Anyone going to Shopperfest 2018 ?

@MickeyB wrote:

There is an Evaluator Relations Committee as a part of the MSPA - but I cannot find on the MSPA website who is currently serving on it.

There was a email that went out to MSPA members back in April that announced the names of who is serving on it. Is it okay to post that information here.

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I dont see why not post it if you have it.

@KathySueLM wrote:

@MickeyB wrote:

There is an Evaluator Relations Committee as a part of the MSPA - but I cannot find on the MSPA website who is currently serving on it.

There was a email that went out to MSPA members back in April that announced the names of who is serving on it. Is it okay to post that information here.

I would appreciate knowing this information as well.

The conference in November us $125?!

Is there video training for the November Vegas conference? The conference details are not posted yet.

I erred when I posted the $79 fee. The regular fee for 2 day conference is $150, but it is at $125 for early reservations. There will be video training, but it will not be free. That was a very special one time deal that they worked for the Atlanta conference.

If the video training works in November as it usually has, there will be one day before the conference and one after. One will be introductory and the other will be advanced. IMSC simply makes it convenient for the video training folks to coordinate the dates but the video training is a separate fee, as it always was before Atlanta. That said, I have heard that an "intermediate" video class may be under development to help shoppers why have already done a "few" video shops and feel the need to get more proficient but are not quite ready for an advanced class. I do not know if this will happen in November, but when I heard of the idea I thought it had real merit.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I need beginning and intermediate!

soicy,
How many videos have you already done? As shops, I mean.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Please remember that the folks who are planning and negotiating the November IMSC conference are barely back from the spring IMSC conference! And, the president's husband is recovering from extensive open heart surgery. So a lot of volunteers have rallied around to try to help, with conference planning, but, in the end, the President and her closest corps of volunteers need to negotiate and make final decisions. That group btw, does not include me, so I have only limited info at this time

Has anyone seen what MSPA has on the program for ShopperFest yet? I think that is in June ???

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Spicy, I went back and edited my original erroneous post about the November Conference fee with an explanation. That way, anyone who reads this thread from the beginning will be the correct information. Thank you for pointing out my error.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Here is the link to the MSPA ShopperFest Program. [mspana.ps.membersuite.com]

I am curious as to reactions.

I could not see the registration fee without signing up so will have to rely on others for that. It is basically 1.5 days plus a short evening session on arrival day. BUT a lot of that is taken up by certification courses, each of which apparently requires a separate fee. At least that was how I interpreted the links that I had to follow to see more info on their certifications. The hotel is $119 per night, plus tax, of course.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

"Registration Fee
The registration fee includes the cost of attendance at all general and concurrent sessions, social functions and planned meals.
Members (IC Plus): $150
Non-Members (IC Basic): $175 "

That doesn't actually sound bad if it's including meals, and it includes the certification courses; but it likely includes the attendance but not the actual certification, and it would appear that the planned meals are basically two lunches. Looks like they are going back to the original "Gold" workshop-type with companies sending reps and owners. That was the value of the Gold certification back in the day.

Unfortunately, the only session that looks at all interesting to me is the "Be my go-to shopper" and then only for the one company. [www.mspa-americas.org] Doubtful that could be worth the cost. btw, I'm currently in Dallas and it is HOT and MUGGY.

"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/2018 10:48PM by iShop123.

I am still confused. You can go to the certification workshops without a seperate fee, but it seem that you are saying that to actually BE certified you have to pay the fee for each certification? Am I getting this wrong?

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

There are a few sessions I would enjoy. Unfortunately I will just be returning from a 5 week trip and about to leave for another one. So not using my small amount of downtime to go to a conference.

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

ishop,
I get what you mean about it being only one MSC's take on how to become "their" go-to shopper. When I took the day-long Gold Cert workshop in 2005, it was a whole panel of schedulers from different MSCs and lots of invitations to shopper attendees to share their experiences with different path to "go-to" status. That is more like what INSC workshops are like, since different MSCs really have very different "takes" on just about any subject. Preaching constant communication (by the shopper) is not going to cut it with schedulers who prefer a on-time, short, Q&A chat, much less those who only read email from 4-6 PM and do not answer phone calls. I have always said that the greatest value for me of the Gold all-day work shop was the shopper's chiming in with many different ways of accomplishing what was needed. There is no "one size fits all" in our business.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

@walesmaven wrote:

I am still confused. You can go to the certification workshops without a seperate fee, but it seem that you are saying that to actually BE certified you have to pay the fee for each certification? Am I getting this wrong?

$150 - The conference fee. The fee does include a reception on Friday night (not a meal), workshops on Saturday, and Saturday and Sunday lunch.

$35 each - certifications - on Friday afternoon, and Sunday morning.

$75 - Video Shopping I Friday afternoon
$75 - Video Shopping II Sunday morning

$75 - Saturday night optional dinner, rodeo, transportation leaving 5:15 returning 11:15pm

Sunday awards ceremony lunch 12 - 1pm. There is no included agenda for Sunday morning - unless you are paying $35/$75 extra for a certification class or video II.

$303.60 - Hotel Friday, Saturday includes hotel free breakfast
The conference hotel special rate rooms are sold out, the least expensive option is $134 night for HIlton Honors, total of $303.60 for Friday and Saturday night. The hotel rate includes breakfast at the hotel.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2018 12:33PM by KathySueLM.

If you are going for the workshops or speakers, then they are on Saturday. There are no included workshops on Sunday, just the awards lunch. Friday certifications, Sunday morning certifications costs extra.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2018 12:42PM by KathySueLM.

I am considering going, mainly because I am in Texas and I could drive there. $175 is kind of steep, but I have not been to an MSPA conference and would like to check it out for myself at least once. I went to the IMSC conference in LV two years ago. It was worth it just to see and meet people, although most of the stuff in the sessions was geared toward beginners, of which there were plenty there. Also, l learned I hated LV. So that's got to be worth something.

The MSPA website is not clear as to whether you can attend the certication session without paying extra. My assumption was that I would have to pay the fee to attend, around $60 per session. That sounds crazy to me and I would never do it, so maybe I am wrong. but I suspect I am right.

mystery2me i would not endorse this but others set the precedent for not registering and paying for the conference, just go, and book yourself a room for friday and saturday night and do some informal networking in the public areas of the hotel. just dont plop down into chairs outside the conference room! keep it classy and stick to the lobby and hotel bar and restaurant.

@iShop123 wrote:

Unfortunately, the only session that looks at all interesting to me is the "Be my go-to shopper" and then only for the one company.

Why only 1 company? It appears to me five company reps will be part of that round table

"MSP Roundtable: Be My Go-To Shopper
With Jason Bare (Bare International), Tim Gavrilov (Secret Shopper), Marguerite Turner (Elite CX Solutions), Susan Ogle (Alta360 Research) and Lisa Wood (MysteryShopping.Com)"

There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind

I just reserved THREE nights at The Flamingo for the IMSC conference. INCLUDING taxes and resort fees that came to $295.93. Both inside the hotel and on the plaza just outside that are numerous places, including low price options, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. That means that I can easily do 3 breakfast and two lunches on my own dime before I would spend as much as just TWO hotel nights hotel at ShopperFest, even if their conference hotel rate was still available.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I just received an email and all of these classes cost money to attend. (Edited because it will not post right)

Banking & Financial Institutions I Brand Standards Auditing Brand Standards Auditing
Brand Standards Auditing Fine Dining Fine Dining
QSR & Casual Dining Professional Responsibility & Ethics Professional Report Writing
Video Shopping I QSR & Casual Dining QSR & Casual Dining
Video Shopping II (9:00 - 12:00 pm)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/25/2018 12:36AM by Msaddict.

Thanks. I was not really able to figure out how MUCH money they cost in addition to the conference fee.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

It was 35.00 for each class except for video which was 75.00 each. Since they are charging for them do you think the mystery shopping companies teaching the classes are getting paid to teach?

Do you get a higher fee from MSPA registered companies because you have the certifications? I don't think so.

As a newer shopper, I looked at going to Shopperfest and thought it would be great for networking, etc. I just couldn't justify the cost compared to Vegas in November. I also didn't like all the extra costs for the certifications that really don't do much for me. Anywho, I just registered for Vegas and I'm super excited!!

I do not know if those particular class/workshop leaders are being paid. Unlike IMSC, where, except for the free video day in Atlanta, the video classes are specifically held "in coordination with" and not "by" IMSC, the ShopperFest program does not appear to make it clear whether the extra fees go it MSPA or to the trainers for those topics, as far as I can see.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

@KathySueLM wrote:

$150 - The conference fee. The fee does include a reception on Friday night (not a meal), workshops on Saturday, and Saturday and Sunday lunch.
$35 each - certifications - on Friday afternoon, and Sunday morning.
$75 - Video Shopping I Friday afternoon
$75 - Video Shopping II Sunday morning
$75 - Saturday night optional dinner, rodeo, transportation leaving 5:15 returning 11:15pm
Sunday awards ceremony lunch 12 - 1pm. There is no included agenda for Sunday morning - unless you are paying $35/$75 extra for a certification class or video II.
$303.60 - Hotel Friday, Saturday includes hotel free breakfast
The conference hotel special rate rooms are sold out, the least expensive option is $134 night for HIlton Honors, total of $303.60 for Friday and Saturday night. The hotel rate includes breakfast at the hotel.

OUCH. That's a nice chunk of change. Thank you for detailing it.

Does anyone have any inside information or know where to find out what the line-up is for the Las Vegas conference for the IMSC? The site also says that the extra $50 bucks for the "Networking" will happen November 5th although the conference is the 12th and 13th. Maybe they sell it now and get ready for it later.

Will there be video training in Las Vegas in November?

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