I had one owner call me names and throw me off his property before I even went offered the LOA. He thought I was someone else and he saw my traffic vest (in the car) and came unglued. It didn't really matter, the station was closed because the electricity was out after a storm and I couldn't do the shop or the audit anyway.
Other than that, I've been doing the same gas stations for years, in CA and in AL. And I've only been turned away that one time. I introduce myself and I leave the LOA on the counter. Most of the employees pick it up and read it, or hand it to their manager. And ALL of them smile and wish me a pleasant day. The gas station owners are less happy about it, when they are working at the counter, some follow me around and try to clean things before I get to the next thing, but they invariably clean the wrong things and leave the trash cans overflowing and filthy.. lol.
IF they question me, I tell them it's simply a marketing audit, and if they have any questions they should call the 800 number on the LOA, or call their company representative. And then I walk out and start taking the outside pictures. No one has EVER stopped me after I've started taking pics.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/09/2020 06:40AM by Morledzep.