First Video Shop
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Welcome to the SABOTS! (Sisters and Brothers of the Traveling Shirt)
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Congrats, James! I haven't yet dared dabble in vid shopping. Glad to see you jump on in and check it out.
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"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
"Between stimulus and response, there is a space.
In that space is our power to choose our response.
In our response lies our growth and our freedom."
~Viktor Frankl
I'm doing my first video shop tomorrow and am a bit nervous....but jumping in with both feet!
Good for you both! Words cannot express how nervous I was on my first video shop and it used to take me forever to get the camera set up and my mind psyched up. Now it is second nature and almost possible to forget the camera is even there.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I was afraid I would be too self conscious with the camera. I was actually pleased with the way the video turned out. Still haven't watched all of it, but it is interesting to see.
.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Are you using an actual video camera the shop can see or CIA type?
A button camera, covert video.
.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
cheryljane,
Almost All video mystery shops are done with a concealed button cameras. The very few that do not use that cam are done with very short bursts of video taken from a smart phone in an environment where that would not be unusual, like a bar or nightclub.
No one is using a "home video cam" for video shopping, as these are all covert.
Almost All video mystery shops are done with a concealed button cameras. The very few that do not use that cam are done with very short bursts of video taken from a smart phone in an environment where that would not be unusual, like a bar or nightclub.
No one is using a "home video cam" for video shopping, as these are all covert.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
3 hours till my apartment shop....with video. I've got some major butterflies.
I've done tons of apartment shops, but this is my 1st video shop. Hope it goes as well as James Bond's did.
I've done tons of apartment shops, but this is my 1st video shop. Hope it goes as well as James Bond's did.
Are there companies that rent the equipment out? Are there "Spy" type stores in existence or is that just for the movies?
Little lady shopping Southern Louisiana & Mississippi. 
Ellis (EPMS) will loan equipment and provide training. There is not a rental charge, but the fee is reduced by $10 or so when you use their rig. walesmaven mentioned Instant Replays will loan and train as well.
There are different outlets for purchasing equipment, but what appears to be a good deal usually is not and you have to be sure to compare apples to apples. I found a couple of rigs on Amazon and when looking further discovered they are a model that have given shoppers problems. The cheaper ones also might not have all the accessories included and purchasing them separately will then cost more.
Measure and possibly Instant Replays are both selling equipment at a deeply discounted rate. Their rigs include everything you would need, DVR unit, button camera, remote, batteries, etc. They also offer an extended battery pack at a discount.
There are different outlets for purchasing equipment, but what appears to be a good deal usually is not and you have to be sure to compare apples to apples. I found a couple of rigs on Amazon and when looking further discovered they are a model that have given shoppers problems. The cheaper ones also might not have all the accessories included and purchasing them separately will then cost more.
Measure and possibly Instant Replays are both selling equipment at a deeply discounted rate. Their rigs include everything you would need, DVR unit, button camera, remote, batteries, etc. They also offer an extended battery pack at a discount.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Do I hear the theme of Goldfinger?
When you get a loaner, do you have to ship it back after each shop or how does it work?
I should start video shopping. Of course, I seldom wear shirts with button fronts, so that alone may give me issues!
I borrowed a camera from Sinclair for $20 per shop. They pay postage both ways. The camera must be returned 24 hours after the shop day, or there is additional fees. Since the "shop" is on the camera, there might be a late issue if camera is not sent back timely.
Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@
~Polish Proverb~
~Polish Proverb~
I would like to do my first video shop. Is there a height requirement for a video shopper? I wonder if I am too short @ 4'11 for those button cams. Thanks.
We have a 'spy' type store in my town!
But I would check Amazon, too. Although if you do have a locally owned 'spy' store, you might get some good advice. Except I guess there are very specific models you must use for these?
(I'm almost ready for a snack, I guess ~ I originally typed "food" instead of "good" up there!)
But I would check Amazon, too. Although if you do have a locally owned 'spy' store, you might get some good advice. Except I guess there are very specific models you must use for these?
(I'm almost ready for a snack, I guess ~ I originally typed "food" instead of "good" up there!)
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.
StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have a 'spy' type store in my town!
>
> But I would check Amazon, too. Although if you do
> have a locally owned 'spy' store, you might get
> some good advice. Except I guess there are very
> specific models you must use for these?
>
> (I'm almost ready for a snack, I guess ~ I
> originally typed "food" instead of "good" up
> there!)
My advice: don't bother with Amazon, ebay, etc. Measure Consumer has the entire PV500 rig for $400 and you'll have it in 2 days or so. By far the best deal out there. If you need a rigged-up shirt (I don't sew, don't even know what a sewing needle looks like) contact Kathy Hart at Instant Replays. She will send you a shirt ready to go that will deliver perfect angles every time, for about $40. Also the best deal out there, unless you are Martha Stewart and can rig up your own.
-------------------------------------------------------
> We have a 'spy' type store in my town!
>
> But I would check Amazon, too. Although if you do
> have a locally owned 'spy' store, you might get
> some good advice. Except I guess there are very
> specific models you must use for these?
>
> (I'm almost ready for a snack, I guess ~ I
> originally typed "food" instead of "good" up
> there!)
My advice: don't bother with Amazon, ebay, etc. Measure Consumer has the entire PV500 rig for $400 and you'll have it in 2 days or so. By far the best deal out there. If you need a rigged-up shirt (I don't sew, don't even know what a sewing needle looks like) contact Kathy Hart at Instant Replays. She will send you a shirt ready to go that will deliver perfect angles every time, for about $40. Also the best deal out there, unless you are Martha Stewart and can rig up your own.
Aha. I just asked about Kathy on another thread.
How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately? Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the case with every shirt!
How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately? Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the case with every shirt!
Practitioner of the Nerdly Arts.
Stormcloud,
The "spy cams" on Ebay, Amazon, and at your local spy store will either not be to the tech standards required for video MS or will cost almost twice as much for the same set up that you can buy through MCP for $420, complete. The same rigs sell for about $750-$1200 elsewhere, IFF they are the same. MCP negotiated with a major importer a few years ago on behalf of the whole MS video industry to get this great deal. That is when video MS really hit a growth spurt that continues.
The "spy cams" on Ebay, Amazon, and at your local spy store will either not be to the tech standards required for video MS or will cost almost twice as much for the same set up that you can buy through MCP for $420, complete. The same rigs sell for about $750-$1200 elsewhere, IFF they are the same. MCP negotiated with a major importer a few years ago on behalf of the whole MS video industry to get this great deal. That is when video MS really hit a growth spurt that continues.
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.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
cheryljane Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do I hear the theme of Goldfinger?
Actually, I think you're hearing Live and Let Die.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Do I hear the theme of Goldfinger?
Actually, I think you're hearing Live and Let Die.
.
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)
"Somedays you're the pigeon, somedays you're the statue.” J. Andrew Taylor
"I have never met a man so ignorant that I couldn't learn something from him." Galileo Galilei
StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aha. I just asked about Kathy on another thread.
>
> How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately?
> Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the
> case with every shirt!
You send her the shirt you want rigged. Use one that is a size bigger than you normally wear so as to hide the wiring and keep the mike off your chest.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aha. I just asked about Kathy on another thread.
>
> How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately?
> Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the
> case with every shirt!
You send her the shirt you want rigged. Use one that is a size bigger than you normally wear so as to hide the wiring and keep the mike off your chest.
My shirts are the size I normally wear, but they fit in a way that that the wires don't show through. Since the DVR goes into the pocket of my jeans, I did have to be sure they were long enough.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aha. I just asked about Kathy on another thread.
>
> How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately?
> Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the
> case with every shirt!
That is true...as someone mentioned above, you can also send her the shirt you would like to have altered. In my case, Kathy used a type of material that was a little stretchy and forgiving in case of a situation of a size running a bit small. It would also have fit someone smaller than me as well.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Aha. I just asked about Kathy on another thread.
>
> How do you know the shirt will fit appropriately?
> Sometimes the size I'm "supposed" to be, isn't the
> case with every shirt!
That is true...as someone mentioned above, you can also send her the shirt you would like to have altered. In my case, Kathy used a type of material that was a little stretchy and forgiving in case of a situation of a size running a bit small. It would also have fit someone smaller than me as well.
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