I just received gold certification and I am trying to upload my number to all of my accounts. However, the Sassie accounts say that they only allow certifications BEFORE 2014????? So I paid the money and took the time to get gold cert and I can't even use it? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks.

Yes. I just got Gold Certified. I found that none of the companies using Sassie accept my code. Then you click on a 'help' button. Then you read that certifications after 2014 are not being accepted. I did not see this information on the MSPA website before I took the test. I hope this gold certification adds value.

Search the forum and you will find YEARS of posts about not being able to use the new MSPA certification codes on any Sassie sites. MSPA periodically states that they will have a fix for this "soon."

Can you get a refund?

Good luck with that.

Obviously "soon" is relative.

Here is how the Gold Certification is described on the website.

"Gold Certification is an optional advanced level introductory course. Those evaluators who achieve their Gold Certification are signaling to MSPA Americas provider companies that they have been trained in the advanced essentials of mystery shopping. Gold Certification demonstrates that an evaluator has invested the time and resources to study and become an expert mystery shopper. Please note, this certification was previously sold as a DVD but as of September 1, 2017, those are no longer available. Only links will be sent moving forward.

ATTENTION: Once you purchase the certification, you will receive an e-mail with instructions and links to the test. All sales are final, no refunds."

The second line specifically states the value of being certified is related to MSCs. If a shopper cannot prove their certification to the large number of companies using Sassie, it would stand to reason the shopper can fight for a refund because of misrepresentation.

I am still trying to figure out what they do for shoppers. Other than being added to a facebook group that anyone can be added to, what is their purpose?

After everything is said and done, I'm glad that I got the certificate. I was probably one of the last ones that had two DVDs sent to me because shortly after, I saw that there was a link to see the video being advertised after I signed up. In the video, the presenter specifically says that once you get the gold certificate, you can update your profiles for all your MS companies. Not at any time does she say Sassie companies do not accept certificates earned after 2014. I viewed the DVDs in late October/early November of 2017. It would be nice if there was full disclosure of this on the MSPA website, the web pages of MS companies using Sassie, and in the video by the presenter, herself. The only way to find out is to type in your new gold cert code only to have it rejected. Then you click on the 'help' button. Only then are you informed the company does not accept gold certification after 2014. I think it would be nice if each company using Sassie states somewhere on their portal, front and center where it can easily be seen, that they do not accept gold cert after 2014. Instead, you see a field where you can type in a cert code. This leads many (including me) to believe that cert codes are being accepted. Why have a field on the profile page for something that is not being accepted. So full disclosure is lacking everywhere. Except on this forum. Again, I don't regret doing it. But I think full disclosure would be the right thing to do by all parties involved, so people who sign up to take the training to invest their time and money for the gold cert can make a fully informed decision.

Update on MSPA Gold Certification

Hi everyone. I have been in touch via email with a rep from MSPA. She informed that all MSPA member MS companies are provided a list every month of people who have become gold certified. She also suggested that I reach out to someone at an MS company, like a scheduler, to ask if they will manually update cert status. I did ask one company. I received an email today saying that their company has updated by status to gold cert. I thought everyone who has just gotten their gold cert would like to know.

I e-mailed all Sassie companies I am signed up with when I became gold certified and never received a reply from a single one of them, unfortunately.

Well, for me, it is just this one. I will update if I can get updated with any other companies.