Fast Food Photo Audit - Blurry menu boards & inside location
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
Always check your photos before you leave the location. If the outside menu board isn't legible, you have to go inside.
My strategy for inside pics: I order a drink and ask for a printed menu, and they usually offer me the nutrition information. I ask if they have anything with prices on it, they say no. I say, "Shoot. Well, I guess I could snap a picture of it for him, if that's ok?" And they shrug and say sure. If they are interested I tell them my dad is legally blind and wants to have the menu for next time I offer to pick something up for him. This is also my alibi for if I'm ever confronted taking photos of the drive-thru, but that's never happened yet.
ETA: You could totally do this without ordering the drink. For me, the dollar I spend on a drink is worth the lack of awkwardness it avails me in this scenario.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2015 06:39PM by Alisonj3.
My strategy for inside pics: I order a drink and ask for a printed menu, and they usually offer me the nutrition information. I ask if they have anything with prices on it, they say no. I say, "Shoot. Well, I guess I could snap a picture of it for him, if that's ok?" And they shrug and say sure. If they are interested I tell them my dad is legally blind and wants to have the menu for next time I offer to pick something up for him. This is also my alibi for if I'm ever confronted taking photos of the drive-thru, but that's never happened yet.
ETA: You could totally do this without ordering the drink. For me, the dollar I spend on a drink is worth the lack of awkwardness it avails me in this scenario.
We are all here on earth to help others....What on earth the others are here for I don't know.
--W. H. Auden
--W. H. Auden
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/2015 06:39PM by Alisonj3.
I did a menu board audit and was given a letter of authorization to give if someone confronted me.
@cnortorious those don't work when it's a competitor shop, though.
We are all here on earth to help others....What on earth the others are here for I don't know.
--W. H. Auden
--W. H. Auden
I have used the following two excuses for inside menu boards...
My boss wants to treat everyone to lunch on Friday and asked for me to pick up a menu. (They can't provide one with prices.) Oh, then can I just take a few pictures and hopefully that will be good enough for him?
My daughter is doing a marketing project for her high school gifted class and she asked if I could get a few pictures of menus for them to use.
For outside menu boards, it's often easier to get clear photos from my vehicle before sunup or after sundown, when the menus and prices are back-lit with no sun glare. If my schedule does not permit hours of darkness, then I park in the back of the lot, zoom in to check my photos, and if they're not good then I'll just walk up to the drive-thru board and take perfect photos. I've done it dozens of times and have never been questioned.
My boss wants to treat everyone to lunch on Friday and asked for me to pick up a menu. (They can't provide one with prices.) Oh, then can I just take a few pictures and hopefully that will be good enough for him?
My daughter is doing a marketing project for her high school gifted class and she asked if I could get a few pictures of menus for them to use.
For outside menu boards, it's often easier to get clear photos from my vehicle before sunup or after sundown, when the menus and prices are back-lit with no sun glare. If my schedule does not permit hours of darkness, then I park in the back of the lot, zoom in to check my photos, and if they're not good then I'll just walk up to the drive-thru board and take perfect photos. I've done it dozens of times and have never been questioned.
I walk up to the drive-thru board and take pics. The opposite menu is on the back of the board. I had a couple of employees walk out while I was taking pics but never say anything. If I have to make a purchase, I do it after I get the pics.
A Dad shopping the Ark-LA-Tex and beyond.
elcarev68 those are great suggestions. I've just always walked up, taken the pictures and left feeling awkward. I feel so silly doing them, but then I try to think about the fact that I'm getting paid.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: never underestimate the extent to which other people don't give a flying kazoo about what you're doing. If they spend more than 2 seconds thinking "What is she doing? Taking pictures of the menu? That's weird... why hasn't my mom posted pictures of her vacation on Facebook yet? She knows I'm waiting to see how the kids are doing", I'd be shocked.
I think it's a good idea to have a cover story in case anyone asks (My father is legally blind and needs photos of the items he can zoom on his phone to see is a good one), but don't be surprised when no one asks.
I think it's a good idea to have a cover story in case anyone asks (My father is legally blind and needs photos of the items he can zoom on his phone to see is a good one), but don't be surprised when no one asks.
Shopper in California's Bay Area
I sort of acted like it was all confusing, and tried to make a cell call. Then I just asked an employee for a menu. He said, "No." So I asked if he thought it would be alright if I took a photo home to Mom. He said, "Sure" with a smile.
I feel sort of dirty though, using Mom that way... Guess I'll have to say Uncle Bill next time (I don't and never had an Uncle Bill).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2015 04:58AM by HiCue.
I feel sort of dirty though, using Mom that way... Guess I'll have to say Uncle Bill next time (I don't and never had an Uncle Bill).
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2015 04:58AM by HiCue.
Yelp, Zomato, Facebook...
I've never been questioned. I just smile and nod back if an associate looks at me and they always look away.
As for outside pictures, you have to work angels. Sometimes hold you phone/camera up high, and as noted zoom in. When zooming you have to snap smaller sections of the board, maybe three sections (top, middle, bottom) to get one panel. Then of course be patient if you have drive thru traffic blocking you.
I've never been questioned. I just smile and nod back if an associate looks at me and they always look away.
As for outside pictures, you have to work angels. Sometimes hold you phone/camera up high, and as noted zoom in. When zooming you have to snap smaller sections of the board, maybe three sections (top, middle, bottom) to get one panel. Then of course be patient if you have drive thru traffic blocking you.
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
When you get in debt you become a slave. - Andrew Jackson
I live in a city with a lot of international tourists, and see many of them using real-time translation software on their phones to read signs, menus, etc. Install Google Translate on your phone, and if someone asks, switch over to that while saying "it translates" in your best foreign accent. 
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.