Shopper Certification
There is only one certification that is recognized and that is through the MSPA [www.mysteryshop.org] Note that this is an organization of the companies that HIRE mystery shoppers and do not represent SHOPPERS. There are two levels of certification--silver at about $15 and gold at about $100. As far as I am concerned, and many other shoppers as well, there is no need to be certified. And even the Federal Trade Commission warns that spending money to shop is neither necessary nor productive. It is an option if you choose to do it.
I THINK THAT THE CERTIFICATION IS A MONEY GRAB BECAUSE THERE IS STILL NO GAURANTEE YOU WILL GET JOBS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO.WHEN JOBS DO BECOME AVAILABLE THE CLIENT IS NOT GOING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WETHER YOU ARE CERTIFIED OR NOT.HE OR SHE WANTS THE REPORTS DONE ACCORDING TO THIER SECIFICATIONS AND EVEN IF YOU ARE A GOLD MEMBER OR NOT IF YOU KEEP A GOOD,ACCURATE,PROMPT,AND HONEST REPORT ,YOU WILL GET SHOPS REGULARLY .I HAVEN'T BEEN CERTIFIED AS A SHOPPER BUT I DID TAKE MANY CERTIFICATIONS USUALLY OFFERED BY COMPNIES THAT I SIGNED UP WITH AND I HAVE PASSED THEM.FRONTLINE SHOPPERS.COM YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TUTOEIAL AND PASS 100% BEFORE THEY ACCEPT YOU AND GIVE YOU JOBS BUT THE CERTIFICATION IS EASY.MANY OTHER COMPANIES OFFER THE SAME.JUST SIGN UP WITH AS MANY AS YOU CAN AND TAKE ANY CERTIFICATIONS AS YOU CAN AND THE SHOPS WILL COME TO YOU IN TIME OR IN MANY CASES RIGHT AWAY.IF YOU HAVE MONEY AND STILL WANT TO GO FOR GOLD WITH M S P A ...UP TO YOU!!
It's true that you do not need any certification to shop. And, if have proved yourself with each and every company to provide high caliber, on-time product, you will never need a certification for the company that already knows that about you. However, I work for a lot of companies the email assignments to a select list before they will post any of those shops. That list is Gold Certified shoppers PLUS that company's preferred shoppers. It seems obviuos that, from a mathematical standpoint, Gold Certification is the fastest track to getting on that list. Most of those shops never make it to the general listings.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Perhaps. But I don't think it is quite so crisp across the board as to that Gold being the ticket. I do believe there is a select list that sees shops before others do.
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“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
“Lying in bed would be an altogether perfect and supreme experience if only one had a colored pencil long enough to draw on the ceiling."
~Gilbert K. Chesterton
My reaction is that the benefits are anecdotal. I understand from a shopper in LA that it has given her an edge on getting first time shops. At the same time this still anecdotal because we all apply for a few shops with a new-to-us company that we may or may not get. Certainly many excellent companies do not even recognize the MSPA certifications or give only vague lip service to them if they are MSPA members. Privately I have compared notes with Gold certified shoppers in areas adjacent to mine and they were seeing exactly the same stuff at the same fees from the same companies and pretty disgusted that they got suckered in to spending the money. Most companies are more responsive to your application--how good is your writing sample? What kind of experience have you had? What are your education and income levels? etc. If you are competent and diligent work will find you.
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