I am part of a local area moms group on facebook and was thinking about asking if anyone shopped in order to find a mentor of sorts. I just feel like it would be helpful to talk to someone local. Would that violate confidentially agreements? I have done shops before, but I would like to step up my game a bit and having that resource seems like it would be helpful.

I recommend you don't post about it on Facebook because this might drive people that don't already shop to research it and sign up (more competition for you locally).

However, if I were you I might use a forum such as this one or another shopping forum to find other experienced shoppers in your area.

I would use the forum to find experienced or fairly new shoppers where you have shopping in common.
I met a couple nice people, had lunch and speak to them often. I also have my favorites and friends I found on this forum. When they live in your area, it's easier to meet for a meal if it requires two people. I personally don't think it a good idea to tell strangers that don't shop about what you do, we are told not to talk about mystery shopping to strangers, and you don't know who will show up on Facebook....friends of friends (who are they). We are not supposed to give out the names of MSC's and their clients, is against the ICA agreement that you signed, and could prevent you from getting work. This is a solo gig (if you will), and I just say I'm an
Evaluator when asked and never give out details. Know who you trust.....

@Scinocco wrote:

I am part of a local area moms group on facebook and was thinking about asking if anyone shopped in order to find a mentor of sorts. I just feel like it would be helpful to talk to someone local. Would that violate confidentially agreements? I have done shops before, but I would like to step up my game a bit and having that resource seems like it would be helpful.

It might be a violation of confidentiality agreements if you wanted to discuss which MSCs service which clients. You have a great resource avaialble here on the forum. The only difference is that the mentors on this forum are spread across the US and Canada and they do not tell which MSCs shop which clients. I've learned a lot from this forum. The best way you can step up your game is to read everything here.

It would DEFINITELY be an ICA violation, in any location or context to reveal to others which MSCs shop which clients. No maybes about it.

It would be nice to be able to have a conversation about shopping with someone that understood what we were talking about. Much like the conversations we are able to have while attending conferences. I had met a fellow shopper at the Indiana conference. It was nice sharing tips with each other (we were both breaking into video). Unfortunately, he didn't have the organizational skills required by mystery shopping and soon gave up. I'd love to sit down for lunch with some fellow shoppers. But, like others said....I don't want more competition!

Viewing other shoppers as purely competition is not very productive. Why would they want to have that nice get-together with you or mentor you if you were seen as just the competition?
There are two ways of seeing the world:
What goes around, comes around and;
Devil take the hindmost.

Both shopper conferences and the forum rely on people who practice the first of those.

That's exactly how I feel about statements from others. I have never viewed anything of that nature as competition.

I wanted to add you should read your ICA agreement carefully, this will tell you the rules therefore helping you understand what your responsibilities are...good luck. Competition never bothers me as there is usually a lapse
between jobs. I have friends in my area and if someone else gets the job (which hasn't happened yet), I'm fine,
isn't life about competition which makes you better.

My only competition is myself and that is how I live my life.

Thank you all for your replys! I did have the thought of creating competition, which was another reason I was hesitant. But maybe that can be said for any job, I mean, if you get the promotion, that means I don't but that doesn't mean that we both can't benefit from interacting and helping with one another. I will continue to use the forum for now. I feel like as a stay at home mom, I'm always looking for a community to plug into.

I will note, that unless there is a conference in Colorado. That probably isn't an option for me at least not at this point in my life.

I accepted a merchandising event in a neighboring state. The person who was assigned made the mistake of smoking the ole' marijuana in the rental car the company rented for them.....buaahhahahaha. $300 fine by the rental company and there went more than two days pay. I told them I would do it for $450 bucks and I spent most of that money on a car detailing company because, as a merchandiser/mystery shopper there are french fries in places I didn't know a french fry could fit.

Anywho, the store itself had a rep involved and mystery shopping came up. It was so, very, incredibly great to talk to someone else about it. I was staring and laughing and just so in awe, they probably got the idea that I liked them personally! It was so great that they had some of the same things happen to them that I had thought were anomalies and happened to me because I'm a dumbarse sometimes. But in my hood, where I shop, no way would I have a conversation with anyone about it. If someone found out and they were a shopper or a perspective shopper I would say I used to shop but it doesn't pay or something very derrogatory. When I lived in Hawaii, we used to tell the tourists that it sucked to live Hawaii because it's so expensive, the locals would do untold terrible things to you if you drove your rentacrap off the beaten path, etc. I have the same philosophy with mystery shopping where I live. This is my living and there's no way I would just give my neighbor anything (except the kids) that they don't pay for.