What are the benefits of being a "Certified" Mystery Shopper?

I've been performing Mystery Shopper jobs for the past year, on and off. Currently, I am not a certified Mystery Shopper. What are the benefits of being certified? Would I be able to get higher paying jobs?

I also have a question about my "Rating". I have never had a report returned to me, nor have I ever had to make any corrections or changes in any of my reports. However, in reading some of the posts in this forum, I've noticed that some of the members talk about their "Rating" as being a 10. I am registered with several Mystery Shopping companies and have performed jobs for all of them, yet my rating is only a 5 with each company. Would I receive a higher rating if I were certified?

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To answer only part of your question, your rating will depend upon which MSP it is. CoRI rates from 1-5 so a 5 would be the best you can get. Others rate from 1-10. As far as I know, no ratings are affected by certification.

If you sign up with SASSIE companies you will find that you start with a 5 rating. Your rating will 'pop' to a 10 if your first job is good, requires no editing, etc. just as your CORI rating goes to a 5. Your job log on a SASSIE company will show how many shops you have performed for the company, what your latest score was on a shop and what your average score is. Some SASSIE companies, however, do not share shopper scores. Prophet4 companies do not let you know what your scores are. But don't be too concerned. If you have been getting shops done and reported in a timely fashion and not hearing back from editors the chances are that your ratings are good with the company whether you can see them or not. And realize that all companies have a shopper ranking system, whether they share it with you or not.

I also recommend at least getting silver certified for yourself. There are some jobs that require this and you learn by doing it. The cost is minimim and (for myself) I feel better having it. Many companies don't care, but many do...so, why not do it?

Live consciously....

And there have been long discussions here about the relative useful/uselessness of certifications. Try the "Search" feature for them. Opinions definitely vary and if you are not in a highly competitive market such as Irene has in Southern California, you are likely to find it a waste of money because you are simply purchasing a "Certification" that anyone willing to pay out their $15 can receive.

Your right Flash...So. Ca is competitive, many shoppers to choose from...very good point! This is a personal decision and only you know how much you want to work, and are interested in getting jobs (away from others). Being experienced is (of course) foremost, getting certified doesn't hurt...as Flash suggested, check out the other threads.

Live consciously....

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/20/2010 06:13PM by Irene_L.A..

I think the silver for $15 is okay, and kind of a nice thing to have, but I would never pay the money for the gold.

CORI raises your score very slowly. I have done 11 shops, all rated 5's, but my overall rating is still 4.8.

Carol

If memory serves, it takes 50 5's to get the 5 overall rating. ?

Well Mert, that is S L O W. Thanks for letting me know.

Carol

None.

Some companies, even Sassie ones, do NOT grade. Or more accurately, every company has an internal rating system -- some just do not share. If your grade remains at 5, it's likely one of those companies.

I had the opportunity to ask a scheduler her opinion about certification. I think the answer is here, that it MIGHT help in areas where shops are competitive. I considered getting silver (definitely wouldn't do the gold) after our exchange, but ultimately decided not to do it, or at least hold off.

Here's what's happened in the interim -- I've received calls from two different MSCs about special projects, not available on their boards. The reason I was chosen is because of the number of shops I've completed and how I've performed. (BTW, neither of these companies shares grades OR gives feedback.) In my mind, this speaks volumes about performance ultimately being a stronger issue than certification. I also had a different MSC offer to "raise my credentials" to get more work, because of my performance on a difficult shop.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/22/2010 01:08PM by nicelytwicely.

This is so interesting. I love learning from you all. Thanks for sharing on this forum. Carol

The benefit of having certification is that it puts your money in the pockets of the MSPA.

Her Serene Majesty, Cettie - Goat Queen of Zoltar, Sublime Empress of Her Caprine Domain

Oh, that's a good one, Cettie.

But is basically true. Of what benefit is it to spend $15 to prove you can read and have some understanding of ethical behavior? It isn't training they are providing to do shops. Ethics you either have and live by or you don't and have learned how to fake it. If you couldn't read you wouldn't have figured out how to spend your money anyway. So any company offering jobs based on having the certification is suspect in my book. And my experience comparing shops with a gold certified shopper nearby tells me she wasn't seeing anything extra that either of us would have bothered with. The company/former scheduler comments on this board regarding a sense of entitlement by certified shoppers that may lead them to disdain reading and following instructions speaks for itself.

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What are the benefits of being a "Certified" Mystery Shopper?

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