Why I don't worry too much....

... about being conspicuous. I was just shopping a Cinnabon in a high end, label conscious type of mall. A couple of foreign shoppers with armfuls of bags ordered behind me and proceeded to take selfies with their cinnamon rolls carefully held in view of the Cinnabon sign, lol.

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I agree, sometimes we over think things. We can be more suspicious looking by just not acting normal.

I used to worry about waiting near a counter for my meal; it's normal. Taking 20 minutes to eat; it's normal. Asking questions, it's normal. Taking pictures of products on shelves; it's normal (they assume you are scanning the barcode to check pricing ). Asking the same question I asked the same person two months ago; they don't remember me, it's normal....

My posts are solely based on my opinions and for my entertainment, contact a professional if you need real advice.

When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson

I shopped an apartment once, and the client specifically wanted us to have our cell phones out in our hands. He also suggested we get an apartment guide and have it with us. He said it was more natural that way.

I was having breakfast on a hotel shop the other morning and when looking around the restaurant, I saw that there must have been a dozen solo diners typing into their phones. Even the coupes there were on their phones!

I was simultaneously saddened by what has become of society with the rise of social media on phones, and also happy they I look completely natural when furiously taking shops notes during a meal!

When I saw every other diner take a picture of their meal, I did it just to fit in. The shop didn't even require it...

I see a LOT of regular customers taking a picture on their cell phone and then sending it to their wives/husbands to find out if that is the right brand to buy?

Thanks to them, we can blend in more easily ....taking pictures of food and items on the shelves.

I find taking pictures of items a lot easier than of spaces. I've done restaurant shops that require photos of the seating area, and one donut shop wants photos of the donut case. I usually do the seating area on my way out, so if an employee sees me, the shop is already done. For the donut one I sit near the case, but then have to wait for there to be no customers, then discreetly hold my phone so it doesn't look like I'm taking a photo... Yeah.

We are the people our parents warned us about ~ Jimmy Buffett

I just act like I'm texting and take a photo instead. You have to silence your phone so the camera sound doesn't go off.

When i go out to eat, not on a shop, I take photos of my food sometimes to share on social media. So i don't feel weird doing it on a shop.

Taking photos of the lobby at the pizza carryout place the other day was a bit conspicuous., LOL No tables or chairs, just black-and-white tile, two walls, and a floor mat.

Everyone has a smartphone these days, and they seem to be taking pictures and texting wherever they are. My wife won't let me start eating at a sit-down restaurant until she takes a picture of the food. The smartphone and its widespread usage has made mystery shopping so much easier over the past 3-5 years. If you are still worried that someone will notice you taking a covert picture, try turning on the video instead of the camera. Walk around with it sticking out of your shirt pocket or pretending to text or scroll. It is a simple matter to take a still from any video, and video on smartphones shoot 25 or more frames per second.

I used to worry about waiting near a counter for my meal; it's normal.

But I think what is not normal is waiting near a counter for the meal while standing there with an unfilled drinking cup. Most regular customers would probably go to the fountain, fill the cup and then go back and stand at the counter.

"Evolve thyself and lose all hate...." Orphaned Land

I did a menu shop this week where I had to take photos of every page of the menu. I just asked. They didn't even care why. I had a whole backstory prepared.

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.

@PasswordNotFound wrote:

I did a menu shop this week where I had to take photos of every page of the menu. I just asked. They didn't even care why. I had a whole backstory prepared.

I did one too, but I didn't ask, I just went for it. The menu was like 10 pages long. Then I realized that the kids menu wasn't included and I had to ask her to bring me one with no kids at my table lol. No one batted an eye. Took a photo of the dessert display on my way out right in front of the cashier. On the next shop I had to get a photo of the Pre-Pay card display which was right on the counter smack in front of the associates. I just waited until they were talking and got the photo, again no one even noticed. I used to stress about getting the photos too, but now I realize that being overt is actually less conspicuous than being covert. Go figure!!

Seriously, no matter where I go, everyone's face seems to be buried in their cell phones. I looked around the room the other day and nobody communicates or talks anymore, their heads are down looking at their phones texting or playing games.

(Did you guys notice this too?)

I don't think we are going to stand out much anymore in the world.

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Why I don't worry too much....

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