I found this posted on an MSC'S website. I know there has been some question about the differences when using MSPA's vetted MSC's. They even mention "prompt payment" as a requirement. I had wondered if MSPA would ever step in and help MS'ers with issues, kind of like the BBB does?

Why work with MSPA member companies?
The Mystery Shopping Providers Association, or “MSPA”, is the leading industry association for mystery shopping companies. MSPA member companies go through an extensive vetting process to ensure that they are legitimate firms. Requirements for MSPA membership include not charging shoppers for access to mystery shopping opportunities and adhering to a code of ethics that, among other things, requires a company to pay promptly. Shoppers can be confident that companies belonging to the MSPA are monitored so that the reputations of MSPA member companies are maintained.

They allow companies to register that charge shoppers for access. I complained to them and discussed it here. No action was taken. My complaints were not responded too by MSPA. They do not vet and have no real power. They gladly register any company thay pays their fee.

The MSPA is a trade association. It is their job to promote their member businesses. It is not their job to police the dealings between each member and their vendors.

This is a simple definition of a trade association,

"an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry. An industry trade association participates in public relations activities such as advertising, education, political donations, lobbying and publishing, but its focus is collaboration between companies. Associations may offer other services, such as producing conferences, networking or charitable events or offering classes or educational materials."

Unfortunately, the MSPA has a history of staying silent and inactive when there is overwhelming evidence that one of its members is stiffing shoppers and staff. Forum members with better memories for names will be able, I am sure, to point you in the direction of please, here and on other forums, for MSPA to step in and do something. Had it not been for Jacob's intervention in one case MSPA would not have done anything.

In addition, early warnings of the immanent crash of a few MSCs have been found pretty much only here. You won't find any MSPA site that keeps tabs on the frequency of very delinquent payments by member MSCs. And, by this, I do NOT mean a few "The Sky is Falling" posts from one post wonders or rages by shoppers who have clearly ignored guidelines and not been paid.

MSPA simply does not view protecting shoppers as its job and its mandate does not seek to undertake that in any form.

Shopper reviews on this forum are a much better gauge of the reliability of an MSC, the current state of scams purporting to use real MSC's good names, and other hazards to shoppers, than is the MSPA. MSPA is primarily a lobbying group; MSCs that elect not to join mainly do so because they do not agree with the legislative agenda of the organization, from what I have heard from them.

MSPA is not BAD; it just is not for shoppers.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/13/2017 02:55PM by walesmaven.

MSPA is probably good at what it is designed for, promoting member company's agendas. What confuses some shoppers is the purpose of MSPA. They want to equate the organization with others such as BBB, or think of it as some sort of watch dog to protect shoppers.

Yep. If you built a new home and the builder did a crappy job would you complain to the National Association of Home Builders?

NSS was a member of MSPA when the company went belly up. As far as I know, MSPA has not assisted any shopper. They just removed NSS' name from their member roster.

They posted in their facebook group today that their certifications were important and that the mspa companies only accepted their certifications. I was told by the video people something different. Anyone know if this is true?

IDK. I do know the only certification I've ever had was video from seven or eight years ago.

@Msaddict wrote:

They posted in their facebook group today that their certifications were important and that the mspa companies only accepted their certifications. I was told by the video people something different. Anyone know if this is true?

It is a play on words and something they do not track or enforce. I have no certifications, none of any kind. I have been accepted by every MSC applied for. Not one MSC has requested that I pasd a MSPA certification to gain access to opportunities.

There is at least one MSC that I know of who provides self assign rights to MSPA certified shoppers. I'm not certified, but I still get assigned the shops by the scheduler. Works for me.

@Msaddict wrote:

They posted in their facebook group today that their certifications were important and that the mspa companies only accepted their certifications. I was told by the video people something different. Anyone know if this is true?

This could only be true if their online reporting of certifications was working! You can enter your number on MSC sites but it does not link to MSPA's database. I know it's been that way at least a year now. I've never gone to each MSC to directly tell them to check my MSPA certificates. And you are all right it does not affect my ability to book the best jobs. I just found it interesting that they were "implying" that they will "monitor" that payments are made to shoppers. I had always wondered if you could report your situation to them like you would the BBB. Who also will take anyone that pays their fees!

From long experience with shoppers reporting here on the forums, reporting non-paying MSCs to MSPA results in nothing happening. And, they have no way of tracking which MSCs pay which shoppers. No MSC is going to let even its own group member have any access to its shopper lists!!! That would not be good business!

What about the video certifications, is it the same?

Video certifications are available through IMSC and Video Shop Pros (sic). They usually require a one day, one site workshop and can be well worth the shopper's while, and the fee. There are, however, a few shoppers and/or schedulers who will work with you remotely to get you up and running with video equipment. The training behind the certificates will help, if you really take it seriously. Some with certificates just do not seem to "get" the need for good scenarios on those longer, more complex shops. They tend to fail not because of the technology, but for other reasons. I work with video schedulers and trainers a lot at conferences and behind the scenes, and this is what they have shared with me. For myself, I was video trained long before there were workshops or certifications and have not had a problem. It's the video product and your role-playing abilities that are the keys to video success. The equipment is simple, easy to learn and use; and the online support from Dan at Greyhawk and on the IMSC FB pages is superb!

BTW there will be fill day beginner video workshops scheduled to coincide with the IMSC conferences in LV in November and in Atlanta in May. The Atlanta sessions will be the least expensive. Video Pros may have a conference later in 2018, but they tend to be more expensive, both for fees and hotels, from the ones that I have seen.

ETA, recent MSPA shopper conferences have had some video training set up to coincide at an additional fee, as I recall. Anyone here with more details, please chime in. I do not know if those offer certificates, but good video training, certificate or not, is worth your while.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/2017 01:53PM by walesmaven.

@LeslieKay111 wrote:

Why work with MSPA member companies?

cause they pay me

Ninja, you didn't do any shops for NSS, did you? They didn't pay me.

jas is that the suicide guy company? no i didn't work for them. i dont like that kind of pizza. but is that fault of mspa when someone commits suicide/

The issue was not his suicide. It was that MSPA ignored months and months of shoppers reporting that payments were falling way behind.

Of course it is not their fault, but are they doing anything to help shoppers who have paid to be members?

i didnt pay to be member. maybe were talking about different things. ive been asked to pay for the other group.

I have not seen anything about MSPA working to help on the NSS problem.

The IMSC FB pages have a whole series of updates on this. Those were the source for a lot, but certainly not all, of what has been posted here for those shoppers.

The imsc seems to be more involved in the shopper side of things from what I have seen

@Msaddict wrote:

The imsc seems to be more involved in the shopper side of things from what I have seen

It certainly makes sense that it would be that way, because the MSPA is an organization of mystery shopping companies, while the IMSC is an organization of shoppers.

Yes, they go to bat for shoppers who are having issues that can be documented. And, many MSC schedulers, editors and owners are active on the site and take a very positive and active interest in resolving issues that have merit. I am amazed how many editor/scheduler communications problems get resolved, to the satisfaction of all, every week. IMSC managers keep open dialogue with many MSC owners.

I know. I feel offering these MS courses and certifications is a way for them to make money. I have experience and do a good job. That's all the companies require. The companies themselves offer training and resources on their sites tailored for the work they offer. Its not necessary to pay for these "certifications."