It's not really a 'real" situation for the punters either. You are surrounded by studio lights, boom mikes, cameras, igns saying "filming for the apprentice", people waving disclimer forms in your face for you to sign before you can even have your picture taken etc etc. You know exactly what is going on, an you know that you might be on telly. You may not want to appear rude or miserable. Besides, it may be 15.99- but it's proof you met the apprentices etc etc.

Quote from Simon from the end of his exit interview:

"I've put a lot of Amstrad sky boxes in people's houses, and some of them actually work..."

I did think it was a rip off, considering that decent photo paper isn't that expensive. They should have learnt how to have processed in the back office properly.

Do that actually point out that they are filming for The Apprentice?

I'm sure I read somewhere that when they went round negotiating the best prices for a list of items they weren't allowed to mention the show. Assume that principle would apply for the other tasks also.

I agree it's shoddy to produce it on A4 rather than quality photo print. However, the nature of the task means, that despite footfall, there is a limit to how many people can be photographed (ie takes about 2 mins to take photo), so to recoup the £500.

Also Sralan/ the BBC knows that you guys may moan on here but none of you will actually complain....

If people are thick enough to pay £15 for that, let them.

I think if it was a ordinary portrait photo then a lot more people would complain but, they were having their picture taken with "David Beckham" so although they may have been disappointed with the quality they handed over the cash. If I'm honest in that situation I probably would have paid the money as well.

I wouldn't have paid for a photograph on paper like that. I'm amazed that SAS didn't pull them up about that (assuming he knew about it - wouldn't Nick have let him know)? To be honest, it was pretty disgraceful, but if people are willing to pay, more fool them.

No way would I have paid up

Mind you if your child had just had a photo taken with his fav footballer lookalike and started whinging you might just to keep the peace. But I would have been fuming and complained to Bluewater Management team

Its not so easy to complain when you have eager children desperate for their Beckham photo! Rather be ripped off than disappoint them.

But it is still a rip off.

Perhaps Sralan wasn't too upset about it as he's not exactly famous for quality products himself! As long as it looks okish, it'll do!

This post has given me a right fit of the giggles

That just makes the rip off even worse. It's like using the children as emotional blackmail. Bottom line is, they were ripping people off.

Ok, I rewatched the programme and the narrator is very clear "STANDARD a4 paper" was used.

I am flabbergasted.

Even you average Lakeside shopper weighed down with a load of unused neurons and a shell suit surely should have realised that some dull-coloured photo on flimsy, easily-torn, paper is not worth £15?

Perhaps they didn't get a chance to feel the product?

Never mind the quality... feel the width!

I'm not sure which team used the A4 paper. I think it was Helene's. Well the Beckham lookalike was good so maybe that's why, but I think both teams customers had to hang around for quite a bit before the pictures were completed.

How much was Simon's team charging? I don't know how near both teams were to each other but Simon's team had an uphill task competing against a Beckham lookalike.

Yes it was Helene's team that used "standard" A4 paper, which according to the narration was something to do with Lucinda's shortcomings.

If I offered them an A4 printout, I would have at least taken their email addresses to send them a digital copy. Scandalous.