RE @ColoKate63 v @walesmaven
Good Grief.

I have never met either of these two in person or communicate with them outside of this forum. I can say that I have only been mystery shopping for four years, but feel like I have the knowledge of somebody who has been around much longer. For this, I largely thank a small handful of folks on this forum for sharing their knowledge openly. I have found that their advice has always been spot-on and their kindness always appreciated. @walesmaven is one of the forum members who has graciously shared and whose sage advice has benefited me.

@MFJohnston wrote:

RE @ColoKate63 v @walesmaven
Good Grief.

Yes.
Mute is a fantastic option. Fantastic.

Grabbing my coat and out the door for a fantastic, productive day.

@ColoKate63 wrote:

I have been to four IMSC Conferences, beginning in 2009, and have been a speaker at three.

My opinion? They *used* to be useful and good ten years ago, but quality went downhill after two competitors (MSPA and VideoCon) began holding shopper conferences as well.

Save your money and take a pass.

There used to be many companies and schedulers present, but now it’s less than half - and it is mostly the problematic companies with “slow and/or low” pay. Very few video companies, they’ve all migrated elsewhere.

Lots of drama, the organizers love to screech at the attendees on the mic - very unpleasant and unprofessional. Virtually every presenter wants to sell you something; it’s like going to a MLM convention. Not a lot of useful information in the sessions, except for someone who wandered in not having any experience at ALL.

My backpack and laptop were stolen from my room at the last IMSC convention I attended, in November 2018. When the LV police arrived, they advised me to get a better hotel; the one that the IMSC had chosen was one of highest crime-rate hotels in the city.

My advice: Save your money and instead build relationships with companies and schedulers. Don’t forget that, in addition to the money you are spending to attend a conference (registration, hotel, travel, food) that you are also losing money by not working as much those conference days.

Finally: There are “shills” on this board who hype IMSC conventions because they get a free ride. Beware and be cynical of folks who over-promote.

Is this the convention where there were paid "seat-fillers"? If it was at the Flamingo, people claimed it wasn't "bad".

SoCal,
Those "seat fillers" were local people who were invited for one day as part of the "No Shopper Left Behind" outreach that IMSC sponsors at conferences. Several were veterans who had recently been declared disabled and had been re-housed by a local group . I spoke with several of them during the breaks. This has been discussed in one or more older threads in response to the claim of a disgruntled former vendor who characterized the outreach effort as "fraud." Giving a "hand up" to struggling veterans was openly discussed at the conference, as are all of the outreach effort. The coordinator of the veterans' service program spoke breifly, as I recall.

@SoCalMama wrote:

@ColoKate63 wrote:

I have been to four IMSC Conferences, beginning in 2009, and have been a speaker at three.

My opinion? They *used* to be useful and good ten years ago, but quality went downhill after two competitors (MSPA and VideoCon) began holding shopper conferences as well.

Save your money and take a pass.

There used to be many companies and schedulers present, but now it’s less than half - and it is mostly the problematic companies with “slow and/or low” pay. Very few video companies, they’ve all migrated elsewhere.

Lots of drama, the organizers love to screech at the attendees on the mic - very unpleasant and unprofessional. Virtually every presenter wants to sell you something; it’s like going to a MLM convention. Not a lot of useful information in the sessions, except for someone who wandered in not having any experience at ALL.

My backpack and laptop were stolen from my room at the last IMSC convention I attended, in November 2018. When the LV police arrived, they advised me to get a better hotel; the one that the IMSC had chosen was one of highest crime-rate hotels in the city.

My advice: Save your money and instead build relationships with companies and schedulers. Don’t forget that, in addition to the money you are spending to attend a conference (registration, hotel, travel, food) that you are also losing money by not working as much those conference days.

Finally: There are “shills” on this board who hype IMSC conventions because they get a free ride. Beware and be cynical of folks who over-promote.

Is this the convention where there were paid "seat-fillers"? If it was at the Flamingo, people claimed it wasn't "bad".

Yes, there were “randoms” from Fill-A-Seat there.
I spoke with several of them; they had zero interest in mystery shopping, and were there in order to collect free tickets to Las Vegas shows.

It was the second year they were there, they first were brought on in 2017 in order to fill all the empty seats in the ballroom meeting areas. (With higher attendance comes higher fees for the vendors and MSPs who want a table.)

While the genuine mystery shopping conference attendees were on breakout sessions, the Fill-A-Seat folks wandered through the main floor, grabbing up the freebies and candy from the attending companies. In 2018, the second year Fill-A-Seat was used by the IMSC, more effort was made to keep them away from the tables and other attendees.

From the Fill-A-Seat website;

*** Fillaseat is a members-only seat filling service. When a theater or venue has unsold tickets to an event, they contact Fillaseat to offer the unsold tickets to our members for FREE. No one likes to see empty seats - not the performers, the management, or the audience. Fillaseat members literally fill the seats, improving the overall experience for everyone.***

Edit: I have no idea if a Fill-A-Seat person was in on the theft of items from my room. The hotel (Flamingo) had no security cameras in hallways or elevators, and LVPD said that it had a reputation for room thefts. It would have been great if the IMSC had cautioned us about this; nothing was said.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2020 10:16PM by ColoKate63.

Oh my lol
:Breaks out the popcorn:

Hmm. I was always under the impression that the Fillaseat people were different than people that were “sponsored”.

Interesting comments from both sides of the spectrum.

I still have the opinion that the Flamingo is yucky, although I think a few years before they had it at some weird Greek place?

The Flamingo is just average as a hotel. I stay there a lot because, as my last year's won/loss statement proves, it's my favorite casino. I will say I have never had a problem with stolen items.

There is a somewhat amusing flick about seat fillers. Good for someone to provide this rl gig for veterans.

Still waiting for one of these conventions to be held in the NYC tri state area. YES you can find reasonable priced hotels and convention space here... does not have to be in NYC either, can do it in nearby NJ, lower CT or even Westchester County, NY.

I used to belong to Fill A Seat and never saw an opportunity like that. I mostly got show and concert tickets for a ridiculously low annual fee. I was kinda bummed they stopped doing their old way and moved to something else.

Me too Arch Stanton! I'd love to go to a convention in my area, but I'm not interested in paying for and dealing with flights for a far away location. I'm in way South Jersey, but would definitely go to one if it was in anywhere in NJ or the NYC area, MD or DE.

The Flamingo, like others have said isn't necessarily a "bad" hotel. BUT it is in Las Vegas....which means all of your personal items of value should be taken with you or locked in the safe. If you didn't put it in the safe, it's your own fault it was stolen. It could happen at ANY Vegas hotel if you just leave your valuables laying about in your room.

@ColoKate63 wrote:

My backpack and laptop were stolen from my room at the last IMSC convention I attended, in November 2018. When the LV police arrived, they advised me to get a better hotel; the one that the IMSC had chosen was one of highest crime-rate hotels in the city.

So, what people are saying here is that ColoKate63 is not being truthful?

Are people saying that LV Police are not truthful about the crime statistics?

If the above statements are true, then they are facts, not opinions.

It’s is an opinion that the Flamingo is “not that bad “. I personally would play cards there, but I would not even consider eating there or staying there.

Try fitting a 17” laptop into a hotel safe, lolol.

(eyeroll)

IDGAF if I’m believed here on the forum; there was an general announcement made at the conference about our room being burgled (I had a roommate and her stuff was stolen, too.) Plenty of people (well, the forty or so genuine shoppers there) heard it.

Still have the LVPD report, too. If you want it, I’m happy to DM it to you, whatever. As I recall, the policeman who took our statement said that it was common for housekeeping staff to pass off a master keycard to a boyfriend or family member with thefts like this. Who knows? No video cameras, which is so ironic since cameras are my business.

And the Flamingo sucked as a convention venue. Suuuuucked.
Every time we went to the elevators there was a gauntlet of timeshare vultures to elbow through. The walls and carpet were dirty, very 2.5-star. And my 2017 room faced the Trump Hotel, post-election, so I had that monstrous, blazing “TRUMP” sign in my view 24/7. Ugh.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2020 12:37AM by ColoKate63.

Re: Flamingo. My BFF way back took a trip and stayed at the Flamingo. Went the following year with then BF and now my DH. Beautiful hotel back then. A few years ago, we got free tickets to see a very nasty comedian. The hotel was definitely a bit worn. I love LV for 3 days at the most.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2020 04:19AM by Madetoshop.

This made me want to know more about the hotels in Vegas and I found this when looking.
Top 10 crime hot spots on the Las Vegas Strip
[www.ktnv.com]

@Jenny Cassada wrote:

I used to belong to Fill A Seat and never saw an opportunity like that. I mostly got show and concert tickets for a ridiculously low annual fee. I was kinda bummed they stopped doing their old way and moved to something else.

Me too Arch Stanton! I'd love to go to a convention in my area, but I'm not interested in paying for and dealing with flights for a far away location. I'm in way South Jersey, but would definitely go to one if it was in anywhere in NJ or the NYC area, MD or DE.

Jenny, you could look into flying for 1/2 fare by using one of the MSC's that does airfare. Not sure if I can mention the MSC since I said they do airfare, but I haven't mentioned the airlines. So if someone knows for sure if I can tell you, let me know. Also, I'm sure you can do a search to find the MSC.

@SoCalMama wrote:

So, what people are saying here is that ColoKate63 is not being truthful?

I don't think anyone is saying that at all. I have no doubt her stuff was stolen. Did maybe the LV police overstate that it was the worst? Maybe. I don't know.

I've attended the IMSC in Las Vegas several years. After the first 2 years, I was at the level where I was a presenter. I feel that my presentation was well done as my paper was in demand after the presentation, and I was asked to come back. As for what I learned at the conference, I am at my shopping level today (hotels, find dining, airlines, etc.) because of contacts and things I learned at the conference. I've also earned my video certificate at the VideoCon Conference when it was in my city. I have yet to attend Shopperfest, but I want to. These are all "working vacations" and so a great part of it is deductible. Combine that with only having to pay 1/2 of the airfare and none of the hotel (no I don't stay at the conference hotel as I can't get it free), that reduces the cost too. It may not be necessary to attend every conference every year, and I can only speak for myself, but for me the benefits far outweigh my costs.

@sparklesthekitty wrote:

Anyone know of any reliable sites to sign up for conventions? And if so, are they free?
Anyone ever attend a mystery shopping convention?
Thanks.

CureMS, its fine to state the MSCs since no specific airline was mentioned. SQM has 1/2 airline ticket program and IPSOS has a shopping program with a different airline.

My last trip to Vegas I stayed at above mentioned hotel, and was charged a hefty fee for arriving early, plus their hefty fee for resort, although the pool and computer were either under construction or not working. I will never stay there again, although their location is good and by the way, they own the Starbucks outside and coffee is the highest in Vegas, due to Flamingo getting a cut on every cup sold.

I am going next month and staying at the Mandalay Bay for half the cost with a much lower resort fee. Since I only play the slots, I can't comment on payback for those that gamble.

I *did* win $500 playing blackjack at the Flamingo, so that was a small comfort.

I was at that conference in NV at the Flamingo and remember the announcement being made regarding the theft.

@Irene_L.A. wrote:

I am going next month and staying at the Mandalay Bay for half the cost with a much lower resort fee. Since I only play the slots, I can't comment on payback for those that gamble.

The Flamingo Resort fee is $30, the Mandalay Bay one is $36.

I get comp rooms at both but don't pay resort fees at Caesar's properties.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/22/2020 08:56PM by bgriffin.

@ColoKate63 wrote:

I *did* win $500 playing blackjack at the Flamingo, so that was a small comfort.

That's why it's my favorite.

@bgriffin wrote:

@ColoKate63 wrote:

I *did* win $500 playing blackjack at the Flamingo, so that was a small comfort.

That's why it's my favorite.

I can play 99.9% correct on basic strategy; working very hard on Hi-Lo next.

Hi Lo is super easy until you get in a casino.

@bgriffin wrote:

Hi Lo is super easy until you get in a casino.

I had a $1200 lesson on this recently, lolol

I paid 70.00 at Flamingo for a resort fee two years ago. I am paying a special rate for Mandalay bay and believe me it's half the price and a nicer newer hotel...just my humble opinion and I have been going there for over 30 years, although mostly staying at Bally's.
My ex was the Commercial Real Estate Appraiser for Caesar's palace where we'd get a suite and all expenses paid including the shows. Pardon me for being a Vegas snob.
Really it's a matter of preference.