I accepted a job from Bare International to get paid to take a Real Estate Investment & Financing test and FAIL. The goal is to audit the personal providing the test & that they are following all procedures. The testing facility is video taped. I just got my work instructions and I'm supposed to try sneak in a piece of paper (can have anything written on it). If I get the paper past the check in tables, then I'm supposed to take the paper out & leave it on my desk for 20mins to see if I get caught. If caught, I'll be asked to leave. If I manage to get thru all of this, then when I find out that I failed, I have to act severely disappointed and then somehow imply that I'm willing to bribe them if they can help me pass the test. I thought the whole point of being a MS was to blend in?!?!? Now they having me doing all these things to bring unwanted attention to myself, not to mention doing things that are 100% against my true nature. I'm not a shady person & this job is already making me feel uncomfortable. Anyone else have a similar experience?

A lot of mystery shopping work is designed to test standards of integrity...... I've attempted to bribe folks at Western Union... I've asked to open an account designed to move money between the U.S. and countries known for supporting terrorism and drug trafficking..... Younger folks try to buy alcohol and tobacco products without I.D., etc. It is a way for clients to make sure that various procedures vital to their business are being followed.

Yes, it does feel awkward sometimes.

Any tips on how I might imply a bribe?

"Oh, no! I've got to pass this test or I'll lose my job. I would do anything...do you have any suggestions? What can I do?"

(Yes, I've done this.)

However, this is one time I could, with a clear conscience, recommend cancelling a shop. This actually is way out there, and if you honestly feel you cannot do this, just be honest with the MSC about your feelings. After all, the MSC wants a SUCCESSFUL shop. Cancelling immediately gives them time to perhaps find another shopper.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/24/2020 11:49PM by ceasesmith.

I did this shop in December. On the piece of "hidden" paper, I had the address of the test taking facility. They make you empty out your pockets and pat yourself down before you go into the room. 2 people, in fact, in 2 spots did the pat down procedure. They spotted the paper, so I just threw it in the trash. The most annoying issue was the raising your hand twice to call a proctor. The first time, I told the proctor my screen was dirty and distracting me. The second time I went to the bathroom.

The requirements say you have to remain in the room for I think, 50 minutes. I was the next to last person to leave the room. I suppose we are monitoring the other test takers also, to be sure the proctor's don't allow anything. Even still, everyone else finished the test a lot sooner than I did.

I did fail, and I really did feel bad because I hate failing things. So, when it came time for my printout, I just said, "Is there anything I can do to make this better?" The lady at the desk just looked at me and didn't say anything. I didn't do an obvious bribe. But, the requirements just say ask what you can do to pass. I filled out my report stating what I just told you, and it was accepted.

It has to be somewhat obvious/predictable we are mystery shoppers at some point in our visit, but I suppose the proctors don't really know at first. It still keeps the proctors 'on their toes' to do their jobs right. It is possible a normal person could need to use the bathroom or have a scrap paper in their pocket too. Good luck and have fun on the shop!!

Thank you. I'm super nervous about this shop. Having to remember the test givers names & descriptions. I'm used to taking notes on my phone. Then raising my had at the correct times for 2mins each and of course the implied bribe at the end.

So what do you do if they accept/ask for a bribe? I guess you just have to do a quick about-face, murmur something about "ha ha, just kidding" and shamble off? I can't imagine the MSC would cover the bribe; because bribe-takers are notoriously bad at giving receipts.

I do this shop about once monthly. There are 3 of these testing centers near me. I get $70 a pop now. They are usually good and follow procedures so should catch your paper. Its no big deal. First time raise hand ask for a tissue or what the temp is as your hot/cold. Second time raise hand ask for a bathroom break. The point is to make sure they are monitoring you. I have taken this test so many times that if I wanted to study the material a little I could now ace the test. I don't so I continue to get my 66 to 74 out of 100. 70 is passing. If I happen to pass has only happened 2x I use the I need to score better for my work promotion what can I do to get a better score. This shop is second nature to me now. Its 75 minutes in the room taking the exam. Make sure to not count your bathroom break. Also must arrive 30 minutes early. You can usually take the test early once your done reading rules and checking in. The shop is not worth the $25 or $30 they start at thou so ask for more. Figure 90 minutes at test center and 60 for the report.

I did this assignment for Bare last summer. I think it was the same test even. The bribe part does sound so shady but I also just asked if there was anyway to get past this hurdle. I, too, worried that I didn't do enough to meet that requirement, but it was accepted. I don't believe the facility would ever offer any help. They were very professional.

I did have the opposite experience with remaining in the room for the minimum time required. There were math questions and I just took a stab at it. No one else had finished so I found myself killing time to look like a bona fide candidate.

See if you can do the online option. No bribe is involved.

@BuffaloNY101 wrote:

If I happen to pass has only happened 2x.

Do you still get paid if you pass?

yes still paid for passing just been told to say need higher score for work promotion is there anything to do to get a better score hint hint wink wink. There is something about paasing in the guidelines or used to be. Also you should email your scheduler immediately. It was more of a game to see if I could pass simply by taking the same exam so many times without studying the material. Now I can fail easily while still getting close to passing.

That was one of the first shops I did. I thought it was weird but it had a big bonus and I am a weirdo who likes taking tests (I like passing them though). I did the bribe and I got the feeling it was not the first time she had received a request of that nature. She just said there was nothing she could do. A note I can add is that shop is that it was summer and I was wearing a skirt (no pockets), a v-neck top (no pockets), and I had my hair down. So I could not hide the list as specified. I put it in my waist band during the check in and when I raised my hand the first time I asked for a bathroom break. The list fell out because I forgot about it and I put it in my bra (mistake). When I had to take it out to put it on the desk-awkward. When the lady asked where I had it during check in-awkward. When the editor asked about it and I had to explain-awkward. I was paid as advertised even though I had the list in the wrong place but there is forever a note at the bottom that says: “Remember to follow the guidelines as they pertain to the list. Your bra is an inappropriate location.”-awkward. UGH. All in all good shop in my opinion.

Mystery shopping isn’t all about blending in. Sometimes clients just want compliance issues tested. I used to feel awkward trying to convince bartenders to serve me alcohol without my ID, but I’ve gotten used it and I get why the client is paying for that kind of shop.

I used to do this shop many times for the same MSC and in the same town. Each time I was paid $75 and once $100 but after failing the same test over and over and always seeing the same older ladies manning the station, I started to get a guilty conscience about pretending I forgot to take my phone out of my pocket or the piece of paper out of my pocket. And then the embarrassment of failing yet again? I stopped doing them a couple of years ago and now I see they have them listed again for only $30 each. Nope, not worth it to me unless they've hired different people to fail in front of. lol

@misspocos75 wrote:

I used to do this shop many times for the same MSC and in the same town. Each time I was paid $75 and once $100 but after failing the same test over and over and always seeing the same older ladies manning the station, I started to get a guilty conscience about pretending I forgot to take my phone out of my pocket or the piece of paper out of my pocket. And then the embarrassment of failing yet again? I stopped doing them a couple of years ago and now I see they have them listed again for only $30 each. Nope, not worth it to me unless they've hired different people to fail in front of. lol

Yeah the idea of asking for something illegal skeeves me (one of the reasons I pass on the Secret Shopper keymaking shops). Plus the idea of failing tests on purpose is just hateful to me lol, God bless those of you who want to do these but not for me.

I haven't done one of these yet. However, given the current scandals about the college entrance process, I can see how an offer of a bribe would be an important factor in conducting these tests, whether the test is for college entrance or as certification in various fields.

My check came in the mail today and it was for the full amount so alls well that ends well.