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Is it ever appropriate to reveal you're a mystery shopper?

July 21, 2018 01:43AM
Had a semi odd situation when I did my shop today. This location was slammed and location was in a rough part of town. There was a cop parked in front of it. I was actually done with the shop and was taking a photo of the outside of the location.for proof of visit...cop is watching me. I'm not paying attention..I just want a good picture of the store exterior..one of the customers exits and says...very loudly don't take my f...ing picture. I told him I didn't..and he starts to ramble on about invasion of privacy yada,yada,yada..and I told him..fine, I'll delete the picture and he says good and walks off..thankfully nothing esculated here..but what I wanted to know is if the cop would have approached..and asked why I was taking pictures..do you let them know your a mystery shopper..

Just a side note here..there was a bank in very close proximity and see through windows so you could see the people in line..I could not get a good picture of the store exterior without having the bank in the picture too

Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2018 01:44AM by dawnhu.
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More About Revealed Assignments
July 21, 2018 01:51AM
Never reveal yourself.
As for the people, there is no presumption of privacy for a person standing in a public area.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
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July 21, 2018 01:52AM
I wouldn't tell anyone I was a shopper in that situation, but purely on principle because it's not against any law to take a picture in that situation. The guy that complained sounds like one of those nutjobs who think everyone is watching them all the time, so you handled it right to get him to go away. Worst case, I would have let him watch me delete the picture...and then take another right after without him in it.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2018 01:52AM by ShopGuy9.
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July 21, 2018 02:12AM
I have revealed I was a secret shopper once, and it stated in the guidelines that if the phone call became too intense, it was okay to reveal who I was. The subject of the call potentially would have ended with cops being sent to my fictitious address and thus, it was necessary to reveal myself. It was a memorable shop for sure. I was paid for the shop and given a high rating.
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July 21, 2018 03:09AM
If a police officer approached me I would have no problem telling him I was on a mystery shop and would happily show him the paperwork.
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July 21, 2018 05:26AM
I've had to send the large dim weight shipping packages through x-ray machines when the post office was in a federal building. Fortunately none of the food items taped to the bottom of a large empty box were in metal containers. I"m not sure how I would have explained that one away if they decided to look in the box.
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July 21, 2018 05:47AM
I had a police officer approach me at a gas station and ask why I was taking pictures. Apparently he had responded to an incident there. I did not hesitate to let him know I was a mystery shopper
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July 21, 2018 06:09AM
I did a gas station shop last week that required me to take exterior photos. The gas station was facing an on-ramp for the interstate. The only safe place to situate myself to take said photos was in another gas station's lot. The manager starts grilling me with 20 questions, wondering who I'm with and why I'm taking photos of this station. I had to say that I was auditing the other gas station on behalf of the company just to get him off of my back. Needless to say, I will NOT be returning to this particular station.
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July 21, 2018 10:29AM
All those people who freak out about being in a picture! How stupid. As soon as they step out their front door they're on SOMEBODY'S camera anyway. Cameras are everywhere! The guy who came out of the store had already been surveilled while he as there. SMH
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July 21, 2018 07:15PM
The only time to reveal that one is a mystery shopper is in a court when ordered to do so by a judge.
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July 21, 2018 08:55PM
Police would have to convince me that they had a need to know, not just tell me they wanted to know why I was there. Private security guards, not so much !!!

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.
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July 21, 2018 09:03PM
I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/21/2018 09:03PM by thefoxbox.
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July 22, 2018 02:39AM
@walesmaven wrote:

Police would have to convince me that they had a need to know, not just tell me they wanted to know why I was there. Private security guards, not so much !!!
Taking pictures in a high crime area at night is a good enough reason for me. I'm glad when they are on top of things and ask.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
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July 22, 2018 08:58AM
If I was questioned by a cop; yes I would tell the officer I was a mystery shopper.

That said, when I've been told by employees that they think I'm the mystery shopper...

My answer is this; Mystery Shopper?, I thought that was a scam. I wonder if they make any money doing it? I'm going to Google it when I get home.

Then I try to avoid the location, but sometimes bonuses are too big to give up. LOL

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!
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July 22, 2018 03:00PM
@teriraia wrote:

If a police officer approached me I would have no problem telling him I was on a mystery shop and would happily show him the paperwork.

The best response on the entire thread.
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July 22, 2018 07:03PM
@Jeffpeds1 wrote:

@teriraia wrote:

If a police officer approached me I would have no problem telling him I was on a mystery shop and would happily show him the paperwork.

The best response on the entire thread.

I know, right? People are crazy. It's not like they're keeping some sort of national security secret.
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July 22, 2018 07:05PM
@thefoxbox wrote:

I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

I get these emails all the time.

I actually have to go to this location to take a test for my real job. Can you imagine if I had ever done this mystery shop? My boss and I laugh about this all the time.

"Yeah, I'm here to take my Level 4 test. Yes, I am the cheater...."
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July 23, 2018 12:45AM
@thefoxbox wrote:

I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

That's funny. I've done the same scenario, and the test center folks were very courteous and calm with me after I was busted.

I wonder on what charge the employee thought you might be arrested or removed from premises. Smuggling grocery lists?

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
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July 23, 2018 12:48AM
@retrodaddy wrote:

@thefoxbox wrote:

I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

That's funny. I've done the same scenario, and the test center folks were very courteous and calm with me after I was busted.

I wonder on what charge the employee thought you might be arrested or removed from premises. Smuggling grocery lists?
That's funny. That's actually what I had written down was a grocery list. I tried my best to remain calm... I told her, why are you wasting everyone's time trying to call the police? She finally gave me my ID back and gave me the key to get my stuff... after ten minutes of holding it hostage. Yeah, never going to do one of those again.
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July 23, 2018 12:57AM
@thefoxbox wrote:

@retrodaddy wrote:

@thefoxbox wrote:

I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

That's funny. I've done the same scenario, and the test center folks were very courteous and calm with me after I was busted.

I wonder on what charge the employee thought you might be arrested or removed from premises. Smuggling grocery lists?
That's funny. That's actually what I had written down was a grocery list. I tried my best to remain calm... I told her, why are you wasting everyone's time trying to call the police? She finally gave me my ID back and gave me the key to get my stuff... after ten minutes of holding it hostage. Yeah, never going to do one of those again.

I've done this shop with and without the cheating scenario. I've also taken an exam locally at a location I didn't shop. At all three locations the personnel were very professional. I'm not gonna try to talk you into doing that shop again, but I'm very surprised an employee wigged out on you like that.

I don't think there are any Russians / And there ain't no Yanks
Just corporate criminals\ / Playin' with tanks
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July 23, 2018 01:00AM
@retrodaddy wrote:

@thefoxbox wrote:

@retrodaddy wrote:

@thefoxbox wrote:

I was at a testing facility shop where I was required to cheat... and the employee threatened to call the police on me. Had they arrived, I most certainly would have told the officer (and only the officer) that I was being paid to be there.

That's funny. I've done the same scenario, and the test center folks were very courteous and calm with me after I was busted.

I wonder on what charge the employee thought you might be arrested or removed from premises. Smuggling grocery lists?
That's funny. That's actually what I had written down was a grocery list. I tried my best to remain calm... I told her, why are you wasting everyone's time trying to call the police? She finally gave me my ID back and gave me the key to get my stuff... after ten minutes of holding it hostage. Yeah, never going to do one of those again.

I've done this shop with and without the cheating scenario. I've also taken an exam locally at a location I didn't shop. At all three locations the personnel were very professional. I'm not gonna try to talk you into doing that shop again, but I'm very surprised an employee wigged out on you like that.
I've done these before where I didn't have to act like a cheat, and everyone was pleasant before. Honestly, everyone was pleasant except the one woman freaking out. She was frantically reading through a PDF file on her computer like she had never encountered the situation before. It was pretty disturbing.
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July 24, 2018 05:05PM
YES................if you are in cuffs and a cop is telling you, "You have the right to remain silent."
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July 24, 2018 05:49PM
If you were standing on the sidewalk, not on private property, no one has the right to know why you're taking photographs except for a judge in court or Congress in a hearing. You have a First Amendment right to take photographs or record video in public. Period.

#burntoutinthebigapple
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July 24, 2018 06:06PM
@eodermatt wrote:

If you were standing on the sidewalk, not on private property, no one has the right to know why you're taking photographs except for a judge in court or Congress in a hearing. You have a First Amendment right to take photographs or record video in public. Period.
Most companies have private parking lots. It’s rare for the parking lots to be public, which is why police officers cannot issue citations for people who run stop signs or speed in those parking lots.
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July 24, 2018 06:15PM
Depends on whether there's public utilities, if there's an easement, if the business is open to the public....

There's just not enough information in the OP to be sure.

@thefoxbox wrote:

@eodermatt wrote:

If you were standing on the sidewalk, not on private property, no one has the right to know why you're taking photographs except for a judge in court or Congress in a hearing. You have a First Amendment right to take photographs or record video in public. Period.
Most companies have private parking lots. It’s rare for the parking lots to be public, which is why police officers cannot issue citations for people who run stop signs or speed in those parking lots.

#burntoutinthebigapple
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July 24, 2018 08:50PM
It was a parking lot of a grocery store..but I was on the sidewalk????

Shopping Idaho and Oregon/Idaho border region.
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July 24, 2018 08:57PM
@dawnhu wrote:

It was a parking lot of a grocery store..but I was on the sidewalk????
if on the sidewalk in front of the building between the parking lot and the store that is private property. Either way it isn’t illegal to take a photo in public and courts have defended people who take photographs in public places with no expectation of privacy for anyone.
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July 24, 2018 10:26PM
If you are on private property but it is considered publicly accessible (ie Mall, shopping center parking lot, etc) they can ask you to leave. If you don't leave you are guilty of trespassing. That is all. They can't make you erase anything or have you arrested simply for taking a photo. A private individual not associated with the property cannot do anything at all.

If I were taking photos of a business and a cop randomly saw and asked? Certainly. I'm a mystery shopper, I just evaluated this location and needed a photograph of it for my report.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
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July 26, 2018 08:42PM
It amazes me how many people are willing to get arrested over 20 bucks.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/2018 08:45PM by a171989.
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July 28, 2018 03:32PM
I was at my mall doing a restaurant and then taking pic of outside of place, and a security guard asked me what I was doing, no pic's allowed. The mall owns this street, I politely said, the food was so good, wanted to post some pic's on my Facebook, great advertising for your mall and smiled, he left.

Live consciously....
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