Posted by Mystery shopping is one of the ways you can earn money online. If you are looking to diversify your earning means, becoming a mystery shopper is worth considering. One advantage of leveraging this opportunity is that it doesn’t require much technical skill from you. This is a plus considering other gigs often need specific skills or expensive equipment.
If you wish to know more about what a mystery shopper does, this article is for you. I will be explaining what mystery shipping is and how you can start earning with it. I will focus on BARE International, a trustworthy mystery shopping platform that pays you to become an evaluator for brevity.
Who Is a Mystery Shopper?
Mystery shipping entails you shopping at one or several locations and reporting back on the overall customer experience. Often, a mystery shopper is hired by a marketing research company or a retailer and becoming one relies solely on your ability to leverage your shopping skills and writing a compelling report.
Some of the tasks you will undergo as a mystery shopper will include reporting on any of the following:
- The treatment you got both in person and on the phone
- Exactly how the in-person and online sales process
- Quality of the merchandise, displays, and Store appearance
How Much Can I Make with Mystery Shopping
There is no set fee for mystery shopping, and as such, each platform will pay you differently for shopping with them. But data from ZipRecruiter shows that the average earning for a mystery shopping side gig is around $20 per hour. Also, Indeed reports average pay of approximately $18.64 per hour. As with every form of work, the amount you earn is dependent on time invested, level of experience, and the company you work for.
That said, dozens of platforms support mystery shopping as an avenue to make money. These platforms partner with businesses and brands in search of honest marketing research. One of such platforms is BARE International. The company has been around for a while. I’ve worked as an evaluator on this platform, and I can assure you that it pays. Over the years, I have worked several gigs with the platform, and I’ve earned handsomely well.
Related article: How to Make Money Online with Jumia in 2022 [Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners].
What is BARE International
BARE International is a market research firm with a global presence. The company is present in over 150 countries and has 50,000 evaluators working with it. It specializes in providing valuable insight by leveraging mystery shoppers to do some research for their partners. The platform is a legit mystery shopping site that will pay you to mystery shop at your pace.
If you are wondering how BARE International makes money, worry no further. The companies make money by providing their clients with research and analysis. This business model is widespread, and it is pretty easy to follow. Thankfully, this platform offers ample information on their partners, and as such, you are sure of getting paid.
Who can use BARE International?
BARE International provides worldwide coverage; hence, it presents a global opportunity to make money. The location limitation is nonexistent as you get offers within the specified area. Also, the only condition to register is for you to be above 18 years of age. Asides from this, anyone can sign up and use the platform for free.
Starting Mystery Shopping with BARE International
To earn with BARE International, you have to sign up as a mystery shopper. The registration process is not complex for most people, but it can be tedious. This is due to a large amount of information that is required. And as such, it takes time to get done with registration. To get started, follow the steps below:
- Navigate the platform BARE International.
- Click on the ‘register as an evaluator’ option
- Provide the necessary information required and click create an account.
- Ensure to select the correct location as well as language
- Verify your account via the email sent to you
- Login to your account and complete your profile settings
When you complete the registration process, you have to take some surveys. These surveys help BARE International generate all the information they need to serve you. Ensure to fill these surveys correctly, as they will help you get more job offers from the platform. Workers on the BARE International platform are known as Evaluators. Upon registration, you become an evaluator and can access your member dashboard.
BARE Jobs
You can search for mystery shopping gigs near you on the Job Board section on the dashboard. Remember, the jobs you get on the board will be related to your selected location. From there, proceed to scroll through the available stores that you can shop. Keep in mind to check the distance from your current location and the reward for shopping with the store.
On BARE International, the platform uses the Euros as its base currency. One fundamental rule I use is never to be swayed by the earnings attached to any shopping. Instead, focus on understanding the requirements as an evaluator. You can read more on the instructions about a gig by clicking on the “more” button. Take your time to read through this and understand it carefully. If you fail to follow the instructions and end up missing a step, your job will be incomplete, and as such, you won’t get a reward for your efforts.
One aspect that separates mystery shopping from other side hustles is that you will sometimes have to purchase the stated products. If you are lucky, you might get gigs where all you do is go to the store, ask a series of questions and report your overall experience. The platform will reimburse you for expenses; you will do well to keep the receipt. This will serve as proof when you request for refund alongside your report (more on this later).
When writing your report, you have to include selfies taken at the stated location as proof, along with a copy of your government-issued ID. Usually, you have to submit your report within 24 hours.
How Much Can You Earn?
As I said earlier, the earning potentials of mystery shopping are limitless. The same is true of BARE International; the more you shop on the platform, the higher your earnings. From my experience, the only outside factor controlling your earnings is your location. That said, BARE International allows you to take up jobs in different areas if you want, even in other countries.
Over my time working with the platform, I have since discovered that the reward might not commiserate to the time spent. In one instance, I had to spend two nights at a hotel with pay of around £100. All in all, if you live in a city with access to partner outlets, you will be able to earn from US$70 to US$150 per month.
Getting Paid
You will get a monetary reward for every shopping activity you perform with the platform. Remember that BARE International uses the Euro as its default currency for most countries. As an evaluator, you get paid monthly; your earnings are calculated and paid on the 16th of every month.
One downside of this platform is that it fails to notify you of the total earnings you’ve made each month. For this, you have to manually keep track via the Shopper’s Log tab on your dashboard. This often means extra work for you, but you should be ready with such an intricate process of fulfilling tasks.
BARE International makes payments globally via bank transfer or PayPal. For shoppers in Canada, you get your money via check.
Reimbursement
If you’ve read up to this point, you’ll notice I’ve been mentioning reimbursement! The reimbursement aspect is one you should keep a close eye on. If you are not careful, you might end up losing rather than making money.
Every shopping gig you take upon the platform has a reimbursement clause. Take your time to read this as you will only get reimbursement a set amount. Thankfully, the job instructions will contain the amount up for repayment so that you will be aware. Just ensure you keep your expenses within the stipulated amount.
How Good Is Customer Support On The Platform?
As excellent as mystery shopping with BARE International sounds, you might have to learn the ropes on how the platform works all by yourself. The website doesn’t have a how-to section; that’s where reviews like this can help you a lot. Although the platform has a Help page, you might not find any meaningful information on it.
As an evaluator, contacting the support team has to be done outside of the member dashboard page; this, for me, is inconvenient. That said, the contact page is on the main website, and you can use it to contact support. How long it takes to get a response might vary, but they generally respond.
Is BARE International Available on Mobile?
The BARE International website is optimized for mobile users, making it helpful for completing jobs. You can access the website and log in to your member page via a mobile browser. On mobile friendliness, I rate the platform high. You also get to perform all the tasks on a desktop version of your mobile device.
Say you have to check instructions on the go; all you need is a mobile device; quite handy, right! You can also submit reports upload photos of receipts and other documents using your mobile device. Most importantly, you can check for available jobs near your current location.
Pros of Becoming a Mystery Shopper with BARE International
- The platform has a global coverage making it possible to earn from any location.
- BARE International provides a flexible payment method, so you need not worry about getting your money.
- The platform has a decent number of partners all over the work. This ensures that there is an availability of shopping gigs to perform.
Cons of Becoming a Mystery Shopper with BARE International
- Your location might limit your earning opportunities.
- Mystery shopping on any platform often requires spending a significant amount of time per job.
- The procedure for registering on BARE International is tedious and intricate.
Is BARE International a Scam or Legit?
I have had time to test the platform; I worked some gigs and earned a few bucks. So I can tell you the BARE International platform is legit, and you will get your money. The company has been around for years and has a good reputation. Your experience on the platform might be different from mine, so I employ you to read instructions carefully.
Alternative Mystery Shopping Platforms
Mystery shopping can be a lucrative side gig if you have the time to complete tasks. You get to enjoy an incredible experience by trying out products and services for clients who are willing to pay you. BARE International isn’t the only platform available to work as a mystery shopper; there are thousands of others. But below are three that I find worthy of trying out:
1. BestMark
BestMark is one of the largest mystery shopping platforms today and has over 600,000 mystery shoppers. The company has been around since 1986, making it one of the oldest in the market research industry. On BestMark, you are known as a field representative or evaluator. Earnings on the platform also depend on the task associated with any gig. But according to Glassdoor, the average hourly rate of being a mystery shopper on the forum is around $20.
2. Service Evaluation Concepts
Service Evaluation Concepts conducts market research for some of the biggest brands in the world. Their partners include Aveda, Cartier, Macy’s, Kroger, and Lego. On this platform, you need to undergo two levels of certification before becoming a brand agent. Becoming a brand agent gives you access to higher-earning work.
If you don’t have time to undergo certification, you can join the platform as a research participant. With this, you can perform mystery shopping activities but not select assignments. Your work will depend on being selected by a SEC project liaison. Service Evaluation Concepts has an average pay rate of around $20 to $80 per assignment. It also provides perks such as meals or products related to the job.
3. IntelliShop
IntelliShop is another alternative you can use as a mystery shopper. They have an impressive collection of partners and pay handsomely for tasks. The platform has a job board that you can use to get details about mystery shopping gigs.
The platform uses a rating score to help evaluators improve their chances of getting rewarding assignments. As a newcomer, you need to get the highest possible rating. With each job you complete, a rating score is generated based on time spent, ability to follow instructions, and your report’s thoroughness.
Conclusion
Mystery shopping is a viable alternative way of earning online, and you can use it to diversify your income portfolio. BARE International provides you with an easy means of becoming a mystery shopper and making money for your efforts. If you’ve carefully read through this piece, then I’m sure you can use this platform. The only catch is for you to take great care in following instructions regarding each task.
There you have it, guys, all you need to know about mystery shopping as means for earning. Drop your comments, questions, and opinions in the comment section, and I will be sure to respond. You may also like to read, These websites will pay you to watch videos online in 2022.
