This is my first time picking up a revealed gas station audit. I've never done any revealed audits or shops before. Except one time where I revealed a certificate if the order taker upsold me. It was heavily bonused.

The same with this shop. I see these shops bonused every once in a while, but knowing myself, I pass on them. But this was one had such a high bonus, I picked it up. I read the guidelines, passed the quiz on the first try (which gives me some confidence), gone through the signs, and the full report. I have my safety vest and letters ready. I'm focusing on the photos required. And working under the thought that more and varied photos is better. Also, quality photos to capture as many items as possible.

I've read posts about revealed gas station audits on this forum, and there is a wealth of knowledge. However, I do get lost in the minutiae of what is being discussed, being a newbie. Apologies in advance if there is already a thread like this. I wanted to ask experienced shoppers for any general advice you may have for me on my first shop. It is appreciated.

My biggest concern is I'm not firm or authoritative, and what would happen if the manager doesn't allow me to perform the audit or sign the form at the end?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2024 04:37PM by Okie.

I have done hundreds of these, maybe a 1,000 by now, across multiple brands. I have never been directly refused. I say directly, because I had one instance where an owner repeatedly harassed and yelled at me, then sent a customer (boyfriend?) at me while I was sitting in my car reviewing photos. I deemed the situation unsafe, marked them down as a refusal, and explained in detail what happened. I was paid. I probably let that situation go on longer than I should have, but I am a guy and I know how to handle myself. I have never done that location again. I had another incident with an owner who threatened to break my phone if I took a photo of his face, which was odd since I specifically stated the photo would be from the neck down. Looking back, I should have ended the evaluation right there and failed them. I went forward with it and, given all the violations there were, I'm sure they failed anyway.

Most owners and managers are just trying to make a living. Profits are slim to none from fuel sales, so some owners can get frustrated because they not only have to pay for the evaluation, they are also charged for certain violations. I've seen charges run in the thousands of dollars. Do enough of these and you'll get an owner complaining about a previous report or asking you not to report something. I've been offered free food and drink, which I always refuse, even if it is an A+ location. No quid pro quos for me.

Employee turnover can be high, so there is a chance you'll eventually run into someone who may have no idea about what you are there to do. Some will let you move forward, some may want to call their manager. It's okay for them to do that. That's a good employee in my book, so be patient.

Let customers have the right-of-way.

Before most of these were in the gopher app, I used a cheat sheet that I made where I could check off any issues I observed and check off each required photo as I took it. Now, for shops that are in the app, I work straight in the app most of the time and submit on site. The exception is BP. I normally finish it up at home. Since you are starting out, you may want the guidelines or a just a list of the required photos so you make sure you do get everything.

Depending on the brand, you may or may not need a photo of every pump. If you need every pump, you best make sure you do. Your report will be rejected otherwise as there is no give on those.

I always take a total of 2 or 3 photos of each pump. They photos can all look like, but the metadata will be different and that's what needed when you need to submit photos of violations. Though I generally do a good job at catching everything, a lot of this is subjective (re: would the average customer notice?). This means a wonky editor could think something should be marked that you did not mark. If a report comes back, I can simply crop one of the extra pump photos to whatever violation has been identified. The same goes for the rest of the required photos. I'll get 2 or 3 MID, 2 or 3 overall, etc. It takes no time to grab those.

I can breeze through EM locations in 15 minutes, start to finish, and BP takes longer at around 30–45 minutes, depending on the size and number of violations. It helps if you have done a location in the past as you learn what to look for. If they had peeling paint last month, chances are they will have it this month....or quarter, as it were.

Be polite. You're not there to "get them." By now they know just because I take a photo of something, it does not mean I'm marking it in the report. I'm only covering myself should I need to. If anybody ever complains about a score, it's fine to let them know you have no control over scoring - you don't even see the scores. Plus, editors do change things without letting you know sometimes. If a manager wants to follow you around, politely let them know it is better if they don't so you can fully concentrate on what you need to do. Never - ever go behind the counter. Knock before you enter the restrooms. Sometimes customers in the fueling area may think you work there. I run into older people from time to time who have issues with the pump. I will help them if it is something I can do. I have even pumped gas for elderly customers. No, that stuff isn't part of "the job" but it is part of being a human in my book. It would take a real SOB to look a 90-year-old woman in the eye and tell her you won't help pump her gas.

I'm sure I've not covered everything but hopefully it is a good start. These types of jobs are my favorite.

Edit: Before some weed wacker comes in here and says I like to hear myself talk, you're right, I do. I normally have good stuff to say and I like to help people. So if that is you, go fly a kite.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/17/2024 05:27PM by ServiceAward.

ServiceAward, thank you for sharing your experiences and insight! A lot of helpful nuggets.

Sorry to hear about some of your negative experiences. I re-read the guidelines, and it's good to know that there is guidance if a manager refuses an audit. I'm going to take your advice and make a cheat sheet / checklist.

My compliments to SA for a thorough covering of Okie's request for assistance; I am unable to add any suggestions concerning completing the assignment.

I will add, though, my position on service station shops is one of the money must be inordinately high for me to accept that work. The reasons are that any ONE of the voluminous pics is able to be cause for rejection and the oil companies are multi-billion dollar enterprises that, in my opinion, have a considerable need for shoppers.

My last station was in Sept. of 2022 for $28+ reimbursement. I only agreed to the work, due to driving within a block of the location on non-shopping business. As it was, factoring my being unfamiliar with the shop, the report and a wait while the manager confirmed the LOA, the work timed at approx. 80 minutes. It was definitely too much time for too little money.

I've only done several of these, nowhere near the number others have done (they're just not my cup of tea so I wait for higher pay). But I will add to be prepared for customers staring at you in your neon vest, wondering what you're doing. If you are someone who easily feels self-conscious, just know that you will stand out. Many will try to avoid being in your pictures or ask you not to take their picture. If there are a lot of customers when you're there, trying to make sure no one is in your pictures could make the shop take longer. Also, be very alert as to traffic coming in and going out. Look both ways and be careful.

shopnyc, thanks for the heads-up! I forgot that this will be a traditional gas station. It's been over a year since I filled up at a traditional station. I live near a CostCo and pump my gas there in an assembly line. For the vest, I went with an understated orange that a construction worker would wear, as opposed to a neon green / highlighter yellow that a crossing guard would wear.

For photos on other shops, I usually black out people's faces and license plates if I have the time. Has anyone done the same for these shops?

Everything that Service said, except I would highlight, and underline this sentence over and over..

"Never - ever go behind the counter."

I would also add: Since the big 3 (E/M, Shell and BP) went over to the Presto App, be aware that for folks like me who do shop in rural areas, the cell service can be absent or one bar of service. So, my suggestion is this - as you are approaching your shop, check your cell service. I have learned from doing several shops that they have no cell service at the site but do have enough a mile or less away from the shop. What is important is to login to the app as soon as you are close enough. and have service. It releases the shop and you can go on your merry way. Plus, when you do arrive, if you do have service, you can resubmit that you are at the site.
I have found for many of these no service sites that they (strangely) almost always ask about rewards if they are Shell shops. As you become a seasoned veteran, you realize those sites have no service and that they undoubtedly will ask for the rewards. Meaning, of course, you have to give them their rewards reward. So, just login near enough with cell service, write down the code and do the shop.
Also, because I do these rural shops without service, I cannot do them on my phone. So, I load my photos into my laptop (that I always take with me) and finish the shop at home or somewhere that I can get WiFi.
I have other suggestions but will leave that to others (unless they do not mention them).

And BTW, SA, how kind of you!

I had to laugh at “understated orange.” -lol- Okie, I would get as bright as you could possibly get. I no longer do gas shops (other than Chevron customer first - totally different animal) because a semi almost mowed me down while I was taking a nighttime “overall” photo along a highway.

My piece of advice is more about selecting shops. If you’re doing those that require a photo of every pump, pull the location up on google maps first and see if the pictures show how many pumps they have. Having to dodge customers at 16 pumps could add a significant amount of time if the station is busy.

Best of luck to you - let us know how it goes.

I've wacked my weeds and flown my kite (Just kidding, SA!) so I'll chime in. Okie, 11 photos and signed form tells me which project it is so, to add to what's already been very well advised, my three tips:

1. Smile. It can be disarming and might help nervous employees feel more comfortable.
2. Present the leave behind form with the signature page face up, tell them that it is their copy to keep once you get a signature and a quick pic. Most of the time this is sufficient for them and saves you the added time of reviewing it, which could require lots of explaining and conversation. If a manager is on duty and asks me to review, which has never happened, of course I would.
3. To save time on the road, prefill the printed forms with dates, locations, numbers, etc., the night before. I even pre-sign my own name.

Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/18/2024 12:57AM by sestrahelena.

In all the years of doing many gas station shops, I can only think of 1 or 2 that were refused. At one the owner was involved with a dispute with the oil company and did not want to be charged for the audit. There is a refusal form you take a picture of and submit that as proof. I was paid but, no gas reimbursement because the pumps were all blocked off. It has since become a different brand.

They expect the shops/audits and very rarely refuse them. Don't worry about that.

I work the MS side of the gas station thang, so usually I am exempted from revealed audits, but I can only echo SA's impressively thorough remarks:

•Don't worry about being rejected. Be pleasant and confident and you shouldn't have a problem.

•Get at least two shots of everything picture you take, and take from different angles when you can. Makes it easier to get past a pesky editor if a shop is returned.

•Pay close attention to the POP information provide by the MSC, and make sure you are thorough when looking for it, especially inside the store. A sizable chunk of gas station audits covers current POP deployment, and there can be a lot of it to look for.

Thanks everyone for all of the advice! I appreciate it. I feel a lot more at ease about this shop now.

I would suggest going in and performing your mystery shop. When you return with the LOA, tell them you're a mystery shopper for XYZ Gas Crop and now you need to do an evaluation. Inform them that the letter you handed them is a Letter of Authorization. Then be quiet. Let them read. Ask if they have any questions. Then if not asked, describe that you will take whatever pictures inside and most of them are taken outside. if they need to call someone, wait and let them do it.

The main part is the evaluation. You can do reports online. Reread your guidelines onsite. If any doubt, take a photo. You can review back in the comfort of your car or home and decide if there was an infraction. Take at least two photos of everything you photograph.

ServiceAward, I too have done well over a thousand revealed gas station shops, and I can vouch that you have covered it well. You even gave away one of your secrets that I also use but would never voluntarily admit to. I have been refused by a manager maybe 5 times total in more than 15 years of doing these audits. No problem, the shop instructions cover that and still pay full price. The OP should take the time to read your post and the client shop instructions several times before his/her first audit.

Smile, be nice, don't intimidate, and never use the word "audit." I say "evaluation" or "picture day."

Finished the shop and submitted the report. Hoping it gets approved. Thanks again everyone for all your help and feedback. Everything you all said was relevant.

I wanted to get there before it was dark, but had some other shops to wrap up. Got there at good time, right as it was getting dark. Not much customer traffic in the way. The employees I interacted with were nice and helpful. They knew I had to check the restroom and unlocked it without me asking. When I went over the report with them, I let them know the one issue I note. It ended up being that the brochures were actually in another area of the store. They moved it, and I took an updated picture and updated my report. I want to say I could have completed the whole on-site part in 20 minutes, but took an extra 10 minutes to go over everything a second time. Had a good experience and would do this shop again, but definitely only if it was heavily bonused.

Update - Shop got approved! Thanks again everyone for your help. The small piece of advice I would add is that a clipboard came in handy for me. Also, sestrahelena's advice in pre-filling the forms was a time-saver for me. It was one less thing to worry about.

Hope there's another chance to do one of these for a large bonus. However, I think most of the shops in my area get filled at base pay.

Congrats @Okie!

The less mystery shopping experience you have with this kind of shop, the more pictures you should take while on site. And, for those shops that required you to upload on site while doing the survey, never use the "take picture" option. Always use your camera app to take the picture, and then go back into the survey and upload from the photo file on your phone. That way, if the client app or website crashes, times out, or whatever, you do not have to start all over taking pictures.

I'm curious which shops still pay full price when the shop can't be completed. Certainly none with Ipsos. All of their shops get "Reduced pay" in that case. After all, if the inspection is refused or the site burned down an hour before the attempted evaluation, it is ALWAYS the shoppers' fault and we will be appropriately castigated for our errors!


rg

@AZwolfman wrote:

ServiceAward, I too have done well over a thousand revealed gas station shops, and I can vouch that you have covered it well. You even gave away one of your secrets that I also use but would never voluntarily admit to. I have been refused by a manager maybe 5 times total in more than 15 years of doing these audits. No problem, the shop instructions cover that and still pay full price. The OP should take the time to read your post and the client shop instructions several times before his/her first audit.

I was asked to come back once because the owner was in India. After reviewing the LOA, he still politely asked me to come back tomorrow after he had a chance to talk to the owner. I was going to write it as a refusal, but realized that I had not asked for my gas receipt. I did go back, had a long talk with the guy that it could lead to a fail and completed the shop.

I've gotten gas and the fee from IPSOS and once the store cost.

I have been stiffed for reqired gas and store purchases made before a refusal. Keep a close eye on those at payday.