I'm referring to ones that want you to take a picture of the menu board at the drive-thru. Any hints on how to be discreet when the camera is on you, and how to get a good picture? Depending on the angle of the sun, mine seem to be washed out and very hard to read. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Go when the sun is not behind you, or brighten your pics in a photo editing program.

I've seen these new BK's too. Does the takeout menu board have the same items as the inside menu board? Do you really have to go again to see the breakfast menu, or is it always there? There's no way I'm going twice.

The menu board is the same outside as inside. I've done both but on the inside I had a certificate for management to sign. Outside you can stand at an angle and get a better picture. I always take a dozen pics from different angles then pick the best of the pictures.

Generally the drive thru person cannot see you at the menu board. If you'll notice their camera is near the order board and another menu board pointing down on the car below. I don't worry about being discreet at a menu board.

I'm very careful not to take a picture of a customer even if I have to wait awhile. And I generally wait in another parking lot so I won't be seen.

I do a lot of this type of audit and so far I know I have not been seen taking a picture of an outside menu board. The good thing about doing a picture of the outside menu board is you can go any time of the day. My preference is before sun down so there is more shade but before dark so the flash is not seen by anyone.

I did one not long ago and it was pouring down the rain, humidity was 100% and my camera was fogging. I went at different angles taking loads of pictures since I was sure they were not going to look good. But they turned out great!!

The directions claim that the breakfast menu is listed only for in the AM, necessitating a 2nd trip. Is that so?

You don't need a flash outside.

No the ones I have done have the breakfast menu listed on the menu board. The sign say's breakfast until 11am. I don't think they change the menu board every morning. Like I said I like to go in the evening before sun down and the breakfast menu is always there.

Best way to determine if the breakfast menu is on the outside menu board is to call and ask. You don't have to tell them who you are.

I'm thinking they most likely think you need to make two trips or want you to make too trips. Are you supposed to buy a breakfast? I've never been required to buy anything when I'm doing a picture audit. I usually buy an iced tea.

My camera flashes automatically sneakers. And if it wants to flash I let it flash for the best possible color and picture.

These are the BK and competitor shops. They want prices from all the menus, but going twice is ridiculous. Thanks.

Some, like McD's have both breakfast and lunch/dinner on the menu board. Others, like BK, flip the menu board after breakfast so that the lunch/dinner menus are facing the cars. So just take a photo of the other side of the board and you get both at one time.

Thanks, Maddie.

You're welcome. Oh, and they only need one photo of the menuboard so the only reason you'd want to take the "other side" is to obtain prices. I usually take enough photos at high res and use those to get the prices from. I spend less time at the site and use my photos to fill in the forms.

I brought this subject up quite some time ago. I refuse to do these shops after my first experience. I felt the shop took much too long for the money, plus I got busted. I parked near the drive thru menuboard, broad daylight, sun shining. I had binoculars, which was suggested in the directions. I also took multiple pictures having to wait for drive thru traffic. I was double teamed by two employees coming at me in opposite directions. They asked if I was a private investigator. In the end, they were very nice and understanding. They even invited me in to come and obtain the prices. I found that not all of the prices were listed on both menus. One may have been on the drive thru and not the inside; the other on the inside and not the outside. The employees told me there was no way that I could be covert since they have multiple cameras in many directions. They saw me and were observing me from start to finish. I also found it absurd to be required to take a picture of the hours on the doors, especially when customers are coming in and out. With the design of some of the restaurants, you cannot always get a seat close enough to see the prices of the inside menuboard. When I first did these shops, they also required you take a picture of the play area. I complained about this and was glad to see that this is not a requirement anymore. I felt very uncomfortable trying to take this picture. I told them if I were a parent sitting there and observed this action, I would report it to management and the authorities.

Since posting this question, I did the only 3 nearby. No inside pictures were required, but I was caught by the manager at the third store, and I reported it to the scheduler. As per Maddie's suggestion, I took clear photos and copied the prices at home. It was not too smart of them to require surreptitious photos when we could have just asked for the prices. And I also had to wait endlessly at 2 busy drive-throughs. Chalk up another MSP programmer who's not the brightest crayon in the box..

Is anyone familiar with this MSP's policies? Do you think they will pay me after I was caught taking photos?

I was paid and I also reported it to the scheduler. I had the pictures and completed and submitted the report. The only thing I didn't receive was a dollar bonus for submitting a clean report. I would have liked to dispute this but I felt it wasn't worth the dollar. I also brought up that I felt these shops should be revealed audits making them much easier. The scheduler rudely said this is not what the client wants!!! I responded by saying I'm not going to get arrested for a $10 shop and I was not comfortable performing these. Thanks, but no thanks.

Here it's $14 with the extra dollar. But yeah, should have been revealed.