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?? 11 Discreet Photos in an Eye Dr's Office ???

February 02, 2022 07:26PM
I just noticed some eyeglass shops available in my area. It requires 11 covert photos of marketing material. These stores are usually pretty small and would be difficult to do covertly. Any tips? Thx
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February 02, 2022 08:02PM
I was wondering about this too. You have to get the name of at least one employee, so it's not like you aren't going to be calling attention to yourself.
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February 02, 2022 09:11PM
LOL. I was just going to ask about these, too! They say "no employee interaction," but staff in these places don't always have name tags or a desk plate. So if you have to get the name, you have to interact.

And I agree that the size of these places makes it really difficult to take 11 photos unobtrusively! It's not like it's Lenscrafters or Walmart eyeglass facilities. The only way I could think of to do this shop would be to say you're shopping for frames and need to take some photos of what you like to look at them at home to narrow your selection down. At least if you have to capture specific things, you can pretend you're taking pictures of lenses.

Around here, it's not like there are usually several people in the office at once, where you might be able to slip in, take pictures, and get out without anyone taking a lot of notice.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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February 02, 2022 09:15PM
There's a formerly-Sassie-now-iSecretShop MSC that is looking for shoppers to "discreetly" take 11 photos of marketing materials in various eye Dr's offices. I looked up the ones near me. These are SMALL eye dr offices. How is someone supposed to go into the waiting area, without an appointment, and discreetly take 11 photos of marketing materials??? The pay in my area is $18. If anyone has done one of these, PLEASE let us know if the office receptionist or anyone else asks what you're doing. TIA.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2022 02:02AM by guysmom.
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February 02, 2022 10:11PM
Lots of us are wondering the same thing! [www.mysteryshopforum.com]

That thread is in the wrong place, in shopping company forum. Can a mod move it and combine these two threads? Thanks!

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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February 02, 2022 10:22PM
That would be a good question for the scheduler.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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February 02, 2022 10:23PM
Lots by me but I never do these types of shops. BUT....I also wondered how you are supposed to take discreet pictures in a tiny retail space that most likely will have no customers other than you.
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February 02, 2022 10:36PM
Relative just had an appointment at one of these offices two weeks ago. The first rule of that doctor office was "no visitors" (due to covid). So, I would have no idea how this shop could be performed.
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February 02, 2022 11:01PM
This is their way of saying.... A video shop would be more useful here and more people would be able to complete it correctly. It's just too expensive for us to pursue.
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February 02, 2022 11:07PM
When I read of any shop requiring multiple pics, I recall my first encounter with a pic 15 yrs. ago, It was at a Quiznos sandwich location and my job was merely to ascertain if the college student contracted by Chase to handout credit card apps, was in attendance.. I was paid $15 + $5 for food and $5 for an OPTIONAL pic (singular) of the exterior signage.

I am aware I have posted the above before, but it is for the few folks who are unaware as to how much work continues to be loaded onto shoppers. This is NOT a criticism of MSCs, as it is the responsibility of contractors to operate their business in a profitable manner. Profitable does not mean snapping multiple pics, any of which could the job to be rejected, for a pittance.
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February 03, 2022 01:28AM
I took one at my eye doctors. I want to look at eyeglasses anyway and they're not restricting walk-ins. They're used to me so I'm sure I can take pictures without any issues but I wouldn't do this otherwise. The other way to get a name is to call after you leave and take the name of the person who answers the phone.
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February 03, 2022 03:28AM
My eye doctor was also on the list. Or should I write 'former' as he is retired and other doctors are in the office. Plus the office door is unlocked only for those with appointments. I could make an appt to have my frames adjusted but will pass on this shop.
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February 03, 2022 05:05AM
I looked at the requirements and deleted the email.
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February 03, 2022 05:45AM
I looked at the requirements and decided it was impossible to complete even in pre-COVID days. With the restrictions in place in this area, appointments are often required, and at minimum, they want to take your temperature and fill out a COVID exposure form.

Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
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February 03, 2022 06:05AM
Could you use a hidden cam and take stills from the video? Do people even use hidden cams? I know they have been getting better in recent years, and I think there are some smart eyeglasses out there now, by Ray-Ban and others.
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February 03, 2022 02:57PM
My ex-eye doctor is on the list, but I changed providers and have been ignoring their reminder emails. Their waiting room is small, but busier than most I've been to, so I could probably get the photos. But I'd have to do some dancing to get in there to say I'm just looking for frames. Probably would have to get my prescription from my current optometrist then come up with a story on why I'm not getting frames there (nothing I like, too expensive, etc.) I don't think it's worth it.

If these were large practices in department stores or malls, it could probably be done discreetly. But I think I'll pass on this.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
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February 03, 2022 03:37PM
This assignment would be timely for me. I am Exhibit A for 'this fits my real life.' (It is time for my annual eye exam and I am looking for new frames with specific features. They should be almost exactly like the ones I have but in a slightly different color. Finding that color is difficult. I stopped coloring my hair, and the old frames are not the best with my own hair. Meanwhile, they keep changing the eyeglasses fashions and my hair does not change that quickly, haha. The patter options and spiel possibilities are endless, and other shoppers already have their own stories.) In the past, I went to optical places and tried on frames before my actual appointments. In the covid era, I browse eyeglasses on websites and try to find what I want. I am not certain that the likely frame colors are what I actually want. If I find a convenient office that currently welcomes walk-ins, I will try one. As far as I know, most offices on "my" list are still limiting occupants to staff, visitors, and selected vendors. As an eye patient, I appreciate and approve of this policy.

Who said so? Why did they say it?!
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February 04, 2022 01:20AM
The fee is too low. Someone is likely to notice you taking that many photos.
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February 04, 2022 01:23AM
I've done a few of these. They actually weren't that difficult and the reports were quick. I had no issues save for one small office where I was told that I couldn't take any pictures (when they noticed me taking a photo of the frames) and one of the staff actually stayed by my side the entire time that I was at the location. Even with them glued to me I still managed to get the photos, they just weren't as good as I would have liked.
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February 04, 2022 01:47AM
I tried to do one near me today and I called first because it said it's up to the shopper to go during open hours.

When I arrived they were closed. I was well within the hours posted clearly in the window.

There was a sign on the door that if they got more than 6" of snow tomorrow, they would be closed and to come back on Saturday. It hadn't even begun to snow today when I got there! It was at 2:17 and it didn't start snowing until around 4;30. It was rain before that.

Oh and in addition to the 11 required pictures, if you see a marketing piece you need to look for, you need to take a close up of it. In addition to the 11 required pictures.

I have the guidelines but I don't know if it's okay to post them.
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February 04, 2022 08:50AM
@whatwhatdb wrote:

Could you use a hidden cam and take stills from the video? Do people even use hidden cams? I know they have been getting better in recent years, and I think there are some smart eyeglasses out there now, by Ray-Ban and others.

Those spyglasses are so damn obvious, of all the places, do not wear them at an eye shop.
Ive done that successfully with my cell phone before but not for $18, I'll wait till the end of the month.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2022 08:51AM by SunshineQT.
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February 04, 2022 03:51PM
What would be the problem if one was "caught" taking pictures. "Hey, what are you doing?" - "Oh, I was just taking some pictures for Yelp."
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February 04, 2022 07:36PM
I saw this one and I laughed. How am I supposed to take 11 pictures in my small town's eye shop without interacting with an employee? Yeah just let me take these pictures and then bye!
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February 08, 2022 03:39PM
@whatwhatdb wrote:

Could you use a hidden cam and take stills from the video? Do people even use hidden cams? I know they have been getting better in recent years, and I think there are some smart eyeglasses out there now, by Ray-Ban and others.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
The only way I would ever consider doing such a shop is to take videos and submit stills from the video.
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February 08, 2022 10:29PM
Set you cell phone camera on automatic rapid shots and pretend you can't get it to stop, while pointing it around the room. LOL
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February 18, 2022 02:34PM
Thanks for the laugh!
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February 18, 2022 03:00PM
I had a good laugh as well. Hello - Covid practices still in place in my area. You need an appointment, only so many people allowed in the waiting area. Some still require calling from your car. But sure random mystery shopper, come on in and take some discreet photos.
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February 19, 2022 12:12AM
I did a handful of these but they weren't fun at all. I felt uncomfortable the whole time but I managed to get the photos. Still quite a few left near me. Maybe if the fee goes up quite a bit I'll put myself through it again!
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February 19, 2022 05:25PM
Based on the last email I got for these yesterday, there could easily be a thousand locations still on the board. If not that much then hundreds and hundreds and hundreds. The email said they had to be done that day. But they weren't offering a bonus. I really don't understand. Unless the client is okay with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of their locations not being done, this is a project that's going to require some bonus money. The hassle and amount of discretion that is involved is way above the current pay level.
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February 19, 2022 05:40PM
And the scheduler is a real challenge, adding to the fun. I requested a few of these, and she assigned them to me at 930AM, made them due the same day, and then got furiously angry when i pointed out we were in the middle of a huge snowstorm (all schools closed, most businesses closed, roads closed, national news kind of storm) so maybe we should extend a few days. Her response was to tell me that "6 inches of snow isn't that much" and that she would just go out and do the shops herself. Not surprisingly, every single one of these, along with 25 more, are still sitting on the board. Steer clear, people!
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