Did You Ever Forget to Take a Photo?

Ugh! I did a shop 25 miles from me and I forgot to snap a photo! I'm always in a brain fog in the morning, but I had to do the shop in a specific time frame. I had my camera in my purse; I usually leave it on the seat so I won't forget. On one of my first shops, I forgot to get a business card. I've never forgotten since. I'll bet I will never forget a photo again.

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I have been doing ms for several years, and I still occasionally have an oops including missing a photo. It's usually on a day I am off or not feeling 100%.

I've been a scheduler and editor for a year now. Sometimes, I shop for our company. I forgot to get a name on a telephone shop last week (D'oh)! It happens to all of us.

Administrative Manager for Shoppers' View
p: 800.264.5677 | e: christinew@shoppersview.com | w: www.shoppersview.com

Yes, it happens. I usually have a column for proof of visit on my spreadsheet.

@Lorrie68 wrote:

Ugh! I did a shop 25 miles from me and I forgot to snap a photo! I'm always in a brain fog in the morning, but I had to do the shop in a specific time frame. I had my camera in my purse; I usually leave it on the seat so I won't forget. On one of my first shops, I forgot to get a business card. I've never forgotten since. I'll bet I will never forget a photo again.

It happened to me (it was 60 miles round-trip) when the instructions were updated, but I failed to read them comprehensively. Live and learn.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2016 12:05AM by Robin2.

When I first started MS'ing, I would print out the first page of the report or confirmation email with the name of client, address, range of hours, etc. If biz card or photo or whatever was required, I would highlight with a neon yellow marker or write in red pen just to alert myself as a reminder. After doing this for years, I pretty much do these types of things automatically now.

It just recently happened to me. I completely forgot to take a picture. And the place was a long way from me. So I made my report with the idea to ask for an extension for the photo shoot. Then at the end of the survey, they did not ask for it! The receipt was all they wanted but they specifically stated on the Guidelines...Saved!!! I did not have to take that long bus ride.

I did not have to go anywhere but it cost dearly (in calories) when I forgot to take a photo of my dessert at a fine dining. It looked so good I just dug in. And dang had to order a second one just so I could take the photo.

@Sybil2 wrote:

When I first started MS'ing, I would print out the first page of the report or confirmation email with the name of client, address, range of hours, etc. If biz card or photo or whatever was required, I would highlight with a neon yellow marker or write in red pen just to alert myself as a reminder. After doing this for years, I pretty much do these types of things automatically now.

I usually do the same (writing a "P" in red on the front sheet). This time, I had a post it note but failed to read it!

Post-it notes fall off too easily or get stuck on other pages. My mom still uses sticky notes and I constantly see them stuck to the back of completely different papers.

I forgot a picture once that I HAD to have on the report. I made my husband drive me back the 25 miles I had to go to take the picture. His grumbling is enough to make me take pictures of stores even when its not necessary just in case it ever comes up.

@schylarsok wrote:

I forgot a picture once that I HAD to have on the report. I made my husband drive me back the 25 miles I had to go to take the picture. His grumbling is enough to make me take pictures of stores even when its not necessary just in case it ever comes up.

@Lorrie68 wrote:

@schylarsok wrote:

I forgot a picture once that I HAD to have on the report. I made my husband drive me back the 25 miles I had to go to take the picture. His grumbling is enough to make me take pictures of stores even when its not necessary just in case it ever comes up.

This post was my laugh for today! My husband would be ballistic! I would NEVER have him take me to a mystery shop, for I would forget everything, as he would be steaming in the car!

I did not forget but, had to drive by a gas station 10 times/20 minutes. It was on a 1 lane road with at a sharp turn and only 1 possible place to get an overall picture. Every time I passed by a truck would block the view, dropped my phone, police car behind me or the picture was blurry.

I got so caught up in conversation with a gas attendant that I left without taking any photos of the pumps and I needed one of each pump...back the next day..I was heading that way anyway, but still..duh moment

*****************************************************************************
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

I just put a $90 fee, plus a large reimbursement at risk by using the wrong form of payment. (I read the guidelines and failed to note the change in them from the other shops I had done! Duh!) Fortunately, the MSC agreed that the other information in the (long) report was worth the fee and the reimbursement. The Bare project manager went to bat for me with their very particular client. But, yes, slip-ups happen, even with years and years of experience.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I forgot one time. Learned my lesson. Now, I write a reminder in big letters on my job sheet and leave a second reminder on the drivers seat when I get out of the car.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I forgot a photo of a housewares store earlier this week. I notified the scheduler and she said I could send it later in the week. I got it to her the next day and still got a 10 on my report.

~~*~~*~~*~~ kal ~~*~~*~~*~~
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just forget to load the film.

This was the worst for me. I live in California and I was doing some audits in Colorado, in an Indian Reservation. Somehow I missed the whole store and when I got home, over a thousand miles ,the boss said I had to go all the way back to this one store in Colorado and take these pictures. I didn't even protest or try to get anyone to take them for me. I learned my lesson later, I could have handled it another way.

I have a revealed shop and yes it happens.

I would love to tell you it will never happen again, but I won't. Care to guess how I know this?

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning; the devil shudders...And yells OH #%*+! SHE'S AWAKE!

It happens to most of us...cost of doing business! Any shopper who hasn't had it happen probably has not done enough photo shops.

Mine was an easy forget.....didn't get everything in pic...ran back up (4 blocks) and re-took pic, finished report, all was well. I don't take as many as most of you guys, just do different jobs (on purpose).

Live consciously....

Yeah, I've done it too. Once it was at a place pretty far from my house. Fortunately, I realized it as I was walking to the bus stop. I had to backtrack about 3 blocks, but at least I remembered it before I got on the bus. Another time I got home and then noticed that I had forgotten a photo. I took the picture of the brand's area in the department store, but I was supposed to take a photo of the entrance to the store as well and I didn't. I was doing several visits that day, so I had a lot on my mind. I went back and took the photo to finish the report.

Once that same company in the second story above asked me to go take 3 or 4 exterior store pictures because another shopper had forgotten to do it. Not bad, they paid me US$10 for each picture, and they were all in the same area.

I poured hollandaise on my asparagus before snapping a pic once. I apologized to MS, and they forgave me. :-)

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Did You Ever Forget to Take a Photo?

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