Has anyone had experience with these? You are supposed to do an audit of various computer products and electronics and take photos , all covertly, showing a letter of authorization only if the store employees become suspicous. I'm supposed to one of these this weekend and can just imagine trying to do this under-cover during this insanely busy shopping season. Especially when store security is heightened particularly in this department.

I've done plenty, but they consist of taking only a few pictures. Under 10 photos I'd say. Ive never been approached or even noticed before!

So many people will be using smart phones to compare prices by scanning price tags or sending pix of merchandise to family and friends that you probably will fly well under the radar.

Alas, my phone is far from smart but if questioned I shall pretend I don't speak English and leave.

@Cettie wrote:

Alas, my phone is far from smart but if questioned I shall pretend I don't speak English and leave.

most of my experience with non English speakers is that I ask them to turn on the canopy lights and they smile and nod and the lights never come on. So just smile and nod, no matter what they say.

Yes I have done a few of these. I have had to show the letter of authorization as well and had the manager deny the audit. Is this audit for Helion? If it is, the audit really isn't that bad but there is a ton of stuff to memorize that needs counted. And they are pretty understanding if you cannot get as many photos as they would like.

It's for them and I've studied the training videos, taken notes and looked carefully at the photos so I have some clue as to what I'm looking for. Will have to see if I want to do anymore after this but they offered a fee I couldn't pass up.

I have found the easiest way to do these is to wake up each system if the screen is not on and then take a photo of it with the surrounding items your looking for. Then get your isle shots from each direction. Don't jump around. Just go straight down the line. The more busy they are, the easier it is to do. A Saturday afternoon beats a Monday morning as I have gone on a weekday and literally been the only person in that department and had the store manager walk up and try to assist me.

Don't hide the fact your taking the photo's. This will get them excited and on the defensive.

If the store offers a price match, you should tell them that you don't feel comfortable buying something that fragile and expensive on-line and plan to make the purchase there and that your interested in the extended warranty. Tell them you want to be able to take it back if something goes wrong and not have to mail it. Then tell them you want to go home and compare the on-line reviews and compare the models. If you sell your story well enough, they will give you a business card, warranty brochure and stand there and let you snap away!

I have had it go the other way and was getting my last couple of shots of a very poorly displayed store and the manager was power walking toward me and did not look happy. I had what I needed, so I just walked a little faster than he was and got out of there.

When at home, I then reviewed the photos and calculated the answers to the questions.

All you need while in the store is a good photo shoot and get out. If you stand there and walk around in circles checking for things and counting stuff, you will be there too long and get the wrong kind of attention.

The letter is a 100% get tossed out type letter. I'd not show the letter if it's the processor audit.

Well I got 'er done today without too much of a Cettie-Adventure. A woman in a hijab told me not to take her photo when I was almost done and I lapsed into non-English while pointing at something down the aisle. She turned to look at whatever I was pointing at and I disappeared aorund a display and was gone.