I am posting this as I would like to get feedback as to what others would do at this point. I performed a shop for Bare International on January 7th and it still has not been received (as opposed to completed) and I sent an email asking what the status of this shop was and have heard nothing. If this shop is not acceptable the least they could do is let me know they were not accepting it. What would you do at this point? Honestly, I have never waited this long before for some kind of feedback telling me that a given shop was acceptable. This also surprises me as in the past I have had much better response times with Bare whenever I have had a question or issues about a shop.

Bare is one my of bread and butter companies. Maybe the scheduler is awol? try sending a different route or make a phone call. The number is on their home page/ contact us

I completed at an Internet shop for them a few days after you. After not receiving the typical grading email for five or six days I checked my log. The shop had a 10/10, but it also had a note about needed clarification. I never completely understood the request so I just fleshed out one explanation a bit and resubmitted. It is now in received status. BTW, there no email request for the information, just the note on my shop log. It made me wonder if they had a new editor working on the project.

Isn't Bare in Virginia? They might be having issues with inclement weather. Or someone on vacation? I've noticed a lot of companies that usually review reports very quickly are taking a long time. Maritz usually reviews my reports in a day or two, but my recent reports completed the first week of January took over 2 weeks. I've seen a couple of others performing much more slowly than usual as well. Companies typically don't give their editors the strict deadlines assigned to shoppers. I'd wait another week before worrying as long as you know that you did complete and you did submit.

AustinMom...MrComputer wrote on a different thread that Maritz is underwater with all the new accounts they got. The employees are on 30 hours only and 1500 reports behind in editing. The worker bees there have got to be so stressed out!


OP...I did a scenario A shop for Bare on 1/6 and it was edited and marked received on 1/8.

Bare is in northern VA, just outside of Washington, DC. Indeed, this area has had one big storm after another. I did an early January shop for Bare where I was doing the test shop for a client's new project. Because of weather delays, the client's people were off, so theri review was delayed; then different weather delays for Bare employees, once the client had commented. By that time, I was frantic, thinking that I must have really screwed up something. But, all was well. The project manager apologized for lack of feedback. And, of course, schools are still closed (since Tuesday) in some VA counites near DC due to windchill dangers and very icy mountain roads on school bus routes. (Unlike the Midwest, this area does not have the equipment or budget for this sort of weather, much less for a whole month of it.) So parents who work are going crazy.

On Monday evening, I even had online training for a new Bare project that was almost certainly conducted from the project manager's home, rather than from her office, due to the incoming storm. It's been that kind of month in this area.

wales, I'm not sure anyone has the budget for this kind of winter. Locally they are using the supplies and spending the money to keep everything running as well as possible. All the while there are some big concerns about budgets and supplies meant to last the whole winter possibly running out soon.

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I completed at an Internet shop for them a few
> days after you. After not receiving the typical
> grading email for five or six days I checked my
> log. The shop had a 10/10, but it also had a note
> about needed clarification. I never completely
> understood the request so I just fleshed out one
> explanation a bit and resubmitted. It is now in
> received status. BTW, there no email request for
> the information, just the note on my shop log. It
> made me wonder if they had a new editor working on
> the project.

Lisa, hi.....I did finally get 2 emails from them this afternoon, one from the scheduler saying there was some issue with editing for the project, and also apologizing, and another one from someone else at Bare also apologizing for dropping the ball on communication. I also did check my shop log and so far nothing.....but at least they are communicating at this point.

Oh no! Can I be selfish here for a moment and ask if it is ok to even do a shop for them until spring?

LisaSTL Wrote: (and I trimmed to just what I'm commenting on)
-------------------------------------------------------
> After not receiving the typical grading email



You typically receive a grading email from Bare?! I *never* have received a grading email from them. I haven't done *tons* of shops, but somewhere around 'a lot' of shops for them. But never once a grading email.

Wonder if that's a difference in type of job, editor, or... ???

But it's a bit unnerving that you weren't sent an email about needing correction/clarification, that you just accidentally found it on your shop log. I guess I haven't had that situation, since I've always been paid in full for my jobs with them. But if they need something on a specific job, the least they could do is shoot you an email!

Bare just ticked me off! After doing a shop this weekend, I got a message stating that they will not authorize my shop. I was sitting in the parking lot waiting to walk in because I was a few minutes early. The staff was watching me. I decided to go in 3 minutes early. Well guess what?! No payment for my troubles.
I have been doing this long enough to know what the rules are, but this is my first time working for them. I only picked this gig up because it has been slow as molasses around the shopping world. I don't think I will be helping them out anymore!
Any suggestions about this?
UGGGHHH!

I believe your timing got your report rejected.

I know that was the problem. My point, which I probably did not make well because I am so HOT! is that I was being watched from the lobby by the staff. I didn't think it would be wise for me to sit there any longer as I may freak them out that I was planning a heist. I explained this to the admin, but alas, no go! Now I'm out the cash for the purchase!

Were you helping them out or taking an assignment because the pickings had been slim for January?

It is so rare for me to be early to anything and most of my assignments don't have such strict times. If it happens again you could always pretend to take a phone call and easily buy yourself a few minutes whether they are watching or not.

In the case of employees staring at me, I would fumble in my car and pretend to be talking on my cell phone.

No cell phone? A hand to the ear works or just talk because you could have Bluetooth on. Unfortunately, rules are rules. They could have given it to you, but they chose not to for whatever their reason is.

In the future, don't get self-conscious. Just get all wrapped up in your cell phone, talking or texting. They won't give it a moment's thought. In all seriousness, worrying about whether they'll think you're planning a heist is self-consciousness, rather than reality.

Okay, I see that I'm redundant. Story of my life.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/2014 12:37AM by Ishmael.

Many locations with specific timings are strict about it. If the lot is small enough that you are going to be noticed, I would stop a block away and wait.

Hi All,

Thank you for your feedback. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding anything, please don't hesitate to contact us! We are here to assist and ensure that you enjoy working with BARE International.

Hi right back to ya, BARE!
I'm kind of astonished at how approachable you are. Printing the whole chain of command in your documentation, complete with names, areas of responsibility and direct means of communication, offers a level of access that other MSC's could learn from. The one time I had to reschedule, I called you from a traffic jam when it became clear that I wasn't going to make the 35 minute before closing rule. I was panicking and chose someone way too high on your organizational chart to handle such a concern. Your response was compassion for my plight, and you rescheduled me with a date for the next time I'd be in the area, which was outside the original date range for that location. Thanks again!
Don't worry about any venting here regarding DQ'd jobs over timing violations. We know the rules up front. It's up to us to work within them. We can live and learn, ask for help, or up and quit.
The more significant concern of this thread is the communication of editorial feedback. What is your policy re. sending shoppers notification of the acceptance and grades of their reports or of deficiencies and required information? Can we expect an email notification, do we have to watch our board to catch on-holds? If so, for how long? What is your goal in the time it takes to finalize the status of our reports?
It's great working with you. Thanks in advance for any insights you can offer into your report-processing protocol.

Squire - Last we heard, you had heard from them by email with an apology re. the poor communications. How'd it work out from there?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/2014 03:14PM by elcarev68.

elcarev68 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi right back to ya, BARE!
> I'm kind of astonished at how approachable you
> are. Printing the whole chain of command in your
> documentation, complete with names, areas of
> responsibility and direct means of communication,
> offers a level of access that other MSC's could
> learn from. The one time I had to reschedule, I
> called you from a traffic jam when it became clear
> that I wasn't going to make the 35 minute before
> closing rule. I was panicking and chose someone
> way too high on your organizational chart to
> handle such a concern. Your response was
> compassion for my plight, and you rescheduled me
> with a date for the next time I'd be in the area,
> which was outside the original date range for that
> location. Thanks again!
> Don't worry about any venting here regarding DQ'd
> jobs over timing violations. We know the rules up
> front. It's up to us to work within them. We can
> live and learn, ask for help, or up and quit.
> The more significant concern of this thread is the
> communication of editorial feedback. What is your
> policy re. sending shoppers notification of the
> acceptance and grades of their reports or of
> deficiencies and required information? Can we
> expect an email notification, do we have to watch
> our board to catch on-holds? If so, for how long?
> What is your goal in the time it takes to
> finalize the status of our reports?
> It's great working with you. Thanks in advance
> for any insights you can offer into your
> report-processing protocol.
>
> Squire - Last we heard, you had heard from them by
> email with an apology re. the poor communications.
> How'd it work out from there?


Hi! Sorry I have not left an update. Apparently there was some miscommunication on this shop for Bare Europe to Bare USA. At any rate, I am told my shop has been accepted and that I will be paid and that I scored a 10 on it so the final outcome has been positive. And I also need to factor weather in - living in Phoenix, AZ, that is rarely an issue here.

StormCloud Wrote:

> You typically receive a grading email from Bare?!
> I *never* have received a grading email from them.
> I haven't done *tons* of shops, but somewhere
> around 'a lot' of shops for them. But never
> once a grading email.
>
> Wonder if that's a difference in type of job,
> editor, or... ???

I have always gotten a grade from them and an email notification - I have done over 350 shops with an average grade of "10."

I signed up for a grocery store audit for $25, but it sat on the board for 10 days. The assignment said Easy, but after reading some of your comments I got a little scared and cancelled it. I doubt I was going to get the job anyway, but I'd hate to mess up my first job for them.

Bare has always been a solid company for me. They have always paid me as agreed. I'm glad this was resolved.

Hi. I did my first shop for Bare this weekend. I've waited a long time because my initial rating is 5, and no one ever accepts my application. I did a really thorough job on it, a bank shop. I was looking forward to getting a good rating and maybe some better shops. Turns out, at the last minute, they changed the scenario, so I shopped the wrong thing. I emailed the scheduler immediately, and she was very nice. She said it was a last minute change by the company, and I would be paid. I did the shop Saturday, and it has not been graded. I actually care more about the rating than the money. i know the schedulers are really busy, and I'm not sure if I should follow up and ask her about the rating or just let it go. Any advice? Btw, I really love this forum and appreciate all the time you guys take helping the new folks. :-)

It is possible they will not be able to use your shop and are paying because the change was too late and you had completed the shop in good faith. If that is the case, they have no reason to assign a grade.

In April I did five shops for a project and had concerns because only four of them were eventually graded. Today I received notice that my payment has been issued for all five shops. That 5th shop still does not show a shop rating. I keep track of my Bare shops carefully because the shop log does not show your payment date.

What Lisa said! I've been paid for shops when there was a company error or change. It might say something like "Pay shopper." You probably won't get a grade on that one, so now you'll have to try another one.

Ditto on every count to MsJudi.

Bare is one of my favorite companies. I rarely have a problem with them.

write and send a certified letter -and, KEEP A COPY for yourself!