Hello,

I am new to mystery shopping and was wondering if it is worth getting a silver or gold certification from MSPA? What are the advantages/benefits?
I would appreciate any input that I can receive to help make the decision.
Thank you!

I got silver certified and it has made no difference to the mystery shops I've been able to get.

I became silver certified during my 4th yr. in the business. To my knowledge, it hasn't in any manner been beneficial.

I got silver certified very early on in my MSing career. If you have been shopping successfully for a while, it is probably not worth it. If you are having shops rejected, it might be something to look into.

While I am not convinced it will actually get you more shops the first time you apply for the shop, I do believe that if you are uncertain about how to go about mystery shopping or how to answer the questions it may help.

Learning how to complete a shop right without the need for clarification is likely to help you do a shop with a company a second or third time.

Save your money...I am neither and get tons of work.

It appears that Silver Certification does not offer any benifits. Does a Gold Certification offer any benifits or similar to Silver? I too was considering being certificed to give myself an edge.

I am Gold certified. It has paid for itself by getting my application seen first over non certified shoppers on the sassie system. I have been invited to join companies seeking only MSPA certified shoppers.

If two people apply for the same job with the same rating- one is certified and the other is not, the certification gives an edge with new companies you have no history with.

Some people go to conventions and meet face to face for an edge, some people choose certification. I say whatever helps you stand out if you're new to this.

Monarch do you think the silver Certified get the same treatment?

I'm not sure. I spoke to a few schedulers before I paid for gold. They told me that the gold certified shopper applications are listed first, then the silver then non. I know in the prophet system, gold and silver members are notified first for shops.

Its a toss up my friend. If you're considering certification, I would try silver, and see if it boots your income. If it does- go gold

I have neither certification and it's very useful for putting your money into MSPA's pocket.

I've been shopping for 19 years now and have not yet been given a hassle by any MS company about it.

NO. Use that $ to invest in your MS biz. Equipment or shopping costs.

nanabelle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Save your money...I am neither and get tons of
> work.

Agreed. Reliability and accuracy seems to be of most importance to the MS companies.

When I got my Silver certification, the cost was quite low. Can't remember now how much I paid, but I'm thinking it was $25 or less. There is some preference for certified shoppers, but there are plenty of shops you can get without being certified.

That said, becoming certified and being able to provide your certification indicates to MSPs that you are a professional. When you are new to a company, certification can enhance your credibility. And, it is a tax-deductible expense.

I got Silver and not Gold. Silver only cost $15 and I felt like it was a no-brainer test. Many MSCs ask if shoppers are certified, and, if you are, they ask your number. I have two relatives shopping. Neither is certified and both see exactly the same shops I do. There is ONE shop for ONE MSC (Reality Based) that both relatives can see but can not perform because it requires a certified (Silver or Gold) shopper. I haven't figured out why certified is necessary on that shop - it's an easy shop and the pay is so low I have never taken it again after the first time. As for schedulers giving Silver and Gold certified shoppers preference, I would say I see more preference given for demographics - gender, age, etc. - than for certification.

I am also silver and gold certified and I think it matters to some of the MSC's out there as they do ask for the type of certification when you fill out your application online.

I've been certified for about two years. I don't think it makes a large difference because you will be able to get plenty of jobs if you're not certified. If you're dependable and turn in comprehensive reports, you'll get work whether you have certification or not. Because of contacts I've had for MSPA certified shoppers, I think it gives me a little edge with some MSCs on some jobs. For those of you who might want proof, sorry. This little post is all you get.

For a fee of $15 and some of your time, you can get your name on the list of the MSPA silver certified shoppers, and you'll probably be contacted now and then by someone you haven't worked with in the past. That was my experience. The gold course that I took had good information for a beginner, but if you're an experienced shopper you won't learn from it. The course needs to be expanded and improved, and it should be on the level with an on line university course. Of course, then it wouldn't be $100; it would be several hundred dollars.

I do not believe that I see better jobs, or more jobs, or jobs that pay better on a day to day basis. Every now and then an unexpected apple falls off the tree, and I never turn it down.

If money is an issue, and most of the time it is, I recommend getting the silver certification only, reading this forum, and studying the guidelines and instructions from the MSCs. The gold course has instruction above and beyond the silver, but you can pick up everything you need to know on this forum if you read back posted threads and read the threads going on every day. Do not underestimate what you can pick up here. I cannot put a value on it.

For a general idea of what is included in the gold course, you can google Cathy Stucker and sign up for the free email shopping course she offers. It's very similar to the gold course she teaches for the MSPA.

So, my final recommendation is:

Get Cathy Stucker's free course.
Read this forum.
Certify for the silver because it helps the companies find you, not because you learn anything. Consider it a registration process.
Certify for the gold if and when you feel the time is right for you.

monarch2003 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm not sure. I spoke to a few schedulers before I
> paid for gold. They told me that the gold
> certified shopper applications are listed first,
> then the silver then non. I know in the prophet
> system, gold and silver members are notified first
> for shops.

Very few companies do that, but some do. It's one of the rare benefits to being certified. I'm Gold and I didn't notice a change in jobs before or after Silver or Gold. I had a solid reputation beforehand and, frankly, that's worth more than a test result.

I could give you stats about how fewer Gold or Silver shoppers flake, which is one of the things the MSPA touts as to why you'd be sought after. However, I've seen some lousy Gold reports and some stellar uncertified reports. Your personal reputation, regardless of certification, is the biggest factor in getting work.

Every time I see this thread title, I think of Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon. Now if the thought of Christmas would only cool me down a little.

Stacy......now I can't get that song out of my head!!!


StacyP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Every time I see this thread title, I think of
> Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" in the Rudolph
> the Red-Nosed Reindeer cartoon. Now if the thought
> of Christmas would only cool me down a little.

I spent the money about 10 years ago to get those certifications. I think sometimes I have been given preference when a scheduler calls me on the phone and needs help with a shop they are stuck with. In that way I think I made back the investment. Otherwise, it's your reliability, your history, and your track record.

I am Silver certified. I would say get Silver Certified. I know for a fact that I get first dibs on shops because things that I am allowed to see as a Silver shopper, non certified people do not see. For instance, my sister is not certified and when Q4B sends out their shop waves, I get them and she doesn't. It's not until they exaust their efforts, does she see those jobs. It also depends on the types of jobs you want. There is one company that won't assign hotel shops if you are not Silver or Gold Certified. I would say, get the Silver if you want to have more options.