I always try to follow the guidelines to a tee. But, sometimes, it can be difficult while maintaining good relations.
Example: While driving back from one of my last shops for the "Blue" gas station, I was remembering the new requirement for the loyalty card. According to the update, if the shopper uses their loyalty card inside, they risk removal from the program. Okay, I understand, but when the employee asks me, I say no thanks, then they ask if I want one and I say no thanks again. They explain the merits of the program and I try to be nice in refusing it. They look at me quizzically, especially when I return and announce the reveal portion of the shop. Some have even asked me why I didn't want to use my loyalty card. I just shrug. But really, what do you tell them?

The guidelines for these shops say that you must not accept anything free from the employee. But, on various instances, I've had employees offer me a free hotdog or donut (for grand opening of the new station or customer appreciation day or whatever). I always say "no thank you". They seem hurt by the refusal. Not a big deal, but I've always tried to maintain a good rapport with the employees. Once, I even had a very nice man employee offer me a cup of coffee. I refused. But then as I was sitting in my car (parked away from the pumps), he came out and handed me a fresh cup of coffee. I had to take, I would have felt like an ass. Of course, I didn't report that and I poured it out when he wasn't looking. So, I did feel like an ass then.

That's just 2 examples, there are more.

Regarding the use of the loyalty card, my understanding is you cannot use it unless the cashier asks if you have one.
I just went back and re-read the guidelines. Yes...you may use your loyalty card ONLY if the cashier asks if you have one. Further, if you do have one it should remain out of sight until asked for.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2019 12:26AM by janalou.

You may be worrying too much about unimportant things. I just refuse offers. If the attendant pushes it I just tell them I'm not allowed. NBD.
I've never had an employee be so insistent about the loyalty card, though. I can't imagine it happens very often...?

@janalou wrote:

Regarding the use of the loyalty card, my understanding is you cannot use it unless the cashier asks if you have one.

Better read the Update!
From their Loyalty Card update (as of May 1): If you use a Loyalty card for the inside purchase, you will be subject to removal from the site inspection program.

@frenchfarmer wrote:
Better read the Update!
From their Loyalty Card update (as of May 1): If you use a Loyalty card for the inside purchase, you will be subject to removal from the site inspection program.
YIKES! I dont have any of the current months shops yet. I'll read the new guidelines when I get some of them.

I could be wrong about this, but I think the new guideline about not using the loyalty card may be to see if the employee scans their own loyalty card during the transaction. During a recent visit to a different branded gas station near my house I was told about a cashier that was fired for using their own loyalty card multiple times during each shift that they worked.
If a cashier scans a loyalty card it would be easy to see on the receipt.

I just self assigned one so I could look at the new guidelines. I'm still seeing you can use you your card if asked. Are there separate guudelines for different parts of the Country? Lol!

@yoya301 wrote:

I could be wrong about this, but I think the new guideline about not using the loyalty card may be to see if the employee scans their own loyalty card during the transaction.

Doubt it. A clerk would be dumb to use one of their few swipes a day on our $1 purchase. It'll be for the guy going in there, saying "$20 on pump 3", while having his cellphone in his ear, and is out the door before the clerk can even say "thank you".

Not being able to use it inside is a bummer now if the clerk asks, but at the same time, I didn't realize that I could use it at the pump during the shop.

@janalou wrote:

I just self assigned one so I could look at the new guidelines. I'm still seeing you can use you your card if asked. Are there separate guudelines for different parts of the Country? Lol!

This is what is listed on the shops I have. Its not in the guidelines Its a separate Update
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Effective May 1, 2019:

• Evaluators should no longer be using an XX loyalty card for inside purchases due to concerns with evaluators using their cards too early and disrupting the process for Q36 (Did the staff member at the register mention any current XX Marketing or Loyalty program?) .

• If you use a Loyalty card for the inside purchase, you will be subject to removal from the site inspection program.

• Loyalty cards/numbers may be used only when fueling at the pump.

• Using an XX Rewards+ card at the pumps more than one time per day may put you at risk of having your loyalty account closed for fraud protection. If your Loyalty account is shut down from being over-used, it is very unlikely your account can be unlocked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

French Farmer, I know you are just trying to help but that just linked MSC and client.

I always do the non reveals, but I dont ever use my loyalty card on a shop. Its been awhile but I think I decline when asked if I want to sign up, but I always inquire what it offers. I could be mistaken though, since it has been such a long time since my last one.

Thanks for the heads-up on the loyalty card change, French Farmer. It might feel a little awkward refusing to swipe the card, but only at those regular stations where they already know who I am. In those cases I'll just plain tell them the program guidelines don't allow it any more.

I also have a good number of offers for coffees, sodas, food etc. I think a lot of times they are just offering me the same courtesy they offer vendors. Like you I always try to be poilite. I tell them thanks but I just ate or that I already have a coffee/soda in my car, etc.. Only if they insist do I tell them it's not allowed.

Oh and yet another ICA violation on this forum.

@kimmiemae wrote:

Oh and yet another ICA violation on this forum.

One of the worst I have seen.

The worst I've seen is the recent mystery shopping magazine article. It had a bunch of ICA violations. Since Jacob made a post in the comment section related to something else, he definitely saw the article.

Edited to add: This was just an observation meant to state something. I'm just going to scratch my head at this one...lol



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/04/2019 03:40PM by kimmiemae.

@KA047 wrote:

French Farmer, I know you are just trying to help but that just linked MSC and client.

Yikes! How could I be so stupid!

I changed it.

Thank you!