Has this been released for sale? I heard it was coming out, just don't know where to purchase it.

Thanks.

It has been out for several years and you need to go to the MSPA website. I can think of a whole lot better ways to spend $100!

Go to www.mysteryshop.org. This is a worthwhiel investment. The best advice I can give is when you go to the web site contact some of the MSPA member companies and ask them if being gold gives you an advantage in shops.
I can tell you that NWLPC gives preferred shops to Gold shoppers. Some argue that they are not certified and have no problems in getting assignments, which may be true, but what they fail to tell you is that there are shops out there that they are not aware of that are only given to certified shoppers.
You just need to make your own mind up and consider all sides.

Funny thing about that "what they fail to tell you is that there are shops out there that they are not aware of that are only given to certified shoppers."

For a number of years I had a very close shopper friend in a market adjacent to mine who was gold certified. We shopped the same companies except where there was a client specific to her market or mine. We compared notes on what we were able to see. We both consistently got plenty of work with reasonable companies. She never saw shops that I didn't see. Perhaps NWLPC handles it differently, but you never have had anything in my market anyway, and I gather that has nothing to do with certification at all. As a general rule that Gold Certified shoppers get different work or better paying work, my reaction from talking with others is that is pretty bogus. YMMV.

Many factors play a part in getting notified in getting shop notices,and I really don't have the time to debate the issue. If you want to get certified just do your homework, contact some of the MSPA member companies to see what they say.
Being certified does give you an advantage, dispite what other people who post on this forum seem to think. It does show a MS company you are a serious shopper. And the "flake" rate of certified shoppers is a lot lower than those who are not certified. Are there exceptions? Yes, but when a company has a choice between an certified shopper and an experienced non certified shopper more than likey they will go with the certified shopper IF they fit the demographics of the shop.

Shoppers are intelligent enough to make up their own minds after doing the proper research.

dcrector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Shoppers are intelligent enough to make up their
> own minds after doing the proper research.

They certainly are!!

In talking to Gold Certified shoppers, it's not been my impression that they get different or higher paying assignments. Those gold-certified shoppers who have posted here have not indicated that, either. I am silver certified and have not seen a benefit. $100 is a bunch. There are other things I'd rather buy that I think might benefit me more.

Doug, I'm not starting a debate, just using your post to present another side.


dcrector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
It does show a MS company you are a
> serious shopper.

I think my experience and work record prove to MSPs that I'm a serious shopper.

> And the "flake" rate of certified
> shoppers is a lot lower than those who are not
> certified.

I'd wager the number of certified shoppers versus non-certified is substantially lower. Was that considered when determining the flake rate?

Are there exceptions? Yes, but when a
> company has a choice between an certified shopper
> and an experienced non certified shopper more than
> likey they will go with the certified shopper IF
> they fit the demographics of the shop.

How about between a non-experienced certified shopper and an experienced non-certified shopper?
>
> Shoppers are intelligent enough to make up their
> own minds after doing the proper research.

We agree on that one, though I would certainly discourage anyone just starting out from paying for certification on the hope of pie in the sky assignments and fees.

Just sharing here, but I recently accepted an assignment that showed a $5 bonus for gold shoppers. At the conclusion of a phone conversation with the scheduler, I jokingly asked him if my performance and experience would entitle me to the $5 bonus. One word answer from him - "guarandamnteed".

Thanks to everyone for the information.
I really didn't mean to start a debate, was just curious how to get the DVD.

I'm silver certified. I did it a couple years ago and I DO know personally it's made a difference in whether someone else or myself got the job. Coming in new to a MSP most get a 5 rating I think. I've come in at 8 on several sites because of the silver which allowed me to get higher paying shops from the start.

So the $15 I shelled out was a good thing for me anyway. Plus it was a good thing for this newbie at the time to get my enthusiasm going. That's just how I roll.

Just more BS from them, IMHO. My "ored" friends do not see shops different thn I do. Might be different in some mrkets.
PS: I get enough shopper notes with glorious feedbck tht gold is NON-ISSUE for me. If I need it to shop for Doug, then I guess I won't shop for him.

(Writing from keybord tht is defective.)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2010 08:32AM by dee shops.

BTW, my record for completing shops does not need ORE to do me justice.

I got gold certified in 2004 and did not regret the decision. I did it because I was curious about the process, wanted to know what was discussed, and was interested in meeting other shoppers and possibly reps involved in Mystery Shopping.

I had low expectations and was not disappointed. It was worth $100 (actually, it was $90 back then I think) just for the shear entertainment of meeting other shoppers - we had a huge class of over 100 people and listening to what they had to say and questions that were asked was beyond fascinating.

As this was one of the first classes, the vast majority of our group had been shopping a long time. I learned more than I expected too - mostly from other shoppers, but also a few things from the curriculum. In the case of the in-person workshop, the content is strongly influenced by the instructor and their experiences and biases. I found Cathy Stucker to be engaging, interesting, and funny. She is the same instructor that you will find in the DVD, although I do not think anyone can be as funny without a live audience to interact with.

Since then - being gold certified has benefited me more than a few times. It also has made no difference other times. There is one company that I actually think it is a detraction for. Despite this, I continue to be glad I got certified and I would be lying if I said that it has not benefited me and brought me more work.

I have seen the DVD and do not find it as valuable as an in-person workshop by any stretch of the imagination. You are paying $100 for a supposed promise of more/better work - and I can understand why ANYONE would question if that is worth it. The content is there, but there is no group dynamics and no networking with other shoppers. I think it is a shame and an insult that it is priced the same as the workshops were. There is nothing wrong with the concept of the DVD, but the pricing was a mis-step to put it mildly.

I know two people who recently got gold certified via DVD (in the past couple of months) and it took a LONG time for their test to be graded and results submitted back to them (like 2 months plus). This concerns me as well. If the MSPA does not have adequate staff in place to do the grading and processing of the tests, then they should NOT be selling DVDs.

In the end, I would not encourage or discourage anyone from getting certified via the DVD. I would encourage you to do your homework - so I guess I agree with Doug there. To the original poster, it sounds like you are doing it not only for supposed increase work, but also to bolster your enthusiasm for the industry. I suppose it can do that. And it is your $100 to spend, not ours - so more power to you. If you purchase it and do go through the process, I would be interested in knowing what you thought of it - especially the grading process.

That is interesting about the turn-around time, Mickey. I would think the person submitted the test and got it back within a week.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/01/2010 09:08PM by dee shops.

I plan to get MSPA Gold certified this year. I am proud of my certification!~ Go for the GOLD!!

I know it's not what the poster asked, but I'm just adding my thoughts here I guess.

I am signed up with between 150-175 companies now. Of those, I have seen two MSPs say that they would give a job to a certified shopper over a non-certified. (Those two are also the slowest paying MSPs I shop for, not saying there is a connection, just saying they are not two of my favorites to begin with). That gives me tons of companies to shop, self-assign, search job boards for, etc.

IMO, being certified says nothing about your ability as a shopper. Again IMO, it just shows who has a disposable $100. I try to treat my assignments like a job and do the best I can. I have never "flaked" on an assignment and I turn in my reports on time. Right now though, I would not have the $100 to spend to become certified when no one can even show me that being certified would get more assignments.

Dispite the "few" opinions not agreeing with certification, certifcation is a worthwhile investment. I do appreciate the comment regarding the turnaround time in getting the test graded. I was not aware of this and will followup.
If you notice, those few shoppers who do not agree with certification never make suggestions on what they feel would make certification worthwhile. Some ideas that we have received revolve around pay. That is something out of our control due to contracts with clients. Mystery shopping programs are the first to go when clients cut down due to the economy, so the bidding process is intense. I get many private emails from shoppers who agree with certification.
So, for those "few" who try to pursuade shoppers from not being certified why not give some feedback on what we can do to make certification beneficial?
Regarding Dee's post..since she is in Hawaii there is not that many Gold shoppers since a workshop was never held there (as far as I know), so of course she gets many shops!

dcrector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dispite the "few" opinions not agreeing with
> certification, certifcation is a worthwhile
> investment. I do appreciate the comment regarding
> the turnaround time in getting the test graded. I
> was not aware of this and will followup.
> If you notice, those few shoppers who do not
> agree with certification never make suggestions on
> what they feel would make certification
> worthwhile. Some ideas that we have received
> revolve around pay. That is something out of our
> control due to contracts with clients. Mystery
> shopping programs are the first to go when clients
> cut down due to the economy, so the bidding
> process is intense. I get many private emails
> from shoppers who agree with certification.
> So, for those "few" who try to pursuade shoppers
> from not being certified why not give some
> feedback on what we can do to make certification
> beneficial?
> Regarding Dee's post..since she is in Hawaii there
> is not that many Gold shoppers since a workshop
> was never held there (as far as I know), so of
> course she gets many shops!

Frankly, we have 'fed back' to the point we are fed up. It revolves around relevancy of the programs. My understanding of Silver is 'common sense and ethics'. Fine. My understanding of value of Gold has always been the meeting with other shoppers and schedulers--and folks have been greatly disappointed when they went and found all the Gold shoppers were primarily newbies who were getting their certifications prior to doing much shopping and very few schedulers, primarily not from their shopping areas.

If you want to run an educational program, put together materials that are USEFUL. Sure, you can't teach folks to write if they didn't learn that in 12 years of public schools. Similarly you can't teach them to think and observe if they have never practiced that.

Shopping requires a whole lot more than just accepting, performing and reporting shops. That is why we have a New Mystery Shopper area here in hopes of touching on a lot of the things that shoppers NEED. And we provide it absolutely free!! Take a clue, get a hint. My guess is that the companies who pay no attention to certification and have resorted to their own training and certifications do so because they don't feel the program meets the needs of the shoppers THEY need.

dcrector, no disrespect intended, but I was curious if you are an editor or a scheduler.

He is an owner and a proud exec of the MSPA.

If you took the time to read older threads here, Doug, you would find that many of us who are critical of the ORE trainings hold silver and found it lacking, in addition to our feedback on what we would want to see implemented.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2010 06:08PM by dee shops.

And a general feeling that if the information is so vitally important to the industry, it should be provided at N/C on the MSPA site with testing for understanding for some kind of certification if you feel that it is necessary. I'm sure that if your member companies felt it was so vitally important they would be willing to support that rather than soak shoppers--who would appear to be the most underpaid part of the industry already.

dcrector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Regarding Dee's post..since she is in Hawaii there
> is not that many Gold shoppers since a workshop
> was never held there (as far as I know), so of
> course she gets many shops!


I find it interesting that the owner of a company would come here to make a backhanded slap to a shopper on a forum run by shoppers for shoppers. I think that speaks volumes about how this person views shoppers. And that view is the popular one amongst MSPA members, as has been documented in many other threads here.

In most areas of the country, there has never been a Gold Certification Workshop given. Certainly there are more areas where it has not been given than where it has. So, I fail to see that as a valid argument as to why I get shops. We do have planes and airports here in Hawai'i. And, when I started shopping in 2004, I was in graduate school and lived in Maryland. I also hold the terminal degree in my field and teach at the college level, and had a previous career in fast-paced high tech and biotech start up companies in the silicon valley. In the past month alone, despite teaching overload work at finals time and holding two other jobs, I have gotten six "love letters" from editors about my work, including one from the firm that the current MSPA president heads.

Perhaps you are just wrong, and someone without the gold or the inclination to pay for it can be a good shopper.

So, Doug, you can go on thinking that planes don't exist in HI and we still have to use a slow boat to travel. Unlike you, I can spell the words "worthwhiel", "certifcation" and "Dispite" correctly and can put together a sentence using verbs correctly ("she is in Hawaii there is not that many Gold shoppers since a workshop..."



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2010 07:18PM by dee shops.

T think this has been debated enough. Only 2-3 people continuously post regarding certification and it should be clear now what their opinions are, and you know what mine are. The only thing I will add is that I receive many private emails from this forum stating they are going for the Gold and agree with certification.
Of course I get emails that don't agree. This is what makes our country great!

I also want to make it very clear that MSPA member companies, including myself, have the highest regards for shoppers. You are the lifeblood of the industry.

Ok. You asked "So, for those "few" who try to pursuade shoppers from not being certified why not give some feedback on what we can do to make certification beneficial?" And we comment and suddenly it "has been debated enough". Thanks for wasting my time trying to give you some feedback you indicated you were interested in. Somehow these conversations always end up at the same place.

So the MSPA will continue trying to pay for their professional organization off of the back of shoppers through marketing "Certifications" that many/most of those who have purchased did not find useful. Guess that is my "opinion". Glad you have so many shoppers willing to pay for MSPA functions!

Will there be workshops as before or is the Gold only available on cd?

But of course. He doesn't like the direction it has taken after he insults a shopper, so he wants to take his toys and go home.

Well, Doug, we are happy you get letters agreeing with certification. Let the MSPA continue to make money off the backs of shoppers.

I got letters commending me on what I wrote in response to you.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2010 10:28PM by dee shops.

This has certainly turned into a nasty thread. Too too bad......

~ Anyway I wanted to add on a POSITIVE note that the cost is tax deductible.

dee shops Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Unlike you, I can spell the words
> "worthwhiel", "certifcation" and "Dispite"

... the motivation for my previous question.

lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dee shops Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Unlike you, I can spell the words
> > "worthwhiel", "certifcation" and "Dispite"
>
> ... the motivation for my previous question.


LOL. ;-)

lucky7s Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This has certainly turned into a nasty thread. Too
> too bad......
>
> ~ Anyway I wanted to add on a POSITIVE note
> that the cost is tax deductible.

I don't know if my posts are some of the posts considered to be nasty. I am sorry if they seem that way. Like I said, I was curious if the poster was an editor. I've received a few too many lowered scores coming from editors that can't spell.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2010 01:28PM by lisams901.

dcrector Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> I also want to make it very clear that MSPA member
> companies, including myself, have the highest
> regards for shoppers. You are the lifeblood of the
> industry.

LOL. WE shoppers know this to be a fact, but if the MSPA member companies hold this view, they have not shown this to a great many of us.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2010 10:45AM by dee shops.