It's against policy to take photos in Walmart, so how do apps like Field Agent, Gig Walk, and Easy Shift get away with asking their contractors to take photos? Isn't it unethical?

I ask because I had an altercation with a manager at Walmart as I was doing a few app jobs. The manager said that he would call the sheriff if I didn't leave Walmart right then. He also banned me from entering Walmart again. Anyone know if there's any type of legal action he could take if I enter the Walmart again?

You can be arrested for trespassing.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/21/2018 07:33PM by Megs7521.

So I could get banned from my own Walmart for taking photos there? I take photos all the time...of prices I want to compare later with other stores; of products I am interested in maybe purchasing in the future; of items I want to share with my husband, either to see if he is interested in them or to be sure I am getting him the right product...I have never been challenged, but now it concerns me that I could be.

@Megs7521 wrote:

You can be arrested for trespassing.
.

Is his verbal threat enough to get me arrested for entering again though? He doesn't even know my name. Wouldn't there need to be some type of official documentation with my name stating that I am banned, in order to arrest me. It seems like this is an abuse of authority. What if he mistake some other woman for me and arrests her? In addition, i have an identical twin sister. If she enters the Walmart and they think she is me, it would be highly immoral to call the police on her.

Reason 9,234,719,449,367,819 why I refuse to set foot in that place. Any MSC I shop for that has this Bleeping company I have them remove them from my available list because I LOATHE THIS PLACE! I have set foot inside a WM 3x. Once at Xmas many years ago because they were the only ones that had something some underprivileged kid wanted, once because I reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllly had to go to the bathroom and they were my best option and once because I mystery shopped a dining place located inside a WM. When I am with friends and they want to go I stay outside. I detest that place so this has no impact on my life. But not being able to take pix there sounds really stupid and not enforceable if pushed

@Tova wrote:

@Megs7521 wrote:

You can be arrested for trespassing.
.

Is his verbal threat enough to get me arrested for entering again though? He doesn't even know my name. Wouldn't there need to be some type of official documentation with my name stating that I am banned, in order to arrest me. It seems like this is an abuse of authority. What if he mistake some other woman for me and arrests her? In addition, i have an identical twin sister. If she enters the Walmart and they think she is me, it would be highly immoral to call the police on her.

Depends on the law where the store is. In Virginia, for example, an oral no-trespassing demand is valid. See:

Section 18.2-119 of the Virginia code

If any person without authority of law goes upon or remains upon the
lands, buildings or premises of another, or any portion or area thereof,
after having been forbidden to do so, *** either orally or in writing ,*** by the
owner, lessee, custodian or other person lawfully in charge thereof,...he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor

Unless security took a picture of you, I would not worry about it.

Imagine if Wallie's zoom in on you to take your picture but the harass you about talking pictures. Go figure.
Were your pictures a part of a third party----DunkinsDonut, Subway, Starbucks, Regal nails and etc.? Maybe the MSCs for your app was given you clarity on those client.

Did you have any LOA's to present to management?
Downsize of your camera (compact) and take your pic without flash.
I would wait awhile. before doing anymore shops in there. I would go there anytime I wanted to, if just a customer.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/2017 11:59PM by sojo917.

@sojo917 wrote:

But I would go there anytime I wanted to if just a customer.

So never

Target has the same policy. The security team (not what they are called but just so everyone understands) will "Trespass" you. Come back again, and they'll put you in the holding cell / room and the police or sheriff will come get you. They can do it verbally. They print your photo from the security cameras. We trespassed people all the time: regular guests, shop lifters, homeless people who got belligerent, etc.

I would get an LOA from the company that is sending you out. but I have never had a problem with Walmart in taking pictures. but you might need to sign in on the vender's log and wear a badge showing vender. Which blows it all out of whack.

The manager of that store must be worried that photos will be posted on the website "The People of Walmart"

I have had to do merchandising jobs in the past there where it was required to take an overall photo of the reset after. Never had a problem. As far as shopping there as a regular customer? I would rather pay more money to shop somewhere else just because I hate the institution of WalMart for so many reasons..

I was stopped from taking photos and chastised at Sbarro. Never took that job again. It was not worth the piddly amt they pay to try to get a photo in by stealth and open myself up to what you are experiencing. I would think the same would apply for your Walmart shop unless it pays big bucks or you live in a place with few shops.

Yes, Walmart can and will trespass you. All you have to do is wear a company name badge and sign in on the vendor book. It usually just takes a few minutes. The same for Target, Kroeger, Albertsons/Safeway/Vons; any retail store really. Me, I sign in where ever I go. It doesn't matter if the Store Manager says I don't have to, I do it out of respect for the system. I hate Target as much as some people hate Walmart. They hire little kids who think their jobs and responsibilities are so much higher and great than a vendor's. Meanwhile, I earn twice their pay in 2/3 of their hours. I challenge any Target employee to a reset contest!

I have had my share of issues with Walmart. Whew. Last years Jackson Hewitt audits got interesting once I crossed state lines and wasn't in familiar territory. One place followed me to watch me take photos, another used my camera to take the photos for me, a third refused photos so I did my audit form and no pics other than outdoors.

I had an associate physically grab me while doing a FA audit. Lucky they didn't get punched. I have to be extra polite and sweet, though, since I often carry with me in stores that allow it. I put on my sweetest voice and try to be nice and apologize, etc. and even say "oh, well, I can delete them and just let them know photos weren't allowed -- I didn't know but I'll make a note" and so forth.

That being said, they can get refuse service and file trespassing charges against anyone they see fit and the court will usually stand by them. Now, unless they went to their office and printed off your poster photo, they may not even remember you next time unless you make weird eye contact or take more photos, or just have a face can't be forgotten such as scar tissue or oddly placed piercings. I'm not encouraging you to break rules or laws, just a general statement.

I usually review requirements, see if it's something that will get me "caught" and then try to avoid those types.

The problem is that with the apps, you are not supposed to sign in and you have no authorization to be there. It’s just a whole different ballgame from “real” MS.

@MountainCacher88 wrote:

I have had my share of issues with Walmart. Whew. Last years Jackson Hewitt audits got interesting once I crossed state lines and wasn't in familiar territory. One place followed me to watch me take photos, another used my camera to take the photos for me, a third refused photos so I did my audit form and no pics other than outdoors.

I had an associate physically grab me while doing a FA audit. Lucky they didn't get punched. I have to be extra polite and sweet, though, since I often carry with me in stores that allow it. I put on my sweetest voice and try to be nice and apologize, etc. and even say "oh, well, I can delete them and just let them know photos weren't allowed -- I didn't know but I'll make a note" and so forth.

That being said, they can get refuse service and file trespassing charges against anyone they see fit and the court will usually stand by them. Now, unless they went to their office and printed off your poster photo, they may not even remember you next time unless you make weird eye contact or take more photos, or just have a face can't be forgotten such as scar tissue or oddly placed piercings. I'm not encouraging you to break rules or laws, just a general statement.

I usually review requirements, see if it's something that will get me "caught" and then try to avoid those types.

More and more retail (and other) locations use facial recognition imaging systems (mostly for loss prevention). If they really want to keep you out of the store, for any reason, the instant you step on the property, you will be recognized.

[losspreventionmedia.com]

WalMarts in my area have lax employees in general. You should see the backrooms, just a disorganized mess and the employees DGARA about anything, much less whether or not I want to take a couple of pics. I did a few "missions" for Customer Impact there and had no trouble. I don't snap photos when I see a person in a blue shirt and khakis anywhere nearby just in case, and management at the stores in my area aren't very hands on or visible (must be in the office most of the time). And thank goodness I haven't had to do anything in their stores in awhile with Advantage. Earlier this year I did a couple of Post cereal and Pepperidge Farm resets there but all is quiet lately

I have had a couple of audits at walmart recently where I was required to take a picture(s) I just told them about it and got an ok. If I was mystery shopping there, I would probably check to see if an employee was in view before I took a picture. When my husband and I got engaged, I was banned from his place of employment although both of us worked for the same company at different locations(A library) I told the administration that they had no legal right to ban me when I was on my own time and secondly since sometimes both of us worked at the same location my banishment was a really stupid idea.

There are currently Walmart Customer Service jobs in my area that require photos on Field Agent. Anyone been hassled doing one of those?.

@Wild Bill wrote:

There are currently Walmart Customer Service jobs in my area that require photos on Field Agent. Anyone been hassled doing one of those?.

I saw those but I usually try to stay away from jobs that require me talking to someone unless it’s Ann MS job that’s just my preference. I didn’t those looked too hard though.

@Wild Bill wrote:

There are currently Walmart Customer Service jobs in my area that require photos on Field Agent. Anyone been hassled doing one of those?.

I have done these and they aren’t difficult. There are 3 photos required I believe— one of something you think the store is doing well, one they aren’t doing well, and one showing the “helper employee” near the self check outs.

That type of task is not going to give you trouble. The bad ones are the EasyShift jobs that require 80+ pictures.

That is the one thing that Walmart absolutely does not allow, approved vendor and vendor badge and LOA and all of permission from God himself are photos of employees, customers and children.

@spicy1 wrote:

That is the one thing that Walmart absolutely does not allow, approved vendor and vendor badge and LOA and all of permission from God himself are photos of employees, customers and children.

Unless they are the one that ordered the project lol.

Which they did not, certainly not with Field Agent

Although another 'shifter' suggested shifts at Walmart be done when the store is not crowded, I couldn't help the time I was there. Being jammed probably helped as I darted in and out of lanes checking for the targeted beverage cooler. The suggested 'story', "my husband wants an energy drink but didn't say what brand or flavor" only had to be used on the lane with the desired cooler since it required several photos of the cooler. Got all my photos with a pleasant smile and an "excuse me please, I'm not cutting."

Walmart's supplier agreement, prior to the Preferred Vendor list, said you will not hire people from apps like Field Agent to do work in Walmart. It sounds like some managers are enforcing that rule.

@spicy1 wrote:

Which they did not, certainly not with Field Agent

Uhmmm... they certainly did. They ordered customer service audits where you have to interact with store employees to ensure they follow Walmarts customer service policies and take 3 photos per the directions.One of which has to have a yellow vested employee in it.

These are on Field Agent, who else would order these?

They have been ongoing here in my area.

Oh, and you have to record the names of the employees evaluated, which are then confirmed prior to approval.

They most certainly did not! You have been duped. Ask me how I know.