Taking photos in shops

[~Raven~]

I recently did a scavenger hunt and was taking photos off all sorts of stuff cos there was no way I was going to buy it. Had no problems at all whatsoever!

At times I've asked if was OK to take a photo to show my DH or dad to check if the item was the right one and always been told it was fine too. That store owner sounds like a stick in the mud

[AnyDream]

If retail is as fragile at the moment as they are all bleating on about, they had better start thinking about how to strengthen their position. Creating a positive shopping experience instore is something retailers can do that onliners can't, a lot of that is about the service provided by the staff. I pay $1 more every day to get my coffee at the place with the smilie barista who remembers my order. Retailers - who trained us to be cheapskates in the first instance by whittling their services down and down until the only thing that distingished one shop from another was the item price - would do well to remember that they started all this by making that price the bottom line. Re competition with onliners, I reckon GAME ON! Telling people not to take photos further erodes any relationship the customer wants to have with them.

[Babyluv]

I worked for a big company and the main reason for not allowing photography was security and loss prevention etc.

[ss_storm]

I've often taken photos, mostly of toys for DD for b'day/Christmas, to message to OH to get a 'yay' or 'nay'. Never given a second thought as to whether I was allowed to or not! We live an hour from decent shops (by that I only mean big w, Kmart etc so nothing fancy!), so I'm not going to buy only to have to bring it back if it's not suitable or OH doesn't like it. Usually he says yeah whatever..but I still like to ask.
I did get a bit of a nudge from my mum and a 'you probably shouldn't take photos in here' when we were at the Lindt cafe in Sydney a few weeks ago. I just wanted to take a pic to say hey! We were at the Lindt cafe! And it was full of awesome chocolatey goodness!

[Jellyfish]

I remember my Dad taking a photo in a popular retail chain store inside a shopping centre and security coming to tell him off... he was the CEO and part owner of the retail company in question at the time! With that I think they were concerned about 'casing the joint' or some such, my Dad was not impressed.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

What really baffles me is how is it security or loss prevention?? Most stores like kmart, big w, myer, target...ect sell the same brands..... and if its for price matching well they do it anyways they usually just ring the store but a photo is pretty clear that another store has it cheaper etc.

Clothes shops i can 100% understand as people do take photos and either make or have the item remade for much cheaper but then again are the monitoring whats going in a change room..?

Seems a bit silly IMO to be so strict about it.

[Babyluv]

The company I worked for own a number of smaller stores a bras and undies store, candle store, music store etc and apparently having ppl taking photos in the store could be used in theft, scoping out the layout, where the registers are situated, back room etc. There are professional thieves out there!

[Amy_jellybean]

Yeah I think it is more from a design point of view. You could be scoping out products that a company sell and finding someone to make it cheaper and under cut them. I do take photos in stored but I ALWAYS ask first. I've just recently done it with nursery furniture as my DH works away and I wanted his opinion before purchasing it.

[Lisa]

I once got abused by a shop attendant for taking a photo of a fish to show to DS2. Even when I explained why I was doing it, I got a rude reply of "I have asked you not to, so don't." It was a $10 fish!!! Not like a rare specimen or something. Very strange.
We no longer go to that shop.


From my iPhone.

[Babyluv]

Haha that's so weird Lisa!!!

[sepata]

The company I worked for own a number of smaller stores a bras and undies store, candle store, music store etc and apparently having ppl taking photos in the store could be used in theft, scoping out the layout, where the registers are situated, back room etc. There are professional thieves out there!

Yes this. They might just be taking a photo of a dress or mannequin or something but it can be used as part of the master robbery plan. Also you can hold a dress up in a position so you can snap security cams in the background etc.


Excuse my sucky spelling, I'm on my iPhone

[MummyNaomi]

I often take pics on my iphone to show DH re idea's for purchases etc

When I was doing my 365 photo project last year, I'd take photo's of DS in stores like IKEA, Woolies, Big W etc with my big DSLR - no one ever told me off

[feeb]

WTF are you serious!! I take pics all the time and send to DH my parents or friends for what ever reason, never been told off before. I have eaven taken pics in dressing room when trying to pick a dress and sent to friends to help me decide!

[Astrid]

I would think these days with the more people with phones that they always have in their hands, that any thief scoping the shop would be able to do so a lot more subtly than a shopper blatantly taking a pic.

I do understand to a certain extent from a security point of view, but I do think it is very outdated due to the technology these days. If it is such a concern, then completely ban the use of mobiles whilst in store.

Hmmm - maybe they do see me as a threat? I am pretty much in there the same time most Friday mornings.

[Kazbah]

Who these days carries one & paper? I've asked for product info from a salesperson and they can't be bothered, so I take a photo of the tag.

sent from the Hellmouth.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I would think these days with the more people with phones that they always have in their hands, that any thief scoping the shop would be able to do so a lot more subtly than a shopper blatantly taking a pic.

Security is pretty good, in the big stores, at picking up the 'surreptitious'. The professionals are brazen and use the most obvious guises, because people are always weird and the best way to be overlooked in a crowd is to look oblivious. The scams we learned about at Myer were so brazen. It's just something I always had in the back of my mind when working there.
Mind you, when I worked there I had the 'old skool' training and I learned a lot of rapport-building skills - things that just don't get taught or valued in that environment anymore, so when I asked people to put cameras away (back in the day it was only cameras), I did it in a way that explained the security risk and minimised embarrassment - no confrontation. After all, they also taught us that the best loss prevention measure is good customer service. So, no wonder they're getting ripped off by pros! Not talking one or two items from each department, we're talking trolley loads of a particular brand of jeans or jackets, then they are sold BNWT. Black market goods. I also keep this in mind when buying from eBay and looking at the seller sites.
That's one issue from this thread. The other is non-existent customer service these days. A HUGE reason I steer clear of these stores - their customer service is too embarrassing.

[Cassius2]

I know that when i worked for Coles they were crazy about making sure people didnt take photos...it was a competition thing. apparently layout of of the aisles, deli, fruit and vege is a prized thang, and they dont want other coles stores or the other "competitor" (i use the term loosely) woolworths 'stealing' their layout design OR the advertising design of products. It is a BIG thing that the competition go and take photos of eachothers stores and try to pre-empt sales, layouts etc.

IMHO i reckon it's totally ridiculous and petty.

[Aussiegirl777]

I own a small indepenant business and I don't really like people just taking pictures. As a previous poster said, it can be used to record the layout of the store in regards to a later robbery. In my small business I don't have the security like a major store.

Also I have had people come in and take photos of the verses in my greeting cards (I own a card and gift store) and then walk out without buying one. I think that is the height of rudeness. If I see that happening I go straight up and tell them that it is a breech of copyright. (don't know if it is or not but too bad).

I have had people ask to take pictures of giftware to show their daughter etc and in that case I am fine with it because I know they are taking the photo.

I think it is a simple matter of courtesy. Just ask first.