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Getting Certified gold, silver, MSPA Membership

May 30, 2016 03:55PM
I have been a MS for over 15 years. I stay quite busy doing shops here and there. I'm always looking for new companies to work for and different kinds of shops.
I have never been a membership of MSPA Or a gold or silver certified shopper.
Those of you out there that are certified, does this make a huge difference in your shops?
And what is the cost to get certified? I usually get the jobs I applied for.
Just wondering if I should get certified.
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More About Certification
May 30, 2016 03:59PM
I have the Silver certification and I notice no difference between the shops I get and those that two non-certified family members get. Gold may offer additional benefits. If you have been MSing for 15 years, usually get the jobs you apply for, and stay quite busy with shops, it doesn't sound like you need a certification.
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May 30, 2016 04:39PM
As an established MSer with that much experience, you really have nothing to gain by getting MSPA Gold.

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.
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May 30, 2016 04:41PM
It's a tax write-off and it doesn't hurt. You are probably very sage with MSing but who knows, you might learn something new...I became gold certified in 2003; I attended a conference in Toledo. I do know that I occasionally get opportunities where it states in the email that the shops are being offered to MSPA certified shoppers first. Sometimes the email states both gold and silver, sometimes it states only gold certified. I read that they now do the certification online, which doesn't seem as if it would be as rewarding as going to a conference and networking with MSCs and other shoppers. I recently attended the IMSC in Indiana and learned about video shopping. I have an opportunity to get IMSC certified for free because I attended the conference but I have been so busy with other stuff I just haven't done it yet. I plan on doing so, because maybe it will help me get more jobs. I do know that attending the conference was VERY helpful and I made new friends with other shoppers and made some excellent contacts with MSC reps. They are having another IMSC conference in Vegas in November. If it's within a reasonable traveling distance for you, I would recommend going.
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May 30, 2016 04:43PM
Oh and when I went to the MSPA gold certification conference, it was $99. I would imagine it can't be too much more for the online course since they don't have so many out-of-pocket expenses by not having a physical workshop. You could go to their website and find out I am sure.
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May 30, 2016 04:46PM
I have been to, I think, 7 IMSC conferences and have led workshops at 5 of those. BUT, I always learn something new at each conference that makes me more money the TOTAL cost of attending the conference.

I got Gold Certified in 2005, but that was at an all day workshop where I learned the most from shoppers' comments, not from the MSC reps who were staging the sessions. Now that the certifications are mainly done on line, that option is not available unless you attend a conference.

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.
Reply
May 30, 2016 05:47PM
@Adore wrote:

I have been a MS for over 15 years. I stay quite busy doing shops here and there. I'm always looking for new companies to work for and different kinds of shops.
15 years? from your posts you sure ask alot of newbie ???s. surprised to read 15 years.
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May 30, 2016 06:17PM
I did the online course. It was pretty useless. I don't know if I get any more offers due to the certification. If I do, it isn't many. I was fairly new at the time to MSing, but did not learn anything. I think it was a waste of money and time.
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May 30, 2016 06:17PM
@MSNinja wrote:

@Adore wrote:

I have been a MS for over 15 years. I stay quite busy doing shops here and there. I'm always looking for new companies to work for and different kinds of shops.
15 years? from your posts you sure ask alot of newbie ???s. surprised to read 15 years.
Must you always be rude?
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May 30, 2016 09:01PM
@TeriW wrote:


Must you always be rude?
what r u talking about? I;m hardly ever in forum. I have no idea who u r.
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May 30, 2016 09:06PM
OP
If you have been doing this 15 years the certifications IMHO are not going to help. I got silver early on and well it helps when you have no reputation to get those first shops once you have a reputation it does not do much. The one and only thing it may do is get you the email on jobs a little sooner than the others who don't have it. I spent $10 or $15 on it now whatever they changed the name to cost $25. Just a way for MSPA to make money IMHO.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.
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May 31, 2016 02:03AM
Some MSCs will offer more money for a shop. I've only seen this with 2-3 companies.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
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May 31, 2016 03:55AM
I think that conference is June 26, I looked into it and I have a hair show (I'm a hair stylist) that weekend in Vegas as well. Flying is expensive those dates, I have checked so many times!
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May 31, 2016 12:08PM
The IMSC shopper conference is early November, in LV.

SW has a lot of good fares into LV, but you can only see them on the SW site, not on the discount sites.

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.
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May 31, 2016 12:57PM
Adore, SQM has a half price airfare program...in return for providing them with a usable report they will refund half of your airfare with a select carrier (of course you know I can't name which one).
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May 31, 2016 02:46PM
I just started coming on here and communicating with other shoppers. It's always great to get new advice and ideas. But there's somebody on here that always comes on and writes very rude responses. Almost kind of bullying people on here. Why is this happening

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2016 02:55PM by Adore.
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May 31, 2016 11:32PM
Adore, there are a few who lack basic social skills. If it bothers you, you can click on their name and "Toggle User Visibility." Then you won't see their posts. There are also a couple, though, who may seem crusty, but actually have good information. You'll need to decide which is which.

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.
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June 01, 2016 01:10AM
Thank you for that advice, even though I have been MSing forever, I didn't know that option on here. We learn from each other, and I'm one of those that does not act like I know it all. I really enjoy learning from others, and that's what these forums are for, right?
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June 01, 2016 10:35PM
Who was the know-it-all? I see reasonable responses to the OP's post/question. I agree that 15 years of MS experience trumps being certified at this point in your career. Unless of course, those 15 years only included one shop year.
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June 01, 2016 10:50PM
Look above a few of the responses. Responding that I asked questions like a newbie.
I have never been certified, so yes, I am asking questions if it makes any kind of difference. In the forums, I noticed that a lot of people are certified. So I'm asking people with experience being certified, Do they get more jobs being certified, and just basically if it makes a difference.
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June 01, 2016 11:35PM
I silver certified a couple of years ago. I also paid for the gold certification but just could not sit thru the CD's. The only difference that I noticed was that in signing up for new companies they do ask for your certifications. Have no idea if it makes a difference in my bottom line but those CD's were just soooo boring.
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June 02, 2016 12:37AM
I was silver certified years ago and it made a difference at the time. I am still assigned some jobs that are given first preference to certified shoppers. They are shops that never hit the job board.

@Adore, if you are getting upset over someone making a reference to you asking newbie questions, you will need to grow a thicker skin asap. I was actually a bit surprised that someone with 15 years of shopping experience would just be asking about certifications all these years later.

BTW, I am one of the non-sugarcoated forum members so if you are easily offended, I suggest you toggle me now. It will not hurt my feelings at all. I encourage the thin-skinners to use the toggle feature.
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June 03, 2016 08:20PM
For the last three months I have run into problems with the Sassie Platform not accepting my silver certificate from MSPA. Eventually Leah Woods at MSPA Headquarters gave me a heads up that it was a problem on either the mysteryshop or Sassie itself. I found out today it is a Sassie problem now the mysteryshop. I received a call from Robert Smiley at Sassie who said he knows there is a problem. I asked him if he know when the problem with the Sassie Platform would be repaired so the Certificate number would be accepted. He said he didn't know. I have called several Mystery Shops and they said they should not have to manually update anything since they are paying for the Sassie platform. So if any of you are having the same problem with Sassie accepting your MSPA certificate number give Mr. Smiley a call at (774) 270-0757. Though I am not sure how much good it will do.

Michael G.
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June 03, 2016 09:49PM
there is no silver cert anymore
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June 04, 2016 06:26AM
Surprises me to read such a negative comment from a support forum. Negative Nancy on board. Re-evaluate yourself.
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June 04, 2016 10:41AM
lioness,
To whom are you referring, please?

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.
Reply
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