Navigating the Bare International Website

Sometimes, websites are intimidating and confusing most especially when there are so many links to click. However, the Bare International Website is very user-friendly even your grandmother can navigate it.

Here's how:

After creating an account and verifying it by clicking the link on the email that was sent to you, you need to log on by accessing the website thru bareinternational.com.

At the top right corner of the website, click on sign in.

A pop up will show asking you to choose being a client and an evaluator.  Click on Evaluator.

Another window will appear with the following url:
https://www.baidata.com/shoppers/LoginShopper.norm.php. Bookmark this on your computer so that you won't have to type it again the next time you go to this website. Key in your email address and password.

You will be directed to the Shop Log page where at the top right corner of the page, alongside the Shop Log tab, you will see the My Profile tab, My Apps tab, Job board tab and Help tab. We will tackle each tabs as we go along this post.

SHOP LOG TAB

The top part of the page is focused on the shopper's profile. You will see a link where you can change your status if ever you don't want to be active for the meantime. You will also see links which you can click to update your profile. You can also use this page to refer some friends and to check your referred friends.

The lower part is dedicated to the shops that are assigned to you. This part is where you will see all the information important for you to complete the assignment. You will also see here your score once your survey has been reported and reviewed.

MY PROFILE TAB

If you remember the page where you put in all your information upon signing up, this is that part. It contains all the information and the privacy policy. You just go here if there are information that you would like to update,

MY APPS TAB

This is the page where you can see the status of the assignments that you have applied to. I've copied the information from the website and it is very important to follow these rules:

IMPORTANT! DO NOT perform any shop unless it has a status of 'Assigned to You!' 
This page lists applications which must be approved before the shop is assigned to you.
ALSO IMPORTANT!Go to your Shop Log to view shops assigned to you directly 
(this page only displays shops that you had to apply for)
STATUS EXPLANATIONS
  * Assigned to you This shop has been assigned to you - view it in your Shop Log.
  * Pending The scheduler has not assigned this shop to a evaluator yet (please do NOT ask the schedulers on the status of pending shops).
  * Closed 
   (not shown) Shops assigned to other evaluators are removed from this page.

JOB BOARD TAB

This page is where you check and apply to available shops that need to be visited.

There's a Classic Job board link there which you can also click if you want to narrow down the shops according to the country, state or a specific zip code.

HELP TAB

If you click this page, you will be directed to another window that will instruct you to check out the FAQs on the main Bare International website.

So there. I'm sure you will be a pro in navigating the website. It takes time, of course but don't you worry. You'll get there. *wink

All pictures are courtesy of Bareinternational.com

How to sign up as a Mystery Shopper thru Bare International

Bare international is the first mystery shopping company that gave me my first opportunity to become a mystery shopper. Their platform is very easy to navigate. I just received my very first payment (Yeeey!) from them thru paypal. If you want to become their mystery shopper too..

Here's how:

Log on to http://www.bareinternational.com/

There will be a pop-up instructing you to choose your area. Just click on where you are located or the language you prefer.

It will direct you to the previous page but you will notice that the url has changed. Click on EVALUATOR SIGN UP.

Another tab will appear. It will instruct you again to select your preferred language.

After that, it will instruct you to enter your email address. It is very important that you enter a email that you always check because they always send updates thru email. Also, you should enter the same email you are using for paypal.

Then, you will be asked for your country.

After choosing your country, you will be directed to a page where the Evaluator Agreement is. It is imperative that you read through the agreement before you sign up to protect yourself and for the company to protect itself from any future legal issues. Everything you need to know is there.

Below the Agreement is where you can input your information. Your email address will be your log in name and you will be asked to choose a password.

You might wonder what an MSPA code is. Apparently, mystery shopping is not just a hobby. You can get certified thru the Mystery Shopping Providers Association or MSPA. You'll just have to undergo rigorous trainings like scuba diving, target shooting, combat skills, detonating a bomb.. Nah. Im just kidding. They have a certification program if you want to take mystery shopping to another level. For a fee of course. Just check out their website: http://www.mspa-global.org/en/

I think the MSPA certified shoppers get more jobs and have a higher pay than those who are not certified. I'm just not sure.

You will be asked for a referral code if you were referred by a mystery shopper friend. This is usually the shopper code of the mystery shopper who referred you. You will also be asked for the zip codes where you are willing to do a visit. However, there will be shops outside those zip codes that you can visit if you apply.

At the bottom of the page will be the privacy policy. You also need to read this to be better equipped with regard to the website.

If you agree to the Evaluator Agreement and the Privacy Policy, hit on Sign Me Up.

If you were not able to answer those questions with the asterisks or star sign, you will see an error message which will prompt you to key in your password again and accomplish those fields that you were not able to complete.

A page will come up saying that an introductory email was sent to your email address to confirm verify your email address. You should be able to click on the link on the email that you received from Bare International. If you were not able to receive it, check your spam or bulk mail.

On the same page, you will also be requested to fill out additional fields which would help you get chosen for the shops where you will apply.

You will also be asked about gadgets  and other technological devices that you own.

Moreover, you will also be asked about vehicles you currently have. This will determine if you are suited for those visits requiring knowledge about cars and other vehicles.

If you're that not into cars, then you can still be assigned shops depending on your hobbies, skills, the restaurants where you usually eat, the place where you always spend your leisure time etc. Just make sure that you fill out these fields:

Of course, everyone would like to be paid for the services that they've rendered so don't forget to complete the following fields:

If you're outside the USA and Canada, Bare International prefers to pay thru Paypal. Just key in your email address that you're using for paypal.

There are special considerations for mystery shoppers who are from different countries.

After accomplishing all the fields on this page, hit on Save changes. You would see a confirmation that your information has been saved. You may also want to check your email to verify the email address before completing all these fields.

Happy shopping! :)

Mixing business with pleasure 2 (How to become a successful Mystery Shopper)

Mystery shopping has given me the opportunity to travel to places I've never been before while earning. I actually thought that I finally had found what I was looking for. Every visit has become an adventure. However, one of the facts in life is to have a balance in everything. Yin and Yang, hot and cold, adventures and misadventures.

Although I mentioned that I get to travel while earning, don't expect much on the earning part. You will earn if you're able to plan ahead. Remember lesson number 1. Be prepared. Plan ahead. Have a budget and stick to it.

This is the part where the misadventure but still adventure, I guess, starts.

Of course with Mystery shopping, you don't just visit the stores assigned to you but you have to report them afterwards. Since we're exhausted with Day 1, I was only able to submit my report on just 1 store. I had to rest because I had to wake up for Day 2. Yes. I scheduled them consecutively which leads me to Lesson Number 2. Do not make the same mistake that I did. Do not schedule visits the day after the other most specially if there were a lot of stores assigned to you. Allow a rest day in between for you to be able to complete your report and also to recuperate from the long travel.

So on Day 2, I woke up late. I had to finish my 3 other reports which I did and we still had to go to the bank to get some funds before we could go to the stores. We were able to get moving around lunch.

Our destination? Nueva Ecija.

Nueva Ecija is the largest province and the biggest rice producer of Central Luzon and the Philippines, thus, often referred to as the “Rice Bowl of the Philippines.”

Courtesy: http://lakbaynuevaecija.blogspot.com/p/tourist-spots.html

We still had to go to Cubao to board a bus going to Nueva Ecija. It took us almost 5 hours to go to one of the stores which is in Cabanatuan.

Gen Luna Statue and Marker (Cabanatuan City)

A statue of Philippine hero General Antonio Luna astride a horse stands at the plaza in front of the cathedral on the exact spot where the brave general was assassinated in 1899 in the city that adopted him subsequently.

Courtesy: http://lakbaynuevaecija.blogspot.com/p/tourist-spots.html

We arrived there around 5pm and we got confused because the place where we alighted was still under construction. As it turned out, it was actually SM Cabanatuan, not the Megacenter where we're supposed to be headed. So we still had to get on a tricycle to go there which meant additional expense which lead me to Lesson Number 3. Stick with the address on the assigned store. Tell the bus driver or conductor where exactly you are heading so that they can guide you.

And we still had 3 stores left to do.

After visiting the one in Cabanatuan, we headed to Talavera, Nueva Ecija.

Municipal hall of Talavera, Nueva Ecija

courtesy: youronevoicecanmakeadifference.wordpress.com

It took us almost an hour to arrive to our next destination. It was already dark. We were supposed to be headed to San Jose but noticing how high the fare was, we figured that it would take us a couple of hours to go there so we decided to just go the nearest store in Talavera and just spend the night there. Yes. We had to find a lodge in a place we haven't been to without any shirts or toiletries. So we still had to buy them before finding an inn where we could spend the night. Haaay.

Lesson number 4. Expect the unexpected. Always bring with you an extra shirt, an extra underwear and some toiletries if you're going to some place you haven't been to. Always bring extra cash too.

So we're like, Lugi na. We spent more than what we could earn from this trip and we still had two more stores to visit. I was thankful though because I had my boyfriend with me and realized that if I wasn't with him, I would have gotten in trouble. I was really upset with how things turned out but I didn't have anyone else to blame but myself because I didn't learn from Lesson Number 1.

Our dilemma during that night was how to find an inn that would suit our budget. I was wary to ask the people there because they might lead us to some other place where we would get in trouble so we had to walk and find a person trustworthy enough. We were able to ask a couple who recommended an inn that was actually kind of far from where we were so we still had to board a jeep then alight where we were instructed to do so.

The street where we alighted didn't have any signs so we just walked into a very dark street and saw a lodge. We tried to knocked and called out people but only dogs were responding. I was really losing hope and thought about going home to Manila but my boyfriend saw a person standing near the lodge and asked him the supposed inn where we were heading. The lodge was actually for Masons but there was a nearby inn and that we just had to keep walking until we see it. We finally saw that inn and got checked in. 

Another dilemma was the food. The food there was pricey and I didn't think it would suffice for the both of us. We could have bought food earlier but we didn't do that because we're more concerned on where we're going to spend the night. Since we didn't have any other choice, we ordered their food. The food was, well, it's not impressive but we're hungry so talo-talo na. We could have gotten a more decent food with the same price outside but there were no food stalls nearby.

After eating, we just drank liquor while watching TV even if the TV had a really bad connection. Yes, we were able to buy liquor but not food. Talk about bad decision making which was what made this adventure a misadventure after all. Haaay.

A lot of if onlys. But no one can ever turn back time so we could only learn from these misadventures. Anyway, they were still adventures if you just look on the brighter side of things. We were able to see Nueva Ecija from different sides. We were able to handle each dilemma without quarreling which was a good sign for me since I was able to successfully handle my emotions. We were able to realize that planning is everything and that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

The same with life. I kind of concentrated to mystery shopping these past few days for me to have an excuse to travel and to ponder on things that trouble my mind. I realized that I had to apply these lessons to a bigger scheme of things which is life. I have to plan ahead but still be able to expect and embrace the spontaneity of the unexpected. I have to be able to face whatever life throws at me.

So Day 2, for me, was still successful.

Mixing business with pleasure (How to become a successful Mystery Shopper)

Like other jobs and professions, being a Mystery Shopper has its ups and downs. It's not always going to be fun and exciting. It may not deal with more serious business like saving lives or finances but it is still tiring at some point.

Recently, I was assigned to 10 stores (Yes, 10 stores. Wheeew!) from all  over Luzon. I applied to them because I thought the expenses would still be lesser than the amount of payment in total. Or so I thought.

Day 1- Successful day

So my ever supportive boyfriend accompanied me to Valenzuela then Rizal then Manila for the first day. I was able to do 4 stores (Yeeey!) with expenses that would cover the payment for only 2 stores so I still had an income of 2 stores plus we were able to go to places we've never been before.

I know this is quite confusing so I will take the initiative to compute.

Every store I visit- 8 Euros x 4 stores = 32 Euros
Expenses= almost 16 Euros
32 Euros - 16 Euros= 16 Euros (Gain)

I'm sorry if my computation confused you more. I'm not really into Math ever since.

So this day was a successful day. We were able to visit the stores and at the same time, have a date in the Art Capital of the Philippines which is Angono, Rizal.

Courtesy: rclaw.wordpress.com

 We saw a lot of wood carvings and sculptures around the area. We even saw some giant paper mache or the so called "Higante" which actually have a festival every 23rd of November.

Courtesy: www.angono.gov.ph

“Higante” is an endemic cultural icon in Angono first used as symbol of agrarian protest. It was appropriated during fiesta to add fun in the celebration. Today, the local government considers it as a symbol of success and greatness which an Angono individual should strive for.

There were a lot of shrines too which pay tribute to the Katipuneros who fought hard for our freedom. Apparently, Rizal had lots of them which made them earn a sun ray on our flag. That's what actually some history remaining in my ever tumultuous brain.

After some sightseeing, we ate some street foods and boarded an FX bound for Megamall.

Although we were able to still gain some money out of this trip, it could have been better if we were more prepared by having our own lunch because earlier in the trip while we were in Valenzuela, we spent 300 pesos for our lunch. I could have gotten more from this trip if we didn't spend that much just for lunch. So that's Lesson Number 1. Being prepared by planning ahead.

And did we learn from lesson number 1? No.

And that earns a spot on my next post.

And she saved the world again. (My second task as a Mystery Shopper)

I was just done with my second mission yesterday.

I kicked some butts, conversed thru Russian, Spanish and Gibberish (Yes, it's a language. Look it up.), defused a WMD, started World Peace and the list goes on.

Just kidding.

My second gig in being a mystery shopper was a success and I got to purchase a pair of heart-shaped, sterling silver earrings in a jewelry store. I'm not that into jewelries primarily because I don't really have the means to buy things like that but I have a slight fascination with earrings that I actually got three holes on just my left ear so it was really exciting. Though I was thinking about selling these earrings for an extra income, I actually chose a pair that I really liked which wasn't that pricey. Well, just in case no one buys it from me then I would be more than happy to wear them.

The sales associate was a very nice girl who knew everything about the product. I was able to elicit the right questions and she did everything possible to accommodate them. She made me feel at ease even though I was feeling like I didn't belong there. She didn't hesitate, even just for a moment, to connect with me. I just hope that with the positive reviews that I've given her, she would be able to get a raise or a promotion because that's what she truly deserves.

This is just one of the things that really made me look forward to do every assignment. The interaction with different people. The feels. It's part of being human I guess. The ability to communicate with other people who you don't really know personally but you're able to connect with.

So that's about it for this mission. Next mission is a pharmacy visit. Hope this one is better than my first pharmacy visit.

How I became a Secret Agent

I used to be so engrossed with everything spy- movies, series and books. I adored Ethan Hunt, Sydney Bristow and James Bond. I somehow wished that CIA or MI6 would contact me to become one of their agents but that's impossible since I don't live on either countries where their central offices are. Sometimes, during the time when I used to daydream a lot, I'd be a secret agent on a mission to save the world from anyone who wants to wreck havoc on our tiny, little planet. May it be a dangerous organization or a terrorist or a mad scientist, I'd be the heroine of the day.

It could be the thought of being in a thrilling adventure which had drawn me to it. Or being able to do something for the greater good without sacrificing privacy even though it entails sacrificing one's life.  Or being able to adeptly speak in different languages. Or just the pure pleasure of kicking the bad guys' butt for a good reason.

And then one day, I became a secret agent.

Yes, you read it right. Well, sort of.

This is how I became a spy.

I stumbled across a forum where people were discussing about being a "Mystery Shopper". I got curious of course. Who wouldn't when the words "mystery" and "shopping" are combined, right? So I researched about it and found out that establishments are using mystery shoppers to evaluate the customer service of their employees. They are given guidelines and questionnaires which aids them in doing their assignments and in return, they will be compensated.

So what the heck, I filled out the forms and signed up. Right there and then, I became a secret agent. Or a mystery shopper. But I would really love to be called a spy or a secret agent though I don't get to save the world from evil, dangerous guys or kick someone else's butt. (Though I'm still hopeful.)

I didn't get assignments right away. It took months before they assigned me a shop and I think, they only assigned it to me because there's no one applying to that job. Anyhow, I was still elated to get my very first assignment.

It was a drugstore in the middle of nowhere. (That's why. Tsk) And nowhere means, well, a highly unfavorable, volatile area which deserves a whole, different post should I have the will power to reminisce a place you wouldn't want to see ever again in your whole life and in the next lifetimes.

So I was there, did my thing. Unfortunately, my reviews about the shop were not that good. I was actually afraid that my reviews would become the basis for the employee to get fired from her work but, hey, I was only doing my job. Nothing personal.

When I submitted my reviews, I got a perfect score. Not bad for my first assignment huh.

So far, I was assigned to three more shops: a jewelry store, a testing facility and another pharmacy store. I'm really excited to visit these shops especially the jewelry store since I'll be purchasing something that I will like and they will reimburse it! Yeah!

So there goes my spy story. I got to get to my next assignment now.