Pictures

What reasons do you give for taking pictures if asked by an employee?

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Depends. If it's of a product, I have said I want to show this to my daughter to see what she thinks, or to see if this is the one she wants, etc. If I have to take a picture of a location exterior and the employees inside can see me from inside, from across the street usually, I sometimes pretend like I'm talking on the phone and hold the phone up to my face, like a microphone and take the picture that way. So many people are focused on their phones, no one thinks anything of it.

"I want to make sure that this is the correct item."
"I am checking reviews on the item online."
"I am going to compare this to what other store have to offer."
"I like to post pictures of my food on Facebook."
"Pictures?"
"I'm just texting my friend."
"I want to compare the color of this item to what I have at home to see if it matches."

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

"My son keeps telling me to 'use your technology', so now I take pictures and send them to him."

I am amazed at how often the salesperson tells me that it has become common and even offer to hold up an item or tell me where the light is better.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008

Ooh! That (display) is so pretty! I want to show this to my folks back in Mississippi!

I've never had anyone ask. I make sure to turn off the flash and shutter sound so as to not draw attention.

ditto...pic's of food are common, taking pic's of the inside of a pizza place and the entire line, not so much, so I don't do them....have never been asked.

Live consciously....

Lots of Yelp/Tripadvisor reviews and social media posts (especially Instagram stories) have pictures of the inside of a restaurant no matter how casual, the line for the pizza/sandwich etc...I would be very surprised if any employee of any eatery noticed or cared. Retail can be a little trickier. Back when I foolishly did Field Agent jobs (before I discovered "real" mystery shopping) one asked me to take like 20 photos of a supermarket. The manager came and told me it wasn't allowed -- he didn't ask why. Seeing as it was my neighborhood supermarket I just said "ok" and left.

There's a difference in taking a photo discreetly and holding your phone up at arm's length for 5 minutes trying to get it framed perfectly with spectacular focus and lighting. Nobody ever sees me take a photo. Mich less asks why.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I have never been asked, except during a revealed audit. Then it's the customers who ask. Of course I don't spend 5 seconds focusing for covert pics on mystery shops either. Rather, I take 4-6 shots per second without focusing for each picture I need.

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