Ha! First time I see the "value" of MSPA certification

Check it out:

You must meet the following qualifications to apply for this shop:
* Your age must be 25 years or More
* You must accept PayPal payments
* Your Annual Income is $50000 or More
* Education Level is College or More
* Your MSPA certification is Silver or higher

Although per the scenario, I don't believe I would take any of these particular shops.

C

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

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Personally, it's the first time I've seen value in that expensive piece of embossed paper I keep in my desk drawer.

@kissum - You actually printed it?

I just wrote down the number on a post it...

C

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

cabazan Wrote:
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> @kissum - You actually printed it?
>
> I just wrote down the number on a post it...

If you went to a workshop for certification you received the paper embossed and all...or at least I got one back in 2003-4 when I got mine.

Liz

I just certified myself (silver) on-line... You know, the questionnaire that is more common sense than anything else. Got my number, saved it and that's it.

C

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

Was considering getting certified but if there is no known benefit then why do it?

@Angie1002 - If you can spare $20, do it. It might not get you more shops, but it looks nice when asked / requested.

C

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

Angie1002 Wrote:
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> Was considering getting certified but if there is
> no known benefit then why do it?

That is purely subjective. I have found it well worth it. I know as a scheduler there were shops I could only assign to Gold shoppers and the notices were not sent to anyone else ever (to explain why you don't see the shops if you are not Gold). As a shopper I have been able to snag some pretty nice shops that were for Gold shoppers only as well. This is not to say you cannot do well as a shopper without it but I prefer the many more doors that it opens for me.

Liz

I have my silver certification because I needed it to "go for the gold." I have the gold CD's and they have been sitting in my desk for 2 months. Just cannot seem to get up the motivation to watch them.

"Gold CDs"? Did you have to purchase them? Seriously (for a change). Was there a charge?

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

Yep you have to purchase them. I think it was around $100. I did a package with the silver and gold included. Bit of a scam but it does look good when applying for new companies.

@stilllearning - Hi (heart)!

Yup, its $75 (plus applicable taxes)...

[mysteryshop.org]

Interesting fact published by MSPA: "There are around 6,000 MSPA Gold Certified shoppers in an industry of more than 1,000,000 shoppers."

C

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"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind..." - Henry Ford

Plus a fee to join MSPA and a fee for the gold certification or $75 total?

(heart)

I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

When I did it it was in workshop form for a day - I can't remember the exact cost but less than 100. Actually it was a great day of networking and learning so much more beyond the MSPA Gold test info.

Liz

I am gold certified and a couple of years ago I received an email from an MSC asking me to sign up with them for a particular project they had. In 2012 I did $1,070 on that one project for them. The project frequency was reduced in 2013 and also I dropped some of the outlying jobs due to health issues I was having. In 2013 I did $520 on that one project. That's $1,590.00 in two years as a direct result of a company contacting me because I was gold certified. I know they don't require gold certification at this company, but I was not signed up with them and they contacted me. I'd say that in my case the gold certification paid off. I had been meaning for a long time to look this up and get some hard numbers for those who are asking about it. If you certify, it may help you because it makes you more visible. If you don't want more work, no need to certify.

Mary Davis Nowell. Based close to Fort Worth. Shopping Interstate 20 east and west, Interstate 35 north and south.

I was actually referring to my college degree.

I was trying to be funny, but apparently I'm not! I do have a Silver Certification, but I never printed it.

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Ha! First time I see the "value" of MSPA certification

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