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Slight Hassle for Taking Photos?

May 15, 2024 10:58AM
Have you ever been on an unrevealed gas shop or similar retail shop and had an employee ask why you are taking photos? What answer do you give?
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May 15, 2024 11:12AM
I've not done any without having an LOA to fall back on.

It's only happened once, and I didn't even break out the LOA. Told the employee why I was there and that I was not going to be doing the report.

Half their pumps were down and those that weren't were in super slow mode. A customer in passing said he'd been there a total of 40 minutes between finally getting a pump and a full tank. As I was on a major route with some time restricted shops, it was an easy executive decision to bail on the job.

Have synthesizers, will travel...
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May 15, 2024 12:29PM
I've had some funny looks while taking pictures of a menu board, but never outright asked. I have a story ready, though: "Oh, sorry. I'm picking up something for somebody else, and she wants to see what's available." This would work for a restaurant, deli counter at the grocery store, products at Lowe's, etc.

If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
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May 15, 2024 01:18PM
@drdoggie00 wrote:

I've had some funny looks while taking pictures of a menu board, but never outright asked. I have a story ready, though: "Oh, sorry. I'm picking up something for somebody else, and she wants to see what's available." This would work for a restaurant, deli counter at the grocery store, products at Lowe's, etc.

This is also my go to line when I need to take pictures with the store staff right next to me, it always works, the staff would step aside and let me take the pictures with ease.
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May 15, 2024 01:43PM
A revealed shop or a convience/grocery/food store...not so much a problem.....but unrevealed and standing outside pointing your phone camera up at the canopy above the pumps?
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May 15, 2024 01:44PM
@BarefootBliss wrote:

A revealed shop or a convience/grocery/food store...not so much a problem.....but unrevealed and standing outside pointing your phone camera up at the canopy above the pumps?

I am showing the beautiful sky to my friend from the other side of the earth...they rarely see the sky that is that blueish

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2024 01:44PM by kisekinecro.
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May 15, 2024 01:46PM
yes lol and I'd rather point directly at the canopy than the clear blue sky right next to.....I get your point. I just need to improve my BS skills.
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May 15, 2024 01:53PM
@BarefootBliss wrote:

yes lol and I'd rather point directly at the canopy than the clear blue sky right next to.....I get your point. I just need to improve my BS skills.

My fience asked me to take a picture of the canopy, she want to match that color with our dog house
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May 15, 2024 02:28PM
Typically, an employee would not come out to ask you about one picture, usually only after they have already seen you take pictures of other fixtures: signs, pumps, etc.
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May 15, 2024 04:51PM
This has happened to me twice in the past month. Some people care. These were employees. I have been shopping for 7 years and this is the first time this has happened - ever.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/15/2024 04:52PM by BarefootBliss.
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May 15, 2024 06:45PM
When I hand them the LOA, I introduce myself and then I say, "I'll be taking a few pictures inside, and a lot outside, and then I'll be out of your hair." I have never been questioned on a revealed gas station shop.

I've only been questioned twice on a non-revealed shop, and it wasn't for taking pictures it was for sitting in my car on the edge of the property while I was inputting the pictures. I had LOAs, so that's where it ended. I'm sure there would have been police involved if I hadn't. These were very paranoid store owners.

Customers are a whole different story..
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May 15, 2024 08:55PM
After wasting a lot of time doing shops for RQA where recalled merchandise had already been discarded, I started calling and letting the store manager know that I was coming by (mostly to let the manager know and also to get an idea of how much merchandise I would be picking up as well as find a convenient time for the manager, in addition to taking a few photos, I came across one very nasty woman (Dollar General) who stated that she would only release merchandise to a company member of management. On the other hand, I had many people thank me for being so considerate.
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May 15, 2024 09:04PM
I am not sure why you consider this a waste of time. You were paid for your time to get there. You were paid for your time at the store. You were paid for your time to get home.

I have had more situations where the product had already been removed or in some cases, the store never had it, than visits where I found the product on the shelves (which I sometimes had to buy). Time is money. The time I spent doing these turned into money. With RQA, Time = Money and is not IMHO a waste of time. What am I missing?
@ShopperGirly wrote:

After wasting a lot of time doing shops for RQA where recalled merchandise had already been discarded, I started calling and letting the store manager know that I was coming by (mostly to let the manager know and also to get an idea of how much merchandise I would be picking up as well as find a convenient time for the manager, in addition to taking a few photos, I came across one very nasty woman (Dollar General) who stated that she would only release merchandise to a company member of management. On the other hand, I had many people thank me for being so considerate.

Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
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May 15, 2024 11:27PM
Not a slight hassle, a big one! With a shop with the old MSC 4-5 years ago

Was doing a shop at a Sunoco. A customer reported I was taking pictures outside to the employees. The owner was actually onsite and "trespassed" me which means that if I every set foot on his property again, I could be arrested. He actually walked along side until I was on public property, the street.

So I went to the next station and apparently he owned that station too and had called to notify the clerk.

Three police cars showed up. I explained to the police what I was doing at the bequest of Sunoco. I showed them the pictures and they laughed it off but asked me to please leave.

I can only image what fines or whatever Sunoco charged him for not being in compliance.
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May 15, 2024 11:32PM
And the strang thing about it is, I've done other brands that were WAY more out of compliance than this guy's Sunocos, yet never fixed any reported infractions. Month after month including selling drug paraphernalia. Perhaps they made more monthly than what they were fined for any reported infractions?
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May 16, 2024 01:58AM
Not Sunono, but I have had managers at other brands say they make so much on the paraphernalia it is worth paying the penalties.
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May 16, 2024 04:14PM
I had a gas station several years ago where I was taking the outside pics. A customer demanded to see my ID and stated what I was doing was illegal. I explained why I was there and referred him to the store employee. He continued to harrass me, so I left and did the station down the road, then came back and finished. I sent the scheduler a note on what had happened, in case anyone complained. This guy told me he was going to “report” me. I never heard anything more on it

I’ve never had an issue with employees.
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May 16, 2024 10:10PM
Most of the time I take the per location rate for RQA so standing around waiting for a manager is costing me $$$$$.
If you take the hourly rate, then no biggie! Let's have lunch while I wait. Lol! But the per location? Nope, get me in and out as fast as I can and on to the next location.

@myst4au wrote:

I am not sure why you consider this a waste of time. You were paid for your time to get there. You were paid for your time at the store. You were paid for your time to get home.

I have had more situations where the product had already been removed or in some cases, the store never had it, than visits where I found the product on the shelves (which I sometimes had to buy). Time is money. The time I spent doing these turned into money. With RQA, Time = Money and is not IMHO a waste of time. What am I missing?
@ShopperGirly wrote:

After wasting a lot of time doing shops for RQA where recalled merchandise had already been discarded, I started calling and letting the store manager know that I was coming by (mostly to let the manager know and also to get an idea of how much merchandise I would be picking up as well as find a convenient time for the manager, in addition to taking a few photos, I came across one very nasty woman (Dollar General) who stated that she would only release merchandise to a company member of management. On the other hand, I had many people thank me for being so considerate.
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May 17, 2024 01:21AM
Many years ago I did my first and last shop at Sbarro at a mall food court. I had to take a photo of the case holding the pizza. When I did so cautiously someone came over to me and told me they were going to call security on me if I did not leave immediately. I left and never did another one again. I always wonder why those shops just sit there not taken month after month in a market where most shops get gobbled up immediately. Is it the fee or the photos of stickers etc at the counter? or something else.
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May 17, 2024 01:40AM
yes, definitely awkward taking those Sbarro shots with the employees standing 2 feet away staring at you. Some have said they take screenshots from video they take. Sounds like a lot of work for $5.
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May 17, 2024 02:29AM
"Many years ago I did my first and last shop at Sbarro at a mall food court. "

I had a first and last shop at a office supply store. I took photos with no challenges, it was a revealed shop no less, and shop was over. I began to walk around the store to find and purchase a few things for myself. The assistant manager threatened me--
I can't even remember what he said. I never did another of those shops or returned to that location.
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May 17, 2024 03:10PM
I was doing a covert assignment in a grocery store and thought I was being so careful while taking pictures in aisles when no customers were nearby. I was surprised to be approached by a guy in plain clothes who flashed his badge and told me he saw me taking numerous photos and told me to leave promptly, which I did. They must have been watching through their cameras. Those app shops got to be too tedious with too many photos. Don't do too many of those any more.

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

Mark Twain
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May 17, 2024 03:38PM
@MsJudi wrote:

I was doing a covert assignment in a grocery store and thought I was being so careful while taking pictures in aisles when no customers were nearby. I was surprised to be approached by a guy in plain clothes who flashed his badge and told me he saw me taking numerous photos and told me to leave promptly, which I did. They must have been watching through their cameras. Those app shops got to be too tedious with too many photos. Don't do too many of those any more.

Especially when they start at $6 for about 20 or more pictures. Bonused to $8 after a while. Takes me about 20 minutes if the store isn't busy and I have to wait for other customers/vendors to clear the area.
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May 18, 2024 08:41PM
I was doing a small store audit that required multiple pictures all over the store, so it was super awkward. There was one cashier, so every time she would turn around I would grab a photo of a different section. Then I took a photo of the menu board, and out of nowhere a woman came up behind me and asked why I was taking pictures. I tried the "oh I just wanted to get a picture of the menu," and she replied, "I've been watching you on the camera taking pictures all over the store." I just started rambling about how it was my first time there and it was such a cute store...it was cringe worthy.

I was doing a VISA shop recently and was taking a picture of the exterior of a boarded up store when a man came up behind me and asked why I was taking the picture. It said I was just taking a picture to show it was closed, and quickly got back in my car. This was not a neighborhood where you want to get in a confrontation.

I was taking some pictures at a Sunoco shop and a customer asked why I was taking the pictures, since I was aiming the camera in her direction. I just told the truth and said I was doing an inspection.
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May 18, 2024 08:44PM
@wrosie wrote:

@MsJudi wrote:

I was doing a covert assignment in a grocery store and thought I was being so careful while taking pictures in aisles when no customers were nearby. I was surprised to be approached by a guy in plain clothes who flashed his badge and told me he saw me taking numerous photos and told me to leave promptly, which I did. They must have been watching through their cameras. Those app shops got to be too tedious with too many photos. Don't do too many of those any more.

Especially when they start at $6 for about 20 or more pictures. Bonused to $8 after a while. Takes me about 20 minutes if the store isn't busy and I have to wait for other customers/vendors to clear the area.

I agree, I can't believe anyone does one of those shops more than once. AND they want the pictures to be perfect! The ones on the orange app start at $3!
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May 18, 2024 11:33PM
I just can't do the app photo shops....for me personally, they just don't work too much for too little.

A few months ago, I was doing a Sunoco shop at a location that was completely under renovation. A guy inside saw me taking photos, came outside and said "Are you from Sunoco?" I said, no, just their insurance company....what the hell lol.
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May 19, 2024 12:45AM
Once a yr., I surrender posting to my alter ego Broken Record Bob.

BRB here, with a shop from the past. In the spring of 2007, I accepted a job checking on a college student who had been hired to pass-out Chase credit card apps at an eatery. My pay was $15+$5 for a sandwich. As I had completed several locations, this particular shop was somewhat different. I was given the option to snap A(1) pic of the buildings exterior for an extra $5. As an option, the pic could NOT affect the successful completion.

Think about the above while you are snapping, as the MSC offer stated, at least 25 pics, any of which could be cause for non-payment. Is the $12.50 from a 1/5th of a trillion dollar Shell Oil really worth your time and effort?
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May 19, 2024 02:46AM
i did a sizing audit once and the instructions require you to get the manager’s name, which is usually posted on a sign in the front of the store. as i passed by the sign when i walked in, i discreetly took a picture of it.

a young girl (12-13 years old?) saw me and thought i took a picture of her, and then told her mom, who came over a few minutes later and ripped my phone out of my hand while i was counting items, calling me a pervert and demanding to know where her daughter’s picture was.

it escalated to the point where the police were called, who looked at my phone and said nothing was improper. obviously, as the girl wasn’t even in the picture. the police were more curious about why i had pictures of pricing/sizing tags for multiple stores, which i also had to explain. it was the wildest thing i’ve had happen on that type of project.
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