diff --git a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/mturk/mturk_utils.py b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/mturk/mturk_utils.py
index 2cc85246e..6a3109522 100644
--- a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/mturk/mturk_utils.py
+++ b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/mturk/mturk_utils.py
@@ -439,7 +439,8 @@ def create_hit_type(
                 has_locale_qual = True
         locale_requirements += existing_qualifications
 
-    if not has_locale_qual and not client_is_sandbox(client):
+    is_sandbox = client_is_sandbox(client)
+    if not has_locale_qual and not is_sandbox:
         allowed_locales = get_config_arg("mturk", "allowed_locales")
         if allowed_locales is None:
             allowed_locales = [
@@ -458,6 +459,9 @@ def create_hit_type(
             }
         )
 
+    if is_sandbox:
+        hit_reward = 0
+
     # Create the HIT type
     response = client.create_hit_type(
         AutoApprovalDelayInSeconds=auto_approve_delay,
diff --git a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/api/participant_groups.py b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/api/participant_groups.py
index ac9ccd148..37ad2363f 100644
--- a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/api/participant_groups.py
+++ b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/api/participant_groups.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ def remove_participants_from_group(
             Participant-Groups/paths/~1api~1v1~1participant-groups~1%7Bid%7D~1participants~1/delete
         """
         from mephisto.utils.logger_core import get_logger
+
         logger = get_logger(name=__name__)
         endpoint = cls.list_participants_for_group_api_endpoint.format(id=id)
         params = dict(participant_ids=participant_ids)
diff --git a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/prolific_provider.py b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/prolific_provider.py
index cbba85fde..f7153807c 100644
--- a/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/prolific_provider.py
+++ b/mephisto/abstractions/providers/prolific/prolific_provider.py
@@ -215,8 +215,7 @@ def _create_participant_group_with_qualified_workers(
         return prolific_participant_group
 
     def _get_excluded_participant_ids(self, task_run: "TaskRun") -> List[str]:
-        """ Find participant_ids that exceeded `maximum_units_per_worker` cap within this Task
-        """
+        """Find participant_ids that exceeded `maximum_units_per_worker` cap within this Task"""
         task: "Task" = task_run.get_task()
         task_units: List["Unit"] = self.db.find_units(task_id=task.db_id)