IMO it is possible that the IMSC could be of value for certain shoppers, but let me preface.
1. I began mystery shopping as my sole income source in late 2008 pre-IMSC.
2. I had had previous experiences as a sole proprietor and being my own boss.
3. There was no mystery shopping conference or instruction class available to me when I began.
I learned both written and video mystery shopping and auditing through trial-and-error. Although I was smart, tech-savvy, college educated, and well-organized, I experienced a learning curve. I had completed more than 1000 mystery shops before attending my first mystery shopping conference. I learned very little from that first conference, but I benefited from new contacts with company representatives that I chatted with. I received little to no benefit from the speakers, because I had already learned from experience. I kept thinking how much easier it would have been for me if I had had such a conference to attend when I first began mystery shopping.
I went to another conference in 2010 because it offered certification for video shopping. I had already done more than 100 video shops by that time, so most of the training was review. I did get some benefit in the form of contacts and sources for equipment, but the certification itself was no more than a piece of paper. Again I kept thinking how this might have benefited me if it would have been available when I first started mystery shopping. I attended next year’s conference, because I won it in a drawing. I was again disappointed, because almost no company representatives attended. I did not learn anything I did not already know, and I spent most of my time helping new shoppers during the networking between speakers.
I was a paid member of IMSC for one year, primarily so I could get a discounted price for attending the IMSC conference and l attending John Pryzbyl’s event. I was again disappointed. I concluded that the conferences were just an expensive way for other mystery shoppers to visit Las Vegas and socialize. Taking time off work (mystery shopping) and paying to socialize with fellow shoppers was not cost effective for me, so I saw no need to renew my membership in IMSC. The IMSC groups could serve us better by being consolidated into one group. I became disappointed with the authoritarian way that Pam began censorship. I have met Pam on several occasions, and I have nothing against her as a person, but I the the way she censors her groups and allows product promotion of her handpicked vendors is less than helpful to mystery shoppers. I do think the jobs posts from schedulers looking for shoppers are a big help, but they could be more helpful if posted on only one consolidated IMSC group.
In summary, I feel that the conferences are beneficial and cost-effective ONLY for new mystery shoppers. I stopped going because I got nothing more from the conferences than a social gathering for my money spent. Almost no company reps ever showed up. I don’t mind paying it forward to some new shoppers, but that sort of networking should not be my main activity at the conference. There was never a speaker for experienced shoppers at the conference. The conferences were in Las Vegas, yet almost all of the topics were pertinent mostly to non-NV mystery shopping. There was really nothing in it for me that was worth $150 (less if IMSC member) and taking time off work for. I have never been asked to be a speaker at a conference.
IMO, yes, it can be very beneficial to attend a mystery shopping conference if you are a brand new mystery shopper or seriously considering becoming one. However, many changes need to be made before it would be beneficial and cost effective for an experienced mystery shopper to shell out money for a ticket, or even take time off work, to attend an IMSC conference.
1. I began mystery shopping as my sole income source in late 2008 pre-IMSC.
2. I had had previous experiences as a sole proprietor and being my own boss.
3. There was no mystery shopping conference or instruction class available to me when I began.
I learned both written and video mystery shopping and auditing through trial-and-error. Although I was smart, tech-savvy, college educated, and well-organized, I experienced a learning curve. I had completed more than 1000 mystery shops before attending my first mystery shopping conference. I learned very little from that first conference, but I benefited from new contacts with company representatives that I chatted with. I received little to no benefit from the speakers, because I had already learned from experience. I kept thinking how much easier it would have been for me if I had had such a conference to attend when I first began mystery shopping.
I went to another conference in 2010 because it offered certification for video shopping. I had already done more than 100 video shops by that time, so most of the training was review. I did get some benefit in the form of contacts and sources for equipment, but the certification itself was no more than a piece of paper. Again I kept thinking how this might have benefited me if it would have been available when I first started mystery shopping. I attended next year’s conference, because I won it in a drawing. I was again disappointed, because almost no company representatives attended. I did not learn anything I did not already know, and I spent most of my time helping new shoppers during the networking between speakers.
I was a paid member of IMSC for one year, primarily so I could get a discounted price for attending the IMSC conference and l attending John Pryzbyl’s event. I was again disappointed. I concluded that the conferences were just an expensive way for other mystery shoppers to visit Las Vegas and socialize. Taking time off work (mystery shopping) and paying to socialize with fellow shoppers was not cost effective for me, so I saw no need to renew my membership in IMSC. The IMSC groups could serve us better by being consolidated into one group. I became disappointed with the authoritarian way that Pam began censorship. I have met Pam on several occasions, and I have nothing against her as a person, but I the the way she censors her groups and allows product promotion of her handpicked vendors is less than helpful to mystery shoppers. I do think the jobs posts from schedulers looking for shoppers are a big help, but they could be more helpful if posted on only one consolidated IMSC group.
In summary, I feel that the conferences are beneficial and cost-effective ONLY for new mystery shoppers. I stopped going because I got nothing more from the conferences than a social gathering for my money spent. Almost no company reps ever showed up. I don’t mind paying it forward to some new shoppers, but that sort of networking should not be my main activity at the conference. There was never a speaker for experienced shoppers at the conference. The conferences were in Las Vegas, yet almost all of the topics were pertinent mostly to non-NV mystery shopping. There was really nothing in it for me that was worth $150 (less if IMSC member) and taking time off work for. I have never been asked to be a speaker at a conference.
IMO, yes, it can be very beneficial to attend a mystery shopping conference if you are a brand new mystery shopper or seriously considering becoming one. However, many changes need to be made before it would be beneficial and cost effective for an experienced mystery shopper to shell out money for a ticket, or even take time off work, to attend an IMSC conference.