Visa shops-discreetly take pictures of the card reader

There are a bunch of new Visa shops in my area. The guidelines require 3 pictures of the visa machine as it prompts payment and goe through the check out process. These are mainly at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. I cant imagine how to get these pictures in a discreet manner with a mobile phone. Even using a video to capture the check out process and getting screen shots seems pretty obvious. Anyone do these yet and have tips?

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I did a video. They worked out, but it was stressful. I wouldn't personally do them again.
I was thinking about taking a video too but still can't figure out how to hold my phone so it doesn't just look weird. They seem really easy other than that and there are a ton of them that just popped up.
A did a few awhile back. If the register faces the line it is easier to snap a shot w/o the cashier seeing. But if its a register that faces towards the customer much more challenging.
This is easy. Just put your smartphone in your shirt pocket and capture it on video. Then you can take a photo of the still. If you don't have a BVR (background video recorder), get one.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/19/2022 05:08PM by AZwolfman.
They’re awkward. Usually I just try to look harried and annoyed someone is texting me and pretend to be texting something back. As long as you’re not facing the camera towards the cashier, I don’t think they’ll say anything or really notice.

I don’t wear shirts with pockets, and placing a phone in a shirt pocket if I had one, and learning and practicing at what angle to lean forward (different placement of the reader at every location), would just not be worth it for these shops.
What are these paying? Why does it have to be discreet? If you are taking a picture (video) of the reader, why would the employee care? As long as it's not them in the picture, I don't see why they would care.
They don't care and usually don't notice.
Exactly. When I did it a few years back, I said I was making a tutorial for IG. Cashier could have cared less.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
The other day, the person ahead of me in line at Dollar General was on her cell phone the whole time she was checking out. I was half way rolling my eyes, but seeing this post, she could have well been doing a shop. I don't think the cashier would have suspected anything at all except a rude, self-absorbed customer hogging other people's time. It is a sign of the times though. I think you would probably be labeled rude before you were outed as a shopper. I tend away from shops that have the potential for making me look like an idiot and/or weirdo in any place I routinely shop. I might do such outside of my local area though.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln
I can't understand why the company doesn't make these shops revealed. We're simply testing equipment, not employee performance.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/22/2022 11:17PM by mitchk.
@GinnyLynn wrote:

The other day, the person ahead of me in line at Dollar General was on her cell phone the whole time she was checking out. I was half way rolling my eyes, but seeing this post, she could have well been doing a shop. I don't think the cashier would have suspected anything at all except a rude, self-absorbed customer hogging other people's time. It is a sign of the times though. I think you would probably be labeled rude before you were outed as a shopper. I tend away from shops that have the potential for making me look like an idiot and/or weirdo in any place I routinely shop. I might do such outside of my local area though.


I hate when people are on their phones checking out.. I find it very very very rude... But yet, if the customers ask the cashier an question and they don't hear them they get upset.. Or if they leave the bags on the spinning thing!!!!

If you are not on your phone, may be you won't forget anything..

The other day I was someplace and some one was on their phone in front of me and they left their stuff on the spinning thingy.. I did not go after them because they were not paying attention to the cashier just their phones sad smiley
I think DG uses that spinny thing on purpose so they can resell stuff that's already paid for. I swear they hide bags on purpose. I'm never on the phone and always paying attention but have left bags there anyway. When I do check thoroughly before leaving, there's always a bag with one or two of my items way on the other side of the spinner.
I did one a few years ago when they first started rolling these out. One was enough. Trying to get a "discreet" photo of the card reader was stress-inducing.

I learn something new every day, but not everyday!
I've learned to never trust spell-check or my phone's auto-fill feature.
I have done several of these. You can use your phone to pay with the tap feature as long as it is tied to a VISA. Great reason to have your phone hovering over the terminal. I usually take the counter photo as I approach in line and use a background video recorder then when paying. A couple screenshots when I get in the car and submit. The pay is pretty low, but they can be quick if you are setup and ready and can get you a lunch or some gas depending on the place.
Can you explain to me what a Background video recorder is? Is it an app? I have never used this but I am thinking I am missing out.
I did one today at a grocery store since I needed groceries anyway. I used the video and took screen shots from it. It worked like a charm. Cashier didn't blink at me.

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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain
I was thinking it would come off as obvious and maybe tick off the people behind you waiting....so I said forget it. Life can be stressful enough dealing with strangers. Who needs fast food rage? lol.
Background video recorders are apps. They run on your phone in the background so that nobody can tell you are recording the video. They are great for these shops, but come in handy for a lot of places, especially for shops that want specific language at greets and farewells, or even for timings. The videos can take up a lot of space, but I just delete after I get my screenshots or fill out the reports.
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