I was wondering is this for Mystery shoppers or for Mystery Shop Companies I saw this advertised somewhere and I wasn't sure. Thanks!

Definitely shoppers, but people from MS companies will likely be there too.

I looked at going but the hotel is 129 dollars a night before tax and they charge for parking, add that to the registration fee and it is a lot of money for me. I am not making that kind of money yet.

The IMSC conference in November in Las Vegas may be a better value, and they will help you to find someone whith whom the share (a less expensive) hotel room. They also have a No Shopper Left Behind program to assist newer shoppers who cannot afford the registration fee.

What Wales said.

Also, even if travel makes ShopperFest the better fit, think of it as an investment in your business. A conference is not something you go to because you make money doing this. It's something you go to in order to make more money doing this.

I have been to two IMSC conferences and both of them paid for themselves many times over in either both in new work from companies in attendance as well as from learning things that make me more productive.

Thank you. These are valid points and I appreciate your help. I guess going to the one with the most speakers and topics would get me the most value, so I will probably wait until November. I just checked the IMSC website and I see they have a teleconference in March for about 30 dollars a day, I am going to email them to find out more about that too.

See you in November then! IMSC conferences are packed with great sessions and most of the workshop leaders are shoppers and/or schedulers. There is almost always an editor panel session with great tips on how to work smarter, not harder. I usually do a workshop on Jump Starting Your Shopper Earnings that seems to be quite popular with newer shoppers.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/14/2017 03:53PM by walesmaven.

The IMSC Website doesn't have much on it. Every time I click on a link, the page is empty. Has anyone attended both IMSC and MSPA conferences? Is one better than the other?

Chelsea, it is probably too early for IMSC to have a conference schedule and registration set up for the November 2017 conference. However, try sending and email to imscinfo@ymail.com to see what is currently available.

The hotel will be the Flamingo in LV. We do get a special rate there, which will show up once everything is finalized and they are ready to take reservations. Typically the IMSC is two VERY full days and early evenings of workshops. Some years there is also a separate (separate fee) for a networking dinner and drinks, if you like, the night before the first conference day. However, you will find plenty of time for networking the other days and evenings as well and all of the conference MSC sponsors will have tables and various managers ready to engage with shoppers both between and during sessions. There is also usually a full day of video training for beginners and one for advanced video shoppers, which are just before and/or after the IMSC conference dates. Those are run separately by Video Pros. Jeff of VP posts here. The special hotel room rate is available for several days before and after the conference for those who wish to attend the video workshops and/or who have NV REQUIRED shopper credentials and wish to make money doing ships in the area. Finally, reps from the NV licensing board are usually on hand to help shoppers sign up, get fingerprinted and pay for NV credentials, on site. (Thereafter, the credentials will arrive by mail 2 to 12 weeks later.)

Thanks for the information. I live in the Southwest so it might make sense for me to go.

What are the dates for ShopperFest 2017?

If you're too lazy to google "MSPA Shopperfest 2017" and click on the first link perhaps MS isn't a good fit for you.
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@bgriffin wrote:

If you're too lazy to google "MSPA Shopperfest 2017" and click on the first link perhaps MS isn't a good fit for you.
Mod note: Posting Guidelines state:"...Add a positive contribution..."

I tried to do a Google search but I could not find anything. If I don't get to attend a conference, how am I going to learn more about mystery shopping and find out if MSing is a good fit for me? How am I supposed to improve without some guidance?

ETA: BTW, I just read this post and it was already moderated so I don't know what was actually removed. I can assure you that I did not report you since I just entered this thread. Does that mean that another forum member or other forum members reported your post to a moderator? Something to ponder, huh?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2017 04:36PM by Sybil2.

Waleshaven what is the difference between the IMSC and the MSC conference? Which would be better to go to I live in Pa and I have been doing this full time but I haven't done any hotels or video shopping yet and I thought getting trained would be a good idea. I was thinking of going to the Florida Conference because it's closer. Also is everyone MSPA certified? Pros and Cons please

I have saved money to go on this trip, I hope I have enough in time for the conference. SSDD for the above post, ugh.

SSDD?

Same *stuff* different day.

Also my post was unedited. It simply had a moderator note attached. I suppose that means we can all insult each other at will now!

I had wondered about being certified myself. I haven't done it, but there is no shortage of finding things to do so far. I have spotted a few shops that want the MSPA certification and a few more that want payment for drug tests and background checks. I don't know what's worth what with which companies *shrugs* so I've been chugging along and learning what I can here.

Only if it's in fun. I don't mind snark, but ill intent can be omitted, please.

From reading past posts by walesmaven, she is clearly pro-IMSC which is 100% her prerogative. If you do a forum search with "IMSC" and/or "MSPA" or "ShopperFest" as key words and check "all dates," you find more pros and cons or neutral threads/posts to make an informed decision. I myself have not attended a conference so I prefer reading posts from people who have attended both conferences.

I like the fact that there are at least two conference options, three if you count the video shopping conference, for shoppers to choose from. The IMSC conferences always seem to be on weekdays which is not good for me since I work a FT job. I don't want to take vacation days to attend a conference but that is just me. For a FT shopper with a more flexible schedule, weekday conferences may not be an issue for them.

I got MSPA gold certified at a conference in 2003, Clinen. It was a blast. Now it's done online and I think it cheapens the certification. But I know I've gotten emails that clearly stated the jobs were being offered to MSPA gold shoppers first. There are others in here who are so well established and don't have any certifications but are kicking arse with shopping. I went to the IMSC conference in Indiana earlier this year and it also was a lot of fun, plus they offered free video shopper training which is invaluable. If Vegas wasn't so far away I'd go in November.

Syb, the IMSC one I went to was on a weekend.

Edited because my phone thinks you're a sub. Now I'm hungry.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/15/2017 05:24PM by JASFLALMT.

@JASFLALMT, I did not know that you were a video shopper. I sometimes wish I had more flexibility to get into video. Alas it is not in the cards at this time.

@JASFLALMT I'm looking to step up my mystery shopping to some higher level jobs and thought video shopping and hotels might work well for me. Haven't done any yet just researching so I know what I'm getting into. I've been offered such jobs but want to be trained first. What are hotel shops like? I think I"ll do what you suggested and get video training somewhere also. Thanks for all the comments you have posted

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Syb, the IMSC one I went to was on a weekend.

Edited because my phone thinks you're a sub. Now I'm hungry.

We have grinders in my area but in this day in age, I think grinder takes on a whole different meaning!

Hotel shops are intensive work but I love them.

My husband served me breakfast in bed. I love him.

Darned squirrel. Sorry bout that.

What do they offer at Shopper Fest?

@JASFLALMT wrote:

Darned squirrel. Sorry bout that.

What do they offer at Shopper Fest?

Ask bgriffin since he has had better luck than me.

HA!

I've never been so can't tell ya much. I do plan on going this year though.

The dates are June 16-18 I believe.