overall photos but guidelines say just one.

Any other requirements that are not in the guidelines?

I believe the 2nd photo is requested by the MSC and not the client as proof of visit. It doesn't specify that the proof be an overall photo but that is what I have been sending and have had no rejections. I take a few steps from the original overall shot and take a 2nd. This is really redundant but it is what they want.

Due to the weather and the amount of work from other MSCs, I've not done a single shop for this MSC. In the old days, I did many for the old MSC with the typical editor problems that, over time, resolved by my learning curve (or maybe theirs??).
Sooooo……. I guess my only question would be: How do they determine if a photo is the same photo or not the same photo? I use my digital camera that leaves no mark on the photo. Are they asking for that?

Oops! Another question: Must their phone app be used, or, can the shopper use their computer and file the report at home?

I use a digital camera for gas station audits. I also do the reports at home on my computer. From what I understand they have some kind of DNA thing that can tell if a photo has been used before.

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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

I don't know how your digital camera works, but when I download the photos from my camera, each one is numbered in sequence. When I download it (upload?) to the report, I can see right there: 4.19.002 or 4.19.003, etc. The first digits are the date taken. If I can see it in plain sight, I'm sure the MSC can, too.

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