Jonnie, You need to check out what you are paying, because it is MSPA. It sounds like Shadow Shopper, by the amount.
Your eyes are bleeding! I never hear that one, Christina, Sometimes I feel exactly that way.
The information on the Silver test WILL help you, it gives you a standard to live by.
The only other way the Silver Certification helps you is that some of the MSCs do CARE about who has it, and those that don't are left out in the cold. I have no trouble getting jobs, would someone hear tell me what they think the Gold will do for me, now that I am established.
Madeline: they don't send you the certificate, honey, when you pass you print it right on line. It is the 6 digit validation code you need, anyway, not the paper itself. Mine is on a sticky note on my computer; the certificate is long gone. (Just what I need, another piece of paper!)
Cathy Stucker has alot of good information in a compact form. She cashed in on people's need to get information fast and easy (as any of us would have, she just did it first). You can get the same information free, on good job sites everywhere, the one that pops into my head is Service Intelligence, but I just like the way they do everything. MSPA has much the same information, so does Shadow shopper, and they have exclusive job listing as well. Like others, I think they are a good way to start in this business, and their trial rates are very low. Go for the Gold, or you will wish you had.
I will try and say what I am about to say in the gentlest way possible. If you are looking for an easy way, find another type of job (or do merchandising, I hear it is uncomplicated.) To be more than marginally successful as a MS, is hard work, forget the picture of the woman twirling, with shopping bags in her hands. It is more often sitting at a desk, with piles of papers around you, staring at a computer screen. If you want someone to hand it to you, do something else. We all have different jobs, different locations, different companies.
My apologies to Christina; I hope you know what I mean. I didn't know how easy it is for people to miss the obvious. Again and again. You were trying to be helpful, and I didn't understand.
Wannabe scheduler/editor