Well guys, I did it again: I attracted the wrath of yet another under-occupied mall security guard.

I was taking my new 3D camera (toy) for a walk in the center court of the Stücki shopping mall in Basel, minding my own business when I was approached by someone who apparently had seen Paul Blart: Mall Cop once too often. The guy told me that the mall's management had a problem with guys like me who take pictures inside the mall and made me put away the camera. I asked him for his name, so that I can run a legal check on that (I happen to have minored in media studies and am rather familiar with my picture-taking rights in Switzerland) but he wasn't very keen on providing me with any kind of information other than repeating that the management has a problem with guys like me.

I then told him that in that case, I have a problem with being their customer, gave him a thumbs up and ended our conversation by leaving the premises (for good).

So, if any of you actually end up shopping there (which, according to some recent media coverage, not many people do), make sure you don't use the new camera you just bought in Saturn inside the mall or you'll be making Paul Blart's day.

Sounds like an excellent place for the next Basel Photography Club outing

It sure does :-)

I still didn't go there... I was excited at the idea when it was in construction, but knowing that almost all stores are already existing in downtown Basel, I didn't find the need to go there (which would give me more an headache by public transportation or car)

And also, probably knowing that it will be too expensive anyway...

If at least they came up with something new like Saturn.... but no, all the same stores, same choices....

There actually is a Saturn there - but Saturn is really just Mediamarkt re-branded. Mediamarkt and Saturn belong to the same company

Yeah, I know.

They do have a steak house kind of restaurant there, but with the price of the meat here, I'll believe it comes cheaper just to buy the whole cow instead to go to a swiss steakhouse restaurant...

The only reason I shop there is because of the Stucki Jungle. Childcare while you shop is absolutely worth it. I know there's the Kindernest in Basel town but that's just a pain when you live out of town and come by car.

Weird about the photos though. But hey, you should try taking photos on Novartis campus, now that is a sport (strictly forbidden!)

I understand that a multi-national company with secrets to keep doesn't allow picture-taking. But they also actively keep unwanted people out and thus their company grounds qualify as private ground. Although the Stücki is theoretically private ground, there's the term of "quasi-public" ("Quasi-Öffentlichkeit") that has to be applied here: the Stücki invites people in, doesn't keep anyone from entering, doesn't check people before they come in and doesn't tell you not to take pictures before you come in. Thus, the mall qualifies as public and as such it is perfectly legal to take pictures there, no matter what Paul is saying or the management thinks is permissible or not.

I actually liked shopping there until yesterday, if only for one reason: there hardly ever are any people there so I can browse without being shoved around.
I personally would be more than surprised if the mall didn't go broke after the 5-year leases of all the shops in it are up.

I might even join you.