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Was taking a picture of a ticket as I was planning to submit it as a deal, Got told to stop or they would get security to escort me out. Is this normal store policy?
Dick Smith Troubles
joshr1pp3r on 12/09/2012 - 22:27
Last edited 12/09/2012 - 22:27
Last edited 12/09/2012 - 22:27
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I look 16 (I'm 19 btw) and i was with my Girlfriend. I doubt it. :/
ahh yes, cos rivals would send in middle aged men in suits……. Not the lowest paid junior worker
Point taken. aha
Maybe they thought you looked like a shoplifter?
I've had the same thing happen at Costco. Was taking pics so I could compare prices later. Staff come over and told me off (happened on 2 separate occasions). On a related note, I also got told off for taking a picture of my dish (not for use anywhere, no flash) at a restaurant due to copyright issues. Some companies are very weird about pictures.
Wouldn't "fair use" a good enough for defence on copyright? Although not sure "so I can post it on OzBargain later" can be counted as fair use.
Wouldn't "fair use" a good enough for defence on copyright?
When you're on private property, they can do what they like…
In fact most shopping centres ban photographs… read the sign on the doors next time you enter…
That's true. If there's a clause banning photographs then I guess that's fine. However I am not sure whether they can call it "copyright issues".
Westfield's terms only say "photography that could annoy, harass or intimidate Westfield staff of customers."
Don't get in anyone's way and you're fine.
You don't have to get in their way for them to be annoyed at you lol
Similar thing happened to me in Bing Lee several months ago while I was taking pics of the TVs with my phone to help a relative, who couldn't make it to the store, see what was available.
I soon hear a lady approaching from behind - "excuse me, excuse me…" - I turn around, and she says, in officious tone, "you can't take pictures here; it's actually illegal".
it's not illegal. next time they say that, ask them "which law am I breaking?"
you could be charged with trespass though if they ask you to leave and you don't.
Thanks for the tip, but the anecdote was intended to convey my amusement at her ignorance.
My sense was she suspected I was working as some sort of "spy" for the competition, as this occured around 10 in the morning on a business day in a largely deserted store, and I often have a pretty purposeful, brisk-walking, get-the-job-done demeanour when shopping :D
Sorry, but I can't imagine Jabba walking briskly and purposefully into Bing Lee
They sell you the camera. What do they expect? Unless it comes with a statement, "Not to be used in a Dick Smith store".
If there is someone around I usually ask first, and never been told no. In fact some people seem quite surprised, and aren't sure why I would ask that.
Trying to stop it is just stupid though. I've done this (actually at Dick Smith) so I could send it to someone who I think will want to buy the product.
Every time you enter private land (i.e shop), you do so with the understanding you consent to any
requirements the property's owner may impose upon you. So if a property's owner (or their
agent) tells you to cease taking photographs, for whatever reason and even if the area is freely
accessible to the public, there is nothing you can do about it. The owner has full power of
veto — put the camera away.Common curtsey would be to ask the staff first.
you consent to any requirements the property's owner may impose upon you.
Well, within bounds. "We insist you commence self-pleasuring in isle 8, otherwise you must leave" probably wouldn't go down well.
Common curtsey would be to ask the staff first.
I usually have sufficient courtesy to curtsey the Queen when she's in town, but there is no way i will curtsey the pimply guy at Dick Smith.
The owner has full power of veto — put the camera away.
If there's a clearly visible sign at the entrance which says "No photo's to be taken in this store" then by entering you are impliedly accepting that as a condition of entry. If you then take photo's then it's merely breach of contract (no point calling the police). Of course no one ever sues for the breach as they need to demonstrate damage (what loss/damage?), so worse case is they'll ban you from the store.
I breach contracts all the time.
For example I refuse to show the contents of my backpack every time i exit a store. Gets some of them very very excited! But those stores i frequent soon get the idea and a don't ask, don't tell policy usually gets implemented. I do get banned every now & again, but a call to the store manager next day usually fixes that.
If it's just for personal use i'd just take the photo, though you might want to be a little more discreet about it.
For example I refuse to show the contents of my backpack every time i exit a store. Gets some of them very very excited!
Next time they ask, just give them your bag closed and don't open it…
They'll ask you to open the bag, and you say no, I'm doing what the sign says and presenting my bag for inspection. Tell them to open it themselves.. Which they most likely wont do…
If they do open it, make sure you tell them that they are responsible for any damage to the contents…
Actually i just decline to show it - BTW i'm mainly thinking of Woolies/Coles (though i do it for all stores) as they're the stores i frequent most to buy food so i don't die.
I do it politely though…the poor buggers at the checkout don't usually have decent training as to what to do.
There has been a couple of court cases triggered by checkout staff checking bags by force - but this is the customer suing the store for the tort of assault (civil thingy - not criminal).
BTW not showing the bag is pretty good training for dealing with situations where someone wants you to do something, but you don't. You know - dealing with group pressure (everyone looking at you) - people getting hot under the collar - that kind of stuff. That is it's practice for when it really matters…
Asking permission to do something so routine, innocuous and trivial would tend toward subservience rather than courtesy. Different story, perhaps, if your intention is to set up your tripod and DSLR in store, or systematically photograph for an extended period.
Shy Dick?
No, dumb Dick.
This is an example of the ridiculous "everyone must be controlled" country we now live in. Really, WHO CARES. You could just sneak back and do it later, get the phone ready and click as you walk past it again, get someone else to do it, go to another store and do it… You could be doing it to remember the price while you go withdraw money from an ATM to buy it, or any number of reasons.
All they've done is created tension and irritation for a customer that probably won't bother coming into their store again because of their attitude. Not only that, but I did a professional sales course years ago. One of the things they said was, a satisfied customer may only tell a few people he knows. A dissatisfied one tells every one of them.
Oh - and one day they'll say it to the wrong person. They're lucky they didn't say it to ME. With the control-freaks interfering in my life atm, I'd cause such an uproar in their store they'd wish they'd never opened their big mouth over something so petty.
This seems to be more an idiot staff member overstating their importance than a store-side policy. I've taken photos of prices when I've been too lazy to write down the price and never had a problem. Dont really see any issue with it, and certainly haven't done it in any shops that have "no photos" as a condition of entry.
In this case, I'd be ringing the stoe manager and talking to them about the unprofessional (perhaps agressive) and over-the-top attitude of their staff. A photo never hurt anyone (besides Kevin Carter)
After I was told this, I had all the members of the store watching me like a hawk. So no it wasn't one person.
I have been challenged at a Harvey Norman when I was taking a photo. So I asked if he could give me a paper and a pen so I could write down the prices. The salesman, being too lazy, just said ok to continue taking the photos.
Do the check your mind before you leave the store, in case you memorised the prices ?
Anyway, aren't all their prices on their website these days? Why would a competitor bother going to the store?
Either way its not illegal you just have to do what they ask.
Take all the photos you want before they ask you to stop and then don't go back in there and do the same thing too soon.
Private property, they can (and have the legal power) to remove you from the premises.
However, they can't make you delete the photos.
they can (and have the legal power) to remove you from the premises.
Very risky though - reasonable force standard - if they breach this: assault.
However if asked to leave, you should leave, not just because it's the smart thing to do, but because you should respect their private property rights.
You'd have a hard time getting Dick out of bed for that. What with him being nonexistant and all.
Just put the phone to your ear and act like you are talking on the phone. Keep your finger on the snap button and go nuts while you are doing a slow walk. Soon you will become pro enough to take good photos discreetly.
Lol if they told me to do that i'd open notepad on my phone and type the prices down and be like "HAPPY NOW??"
perhaps assumed you were a rival?