I received an e-mail today about shopped fest 2015 and was wondering if anyone has attended previous fests? Is it worth going to it? What should I expect......is it something like a conference for mystery shoppers? The link for registration was not working, so does anyone know how I can register? Thank you

IMHO while it cant hurt you for the cost involved I would wait and go to an International Mystery Shoppers Confernece (IMSC). Both are mystery shopping conferences but one is held by an agency which caters to the MSPS and the other which is more for us the Shoppers. I have not gone to either but this is the consensus I have gotten on the forum and through my own experience with MSPA who holds the Shopperfest

The Independent Mystery Shoppers Coalition will hold a conference in Las Vegas in November. That's the "by-shoppers-for-shoppers conference. Lots of MSC reps also attend. AND, you can get free video training the day after the conference. Hurry, the price for admission goes up in a few days! They are expection 350+ shoppers last I heard.

Do you have a reference website where I can register?

Haven't been to one and don't think shopper fests are worth the price.

@sofi wrote:

Do you have a reference website where I can register?

[www.imscinfo.com]

BTW, I will be speaking or leading 1-2 sessions at the LV event. And, of course, my alternate screen name is "Will talk video for wine."

@walesmaven wrote:

BTW, I will be speaking or leading 1-2 sessions at the LV event. And, of course, my alternate screen name is "Will talk video for wine."

Walesmaven do you mind giving a bit more information on the event? I like the idea but the registration fee is a bit high and I just want to make sure that it will be something worth going it. I will be also coming from LA. Do you have to be a shopper to attend, my friend was interested in coming.

I have been to 6 of these IMSC conferences and learn new stuff that makes more money for me every time. There will be two very full days of workshops and programs on all aspects of improving you MS business and earnings. MSC schedulers and owners will be there, willing to network with you (A huge plus!) and shoppers gather in the evenings in informal groups in the bar or elsewhere to talk shop. Your friend can attend, but to go to any sessions would have to pay the registration fee. Oh, and there will also be lots of door prizes like free admission to a future conference, a video rig (at least there has been at least one at each conference lately), and other shopper needs. You will learn the fine points of route shopping, negotiating bonuses and route travel costs, the latest on technology to make you more effcient (and more money), feedback from expert editors and schedulers, how to work your way up to better paid shops, tax tips from experts, and will have dozens and dozens of interactions with shoppers and scheduler between sessions, at breakfast and receptions. Face time with schedulers is a huge deal in cementing relationships!

Because these are by-and-for-shoppers, you will get tips that will help you across the board, not just how to survive one or two MSC's guidelines or editing quirks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2015 06:06PM by walesmaven.

Thank you. That was very helpful......now to figure out how to afford this This can qualify as a business expense correct?

I just visited the website to see the exact dates and sadly they fall on Mon and Tue. This is too bad I was really looking forward to attending and was surpriced to see that it is during the week. Perhaps if it is on the weekend there will be a bigger audience

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2015 06:55PM by sofi.

They have tried various dates, but weekdays seem to draw the most shoppers. But, stay tuned: they run several conferences a year and at least one might be at a time when you can take a vacation day or two, or may be on a weekend. (Weekend hotel rates in LV are much higher, btw).

@walesmaven wrote:

They have tried various dates, but weekdays seem to draw the most shoppers. But, stay tuned: they run several conferences a year and at least one might be at a time when you can take a vacation day or two, or may be on a weekend. (Weekend hotel rates in LV are much higher, btw).

What would be the best way to stay tuned to upcoming conferences? Are they always in Vegas? Thank you walesmaven you have been very helpful

Only one per year is in Las Vegas. I think that the spring 2016 is Indianapolis.

Go to the IMSC web site (above) or they Facebook site, I think. Also, they usually announce in these forums.

@walesmaven -- glad to see they hired you again this year.

Does anybody have any information about Shopper Fest 2015?

For information on Shopperfest2015 go to www.mysteryshop.org.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2015 08:20AM by dcrector.

Jacob,
Thanks, but since there is no pay, I wouldn't say I was hired, lol. I have presented or managed a presentation at one IMSC conference per year, every year but one since the first conference 6 years ago. Just to set the record straight, while it is true that presenters have the conference fee waived, we all pay out own travel, lodging and food costs. I think that I can speak for all of the presenters when I say that this is our way of "paying forward" the support that we got when we were newbies! As a bonus, I always come away from an IMSC conference newly energized and enthusiastic about MS.

@dcrector wrote:

For information on Shopperfest2015 go to www.mysteryshop.org.

I saw that, but I guess what I am wondering is if they are going to put up a list of attendees (MSPs) and they are going to explain what you get for the $150? I see that there are classes too, as an add-on cost. Besides the dinner at the Pirate Place and the classes, what happens the rest of the time?

ETA: LOL when I spoke on a panel to the MSPs, I got paid.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2015 04:25PM by SoCalMama.

@dcrector, are you affiliated with the MSPA or ShopperFest?

@Sybil2 wrote:

@dcrector, are you affiliated with the MSPA or ShopperFest?

I think that Doug has a board position at MSPA this year? He is an MSC owner, but he can come back and give the details. (Only answering before there is speculation here.)

Well, if he is who you say he is, I thought MSC owners, editors, schedulers. etc. are supposed to say who they are or have some sort of signature line when posting in this forum.

ETA: I have no idea who Doug is.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2015 05:23PM by Sybil2.

@Sybil2 wrote:

Well, if he is who you say he is, I thought MSC owners, editors, schedulers. etc. are supposed to say who they are or have some sort of signature line when posting in this forum.

ETA: I have no idea who Doug is.

Doug Rector owns NWLPC. There is something weird with the signatures here lately too, I think?

He is based in Washington State.

As much as people love to bash him, on a personal level, Doug is a stand-up guy. It's not like I work for him a lot, maybe 1-2 times a year at most, but over the years, I have been very impressed. I posted about a shop that went south really fast, and he paid for my whole family to eat somewhere else that night. In almost 20 years, I have never had that happen.

@SoCalMama wrote:

I see that there are classes too, as an add-on cost.

Per the event website: "The registration fee includes the cost of attendance at all general and concurrent sessions, social functions and planned meals."

It's my understanding from that, the classes on the agenda for Saturday are included in the price, but the Sunday certifications require an additional fee.

My question would be more about what experienced shoppers can get from of the event. I'm not really interested in learning about writing restaurant evaluations or getting further certified at this point in my MSing career. However, it's nice to see that the shopperfest is including an initial session that's open to the public and complimentary, so those interested in MSing can come and get an idea of what it's all about.

It's unclear if the opening reception afterward is also open to the public, but that would be the best option for networking IMHO. The MSPA is holding the CXE3 event in LA for the few days before the shopperfest, so I expect there will be a number of MSP reps in the area that day. It would be nice if the reception was also open on a complimentary basis to shoppers who could both network with reps from the MSCs and also speak with newer, up & coming shoppers that could benefit from the classes offered, as well as speaking with experienced shoppers. That would be a win/win for all involved.

Ah OK. When I checked two weeks ago. None of that was up yet. BRB

ETA: Maybe I'll go Friday night through Saturday at 5 PM. I for sure don't need any classes on Sunday.

I'm hoping that this is the right property?
Embassy Suites Anaheim - North, 3100 East Frontera, Anaheim, California, 92806, USA

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/28/2015 06:17PM by SoCalMama.

That's the one, SoCalMama. Perhaps I'll meet you there for a beverage...

Tagging Doug so perhaps we get an answer:

@dcrector wrote:

For information on Shopperfest2015 go to www.mysteryshop.org.

Doug, are we experienced shoppers invited to the reception without paying for the entire event?....and with there be a bar there?

@SteveSoCal wrote:

That's the one, SoCalMama. Perhaps I'll meet you there for a beverage...

Tagging Doug so perhaps we get an answer:

@dcrector wrote:

For information on Shopperfest2015 go to www.mysteryshop.org.

Doug, are we experienced shoppers invited to the reception without paying for the entire event?....and with there be a bar there?

Free drinks anyway for manager's happy hour from 5-7 usually. I booked a room with 30,000 points.

... and there are a LOT of better places to drink. I'm hoping YOU pick up the shop.
Don't make me do all the work here.

I'm just pondering the $150 fee right now. I'll probably pull the trigger later. I can write it off.

One day for $150?

I think that you can still get TWO full days of classes at IMSC in Las Vegas in November for $150 until a deadline that is looming when the fee goes up. Plus if you stay for a 3rd day of video training, that is free if you join IMSC ($50 per year) which also gets you discounts on video equipment and future conferences.

But just like assignments, there are different options for different needs.

To me, the pricing looks somewhat similar. The at the door rate for the IMSC event is $150 per day. With the current discount offered by MSPA, you could attend their event over the weekend plus get a video certification for $190. A single day of classes and a certification with the IMSC would be a similar price point (Slightly less now, and slight more closer to the conference date). That requires the shopper to be in Vegas on weekdays, however.

If you are a newbie shopper with a weekday job in So Cal who may want to see what MSing is all about, don't you think there's room for them being able to stop by on the weekend shopperfest and get their feet wet? Conversely, anyone living in Vegas that was interested in shopping may be better off to try to attend the conference there. The travel and hotels are the majority of the expense that shoppers incur, it seems.

Didn't someone mention that the majority of meals are included at ShopperFest?

@walesmaven wrote:

One day for $150?

I think that you can still get TWO full days of classes at IMSC in Las Vegas in November for $150 until a deadline that is looming when the fee goes up. Plus if you stay for a 3rd day of video training, that is free if you join IMSC ($50 per year) which also gets you discounts on video equipment and future conferences.

No it's not one day; it's 3 for $150

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2015 02:34AM by SoCalMama.