BARE INTERNATIONAL Mystery Shopping review: Unethical Practices / Scam 46

I worked with Bare International and had no problems with them. I had some very interesting assignments and they were with good quality clients. I made more per job with them than most of the other mystery shop companies (I was registered and worked with over a dozen). I think many people get into mystery shopping thinking they are going to make a load of money and get a bunch of free stuff. It just doesn't work that way. But if you are good and quick at writing narrative reports plus enjoy making a little extra cash in between errands, this might work for you. They disclose everything upfront and you know what you're getting paid on a job before you sign up for it.

I have worked with Bare International on several occasions and have always found them to be understanding, respectful, and very professional. If I have ever had a question or issue, I simply have asked and it was resolved right away. Mystery Shopping is a great industry to be a part of and I always get "free stuff" when I do a shop. I find this complaint to be far fetched.

The issue here seems to be a mystery shopper who doesn't proofread. A company or anyone else can only respond to that which you write down. If they had printed in their job stats that an assignment paid $30.00 and then you got a check for $25.00 because someone didn't proofread their work who would be at fault? Not proofreading and spellchecking will cost you a lot more than $2.00 in the future - you better learn to do it now! I came on this blog while I was/am getting ready to accept an invitation to join their company - your reputation follows you!

I have been shopping for BARE as well as another two dozen shopping companies for four years. I have never had a report refused, any payment deducted from shops or any other problem. All schedulers and editors have been cooperative and helpful with any problems I may have had in the beginning. All shop requirements, fees, reimbursements and required expenditures are disclosed up front before you accept a shop. During my time mystery shopping I have learned what assignments are worth my time and which aren't. As a mystery shopper you are an independent contractor and in total charge of your work schedule and assignments. I take only those that I would normally spend money on or that average $10 an hour. Do your homework, plan well and you can make a little money while deducting your mileage for everyday shopping. Personally I get tired of people bashing the good companies such as BARE International while giving money to scam artists that charge you to look at job boards.

I also work with Bare International and have had nothing but the best support from them! On one occasion I inadvertently shopped at the wrong store and they still paid for it as the information I had been given was a bit misleading.
I don't do mystery shopping to get rich. I do it because I enjoy it and because I believe it helps consumers (including me) to have a better shopping experience. I appreciate getting my expenses covered and the 'free stuff' is just a bonus.
Not all shops are $5-$15. I have had a $50 shop where the merchandise that I was allowed to purchase (and be reimbursed for) was $250. No one can say that is small potatoes.

I have been a shopper with Bare International for over 5 years and I have found them to be the best of all the mystery shopping companies I'm with. I have never once had an issue with pay, in fact it has always been timely and automatic. You always have a choice which shops you accept, but I find them to be really rewarding! The reports don't take long to fill out if you are literate and creative. The turnaround is not prohibitively tight and even so, on the very few occasions when I've had a technical issue like a broken scanner, I have written the project manager and they have gladly given me an extension to the deadline. I've gotten to keep free jewelry, dinners, jeans, drinks out and even got a free round trip ticket to another country PLUS a hefty amount of pay on top considering it took less than an hour to fill out my report. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but a fun and interesting way to pick up a little bit of extra cash, treat yourself and sometimes a friend as well. Plus I feel I make a difference, especially if I'm able to report either exceptional or sub-par service.

We have just had a visit to one of our stores from a Bare snooper. Our other store received a snooper phone call. What a croc. The comments made were contradictory, misrepresentative, inaccurate, and sometimes just downright lies. One snooper, for example, said that the salesperson never gave them her name. In another part of their report, she said she did give her a name. If you're doing this job to make $5.00-$15.00 per shop, you must be used to doing your own shopping at WalMart or Target. What in the world would you possibly know about a high end store that sells products that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. You snoopers are just out of your class, and Bare has no business hiring people who could give a rip about the impact your inaccurate reporting has on someone's job. Our sales associates receive gifts and thank you notes from our customers raving about our customer service. Yet, one of you comes in and makes untrue derogatory remarks about something you see for a fraction of a day out of many years in business. The company you were rating for, Pandora Jewelry, wants their stores to be pushy, aggressive, cheesy, and ask customers for personal information that is frankly none of their business. Please, go get a real job.

I have done a few shops for Bare. I do not think it is a scam. If something doe not work for you, you should move on. I find Bare a bit complacent; expecting a higher standard of their shoppers than their own standard; slow to respond.
That's OK; but a bit ironic considering the line of business they are in.

To Nonmous:

I believe you are missing the point. I am not employed by Bare. I am the store that was reviewed. My problem is not only with the quality of the snoopers, but with a company like Pandora Jewelry that is trying to mico-manage every aspect of the stores to whom they sell. I can understand a store like Macy's or another large department store wanting a report on how their employees are doing. But Pandora does not own our small high end store. We just sell their product. Yet they try to tell us how to run our business. They give us a list of over 20 things we are supposed to do when selling a Pandora product. One of them is asking customers what their "unforgettable moment" was so we can sell them a charm that will remind them of that moment. How cheesy. And really none of anyone's business. What if my unforgettable moment was the first time I had sex with a guy? Is that really any business of the employee? What charm should I then be pushed to buy, a large silver penis? You can see how ridiculous this could get. Please, Bare snoopers, just stay out of the stores that sell Pandora. We are doing just fine without you.

To Mad Hornet
Actually, my comment was directed at Rahakim, the complainant.
Now that I am here I will mention that your issue does not seem to be with "Bare snoopers" but with Pandora.
Glad you are doing fine.
Me too.

Actually, my issue is with both Pandora and Bare. It seems that Bare does not adequately screen their snoopers. If you don't live in the world of the affluent, shop in those shops on a regular, have no marketing experience, no merchandising experience, no retail experience, no travel experience, no college education, etc, how could you possibly judge a high end store where affluent shoppers go? You are biased before you walk in the door and are supposed to make judgements about things with which you have no experience. The report is thus meaningless and offensive.

@Mad Hornet - It seems as though for someone working with so many affluent people, you are completely lacking decorum and are void of any class. I would be embarrassed to have someone who speaks the way you do in a public forum representing my company. If I was representing Pandora Jewelry, I would find out which locations being shopped the first two weeks of March 2011 received negative reports. I would contact that location and share this thread with them and respectfully ask that you be reprimanded for the way you are handling yourself here.

I and a scheduler and have met many Mystery Shoppers in the last decade, and I would choose every single one of them to work for my company before giving you a second thought. If bitterness and vulgarity equates to "doing fine", I suppose I'll be perfectly content being just OK!

Your post just proved my point. You obviously not only don't understand retail or the affluent shopper, you have been content with scheduling "Leave it to Beaver" shoppers as well. If you were offended by my post, please don't go to anything but "G" rated movies. You will be highly offended in a very public place.

Is it me or are some people on this board just people from Bare trying to big-up their duff company?

At least some of you have been paid. I'm waiting on $200+ and they no longer respond to emails.

Absolute unprofessional scam-artists.

I am a mystery shopper with bare international & several other mystery shopping companies too.
I genuinely have following complain with Bare International & would like to warn people of their irresponsible behavior towards the shoppers.

1. The pay is very minimal as compared to the other mystery shopping companies.
2. Their report is unduly long & elaborative.
3. Everytime you mystery shop for them & they would find 100 errors in your report, however genuinely, you have filled their reports.
4. All the other companies, in cases of doubts or disconnect would call you & confirm the details & rephrase the things if they feel is required but the members of Bare would try to exclude your reports on maximum grounds possible. Once you have sent the report & the receipt to them, they will tell you that your report is excluded & will not pay you.
5. 70% of the times, they will find reasons for not paying you but will fetch the receipt & report from you & would present it to the company & will fill their own pockets.

I have found this company very unethical to work with & I am hugely disappointed. So, shoppers!please be aware!

I read all the comments for the Bare above & realized how blatantly they talk & how offended they are by the shoppers comments. It is only when somebody gets cheated they take out time & write their bitter experiences about the company. The Bare people should have taken that on a positive note rather & tried resolving the matter with the individual rather than taking it so furiously. Look at their language & the way they are offending themselves. That itself shows the level of maturity the team has for the shoppers. Once their work is done, they would shamelessly talk blatant about the poor shoppers. What a pity, Bare!

Please check on your language & have some decorum & act like a matured company. Only because you have cheated & acted rude with some shoppers, they have to be on the forum to tell their bitter part. Be sympathetic rather than being a dacoit of useless kind!

Hello everyone,

Yes there was a scam that went around for quite awhile and there is still a chance of it re-occurring. If you ever have any questions regarding Bare whether it be assignments, payment issues, emails, etc. please contact me directly at jbare@bareinternational.com or [protected] and ask for Jason Bare.

As the Business Development Manager at BARE International I would like to respond to your comments regarding BARE. We appreciate you signing up with BARE and we hope that we can work with you in the near future. Unfortunately one concept that we have learned from this industry is that “we” are all very quick to document negative experiences we have and don’t spend time to praise companies when they deserve it. We understand that there are some negative comments on the web, however we have over 500, 000 evaluators who work for us worldwide so we can’t look specifically at the negative comments.

From our studies about 95% of the time evaluators don’t receive their payments is due to evaluator errors (typing their address or bank information incorrectly, not updating their mailing address when they move, not completing reports or confirming we received their reports, etc.) The other 5% is the transportation of the check therefore we strongly recommend evaluators sign up for direct deposit after they have received their first check from BARE.

Should you or anyone have any questions, concerns, issues, etc. please don’t hesitate to contact Jason Bare at [protected] x3158 or jbare@bareinternational.com

@ Bare international business development officer - Do you have an employee by the name of Richard Santiago with an email address of Rsantiago@bareinternational.com?

@ CMB Dragon. Yes we do. Can we assist you with something?

Hello everybody, @ and Jason Bare, in my humble opinion, it was an internal issue, should not have been brought out in other forums . Jason Bare has made himself available, pls kindly close this thread and any issues or problems regarding Bare International and its clients, pls kindly direct all your queries . Thanks . Cordially yours, Rudyanto, translator in Bali tweeter @translatorbali

I have been with Bare International for more than two years, I have found this company very trustworthy and treated the mystery shoppers and clients fairly . pls kindly bring internal issues to Bare International directly and everything can be settled amicably . Best regards, Rudyanto, mystery shopper in Bali.

BEWARE! I worked with Bare since 2009 and will NO LONGER work with them. They complained and DID NOT PAY my last two jobs with them and all shops and reports were done according to the job requirements they posted. I followed the hours, what to do and filled out the reports to the best of my knowledge.
I worked on and off for them in the last three years but have not been happy. The last one, I did it, sent the long report that took me more than half hour to answer with pictures of receipts and all. They ACCEPTED, EVEN sent me an email with the amount they were paying for reimbursement - less pay of what was originally set. I sent an email back saying they should pay what was on the offer and also VERIFIED that the pay and acceptance WAS on my board and made peace with the big discount reimbursement they posted there, just to find out 10 days later that it was scratched it off, a note saying that they had send me emails about my report missing 2 explanation to two negative answers and that they had sent me an email, which I actually did not receive. AND that the shop was back at the board if I wanted to do another one again at the same location. I AM NOT TO WORK FOR FREE. BEWARE. This way they might do 100 or so shops for free. I just deactivated my account. A good company is turning into a crook? THAT WAS WRONG! I deactivated my account, other agencies as Goodwin and Associates are more respectful and out of CROCKERY!

I agree with the above post. I have had trouble getting my last two checks from them. The first time was my fault (moved and didn't change my address). This second time they're trying to CHARGE me $30 to stop payment on a lost check! Gwen (the person in charge of payments) takes days to get back to you via email. If you call, she talks very very slow and I don't think she's "all there". It took several tries at explaining before she understood what my problem was. Ridiculous. I have been a mystery shopper for 8 years and NEVER had a problem being paid on time. I emailed Jason Bare at the above address and will update if he responds. I do have to say that my scheduler (LaTanya Green) has tried to go above and beyond to help me. She's wonderful!

I forgot to add that I just read the very fine print in my profile that read they will allow up to ONE check to be sent before asking for my bank information again. Direct deposit would be great but maybe my check was never sent because of this policy. It's a shame because I LOVED the assignments I completed for them and always got high grades on the completed ones.

Jason responded and was no help whatsoever. To charge someone a $30 fee so they can receive their check for work done is unfair. It shows that they don't value their shoppers one bit. I will continue working for IntelliShop, Secret Shopper, Insula Research and others I certainly don't need Bare. I did enjoy the shops I did for them though.

I am a full time mystery shopper. It is what I do to pay my rent and bills. I am registered with over 100 companies and have done work for over 80. While Bare is not one of the companies that I work with often, I have enjoyed their shops. They pay when they say they are going to and they have always been up front about what is expected on each shop. They pay more than most companies for similar shops and I have never been unable to resolve an issue with them on the first contact. I would do more work for them if they had more clients in the areas that I normally shop.

For those who get into mystery shopping as a way to make a quick buck, check your attitude at the door. It is a job and that means there is some work involved. While I might get paid $15 to go to a grocery store, if I am doing my shopping there anyway, I just got $15 worth of free groceries for doing a report! If I get $200 to do a video shop, it is because I invested the $750 in the equipment and took the time to learn how to use it. I take a $2 phone shop because I can do it while I am checking my email. I take a reimbursement only dinner shop because I am going to be in that area and will need to eat anyway. Check the information about what the shop requires before accepting it and if you have any concerns, ask you scheduler! No one is getting rich off of having to do the accounting and paperwork required to cut a check instead of doing a direct deposit. They are probably actually losing money if they only ding you $2.

Think of the time you spend keeping your records and then multiply that by the number of shoppers they might have on their boards. then they have to sell your service to the clients and have someone edit your reports and do quality checks. They do not have a great profit margin. If you cannot input your deposit information correctly, then what else do you improperly submit?

I was working as a Mystery Shopper for this company in Mexico. After I carefully read the information and provided my bank information for a direct deposit, I was sent a check in dollars. In Mexico, it is impossible to cash a check like this. I was contacted and asked to provide PayPal information, which I did. Now this company is refusing to pay me through Paypal, since they already sent BAD checks!
What a scam!

I am in the same boat with Bare. I read the guidelines for the shop, and followed them. They are now refusing to pay me, because of something that was not listed on the guidelines. Why have them then if they are going to make stuff up and not pay you? I am not going to work with them again. I drove 30 minutes to get to a shop, and they are not paying me b/c my "scenario" is not what they wanted. Meanwhile, I followed exactly what I was supposed to do on the guidelines. I don't have all the time in the world to do shops, and I hate wasting my time and my gas. I know they are going to submit this to the company. They are scammers!

Lucky for you it is only $2.00, I was charged $30.00 per check!

As with every other company in any other field, there will always be people who have negative experiences as well as positive ones. But as a Bare shopper (I'm NOT a snooper because I deal directly with employees rather than digging through the trash or their wallets/purses), I only apply for assignments that pay what I feel is commensurate with the work required. It is no one's fault but your own if you agree to do a job and then decide the money offered for its proper completion is not enough for it to be worth your while. I have never had a problem with Bare that hasn't been resolved by communicating in a respectful manner with a scheduler or accounting employee. If the person who has an issue with Pandora is the one responsible for deciding what product lines their store carries, then they need to discuss their concerns with Pandora. And if they are not, then they should approach the person in their company who IS responsible for it. Pandora has a right to expect their products to be presented in a specific way, and they are not the only company who expects sales people to follow a script. But this is NOT something in Bare's control...they simply provide the questions that the shopper needs to answer based on what the business (ie. Pandora, etc) wants to know. That's why Bare (and every other MSC) has different questions for each company for which they offer assignments. As for the deductions from Bare's payments, all I can say is I've never had a problem with receiving a full payment (for multiple assignment in a pay period, NOT each individual job) and I've moved 4 times in the 4 years I've been working for them.

I have performed many assignments for Bare and never had a problem. But recently I signed up for a shop whereas the client set up the shop and the scheduler gave the log in information to me to schedule it. But when I could not log on for some reason it got ridiculous & time-consuming so I cancelled the shop because "it was too much of it", as my mother used to say. The scheduler sent me an email that stated that I would be penalized by dropping my rating to a 3 (previously it was a 9). I found out from another source that the password that they gave me was incorrect. This is unfair but then a lot of things in life is unfair!

I have worked with Bare international for about 8 to 9 years and it has be hassle free. Payments were processes within promised time as pwr website. Details have always been specified before assigning.

I've done one mystery shopping for a Pandora outlet in Auckland, New Zealand with Bare International. They did not pay me! They've got so many excuses and keep on pointing that I should have this and that... They're just bunch of scammers!

Bare International is a joke and scam.

They posted for a mystery shopper to get pictures of a menu board for a fast food company. I took multiple pictures and then had to narrow down to just 5 as that is all the space BI gave to submit photos of multiple menu boards.

Several days later I get a reply we denied as some prices were cut off. I replied back and said no and pointed out if you look at photo labeled top left that was submitted and the one that says bottom left and match them up the prices you are talking about are overlapped in both photos along with the product above-below it so this is false and you have the prices as they are not cut off.

I get a second reply in which they don't a dress the first reason why denied but told in the last photo that the picture was not clear. Again, I laugh as looking at the picture on my tiny cell phone screen the price and calorie count is very sharp and clear. I explain this and how the prices and/or calorie count are right on the edge of the boarder. Even when I zoom in on the photo the numbers are very precise and readable in which usually if you zoom in this is not the case.

I get a third reply in which I am told yes your photos are clear and readable you don't have the boarder of the menu included. What a joke as again I explain it is in the pictures--the numbers back up to the boarder. I explain once again how they back up to it and there is nothing besides numbers at the edge. This menu board is huge--though they don't know it as the have nit seen it in person.

Bare International asked for pictures of a menu board with prices showing clearly up to the boarder. I sent exactly this (keep in mind the boarder is black and taking pictures the outer part of pictures usually defaults to black. The boarder is not another color like red where you can tell in a photo where a red boarder ends and the outer part of a picture begins.

What is the shameful is the fact that I am disabled and took the time and energy while in pain to get this done. I submitted exactly what was asked for. Had more spaces been available I would have submitted even more photos and broken down the board into say thirds where a person can get a closer view (photo) of the board.

The fact comes down to they do not want to compansate as promised for doing the service they required. The first deny saying prices were cut when I say no and tell them look and match up bottom left and top left and you have an entire board they can not deny that in fact they got what was asked for. When they again deny with saying well we can't read the prices in tbis picture as it cut off and I point out this is listed to the edge of the menu board and it is all clear on a phone again they don't dispute what I said. So they try and go a third route in saying the boarder is missing --and oh yeah there is not a picture of the entire board. Again I point out the fact that the menu goes right to the edge and that they offer very little slots to give photos of a menu board that has multiple boards. If mutiple boards are involved, then give the ability to download multiple pictured instead of making it hard to complete a job.

Bottom line---the job was done completely and in full and as exactly asked for this company. This company just doesn't want to reimburse for what was done and cones up with a new excuse every time..

Fraud of a company

I too have shopped with many other companies. My complaint with BARE is their method of payment. I refuse to give this company access to my bank account. I refuse to shop for companies that only pay with direct deposits. This is the only company I have found that insists on this method of paying shoppers. PayPal, Checks, all good. Direct Depositing...NOT. I don't know these people and refuse to trust them by allowing them into my banking.
There are many shopping companies that to work for that won't get into your private banking.
Also, I have tried to contact customer service to discuss this and every time I receive a webpage telling me that the page I am trying to open is not available. That also throws up warning signs. I have better things to do with my time than to chase after this company for information. This is an indication of how it will be to work with them on a shop when you are in the field with a question and need immediate help.
I am spamming their emails for the reasons stated above.

I have done work for Bare International for years. When there was a slight hiccup when they moved their payment system to Tipalti, my scheduler ensured that there were no issues, and I have always received payment in full. No independent contractor has an Independent Contractor Agreement shoved down their throat. Don't like the contract, then don't contract with the company. Don't like one of the terms in the contract? Then don't contract with the company. Feel that you have been shorted on your pay? Then don't contract with the company.

This sounds like a shopper who could not follow directions, did not communicate effectively with their scheduler on the issues at hand, has a piss poor attitude, and is now trying to smear the company as a result of their own failings.