altonb1
Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:9,331
Points:1,520,570
Joined:Jul 2005
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Message Posted: May 15, 2013 8:15:06 AM
wow...10 miles is a lot. I didn't expect it to be that much. Good deal.
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 8:58:03 PM
My understanding is that you need to be within 10 miles for the price to be counted toward the awards.
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altonb1
Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:9,331
Points:1,520,570
Joined:Jul 2005
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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 12:28:19 PM
GPS location for reporting:
How far away is too far away? I drive on interstates/highways daily, as well as main roads with traffic signals, etc. As I approach a station from the highway, or perhaps a station near an intersection, I can often see prices for all grades and enter prices accordingly. However, at highway speeds I may be a 1/2 mile or more away by the time the app actually accepts the price. Or, as I find more often than not, I refresh and the app does not update my position accurately. It may say I'm still .82 miles away when I am literally at the intersection next to the station. So how close do you need to be to get credit for the awards?
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DoctorV
Champion Author
Detroit
Posts:1,010
Points:200,730
Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 7:37:47 PM
Thanks for the reply. I don't know what happened, but one other strange thing is that it awarded me Iron Man level 3 after only 98 consecutive days. Seems like something wrong with the counter.
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 5:44:58 PM
DoctorV, it sounds like about 7 days ago you didn't post using the app or had GPS turned off on your phone (or it just wasn't working right) or were too far away when you posted.
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 5:42:53 PM
altonb1, you are correct - it is the number of stations, not prices.
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DoctorV
Champion Author
Detroit
Posts:1,010
Points:200,730
Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 4:53:21 PM
I'm at Iron Man level 3, which is at least 100 days in a row. App says I'm 2% of the way to level 4, which is 365 consecutive days. I'm on 117 consecutive days. How could this only be 2%? Shouldn't it be about 30%?
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altonb1
Champion Author
Pennsylvania
Posts:9,331
Points:1,520,570
Joined:Jul 2005
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Message Posted: May 11, 2013 6:04:43 AM
This may have been asked (and answered) previously, but I'm not reading every post in the thread when it goes back to 2011.
I don't get out overnight that often--but I occasionally get "called out" for work. Tonight was one of those occasions, and I finally went to level 2 of the Night Owl badge. I was pretty surprised to find that Level 2 is "Report 20 gas prices between the hours of 12am and 6am" considering I posted prices for at LEAST a dozen stations on my commute to the emergency call. It seemed like every post moved me up 5% regardless of how many prices I actually posted, so I'm guessing the badge does not have anything to do with prices but actually posting occurence. (ie. 1 price or all 4 at a station counted as 1 price posting)
Anyone confirm?
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bra0712
Champion Author
Arizona
Posts:3,655
Points:767,370
Joined:Nov 2008
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Message Posted: Apr 23, 2013 8:24:42 PM
as usual relax gas buddy I was only Joking
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Gas_Buddy
Champion Author
Maryland
Posts:25,964
Points:3,033,090
Joined:Aug 2004
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Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 2:28:26 PM
bra0712:
Even if it were something other than annoying, why would you call it a scam? It's not as if Gas Buddy is cheating (or scamming) you out of something. And, if it's annoying, do what many of us do; don't worry about it; don't pay attention to the app "awards" or the various levels. It's fun, entertaining, and/or enjoyable only if you want it to be; it's innocuous and/or irrelevant if you don't worry about it or let it bother you.
Said another way, if you think it's annoying (which is hard to think it is, as it's in the background and not "in your face"), then don't pay attention to it and it will no longer be annoying. It's only annoying if you let it be annoying.
[Edited by: Gas_Buddy at 4/22/2013 2:30:17 PM EST]
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DoctorV
Champion Author
Detroit
Posts:1,010
Points:200,730
Joined:Aug 2008
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Message Posted: Apr 22, 2013 12:51:05 PM
How did I get an Iron Man award for posting prices 100 days in a row when it shows I've only been active 98 consecutive days (on both the app and the website)?
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bra0712
Champion Author
Arizona
Posts:3,655
Points:767,370
Joined:Nov 2008
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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 7:43:24 PM
Thanks for the math. Your smart but that sucks! I guess now I know its not a scam but still its annoying
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pilotmass
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:1,819
Points:501,485
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 18, 2013 6:41:25 PM
But you must post always from your cell phone rather than computer. It needs the GPS data to verify.
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 17, 2013 7:15:53 AM
No, not a scam - Iron Man Level 5 takes posting prices each day for a total of 2 years, which means you only move 0.00136% per day - that is, it requires 7 to 8 days to move 1%.
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bra0712
Champion Author
Arizona
Posts:3,655
Points:767,370
Joined:Nov 2008
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Message Posted: Apr 16, 2013 9:00:54 PM
I got to Iron Man Level 4 on April 1st It started me at 50%. Its Now April 16Th and I have Only Moved up to 52 %. WTF This award is a Scam
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Zimcity
Champion Author
Twin Cities
Posts:65,383
Points:3,691,030
Joined:Aug 2001
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Message Posted: Apr 16, 2013 6:32:05 PM
Congrats you just earned level 5 reporter
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 14, 2013 10:21:08 PM
RichWLIN wrote: "Anyone reached level 3 Pioneer? "
I just did on my recent trip to Kansas. I can confirm that Level 3 requires 15 states/provinces/territories (and from the fact it leaves you at 29% toward Level 4, it will require 51 states/provinces/territories for Level 4. Pretty much limits me to Level 3 for the foreseeable future...)
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Scrapheap
Champion Author
Virginia
Posts:14,541
Points:2,357,555
Joined:Sep 2006
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Message Posted: Apr 12, 2013 9:12:08 AM
Level 3 pioneer is supposed to be reporting prices in 15 states/provinces/territories/commonwealths, according to the app.
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RichWLIN
Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:4,089
Points:637,890
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 12, 2013 7:03:29 AM
Thanks kwzh.
Anyone reached level 3 Pioneer?
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kwzh
Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,645
Points:3,681,655
Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Apr 12, 2013 4:18:26 AM
53% is consistent with 8/15, indicating that the app feature hasn't triggered for all of the states you've listed; or with 10/19, indicating that the reverse engineering of this level is incorrect or out of date. (My money's on the former.)
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RichWLIN
Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:4,089
Points:637,890
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 11, 2013 7:13:32 AM
I noticed an interesting anomaly with the Pioneer award. Mine currently reads 53% to level 3?
In rethinking all of the states where I have reported prices, I come up with: MI, OH, IN, IL, KY, TN, MO, AR, AL and GA or 10 states.
I don't really care about the awards, I just thought that the 53% number looked odd. 10/15 should be 66.7%. The closest number to 53% is 8 but I have certainly reported many stations in more states than this with the exception of AL, AR and MO where I only briefly passed through.
Another bug in the app awards it seems.
RG
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Zimcity
Champion Author
Twin Cities
Posts:65,383
Points:3,691,030
Joined:Aug 2001
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Message Posted: Apr 2, 2013 12:07:59 PM
Finally got the App working again after a couple months without and just got to level 3 of Perfectionist.
Reporter
Level 4 - 1000 (earned on 1/6/2012)
98% to Level 5 - 10000
Iron Man - apparently I don't get out on some weekends and there are days I don't see any prices from the train.
Level 1 - (11/25/2011)
18% to Level 2 - 50 consecutive days
Explorer - 1,000 different stations is a LOT
Level 4 - 100 (12/25/2011)
37% to Level 5 - 1000
Perfectionist - Only can do this when I buy gas and the station has diesel, guess I could fake prices like many people seem to do.
Level 3 - 50 (3/30/2013)
50% to Level 4 - 50
Adventurer - Again 500 different cities is a TON
Level 4 - 100 (12/15/2012)
22% to Level 5 - 500
Pioneer - Haven't left the state this year
Night Owl
Level 3 - 50 (7/1/2012)
52% to Level 4 - 100
Sunday Driver
Level 5 - 500 (9/30/2012)
Commuter - strange award, who commutes 7 days a week. I somehow earned level 1 and 2 on the same day?
Level 2 - 5 consecutive days (12/2/2011)
4% to Level 3 - 25
[Edited by: Zimcity at 4/2/2013 12:10:00 PM EST]
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51stovi
Sophomore Author
Nashville
Posts:119
Points:83,490
Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: Apr 2, 2013 7:55:29 AM
Good thread and thanks to Regulate Now's January 30th posting it makes all of this a little easier to understand.
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pilotmass
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:1,819
Points:501,485
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 3:47:10 PM
Another gotcha has been discovered. For the first time I posted a few prices via computer not iphone.
Instantly lost the Ironman rating that was just shy of 300 days as I had not posted using a GPS enabled device. If I care enough, have to start again.
Moral of the story. These awards don't really matter!
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mister8tch
Champion Author
Richmond
Posts:7,891
Points:556,445
Joined:Jun 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 26, 2013 9:17:04 PM
Just got to Commuter 4..I'm so focused on reporting prices when I can. Let the awards take care of themselves...
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 26, 2013 9:09:45 PM
"Again I HATE THE COMMUTER AWARD!
I'm not even allowed to sleep in on my day off!"
Of course, if you are sleeping in till after noon, it seems possible you are up after midnight - in which case, post the morning prices before retiring for the night (or day, as the case may be...)
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Gas_Buddy
Champion Author
Maryland
Posts:25,964
Points:3,033,090
Joined:Aug 2004
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Message Posted: Mar 26, 2013 1:26:58 PM
danindenver wrote:
"Again I HATE THE COMMUTER AWARD!
I'm not even allowed to sleep in on my day off!"
If the Commuter award is that important to you, then no, you're not allowed to sleep in on your day off. But (and I know that you don't have to post fuel prices), are you that concerned about sleeping or taking a day off regarding the consecutive day list?
As no one but you knows what your Gas Buddy app award levels are, or what app awards you've maxed out, if it's that important to you, that you might need to tell people what level you've reached, simply tell them what you think they want to hear or tell them what you want them to hear. No one but you will know if you're "fibbing" or not.
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danindenver
Champion Author
Denver
Posts:5,479
Points:1,237,235
Joined:May 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 25, 2013 10:36:04 PM
Again I HATE THE COMMUTER AWARD!
I'm not even allowed to sleep in on my day off!
I got reset again and I just don't think I can live with myself any more!
AHHHHHH!
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Byte_Doctor
Champion Author
Akron
Posts:3,485
Points:716,190
Joined:Apr 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 21, 2013 7:23:10 AM
phpearso, yes, I've reached Commuter Level 4. Not sure if I'll make Level 5 or not, but it is certainly possible.
I've never seen it reset to 0 without explanation - that is, I always know why it happened, and each time except once it was my own fault. The one other time, I wasn't able to post prices in the am because the GB servers weren't working right.
Oh well, as many have said these aren't important in the overall scheme of things...
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cucu
Champion Author
Florida
Posts:20,603
Points:4,027,995
Joined:Jan 2002
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Message Posted: Mar 21, 2013 5:29:54 AM
I keep going back even if I DON'T miss a day.
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phpearso
Sophomore Author
Indiana
Posts:109
Points:134,520
Joined:Mar 2004
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Message Posted: Mar 21, 2013 12:35:30 AM
Anyone get past Commuter level 2? I am never gonna get there going back to 0 if I miss a day.
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pilotmass
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:1,819
Points:501,485
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 20, 2013 11:57:36 AM
If those awards you can see on your cell phone matter to you (its fun but not the end of the world) ignore the commuter one. You'll get frustrated the moment you realize its 12.05 and you late.
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kwzh
Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,645
Points:3,681,655
Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 7:50:22 PM
Coco0828, when the Tell-A-Friend points were unlimited, there was a serious spam problem, so now you can only get points for the first 15. However, please do continue to tell friends about the site. Ordinary email is probably a better mechanism than the built-in system, anyway.
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TxJeans
Champion Author
Tampa
Posts:3,532
Points:368,430
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2013 9:19:51 PM
There are limits on the various points for a reason.
There is no need to change the point system for the gas card lottery tickets.
The apps awards are inconsequential - there are better games and apps for games elsewhere. The reason for this site is to help each other find the best prices for gas.
If you see 1 price you report that price, if you see 20 you report 20. It shouldn't matter about the "points" or "awards".
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Coco0828
All-Star Author
Dallas
Posts:987
Points:161,740
Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2013 12:26:54 PM
I've noticed that now when I tell a friend about GasBuddy I don't receive points. I don't remember if there was a limit to the total number of points you can receive. If that's true could you set it up that there would be up to 200 points daily for telling a friend? I really like telling my friends about this wonderful website.
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Coco0828
All-Star Author
Dallas
Posts:987
Points:161,740
Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2013 12:24:37 PM
One day I looked at the awards page on my cell app for GasBuddy. I noticed that each one showed I was at a certain percentage of completion. I really thought that was very cool!
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Coco0828
All-Star Author
Dallas
Posts:987
Points:161,740
Joined:Aug 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2013 12:21:51 PM
I typically post gas prices up o 16 stations some days. I wish that could receive more points for posting the prices. Sometimes I see different prices, so I post that also.
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CptSteve
Champion Author
Illinois
Posts:13,181
Points:2,643,265
Joined:Jul 2005
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Message Posted: Mar 18, 2013 9:44:33 AM
I barely have even noticed them. Of no interest to me frankly.
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TxJeans
Champion Author
Tampa
Posts:3,532
Points:368,430
Joined:May 2004
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Message Posted: Mar 17, 2013 3:04:20 PM
The apps in general are a waste of time. I am sure there are lots of more interesting "games" to play available for your phone. This site is and should remain about posting prices you SEE...be it one station you see, or 20 stations you see - or if you stay home a day - none.
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NorthByNw
Veteran Author
Ontario
Posts:369
Points:221,275
Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 17, 2013 2:42:04 PM
I am having problems using my iPod 4th generation when posting gas price updates. I can post updates from the one gas station in Penetanguishene ON with no problem. If I attempt to up date gas prices from Midland ON, it will show it updated but when I check to see if it is really updated it hasn't been. I thought the reason I couldn't achieve awards for "Commuter" and "Iron Man" was because of this problem I was having.
I started posting here online and could post updates to all the gas stations in my area. But the problem with "Commuter award" and "Iron Man" award is still the same. I can't get past level 1 for Iron Man and level 2 for Commuter. They both reset to 0% for no reason at all. Although I have posted 121 consecutive days Iron man always resets to 0%. I have posted in Am and PM for a large number of consecutive days and Commuter numbers always ends up at 0%.
This is getting to be a waste of time trying to achieve these two awards.
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locknloadtn
Rookie Author
Tennessee
Posts:69
Points:132,585
Joined:May 2012
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Message Posted: Mar 16, 2013 9:59:44 PM
Good info, thanks so much for posting.
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potter21
Rookie Author
Dallas
Posts:32
Points:55,565
Joined:Feb 2013
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Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 11:39:09 AM
thank you!!!! this is exactly what I was looking for and it also answered all my questions about the awards
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Sparky19038
Champion Author
Philadelphia
Posts:2,038
Points:578,190
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Mar 1, 2013 1:27:35 PM
Depending on where I am on a given day, I typically post prices for about 16 stations, about 50 individual prices, and occasionally hit over 2 dozen stations in a day. In most cases, I double the number of prices because I post the price every time I pass the station (i.e. out and back).
I even think I have done the 16 usual stations all before noon on multiple occasions.
How many stations and prices are you posting, pilotmass?
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kwzh
Champion Author
San Jose
Posts:20,645
Points:3,681,655
Joined:Jul 2001
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Message Posted: Mar 1, 2013 1:58:48 AM
I would be surprised if the app enforces a limit on the number of prices you can report.
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pilotmass
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:1,819
Points:501,485
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Feb 28, 2013 9:38:36 AM
Max number of gas price entries had been reached.
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Scrapheap
Champion Author
Virginia
Posts:14,541
Points:2,357,555
Joined:Sep 2006
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Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 5:07:35 PM
How does a suspicious posting 15-20 miles away prevent you from posting in the afternoon?
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pilotmass
Champion Author
Boston
Posts:1,819
Points:501,485
Joined:Jul 2011
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Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 4:48:46 PM
Don't like/trust the commuter award either.
It registered 25% or so when I transitioned to level 3. But a two or so weeks later when I was at or close to 50%, there was a suspicious posting on my account that I did not make a few minutes after I made a posting in a town I was in some 15-20 miles away.
As a result, I wasn't able to post in the afternoon and ZAP, my award that had grown to over 50% was killed off and I was back to zero. GB ignored my email report. Since this happened a second time with a second suspicious posting I did not make, I believe the GB site to have been hacked (what other obvious reason is there?) and have since changed the PW I use.
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regulate_now
Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:6,626
Points:1,009,050
Joined:Jun 2008
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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 5:26:44 PM
Here is the link to the Spotter posts. Read the Moderator's (Don's) replies...
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MistrEd
Rookie Author
Greenville
Posts:74
Points:174,055
Joined:Sep 2012
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Message Posted: Feb 4, 2013 2:08:10 PM
WOW! So glad that I found this topic! I have been wondering what the criteria for these awards is for the longest time. WHY CAN'T THIS INFORMATION BE POSTED UNDER "POINTS & PRIZES" FOR ALL TO SEE?!?!?! Just add a sub-tab below it. How hard is that? I have wondered for the longest time, how late it had to be in order to be considered a "Night Owl"?
Have any considerations been given to adding additional levels now that these awards have been in place for awhile? I have only been on here for about five months and I am already on level 4 for several awards. It would be nice to keep having something to achieve, rather than just plateauing at level 5.
Now, can someone please explain how the "Location's Top Spotters" works? I have been reporting at the same three locations for over a week now and I don't even show up on the list, even though I have more days that two or three other people on the list. Frustrating!!!!!
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regulate_now
Champion Author
Indiana
Posts:6,626
Points:1,009,050
Joined:Jun 2008
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Message Posted: Jan 30, 2013 9:36:46 AM
I have not seen any real commuter issues after the early GPS details became known. I think folks that have commuter problems, probably had a GPS error greater than allowed... The Mod Don explained the tolerances and how the GPS and the Cell fixes compare each other in another post. I do look at my fix icon and when its a large blue circle or area, I try to resolve that before posting. Resetting the GPS seems to be best (powering it off than back on with a momentary delay. Rebooting the phone can help but takes longer but this also helps reset or improve a bad cell fix. I do believe the tolerances are not the 10 miles as mentioned in the notes below- they maybe something like 3 or 5 or 3-5 when dealing with comparing the GPS with the tower... I have seen phones stay on towers 60 miles away and I have seen GPS satellites go down or get way off... If you pay attention to these, you will keep your commuter going. I am at 58% right now...
[Edited by: regulate_now at 1/30/2013 9:37:26 AM EST]
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