Hello from California Bay Area

Hi, everyone! [waves]
I'm just getting started as a Mystery Shopper. In fact, I'm still in what I call the "research phase." I'm reading forums to get educated on the whole subject before I get started. I have a couple of questions I hope you all can help me with:
1. What is Certification? Do you think it's worth the time and money?
2. Are you a member of any of the professional associations such as IMSC, MSPA, IASE? Which one and why?
3. Can you suggest any other info a complete newbie like myself should know to get started?
Thank you VERY much for your time and help.
Renee

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Hello !!! You will get varying opinions on certification and I think many (most) shoppers will tell you they are able to get most, if not, the same shop opportunities without having any certification. You may want to search on the threads about how some people have trouble entering their certification code into their online shopping application. I can tell you I don't have certification and I see many many kinds of jobs including hotel offers and video shops. I know I can't see everything but I think those shops are for very very experienced and reliable shoppers, the veterans of the industry.

Just keep reading and sign up with as many companies as you can.

Welcome No.CA, where i wa born....keep reading, it' not complicated, sign with different companies and pick what you like, in a couple months you'll be giving advice.

Live consciously....

Although I am personally MSPA gold certified, I wouldn't bother in this day and age. I got my certification from going to a gold certification seminar where I networked with MSCs and other shoppers. Now they have some cheesy online certification that isn't worth much, and shoppers who have obtained this certification over the past few years have been disappointed, not only with what the certification offered but also because the codes given haven't been working with the MSC websites. If you are taking the time to research, you are going to learn just as much by reading and studying forums. That being said, going to some of the conferences for both the IMSC and MSPA might be worth it to you to attend. I haven't been to Shopperfest (MSPA) but I have been to an IMSC conference, which included video training. It was fun and informative. I know nothing about the IASE.

Have you visited the link below for new shoppers? There is a huge amount of information there. Good luck and happy shopping!

Oh, by the way, my cousin Scott is the harbormaster in San Mateo and my oldest sister lives in Palo Alto. I love Northern CA!!!!

My two favorite cousins are in Hillsborough and San Mateo with my sister now in Palo Alto...know the whole area
well, love the Stanford shopping center, best in the west. Where do you live in No.CA?

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2017 01:55AM by Irene_L.A..

Thank you, everyone, for the replies. I particularly appreciated 7star and JASFLALMT's comments regarding certification. Based on those replies, and also what I've been reading elsewhere, I'm going to hold off on certification.

I've done a few shops since I posted my original message. I've learned quite a few lessons already.

To Irene_L.A., I live in the East Bay (Contra Costa County, hence my screen name), nowhere near the places you mentioned.

The Bay Area is a big place, and it would take me a good hour to drive to Stanford Shopping Center with no traffic (ha ha, like that ever happens) or probably more like an hour and a half.

Thanks again for the replies. I really appreciate it!

Hi Cococogal - I think you've made a wise choice not going for certification. I too have learned a lot from the from forum and by actually doing shops. This forum is invaluable. I've learned to do in-person shops, phone shops and web shops. What kinds of shops have you tried and how did you like them ?

I have my Silver Certification, gotten when I started and not sorry. many say it's not needed, individual preference
I thought you lived in the East bay, I am a citygirl, having been born in San Francisco.....but it's gotten so crowded. I sometimes fly into Oakland and take the train in when my sister worked at Saks....

Live consciously....

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login

Hello from California Bay Area

Create an Account or Log In

Official List of Mystery Shopping Companies

Mystery Shopper Magazine