MSPA IC Plus Membership

I just purchased this membership and was given a free Intro to Mystery Shopping course. It took me about 15 minutes to complete and seemed like it was made for grade schoolers. I started to look around the website and there is nothing really there. I looked at the opportunity board and you can’t even do a search by zip code. Anyone else use their site? Thanks.

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

I check in their opportunity board every now and then. I generally keep my membership current. I did their introductory (Silver Certification) training years ago when I first started mystery shopping. I felt like it was beneficial starting out, but probably not so much for an experienced shopper. More recently, I have been interested in some of their other training courses, but the fact that you have to pay so much and take so many of what they term introductory courses before you can take the others is more than a little off putting. It seems they could even have documented professional experience in lieu of the prerequisites, but none of that. At a certain point, their whole training program seems like a money grab, but they could actually grab a whole lot more of my money if they didn't require me to take this or that before I can take the other that I really want and could possibly benefit from.

How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg?
"Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."
-- Abraham Lincoln


Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/07/2023 09:33PM by GinnyLynn.
i got SILVER certification like 15 years ago. Didn't really notice it helping much back then. I could care less about it now. I would venture to guess some "gold" member will say they benefitted from it. Maybe so, but I don't know how much it truly matters anymore. The relationships you build directly with the schedulers will help you more than some certificate from MSPA
The following is what I recall from 2005, when I purchased the silver level; it was a waste of money. One rarely even hears of the group today. It is an association of mystery shopping companies that was never intended to be for, and they surely have never so been, shoppers. In addition, I have zero recollection of ever hearing of any shopper stating a benefit.
I've had silver for over a decade, and like others said, it never really seemed to matter.

Their job board used to be better, its pretty funky and not really useful.
I know. I thought it would be different with the IC Plus membership but it’s the same. Wasted my $35.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/08/2023 06:49PM by IsaArcega2.
I agree. I was going to take some other courses too, but after the Intro to Mystery Shopping one, I think I’ll pass.
I spent a bit getting hospitality and writing type courses as well as the Casino stuff thinking I would meet the requirement for an HS casino shop.

I didn't get the gig -nobody was assigned!

Lol -so the certifications were WORSE than nothing?

Oh well. Tax write off.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login