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Why can I not take pictures in your store?
When on a tour at a local Whole Foods Market I was told I couldn't take pictures with my iPhone in your store. I like to take pictures and document my trips, posting them on sites like Flickr and Brightkite but also distribute them to the group members via Facebook after most trips. I want to know why I wasn't allowed to take pictures in your store. Is there something that Whole Foods has to hide?
I’m confused
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Inappropriate?BTW. I was simply taking pictures of the group in the store, not of any particular items, food preparation, etc.
I understand it's your right to tell people not to take pictures in your store but I feel that it is very bad public relations. -
Inappropriate?Hi there bjtitus,
Thanks for your question. I certainly understand how this may have been frustrating. However for competitive reasons we do not allow photography in our stores. I apologize if you were inconvenienced in any way by this policy.
1 person says
this answers the question
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This answers the question
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Thanks for the quick response. However, I feel that this policy is extremely problematic for your stores.
I don't quite understand how disallowing customer photography can be for "competitive reasons" as any serious competitor could find ways to sneak in a camera or simply collect data in other ways without the need for pictures.
I have not been in a Whole Foods Market since this incident and am especially avoiding them because of this policy. I hope you will seriously reconsider your stance on the issue so that the beautiful aspects of your stores can be shared through photography. -
Inappropriate?This is very bad PR in my opinion and makes me want to avoid the store all together. My fiance blogs her photos for the same purpose and actually brings more business to stores this way. There are hardly any stores that do this from our experiences.
If a competitor wanted to get the Whole Foods store setup, they could easily pose as a customer or even sneak in a hidden camera. This should be brought up with corporate, as customers such as my fiance cater to hundreds of daily visitors that listen closely to her opinion.
I’m irked
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Inappropriate?I just surfed into this website, getsatisfaction.com, and started browsing around...and this is the first thing I looked at...
well, while I'm not one to take pictures in a store, I feel it's a public place, and pictures should be allowed.
Anyway, we don't have a whole foods near us, but if one ever comes, I'll be sure NOT to shop there, because, you never know, I might see something of interest to photograph, and I surely would not want to upset anyone there...
good luck
I’m confused
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This reply was removed on 11/29/08.
see the change log -
According to the Whole Foods Representative this is not the case. Also, it's one thing for a casual photographer in the store to be asked to leave after a customer complaint and quite another to have a strict no tolerance policy.
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Inappropriate?I think protecting the privacy of other patrons would be a better reason. My wife was in a store one time (not Whole Foods) and this jerk came right up to her and took a picture with his cell phone. His dirt bag explanation was that he likes taking pictures of hot babes.
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Inappropriate?This is a case where that customer should have been thrown out after you accused him of taking inappropriate pictures. However, this policy shouldn't be a guilty until proven innocent scenario but rather the opposite. People should be allowed to take pictures unless they are affecting the security or comfort of other store patrons.
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Inappropriate?Why the hell would you want to take pictures in a grocery store, that is soo stupid, get a freaking life
I’m thinking this is the stupidest post
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This answers the question
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Maybe because you enjoy photography. Why the hell would you waste time looking for stupid posts only to respond with critical answers (answer having to sign up for an account just to post)? Get a freaking life yourself.
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