I haven't started yet, so I am not even new. :-)

I did read somewhere about taking a course sponsored by the MSPA-NA and wondering how many folks have done that
and your feed-back on it in general.

Thanks, and for your advise I promise one day to pass it on as well.

SheilaE first of all welcome to the forum. The question about certification is raised at least once a week. If you click on the link underneath your post about 'certification' you will find previous discussions about it. Good luck with your new mystery shopping career.

Get certified if you want, it means you send the MSPA your money. I've been doing this for 22 years now and am not certified.

SheilaE,

Welcome to the forum!

Let me try to enhance what the others said.

This is indeed a regular topic of conversation on the forum. There are several long discussions about MSPA certification in which many shoppers, like Cettie, opine it isn't necessary because they built their businesses without it and are doing just fine. What that means is they have lots of shop opportunities (probably more than they need or want). Schedulers usually grant their applications for shops based on their experience and/or track record with the companies.

Others correctly point out that many companies prefer MSPA certified shoppers. Schedulers will choose the certified shopper over another who is not if they are judged otherwise equally qualified.

There are valid arguments on both sides. For you, I think it comes down to what is best for your business. If you have enough shops to do and they are the type of shop you like and pay well enough, then your business does not need any help. If you don't have enough shops, if your applications keep getting denied, or you think certification will help you get your foot in the door with a company(s), then certification is something that may help. I think there are two certain things about certification. The first is that the course will help you learn the business. Another certain thing is that it will cost you money.

Good luck!

First of all thank you. You are an excellent writer. I think I read a post of yours last night that put everything regarding this business into a nutshell.
If you don't mind I would love to know personally how many years you have been doing this. Do you only do this? Also the steps after being approved for a shop. I am confused as to: will all the instructions be attached to the posted job regarding what that companies wanting? How to communicate (at the end of the shop) back to the company.? Is there a form they send to be filled out.? Also,, just starting out, are there certain companies or shops you would advise to apply for first?

Thank you again. and I look forward to all your postings.

The answer to all those questions are yes and no.

Yes, sometimes all the instructions are attached and no, sometimes only the barest information is attached to the job description and you really don't know what you're getting into until you get the shop and get access to the full instructions and the report questions.

Yes, usually there is a form they send you but you will be filling it out online not on paper.

Yes, there are certain companies any one of us would advise you to sign up for first and no, there is no consensus on which companies those are.

This is a learn by doing situation. The forum will try to help you avoid the submerged rocks, but you will be navigating the waters largely on your own.

If you go to the bottom of this page and find the list of Mystery Shopping companies and click that, you will find the top 15 (I think) most talked about companies. Because they are most talked about does not necessarily mean they are loved by all. But start there. A couple companies you are safe with that are good for beginners are Market Force and Maritz. Market Force for their fairly easy shops, simple reports and little need for narratives. Maritz because you can actually get them on the phone and they will help you understand what you need to do.

Beyond those two (who are solid, stable, large companies with no payment issues), read some of the information about the others and sign up for more companies. Not all companies will have shops you can do right away, but they may have more shops in your area in the future.

If you can get to an IMSC conference, you will learn a lot there. Getting Silver and Gold certified will also teach you a lot. But mostly you will learn by doing. When you take a new shop that you've never done before, only sign up for one. After you have done one and reported it, then you can judge whether it is worth it. If you sign up for five of them and hate it, you will want to flake the other four and flaking (not doing a shop you agreed to do) will hurt your future chances of getting jobs.

Read the first 11 threads in the New Shopper area before asking a lot of questions because many questions will be answered right there. Edit ... please don't read this that you shouldn't ask questions, only that you should read the basic stuff and *then* ask questions of anything you don't understand or that wasn't covered there. Reason being if you ask something that *is* covered there, likely you will be told to go read those threads anyway.

And good luck.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/2015 03:52AM by dspeakes.