Would you do a shop requiring an audio recording?
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I have avoided only because I am afraid the audio would not be clear and my shop would get rejected. I have recorded audio when sitting still and it is fine but not sure about moving around, how clear would it be.
I did one using my phone to record. It took me awhile to figure out how to upload it, but it was relatively painless. Recording was fine.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
I've done phone calls that are recorded and I've recorded shops just to help my memory and timings.
I find it time consuming to listen to recordings to get the info so I don't prefer them
I find it time consuming to listen to recordings to get the info so I don't prefer them
When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
Alexander Den Heijer
@ServiceAward wrote:
There are apps and websites available that will transcribe the recording. Some recording apps will do it within the platform. The transcribe functions have improved over the past year as programmers start to rely more on AI.
Can't you just do this on the Google App on an android phone? I haven't tried.
But I think I listen faster than I read. So I'm not sure how this would help unless you can cut and paste a narrative?
My recollection is that you live in California. California is a 2-party consent state. Recording in a two-party consent state without permission from both parties is generally a felony. In some cases, employers obtain consent from their employees as a condition of employment. I was asked to complete a recorded phone call to Maryland (also a 2-party consent state) and it was not being done on behalf of the company I would have been calling (competitive shop scenario). I refused to do it since it would have been essentially impossible for the competition to have obtained permission from the competition to record phone calls. 2-party consent states also require dual consent if you are there in person unless you are in a situation where privacy is not expected (such as a public sidewalk in front of a store).
@johnb974 wrote:
I pick up storage shops that do not require a recording for $20. Another site offered storage shops with a recording for $40. I'm now seeing the storage shops requiring audio for $15. Would you do any of these?
Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
I have a USB recorder in my pocket for most shops
I would hope the MSC would check on two party consent laws before agreeing to offer us the shops. I believe the would also be open to being sued for offering the shops.
I know ive seen shops with restrictions for certain states.
I know ive seen shops with restrictions for certain states.
I have done shops where the party being phoned is in Pennsylvania, California, Washington, and a few other states, and often they do not want recordings done for those states. It is clear that the MSC understands the law.
The bigger issue is that legally if you are calling from a 2-party consent state to a 1-party consent state, the 2-party rules apply. When I lived in PA, that was an issue. Now that I am in NJ, I am in a 1-party consent state, and staying out of this particular legal quagmire is much easier. I have pointed out issues to schedulers when I lived in PA, and they are often unaware of some of the subtleties.
The bigger issue is that legally if you are calling from a 2-party consent state to a 1-party consent state, the 2-party rules apply. When I lived in PA, that was an issue. Now that I am in NJ, I am in a 1-party consent state, and staying out of this particular legal quagmire is much easier. I have pointed out issues to schedulers when I lived in PA, and they are often unaware of some of the subtleties.
@wrosie wrote:
I would hope the MSC would check on two party consent laws before agreeing to offer us the shops. I believe the would also be open to being sued for offering the shops.
I know ive seen shops with restrictions for certain states.
Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
There is a shop I do that requires a submission of an audio recording of a conversation. I use the Google Recorder app. If one has a Pixel phone, the recordings can be accessed at [recorder.google.com].
If one doesn't has a different Android phone one can download the Google recorder app using APKPure: [apkpure.com]. However, the [recorder.google.com] does not work on other Android phones. That is what I do. But the recordings and transcripts are saved on the phone and can be uploaded to Google Drive, emailed, etc.
If one doesn't has a different Android phone one can download the Google recorder app using APKPure: [apkpure.com]. However, the [recorder.google.com] does not work on other Android phones. That is what I do. But the recordings and transcripts are saved on the phone and can be uploaded to Google Drive, emailed, etc.
I do them regularly, using the AVR PRO app on my iPhone. I keep it in my front shirt pocket, upside down so the mic is facing up.
As others have noted, I will record interactions for data collection purposes for shops that do not require audio recordings.
As others have noted, I will record interactions for data collection purposes for shops that do not require audio recordings.
Have synthesizers, will travel...
Yes, I like the audio shops because they pay more than written shops. It is very easy to have a recorder in my shirt pocket and record the shop. However, I would not do such a shop for only $15.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2024 03:36PM by AZwolfman.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/30/2024 03:36PM by AZwolfman.
I have and would if the price is right. One party state.
recordings that will not be used in court, that will only be used by you to give accurate information in a written narrative is a non-issue. The recording consent rules only apply to recordings that can be used as evidence in court. I have recorded entire interactions while shopping so that I can accurately type a narrative of our actions and conversations. My recordings are NEVER put online, are NEVER used in court, and are ALWAYS deleted after the narrative is written.
I believe that you are incorrect. "In twelve states, no person may record a private communication without the consent of every party to that communication. Thus, no surreptitious recording is allowed (with exceptions for law enforcement officials who have obtained warrants to make such recordings). The states with these laws are California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington." The use or non-use of the recording is not relevant. You can't make the recording. [www.criminaldefenselawyer.com]
You are, of course, free to assume any level of risk that you like. You and others on this forum are free to record every conversation that you have. I personally choose to be very cautious. The $20 (or whatever) I earn when making a phone call into a 2-party consent state (for instance) is not nearly enough to pay for a criminal defense lawyer.
You are, of course, free to assume any level of risk that you like. You and others on this forum are free to record every conversation that you have. I personally choose to be very cautious. The $20 (or whatever) I earn when making a phone call into a 2-party consent state (for instance) is not nearly enough to pay for a criminal defense lawyer.
@ServiceAward wrote:
To clear up any confusion there may be regarding the audio recording consent laws, those laws apply to private conversations only. They do not apply to conversations where there can be no expectation of privacy. Phone calls will almost always be considered private. A general disclaimer suffices, which is why many companies and call centers will state that your call may be recorded.
If you are in a two-party consent state and would like an audio recording of your mystery shop to reference when you do your report, there are no legal issues recording those types of conversations without consent as long as those conversations take place in a public space where other people are around. If you are doing a phone shop, for example, you may make an audio recording of that to your heart's content since those shops occur in the public space of the cell phone store where there would not be an expectation of privacy.
Shopping South Jersey, Southeast Pennsylvania, and Delaware above the canal since 2008
@ServiceAward wrote:
To clear up any confusion there may be regarding the audio recording consent laws, those laws apply to private conversations only. They do not apply to conversations where there can be no expectation of privacy. Phone calls will almost always be considered private. A general disclaimer suffices, which is why many companies and call centers will state that your call may be recorded
. I have always interpreted the rule the same way . I record long restaurant shops as there is no expectation of privacy when a server is standing at my table.
Perhaps on a tour with just you and the salesperson if they take you inside a locked apt or storage building this may be a grey area.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2024 01:31AM by sandyf.
Just a few hints about smartphone audio recordings after I too, was very uptight about it from a technical point of view and still wish they were not required.
Open up the shop report on your phone and upload the recording and then log out while saving your report. This is so much easier then sending it to your computer which did not work for me and was major frustrating.
I place my phone into my shirt pocket or windbreaker outside pocket with the bottom speaker facing upward to record and it works just fine. Test it at home first. But be sure to immediately turn off the recoding when done, otherwise if it is too lengthly, it cannot be saved, at least not in my Samsung Android.
Open up the shop report on your phone and upload the recording and then log out while saving your report. This is so much easier then sending it to your computer which did not work for me and was major frustrating.
I place my phone into my shirt pocket or windbreaker outside pocket with the bottom speaker facing upward to record and it works just fine. Test it at home first. But be sure to immediately turn off the recoding when done, otherwise if it is too lengthly, it cannot be saved, at least not in my Samsung Android.
I generally use a digital voice recorder rather than my phone. I am not tech oriented esp when it comes to phones but it seems the buttons on my phone are easily pushed and I worry something will rub lightly against the phone and either pause or end or play back the recording at an inopportune time.
Is there a way to change the sensitivity level? I have a Pixel.
Also can I use the other functions of the phone while recording such as answering a phone call? Showing the server my gift card?
Is there a way to change the sensitivity level? I have a Pixel.
Also can I use the other functions of the phone while recording such as answering a phone call? Showing the server my gift card?
Yes, it can be saved. Connect your Android phone to your computer. Open computer's file explorer and search for the file.@Arch Stanton wrote:
Just a few hints about smartphone audio recordings after I too, was very uptight about it from a technical point of view and still wish they were not required.
Open up the shop report on your phone and upload the recording and then log out while saving your report. This is so much easier then sending it to your computer which did not work for me and was major frustrating.
I place my phone into my shirt pocket or windbreaker outside pocket with the bottom speaker facing upward to record and it works just fine. Test it at home first. But be sure to immediately turn off the recoding when done, otherwise if it is too lengthly, it cannot be saved, at least not in my Samsung Android.
@sandyf wrote:
Is there a way to change the sensitivity level? I have a Pixel.
Also can I use the other functions of the phone while recording such as answering a phone call? Showing the server my gift card?
I don't have a Pixel. But an Android phone. I would place your phone in "airplane" mode. An incoming call would cause you to record the ringtone and not your shop recording, or just stop the recording. Not sure which. But you wouldn't want either to happen if you needed the recording.
I cannot figure out how to easily upload a recording to a report in my iphone. I use the native Voice Memos app. When I "Browse" to find the file, it does not took there. I end up saving it to my cloud storage and attaching it at home in my desktop. I know I should be able to do it all on location on my phone, but I struggle every time to remember how I did it last time. I miss my Android 
. Any advice?
. Any advice?
Yes, the second part. One report I do requests the audio recording to be submitted while still on site, which I would prefer too. I’ve tried copying it to a folder or file on my phone (plus the cloud), but I can’t figure out how to find it again when I’m browsing to do the upload.
I do recorded shops all of the time. I use the Voice Memo app on my iPhone and it does an incredible job at recording. I have used it for apartment shops, where the agent is walking in front of me and it still picks up their voice. I carry the phone in my hand and no one has ever given it a second look.
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