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How did you become a Expert in Casino and Hotel Shops? They Seem long and tedious from your examples!

February 10, 2016 05:52AM
I thought this might help the other poster who did not get the Casino-Hotel Shop by providing advice how you became a professional in this area of shopping. How many shops do you think someone needs to accomplish to move on the a more advanced shop? What additional training and where could someone get that so their able to do Casino or Hotel shops with skills and abilities MSCs desire?



There's a Blog all the long-time shoppers probably came across "The Professional Hobo" by Nora Dunn. She's someone who is so dialed in all the leisure and travel companies, that they pay her to live a life without a regular home. Most of the regulars have probably read her blog so I thought you might enjoy reading about how she's able to stay afloat with very little money as she stay's at places we only dream about.

[www.theprofessionalhobo.com]

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/10/2016 05:54AM by Pennies4Shops.
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More About Hotel Mystery Shopping
February 10, 2016 06:56AM
That would seriously stress me out. I don't mind doing freelance/ICA work as a side hustle but I like the stability of having a full time day job and a full time apartment haha. But to each her own! I know some people are really into travel.
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February 10, 2016 01:36PM
The IMSC conferences that are held in Las Vegas in November almost always have training sessions on casino shops.

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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February 10, 2016 09:22PM
I came across a strange site offering "Video Training" for $1500 plus you have to buy all the video equipment from them. I know how to use a camera, video recorder and take good photos. I doubt many of our friends here have $1500 to spend on Video Training Scool to become someone's expert. People still have to learn how to read the instructions, follow through with our MSCs requirements and perform the job at high levels of conduct, some of the qualities are taught by repeatedly doing smaller shops and gradually getting a little bigger each time.
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February 10, 2016 10:26PM
My video seminar did not cost $1,500, more like $175. By the time I added in the cost of travel it was probably nearing $700. At that time a new camera could be had for $400 and I spent an additional $100 plus on shirts plus alterations for the button cam. All together I have probably invested between $3,000 and $4,000 in my video shopping which I started in 2010.

Keep in mind, video shopping is not pointing and shooting with a traditional video camera. We don't see what we are capturing until reviewing the shop after. The seminar taught me how to frame subjects along with tricks for unusual situations. Part of the day was also spent on the most common scenarios for video at that time, new homes, new cars and apartments.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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February 10, 2016 11:03PM
Video training is FREE at all IMSC conferences in 2016.

It is less about the equipment than it is about developing and maintaining a back story during an interaction that lasts between 20 and 180 minutes.

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
February 10, 2016 11:43PM
While agreeing the equipment is easy to use, it's not like someone can suit up and start performing shops without some training regardless of how good they are with maintaining aliases and back stories.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
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February 17, 2016 02:14AM
HS Brands does occasional casino training in person for areas where they have need. It was very well done, and doing it puts you at the top of their list (you simply write when/where you were trained when you apply). I have been shopping for a very long time and I actually learned things. The training was free and took a full afternoon. Another benefit is that then your face is in front of the project manager (for some people, I guess that might be a negative).

Now scheduling travel shops for the day after Christmas through mid-January.
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