Your thoughts on the MSPA video course..
Warning: For Full Access Please Log In or Create an Account (Free)
I misread the post. No comment.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2015 04:00AM by scanman1.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/2015 04:00AM by scanman1.
I don't know because I do not know who is doing the training. However, you should know that their claim that their cetification is the only one recognized throughout the MSPA (or words to that effect) means absolutely nothing to the major video MSCs. Many are not MSPA mambers; others have preferred trainers and care not which organization has issued the certification as long as they trust the trainer; others will train and mentor new shoppers by phone and email. In addition, individual video shoppers often mentor newbies, in lieu of formal training. If your video product meets the client/industry standards, certification won't matter. Personally, if you really want formal training and certification, I highly recommend training by Kathy Hart who will run a class in November, the day after the Las Vegas IMSC conference. VSN does recognize that certification, BTW.
BTW, I have no certification; I started video work in 2005, long before there was organized training, much less certification.
BTW, I have no certification; I started video work in 2005, long before there was organized training, much less certification.
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.
Like Wales I pick up plenty of video work and I am not certified.
Thank you walesmaven. I have been in contact with an MSP who has agreed to loan me the equipment to complete some shops where I am. They also stated they would coach me over the phone and point me to some videos. Between now and when the training is maybe I will change my mind about going.
@walesmaven wrote:
I highly recommend training by Kathy Hart who will run a class in November, the day after the Las Vegas IMSC conference.
I hate to disappoint, but I will actually be the one leading the training at the IMSC Conference in Las Vegas this November. Kathy Hart will be the trainer for the class coming up in San Diego in a couple of weeks.
Wow! Those of you who meet Servanne are in for a treat! I have known her for many years and learned soooo much from her at IMSC conferences and on line. She is a superb shopper trainer and great fun. Only Cettie has had more MS adventures, and misadventures, than Servanne. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in her training class!
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.
I haven't heard of the IMSC before. I'm assuming it stands for International Mystery Shopping (something) and would like to find out more about the Las Vegas convention.
IMSC is the Independent Mystery Shoppers Coalition. It is by shoppers, for shoppers professional development and education.
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.
I ordered the DVDs for the Gold Certification and have been Gold-certified for about three years. The classes are informative for newbies but mostly review for old-timers like me (been shopping since 1998!). I think my certification opens doors for me that put me a notch above the competition when companies are looking for "that one perfect shopper" for those golden egg shops. I received an assignment like that from Servanne and think she is top notch!
Mystery Shopper since 1998; Author of Make Money Mystery Shopping available on Amazon in the Kindle Store.
Gold certification had nothing to do with video shopping.
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.
the person above my post talked about gold certification. i just wanted to know how much it cost. is that against forum rules/
Of course not. I just wanted to clarify because many new posters would not see the distinction between a "video" course and the DVD-based MSPA Gold Certification course. Nothing that was said was incorrect; I just wanted to make it clear that there were two different entities.
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.
I found video shopping too challenging. I did a real estate shop. The target was a very tall man. I kept aiming my chest at him but had no idea if I was capturing his face or his belt buckle. One never knows until back in the car to see what you've got. It was not something I was comfortable with.
sail2sunset
Delray Beach FL
Delray Beach FL
One learns by trying out things at home, using different items in the house to represent people of different heights, for instance. You learn when you may have to back up a bit to get the best "view" of a particularly tall person, for instance rather than trying to "aim". But all of us who have done a lot of video work still have times when things just do not go right due to matters outside of our control. That's when you immediately call the scheduler so that she has a chance to send in a back-up shopper. You will be endearing yourself to the scheduler by letting her know and you will not be penalized! I know, because that has happened to me more than once in 10 years of video shopping. Most videos go quite smoothly.
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.
I did not take the course and instead found a gracious scheduler and company who loaned me the equipment to start video shopping. I have only completed six video shops so far and one was a disaster because the cord came unplugged from the camera. Each shop got a little better as I went along. I had to buy a new shirt for the button cam and you should have seen the sales lady trying to figure out what I was doing in the mirror! LOL I am tall and had to put the camera below the bust line or right at and then tape it to keep in line of site of the target. I am going to attempt to put together a route of shops traveling through a couple of states I have family in next. My husband is working out of state so I thought why not?
@iamloved1 wrote:
I ordered the DVDs for the Gold Certification and have been Gold-certified for about three years. The classes are informative for newbies but mostly review for old-timers like me (been shopping since 1998!). I think my certification opens doors for me that put me a notch above the competition when companies are looking for "that one perfect shopper" for those golden egg shops. I received an assignment like that from Servanne and think she is top notch!
iamloved1, thanks for the nice compliment! I am not sure who you are IRL, but I wanted to make clear that certification by the MSPA does not give you [priority for any of the jobs I currently schedule. A video shopping certification, regardless of the source, will give you an edge however, as it will show me you have learned the basics of video shopping. Hope that clarifies things a bit!
There is no such thing as a stupid question, so ask away! And remember: to each his own.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.