There are many differences between MSPA and IMSC, but here is the crucial one:
MSPA is an organization of many of the companies that provide mystery shopping opportunities. As such, it is also the lobbying arm of those companies. The policies and regulations for which it lobbies state and federal officials may benefit the companies, but they are NOT necessarily designed to benefit shoppers, no matter how hard the MSPA tries to scare shoppers to support their political agenda.
IMSC was formed by and is run by active shoppers, for the professional education and benefit of shoppers. MS companies that join must have a clean record of treating shoppers fairly.
IMSC has run between one and three shopper education conferences per year for (I think) 7-8 years. MSPA stopped doing shopper education workshops/conferences just before IMSC was formed to fill that gap. About 2 years ago MSPA started doing some shopper education conferences again. Some forum members have been to conferences of one or the other organization, a few may have been to both groups' conferences.
I agree entirely with Flash that this free forum is absolutely the best way for shoppers to learn and hone their skills, at not cost. I believe in shoppers and that shoppers are THE SINGLE BEST resource for shopper development and education. I also know that when I attended an MSPA workshop in 2005, 99 percent of the useful information that I gleaned was from networking with other shoppers, not from the MSPA member company reps or their paid speaker. Different people learn best or fastest from different sources. My experience with the effect that shopper in-person networking and tips from shoppers during workshops, is what impelled me to work with other shoppers to continue and expand shopper training conferences when MSPA discontinued them. And, after all of these years of attending IMSC conferences, I continue to come away from each one re-energized and with a couple of new ideas/skills that will make more money for me in the following years. In addition, I have had the opportunity to network with and form some lasting friendships with quite a few top schedulers, MS project managers, and editors who attend these conferences. (You may, of course, network with MS providers and/or their scheduler and editors at IMSC or at MSPA. The video MSC folks do tend to hang out at IMSC, though.)
Full disclose: I am not an officer or representative of the IMSC. However, I was there at the inception and I lead workshops at 1-2 conferences per year. I never paid to join, but last year was, to my surprise, made an honorary member so that I could contribute to their on-line education sites. IMSC speakers/workshop leaders are not paid and do not have their travel costs for conferences compensated. They do get to be at the conferences without paying an entry fee.
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.