PC World - rude and threatening

vyle

I think the main reason he stopped you taking photographs was because you may have looked like you were taking a photo of their merchandising, rather than the product.

The other day I was sent by work into my local Currys Digital, boots and a few other shops to see how they laid out the shop floor. Everything from the position and the contents of their ticketing, to how they displayed the products and everything else you can think of. I only snapped one photo very surreptitiously though.

If I was the manager I would have asked you to stop, asked you what you were taking photos of, then offered to get you a print-out of the items you were interested in.

They are within their rights to tell you not to take pictures, though.

biscit

They aren't within their rights to ask for pictures already taken to be deleted.

WelshPaul

The manager prob thought that the OP was taking pictures in order to obtain the Windows License from the sticker located on the computer?

In all fairness it is not uncommon for people to pretend to show an interest in order to obtain this either by written or photographic means.

It's a way for people to steal a genuine copy of windows.

cottager

WelshPaul wrote: »

The manager prob thought that the OP was taking pictures in order to obtain the Windows License from the sticker located on the computer?
In all fairness it is not uncommon for people to pretend to show an interest in order to obtain this either by written or photographic means.
It's a way for people to steal a genuine copy of windows.

This would never have occurred to me!
But now you've mentioned it.... :rotfl:

barvid

He may have thought you were photographing laptops to try to work out a way to defeat the security (that always gets triggered if you so much as touch a key). I agree it was a bit OTT though. If you were photographing the CCTV cameras I'd have stopped you. If you were photographing the merchandise I'd assume you were interested in maybe buying it.

tandraig

my sis owns a bridal shop - and she doesnt allow customers/browsers to photograph her stock. why? because she doesnt want the exclusive designs she sells to be copied.
but PC World??? all you need is the make and model and you can google it! so I dont understand thier problem. or yours - why didnt you just use a paper and pen and write down the make and model? I do that when comparison shopping and NO-ONE has told me to 'put the pen away'!
against that is - you are on their premises and if they say no photography - that is their right. contrary to popular belief - a store is not a public place! and if they want to place restrictions they can.

jamesb1239

I believe its actually to do with the Windows product key stickers stuck to the computers, our PC World and Staples had a problem with this a while ago, people were going in and photographing the code on the Certificate of Authenticity then going home and installing whatever, that way saving a fortune on buying a new copy of windows, the downside being if the person who eventually buys that display model ever tries to input that code after a re-install or something the activation would fail.

UK2010

I wouldn't have taken a photo, afterall it is private property. I would have made a draft text with the details I wanted.

moromir

jamesb1239 makes an excellent point.

Also remember that the laptops are normally chained or locked to the display counters, is it possible it looked like you were photographing this? They might have taken it as a possible attempt to record their security features in order to study them to steal things?

vickyj

i know it is a cliche but the old saying of "two sides to every story" is springing to mind here