Has anyone attended this class? It cost $125 and they are trying to say you will have beter jobs available to you. Just wanted to get some of the veteren shoppers thoughts.

Thanks!

This is a well established company that has been doing video shopper training for about 2 years. Carrie Porhammer has previously offered only in-person workshops, which cost most shoppers more, since they had to travel to the training site, often involving an overnight stay as well. I think that the online seminars are a new venture of hers to try to lower the entry cost for many new video shoppers.

Please do a search on the forums for "video" for all dates and you will find a ton of info on the increased fees paid to video shoppers. Video shops range from a low of about $35 fee plus free oil change to well over $100. Some come with additional travel bonuses.

If the intent and goal of this certification is instructional and informational only, then I have no problem with you or anyone getting training for proper usage and application of video equipment. What I am leery of and suspect what may be attempted here is as follows. The "certification" provided is being marketed as something that might be used by MS providers to assign shops based on this certification. In other words, are they trying to set a new bar, using this "certification" as prerequisite for getting any video assignments? So, those that have been doing them for years may be forced to take this "certification" prior to any videos being assigned. More rules, made by whom for whom? There are plenty of practice videos to upload and play with on company websites that allow for self training and no certification is required. Practice is what is required, not more "certifications" Try doing for yourself first. You will be better for it and save some money

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 01:14PM by beisen.

What follows is my understanding of the background and current status of this certification:
The company has offered exactly this certification for more than two years. It is recognized by the seven founding members (video companies) of VSN, the
Video Shopper Network, plus several other MSCs as valuable training. It simply means that they recognize its value. I have been video shopping for longer than the founder of Undercover Essential, have never been certified, and continue to get as many, or more, video shops as/than I can handle. I was trained, one-on-one by an MSC employee back when the MSCs themselves tried to train enough shoppers to fill the demand. They soon realized that in order to effectively market video shopping, they would need far more trained shoppers, and helped Carrie Porhammer initiate Undercover Essentials. The seven companies do get the names and contact information of UE trained shoppers (with their permission, of course). Carrie would be the first to tell you, I think, that one day of training does not "make" a video shopper. What is does do it to get the shopper a far better shot at trying out video shopping with good chances of success. I advise, and know that she advises, that ALL prospective video shoppers do a few shops using MSC-supplied equipment, before investing $300 (or MUCH more) for their own equipment. Carrie does not sell equipment, as far as I know.

It is also my understanding that the "big seven" video shopping companies are no longer subsidizing the costs of the in-person workshops but have publically declared their continued support for UE efforts on the VSN forum site. In addition, many new video shoppers continue to start by borrowing MSC owned equipment, reading the instructions, and getting some phone coaching from the scheduler to get started. However, it is NOT mastering the equipment that is the essential thing. Failed or compromised shops are nearly always due to poor scenario design and presentation, now that the newer equipment is so reliable. The most important part of what Carrie, or any mentor, can present is how to develop and maintain a good scenario for a complex shop that may run 30 to 120 minutes or more.

Finally, I have NO affiliation with Undercover Essentials and do not represent any MSC.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 04:18PM by walesmaven.

If you have more than you can handle, please let me know your secret. I do a fair share, but I have been searching for videos and they are few and far in between, of late.

beisen,
Where are you located? Are you available M-F during daylight hours? Do you travel overnight to do video routes? Are you signed up with VSN and checking their job board daily? Are you signed up with the seven VSN sponsors plus EPMS and a few other MSCs that do video but are not VSN sponsors? Do you own your own equipment? Do you post your anticipated travel routes/schedules at VSN asking for shops along your route? When you finish a video shop do you immediately call the scheduler to report the results so that if there was a problem they can immediately recruit another shopper to make a second visit? If you use MSC video equipment do you return it within 24 hours of completing a shop? Do you encourage other successful shoppers to learn video shopping and offer to mentor them? Do you offer help to other video shoppers on whatever forum they post questions and issues, so that the level of video performance can be enhanced across the contry? Do you network, outside of the forums, with fellow video shoppers and/or video schedulers? No one of these factors would be decisive, BUT, the combined affect of such considerations may well influence how many shops you are offered as much as your shopper technical ratings. This is one of the ways in which video work differs so remarkably from standard, written shopping assignments. Individual shopper qualities ARE greatly valued in the video community, whereas in the traditional MSC area, it is very, very rare to find an MSC that places a high value on any individual shopper. As Mike Bare (one of the founders and past president of the MSPA) said (or words to this effect) at the first IMSC conference: You [shoppers] are a dime a dozen. We don't have to worry about what you think and we can always find a replacement.

Also, I get about half to 70 percent of my video assignments by email offer, not from applying via the jobs boards. Those shops will never show up on the boards. And, I am not afraid to "out" MSCs, including video MSCs that fail to pay or who will lie to or otherwise fail to support shoppers, as my posts about a certain (former, as far as I can tell) video company in AZ, and my refusal to do video shops for Bare will attest.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 04:19PM by walesmaven.

Sorry, duplicate post.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 04:20PM by walesmaven.

Hi, I am located in Fl. I have no problem traveling if the fees warrant the added expense of course. I will check out the VSN now, thanks for the tip! I am curious who you consider the Big 7 ? I believe I am signed on with the larger ones anyway.

I started Mystery shopping in 2004 and loved it ever since. In September 2010, I ran across a shop that was paying $75 and I immediately thought "Ca-Ching". When I asked for details, I found out that it was a video shop. This was for Instant Replays. Well the lady trusted me to do 3 of them and she told me she would send me the equipment. She walked me through the steps over the phone and told me what was expected. I completed those 3 shops and got the nice pay plus extra for my gas. YAY. Then I say that EPMS had some video shops as well. They did the same thing and sent me equipment. I did one for them and BAM. Then in the early part of 2011 I decided that I need to go ahead and do something to pay off this Student Loan of mine, well I posted a question about Video and asked was it really worth it. Carrie sent me a message and told me about the training.

The idea of the training is...These companies network with Clients in order to obtain their business. The client in return, is looking for quality video to monitor their employees. When the company can't produce what the client is looking for then the client moves along to another company. So the MS company has decided, that they need trustworthy, serious, reliable shoppers that can go in and follow the requirements of their clients. In turn, the shopper makes a nice little fee. That is why the workshop is offered. The companies want people who are serious and properly trained.

I have been called by MS company owners asking me to go in and do a shop because, "THE SHOPPER FLAKED".

I had to sit out for 6 weeks to have my 2nd child but I am back at it. Those MS companies also refer you to the other company when you perform well.


I have no affilitation with the UE either but by taking it, I have been afforded the opportunity to make more money.

beisen,
The stated fees for video shops are just a starting poitn for negotiating travel bonuses to cover your main travel expenses. (Except for EPMS, which does not support travel.) You are sitting in the major hotbed of video shopping, in Florida.

The "big 7" are the sponsors named on the VSN site, which has been operating for over a year now and is often referenced here and on the volition forum. Those companies are also supporters of the IMSC conferences, which are particularly good places to network with other video shoppers and schedulers. Just using word of mouth, over 30 video shoppers had a long, informal lunch together at the recent Chicago IMSC conference. We also had several discussion groups, all informal, in the halls and bars at all hours of the day and well into the night. The door is open to anyone who is enthusiastic about video. Skeptical newcomers are also very welcome.

prettygul1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I started Mystery shopping in 2004 and loved it
> ever since. In September 2010, I ran across a
> shop that was paying $75 and I immediately thought
> "Ca-Ching". When I asked for details, I found out
> that it was a video shop. This was for Instant
> Replays. Well the lady trusted me to do 3 of them
> and she told me she would send me the equipment.
> She walked me through the steps over the phone and
> told me what was expected. I completed those 3
> shops and got the nice pay plus extra for my gas.
> YAY. Then I say that EPMS had some video shops as
> well. They did the same thing and sent me
> equipment. I did one for them and BAM. Then in
> the early part of 2011 I decided that I need to go
> ahead and do something to pay off this Student
> Loan of mine, well I posted a question about Video
> and asked was it really worth it. Carrie sent me
> a message and told me about the training.
>
> The idea of the training is...These companies
> network with Clients in order to obtain their
> business. The client in return, is looking for
> quality video to monitor their employees. When
> the company can't produce what the client is
> looking for then the client moves along to another
> company. So the MS company has decided, that they
> need trustworthy, serious, reliable shoppers that
> can go in and follow the requirements of their
> clients. In turn, the shopper makes a nice little
> fee. That is why the workshop is offered. The
> companies want people who are serious and properly
> trained.
>
> I have been called by MS company owners asking me
> to go in and do a shop because, "THE SHOPPER
> FLAKED".
>
> I had to sit out for 6 weeks to have my 2nd child
> but I am back at it. Those MS companies also
> refer you to the other company when you perform
> well.
>
>
> I have no affilitation with the UE either but by
> taking it, I have been afforded the opportunity to
> make more money.


So are you in effect saying the MS companies draw (or show preference) from this training company as opposed to drawing from those that do not/have not attended? Is it a closed circuit? How have you obtained your explosive expansion in video shops? referrals from this training session, company thing?

Video companies may be more willing to try out shoppers who have been trained by UE, but, believe me, if you do 2-3 shops competantly for any video company and promote yourself by being helpful to shoppers and schedulers, you will have plenty of work. The big seven video companies all share their shopper lists, with the consent of the shoppers, but also share their assessments of the shopper. That is not to say that any one of them could "blackball" a shopper. At the moment, I have reason to believe that one of the big seven may only assign to me when they cannot find another local shopper, BUT all of the others that I am signed up with continue to offer me first crack at shops in areas that they know I will or suspect I might travel to regularly.

My estimate is that fewer than half of new video shoppers in the past year have been certified before starting to shop. BUT, many who have started to do video then sign up for the training to improve their skills. I "chat" with tons of new shoppers and not one has ever said that they felt any pressure to "get certified." Some, however, clearly have needed more training than most schedulers are prepared to give. That's why I offered a class on constructing successful, complex scenarios for both video and traditional shops, at the Chicago IMSC conference. I'm ready to do it again for the 2013 Eastern conference. See you there?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 07:32PM by walesmaven.

I would probably say a little of both. I had 3 shops under my belt when I took the class. The owner of Clear Evaluations assigned me 2 shops knowing that I would be taking the class a day prior to shopping. I think it's kind of like, hiring an employee. If you know that so and so was trained by XYZ school then you can rest assured that that person has what it takes to get the job done. Since Wave had already been shopping for years, he/she may have already proved his/herself.

But as for Joe Blow who sees the opportunity to make a whomping $50 plus gets in and does not follow through, it is a waste of time and money for the company as well as the client.


I'm only speaking for myself.

I have had many call and say they got my name from so and so.


beisen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> prettygul1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I started Mystery shopping in 2004 and loved it
> > ever since. In September 2010, I ran across a
> > shop that was paying $75 and I immediately
> thought
> > "Ca-Ching". When I asked for details, I found
> out
> > that it was a video shop. This was for Instant
> > Replays. Well the lady trusted me to do 3 of
> them
> > and she told me she would send me the equipment.
>
> > She walked me through the steps over the phone
> and
> > told me what was expected. I completed those 3
> > shops and got the nice pay plus extra for my
> gas.
> > YAY. Then I say that EPMS had some video shops
> as
> > well. They did the same thing and sent me
> > equipment. I did one for them and BAM. Then
> in
> > the early part of 2011 I decided that I need to
> go
> > ahead and do something to pay off this Student
> > Loan of mine, well I posted a question about
> Video
> > and asked was it really worth it. Carrie sent
> me
> > a message and told me about the training.
> >
> > The idea of the training is...These companies
> > network with Clients in order to obtain their
> > business. The client in return, is looking for
> > quality video to monitor their employees. When
> > the company can't produce what the client is
> > looking for then the client moves along to
> another
> > company. So the MS company has decided, that
> they
> > need trustworthy, serious, reliable shoppers
> that
> > can go in and follow the requirements of their
> > clients. In turn, the shopper makes a nice
> little
> > fee. That is why the workshop is offered. The
> > companies want people who are serious and
> properly
> > trained.
> >
> > I have been called by MS company owners asking
> me
> > to go in and do a shop because, "THE SHOPPER
> > FLAKED".
> >
> > I had to sit out for 6 weeks to have my 2nd
> child
> > but I am back at it. Those MS companies also
> > refer you to the other company when you perform
> > well.
> >
> >
> > I have no affilitation with the UE either but
> by
> > taking it, I have been afforded the opportunity
> to
> > make more money.
>
>
> So are you in effect saying the MS companies draw
> (or show preference) from this training company as
> opposed to drawing from those that do not/have not
> attended? Is it a closed circuit? How have you
> obtained your explosive expansion in video shops?
> referrals from this training session, company
> thing?

ok, thanks

I was approached by a scheduler to do a video shop even though I have never done one before. It just so happened that I was going to be in her part of the state working my other job, so I was able to meet with her in person to get loaner equipment and some one-on-one training. I have no prior video experience, and no certification....but she has already said she will put my name on the VSN list as an available video shopper because there are no others located in my area (at least not with her MSC).

Now I'm crossing my fingers today's shop goes well. The scenario portion isn't hard for me because I keep things as close to the truth as possible. I'm just worried about getting good video.