Often when out and about either DH or I will see something that we might like to buy. So we will take a picture and send it. Sometimes there will be a yes buy it, or no. Saves us going back, missing out and also lets us compare items (like when we were bunk shopping).
I got told off today in a major store for taking a photo. I explained it was so I could make a decision with my husband about the purchase and she told me to take a catalogue. It annoyed me so much I walked out and bought nothing. Silly thing is, DH was in there the other and took a photo no problem.
So, if it is ok to view the item and the price in a catalogue, what is the difference to me taking a photo in store? Not everything is in the catalogue, also I just don't want to be taking junk mail stuff home.
** Will clarify, I was not scanning barcodes to compare pricing between stores.
I have been more discreet in the past, just this morning the place was swarming with staff and I was pretty blatant In other stores, the sales person has stood with me whilst I took the photo, sent it and then called DH to discuss.
Personally i don't see the issue - if you have a picture in catalogue whats wrong with someone taking their own.
A catalogue doesn't always show you how big it looks in perspective to something else.... oh well they loose a sale.
I understand some smaller stores may have issues with it, but really they are just shooting themselves in the foot if they do. I know I have taken photos whilst fridge shopping to keep clear in my mind prices and models at different stores, and some of the stores were fine to use the photos for price match purposes (although I never ended up using the price match as I bought a seconds model instead) - so maybe that is why they have the issue??? They are afraid you will just price match elsewhere??
I went shopping for single beds & the lady actually told me to take a photo so I could think about. When I was younger I worked in retail and they were strict policies about not allowing customers to take photos... And it was a supermarket. Really what would you want to take photos of some dodgy broccoli!!
I'm pretty sure I don't walk past a no photography allowed sign at the door, so tough tits. I often take a photo of the label with the price and the name of the thing as I'm taking it into consideration. It's called shopping around. As far as I'm concerned, retailers should be bloody well glad that I'm even standing in their store because recently they are overcharging more, discounting less, and not getting stock in that they have advertised. If I want to take a photo so I can think about my decision I will do so.
I am another one who has actually been told by a staff member to take a photo and send it to my DH, when I was umming and ahhing.
I think if you are in a very small boutique of rare or handmade items then sure, but not in a normal store.
Next time ask them where there policy is for the public to view.
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.
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!
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.
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..?
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!
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.
Taking photos in shops
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In other stores, the sales person has stood with me whilst I took the photo, sent it and then called DH to discuss.
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