Venue Lists:
All of Racked’s Tips
Chicago Racked 38
Los Angeles Racked 38
New York City Racked 38

Also tested the badge on a blank history and it took 4 checkins to unlock

i did it in 3 in new york
-https://foursquare.com/venue/49774
-https://foursquare.com/venue/32391
-https://foursquare.com/venue/44379

it took me 4 checkins
https://fr.foursquare.com/venue/1005521
https://fr.foursquare.com/venue/6
https://fr.foursquare.com/venue/45317
https://fr.foursquare.com/venue/229753

just 1x c/i at 24481. hooray..!!

Only took me 2 c/i's!!

unlocked by 2 check ins

Got it with only one check in at 44379!
Whoa, this is quite sudden. I mean i never knew this badge is around the upcoming badge section, but suddenly it appear in active badge section.

Yeah !! Got it in 1 check in at Century 21,@Thanks Chaunce

Been to all 5. Got points for all. Following Racked. I'm even getting the Racked pop-ups when I check into the places. Have not gotten badge yet.

Edit: Finally got it. Took 6 checkins but if previous count, may be 7 since I was already at one of the recommended venues in the past.

Glad previous check-ins count. popped it in ONE check in :)

Got it at UNIQLO

It's been more difficult traversing foursquare since foursquarefox has ceased to let me logon [since 1st August], but I managed to unlock this badge via the mobile website at Apartment Number 9 in Chicago, IL.

This Badge is now leveling.

Badge moved to upcoming

So this badge and the Eater 38 badge aren't leveling anymore?

@liquidxsolid they WILL be leveling. They are inactive right now and will come back as a leveling badge

reactivated but from what I can tell it will not be a leveling badge

I can't get it to level yet either

I'm actually glad if they don't. Leveling a badge is a lot of work.

I like these kind of level ups....HATE team and resorts...gets boring

Now a leveling badge.

Strange leveling

blank account 2 checkins unlocked level 1 maybe a previous in there
next checkin level 2, next checkin level 3 then nothing with 4 more after, unlock messages state you found three places weird

A little different for the leveling pattern compared to other badges.
Tested with new dummy accounts.

Level 1 = Total 1 valid venue
Level 2 = Total 2 valid venues
Level 3 = Total 3 valid venues
Level 4 = Total 8 valid venues
Level 5 = Total 13 valid venues
Level 6 = Total 18 valid venues
Level 7 = Total 23 valid venues
Level 8 = Total 28 valid venues
Level 9 = Total 33 valid venues
Level 10 = Total 36 valid venues

Not all of the venues are working on this one... we are doing some testing in house, but are very interested in seeing what others are getting and where. It seems like any of the venues that were added by Beauty 38 don't work, but that's not 100% confirmed yet. The main thing is that there are some inconsistencies between the unlock message and what people are experiencing. Keep your info coming in and we'll do our thing as well to clear this one up.

I also just unlocked level 5 with 3 boutiques on Racked's list. Your results may vary.

Hmm, I knew you would say something like "Not all of the venues are working on this one...".
But I can tell that all the venues I used are valid for Racked 38 badge, that's why I stated 'valid' above in my replies. Yes every single venue (from Racked's lists) I used has been tested on different(situation) accounts and they're capable for 1st unlock and even for level up.

However I'm very agree about "Your results may vary" because my main account which got Level 1 unlock back in 2011 and straight away get leveled up from Level 1 to 3 (so there's some previous check-ins) had a little different from Level 3 to 4 (just +3 valid venues only instead of +5), but after that still under the same leveling scheme as above (+5 valid venues per level until Level 9 then goes back to +3 for Level 9 to 10). This only happens to my main account but other dummy accounts (previously without Racked 38 badge) use the leveling scheme as I stated above.
Maybe has something to do with the old Level 1 unlock(or previously got Racked 38 badge) or got Racked 38 venues checked-in previously before the implementation of leveling system on Racked 38 badge, just my thoughts.

Btw it doesn't matter much about the amount of check-in(s) required as long as we can get to Level 10 since there's more than enough valid venues for us to do so. {^@^}

I think the total venues to get to level 10 for Racked and Eater is 38. If you get the pun.