I was at an upmarket supermarket yesterday.
While shopping around, I saw a bottle of maple syrup that my cousin gave me. He has gotten it free and probably didn't know how much it costs. I flipped out my mobile phone to take a picture of the price to show him how expensive it is.
"What are you doing? What are you doing" a staff asked in a slightly raised voice as he moved a step towards me. He was stocking up the shelf two steps away from me when he saw what I did.
Oh oh... did I just did something that is not permitted? I don't remember seeing any sign that taking photos are not allowed.
I quickly explained that I'm just taking a picture of a product to show my cousin without elaborating further.
The staff probably realized that he was quite rude in his tone and tried to explain his reaction.
"I saw you carrying this recycle bag and I thought you are from there," he said while pointing to the bag with the competitor's logo on it.
"Don't worry, I'm not a spy from any competitor," I replied. No one likes to be suspected.
I was taken aback why this guy even entertain the idea that I am sent by a competitor to check out on their prices. If I were sent by a competitor, why would I take the photo right in front of him carrying a recycle bag with the competitor's logo? And is there a need for me to check out their pricing this way?
In fact, this supermarket target the more well-to-do customers. They are found mostly in shopping centers and city area and often stock fresh produces and many imported products. Thus their prices are also more expensive. Their customers are probably less price sensitive.
With the prevalent use of camera phone nowadays, can businesses still prevent people from snapping photos anywhere anytime? They can put up signs and stop people from doing so when they see it happening. They may want to prosecute the case and make police report. But the fact remains it's remotely possible to do so.
More importantly, if a competitor is out to steal your idea (not just pricing), there are thousands and one ways to do so. But this does not mean you welcome your competitors with open arms. Could the way to prevent it from being stolen by your competitors is to share it?
By the way, would you react the same way the staff did? Will you get paranoid if you see a customer snapping away in your shop? What will you be thinking? Is this person checking out my pricing?
Despite being positioned as a higher-class supermarket, why did the staff still think that its customers are still shopping based on price?