Shell and E/M Shops For the New Year

Today, January 2nd, 2025 starts the latest round of gas station shops for the "Big I" msc.

I did a couple (pretty darn cold here). So far, I've noticed this:
For the E/M shops, they are now asking for a photo of the front of the C-Store and the shop's name. Maybe it's just a simple name like Jack and Jill's Mobil or a big well known name. For me, I try to do the report for one of my first shops on site rather than upon arriving at home. Sure enough, I had to go and take a photo of the C-store. If you're using a digital camera rather than you smart phone, the E/M shops are now requiring a minimum photo size (1199 or better). This is much like what Shell required last year.

So far, the Shell shops are the same as last years.
However, there is this little tidbit I saw in my Email folder after the report submission:

"Your shop will be reviewed within 72 hours."

Since I delete most of those Emails, I cannot remember if this statement was there previously or it's something new. Nevertheless, I'm going to be vigilant as to how soon the shop is reviewed.

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E/M still requires a photo of the pump screen if no receipt prints, even though it is not mentioned anywhere in the guidelines or report form. Shell now has three (count 'em, 3!) extra infraction upload slots for each pump in addition to the overall pump pic. Shell also now asks how many gallons you purchased. The Shell POP supplement and report show the "Current" POP as that which went into effect 5/24 yet all the stations in my area have shiny new toppers with a different theme. Oh well, points off for new signage!

BTW, blue banks are not requiring appointments right now.

Well, here it is, past the 72 hours and my Shell shops have not been reviewed.

My personal opinion - don't make promises, especially in writing, that you cannot keep.

Maybe the Shell msc should penalize itself by bonusing those shops that they failed to keep their written promise!

The 72-hour statement has always been there - seems to be a Presto thing. I challenged the Senior Vice President in September during the last round. She said there is a statement that you agreed to before taking the shop saying review time is extended for this project. And I found she was right. It's the third box to be checked when accepting a shop.
" I understand that this project may take up to 10 days to be accepted (payment may take 7 days longer than normal)."
Not that I'm defending this in any way, I would like to see them edited sooner myself. During that round, mine were getting accepted on the 9th or 10th day. I just thought I would share my findings.

Just how does a report get returned to the shopper because a picture is completely missing - not just incorrect? A photo that would have been mandatory in order to submit the report in the first place? The only thing I can figure is that the editors are deleting them. Maybe by accident but no apology or explanation is ever given. This has happened many times over the last year or so. Are you guys having this experience as well?

I have had an editor return a shop and she apologized for accidentally deleting a photo and asking that I add it again. So yes, they do accidentally delete them when editing, but I managed to get one who owned up to it.

The acknowledgment would make it a more pleasant experience. We're human and all make mistakes. I just get that standard threat to correct within 24 hours.

The Shell authorization letter still tells the stations that their scores will be available after five business days.

It seems crazy and perhaps even paranoid, I know, but I often wonder if some of these requests by an editor that make little sense are their way to identify forum members by hoping the member posts a comment on the editor's specific request.
To what end? Eliminate them from their program.

Frenchie, I've always thought the same thing. More so after another forum member got cancelled because of criticism on another social site. I'll bet their AI/algorithms are working overtime to identify which of us needs to go. So we should try to be as vague as possible, yet that is neither helpful for other shoppers nor satisfying to the shopper that has been wronged.

I found you all to be helpful, despite disclosing editor request details. I should heed the advice of being discreet too.

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Shell and E/M Shops For the New Year

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