Observa Truck Stops

I've seen them go for up to $80, out where I am, but they look like 1/2 day commitments and in triple digit heat I just can't stomach the thought.

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What do most folks do the service station shops for? I understand to wait for bonus. What is it worth. New to this. Thank you.
@Monk-N-Nut wrote:

I've seen them go for up to $80, out where I am, but they look like 1/2 day commitments and in triple digit heat I just can't stomach the thought.

This must be a different MSC. Observa never pays anywhere near that.
It's the one where you have to take pix of all of the multiple bldgs, restaurants, showers, truck washes, etc. The one near me looks to be over 10 acres of ground that would have to be covered. They start in the $40 range, but with bonuses go to $75-$80 regularly. With the heat, there's no way I would ever seriously consider the task.
I was paid today for the shop that I did yesterday.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Definitely a different MSC, Monk. These are a flat fee of $7 on the Observa App. They will eventually bonus up to no more than $15. They are a simple picture audit of the pumps and a few features that takes about 30-45 min once you get the hang of it, and they pay within a few hours-24hours. The chain I see in my area is regional and is medium-sized. Much smaller than the chain you are likely referencing.
Well, Storm, I was feeling awfully slow and old, hearing about how people can get it done in under an hour, but now I feel better, knowing it's probably a different shop. smiling smiley
After creeping around this forum I finally went ahead and did my first gas station shop. It took me a while probably about an hour and that includes double checking myself, and not to mention the 10 min I had to wait on the manager to arrive. I do think after doing a few more I will get quicker with it. So 2 an hour if I can do it will be worth it. There seems to be tons available in my area too, so I will definitely be taking advantage.

So Im patiently waiting to see if they are going to reject it. I didn't understand every single thing they asked and Im pretty sure I was at a station with no "Wave Signs" . Which brings me to my next question. If the submission is rejected do they explain why it was and what your mistakes were?

I'm determined to do these shops. I like the fact I can go do this on my time, with no one breathing down my neck and I actually enjoy meeting and talking to people. And walking around the station taking pictures and measurements really doesn't bother me at all.

But has anyone ever had a bad experience doing this?
Yes they communicate well and usually within 24 hours. If they reject your shop they will tell you why and answer follow-up questions you ask. The Wave signs are big red plastic half-arches over the pumps. As long as you take pictures of both sides of each pump, pillar, and sign you are good.

Pump ID tags can hide in sneaky places but I have never had a shop rejected for missing one. When in doubt, take extra pictures.
I am not taking them even for $10.00 that still on the board..I prefer to do unrevealed shops for them. But pay from them very quick. It is usually up to 2 days..

Shopping Eastern Pennsylvania since 2009
The station I did yesterday, I was not able to see the software version. The screen didn't follow the guidelines. The same thing for the Verifone.

Has anyone else had that happen? How did you handle it?

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
There is a NA/didn't know option in the list, then just comment what happened. They don't reject as long as you tried. I have also had cases where the clerk didn't know the login info for the system so we were unable to get the version.

Remember that the "tools" button is often hidden in the "more options" menu.
I've now been to 3 locations that have either been closed or in one case open (but permanently does NOT have an attendant). I find it odd that I emailed them with a picture for at least one but no response!!!! Usually they are speedy to respond, but silence on this issue though this is what is stated on their site:

observanow.com/observers/qa-2/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT DO I DO IF A STORE IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED?

If you go to complete an observation and the store location is permanently closed, please submit photos of the old storefront IN THE OPPORTUNITY. (Take a photo of the closed store wherever a photo is required.)

You will still be compensated for your time and efforts, but we need proof that you went and tried. We appreciate it when our observers let us know so we can update our database!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

OKAY: WHERE do you submit these photos in the "opportunity" lol If I don't get a response, I give up but who ever picks up those other locations sadly will be wasting their time.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 06/21/2019 02:17AM by Mysteriousways.
I'm doing another one today.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Just put the pictures of proof of closure in every required photo spot. Submit with a comment. That's it. On the one with no attendant take pictures of what you can, then use the other spots for pics proving no attendant.
I get emails from them all of the time but when I go to open them they say that I am not on a portable device, what the heck a laptop is the original portable device. Even if it is running Linux.
Thanks storm I will do that, it is interesting that our favs Observa reps were elusive since they follow these threads closely. Today, it is raining badly so will try next week, I have performed about 76% of the shops in my immediate area I'm sad now I have to travel to other locations.

They even have some additional bonuses for completion of certain amount of shops.
So I am motivated to get the quick pay and other bonuses.

The rain is so bad it has already flooded some parts and I am going home. I usually shop everyday but meh. A day off it is smiling smiley
The one I did today took considerably less time. My (personal) issue is that the app screen jumps and I miss required pictures. Luckily, the report can't be submitted untill all of the boxes are checked.

Today took me about 35 minutes.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@2stepps wrote:

I get emails from them all of the time but when I go to open them they say that I am not on a portable device, what the heck a laptop is the original portable device. Even if it is running Linux.

Or *especially* if it is running Linux? But they are looking for an Android or iPhone/iPad. You could run an Android emulator on the laptop.
I'm doing one, maybe two today. I like these better than the yellow gas station shops, even though the fee is lower.

I highly recommend wearing the safety vest. It makes you invisible.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2019 09:54AM by HonnyBrown.
The shop I did this morning was in an area with a weak wifi signal. When I finished the shop (about 45 minutes) and submitted the report, I got an error message that something went wrong. The message went on to say that it will resubmit the report in the background.

I was impressed with that. I went on to do my next shop. The report was submitted by the time I got home and checked the app.

I was very impressed with how the built ins of the app handled that. Very impressed!

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
This is my favorite app by far and there are suprise bonuses! Despite the lower pay, with bonus adjustments it is not bad and it gets easier. I get the money asap. They need to do this with Field agent seriously plus hard to get shops rejected for minor technically like F.A. For instance on F.A, i have had 2 shops rejected because my Gps was not correct "allegedly" DESPITE the work being correct. Wth. Observa i had 2 times issue submitting but it saved my info and submitted it in the background. The best, most intuitive app so far lol My biggest issue is I have to force stop it to turn off my location and it is a battery killer. I had to buy a 22k mah. This app helped me get out of an emergency cash situation.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2019 12:25AM by Mysteriousways.
How do you get the bonuses? I love the next day pay. That alone makes the shops worth it.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
It is an older post in this thread from the Observa rep:

Observa 1y
Here you go! [www.observanow.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2019 09:55PM by Observa.

[www.observanow.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/23/2019 03:57PM by Mysteriousways.
The gas station shops are on the boards for $12 now. Five days left to complete, I wonder how high they will get.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
$7 for a gas station is an absolute joke. They should require a vest because you are constantly walking around moving vehicles. These jobs should not be considered fillers they require time and accurate observation. With the cost of gas these days how can someone afford to drive to a station and waste gas on a $7 dollar job. $7 to waste gas and time and run around moving vehicles ? NO WAY.
sil, for me, fillers are low paying shops that I do close to a high paying shop.

The first Observa shop I did was a gas station down the street from me. That was worth $10 because if I missed any pictures, I could return to the location (I didn't know how the app worked). It was a good way for me to see how the apps worked. I've done 3 since.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
It is a really old laptop and it is slow with a couple of windows open now. But I figure I'll let you have them sic=nce we are in the same neck of the woods and I have basically turned into a homebody.

@stormraven73 wrote:

@2stepps wrote:

I get emails from them all of the time but when I go to open them they say that I am not on a portable device, what the heck a laptop is the original portable device. Even if it is running Linux.

Or *especially* if it is running Linux? But they are looking for an Android or iPhone/iPad. You could run an Android emulator on the laptop.
I did a gas station yesterday. Today, my shop was rejected. I replied with an explanation, and asked them to reverse the rejection. The issues:

I took a picture of a pump from the side.

True. There was a car camped at the pump for a long time. I took a full frontal of the pump and topper when the car moved. I did not delete the sideways pic.

The Pump ID that was taken was not from the side of the pump.

True. The entire pump was enclosed in a gray casing. The only pump ID was on the face of the pump. That was the picture that I took.

I sent an email to support with this explanation. Do you think I will get paid?

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
@HonnyBrown

Was this the observation of the gas stations that typically have the red Wave sign? Or the newer $7 truck stop ones?

Bilingual (Spanish<>English)


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2019 10:30PM by JSM2019.
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