Is getting the gold really worth it and with what companies?

Does it really bring all it claims to? (Like preference priority, higher paying shops, etc...)

What is the consensus with gold members experiences and thoughts?

Thanks.

See the certifications thread. There is also a lengthy thread on v-god.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/28/2012 01:56PM by audrialyn30.

If you are talking certification from the MSPA, that there are lengthy discussions about. Even the MSPA states:

"Am I guaranteed more work or higher pay if I am certified?
No, however the certification may give you an edge with some companies. Imagine two shoppers in the same town, with the same experience and work performance. One is certified and one is not. All other things being equal, the certification sets one shopper above the other with some companies."

Be especially aware of, ". . . may give you an edge with some . . ." and, "All other things being equal."

If you are talking about 'gold status' with some particular company that wants to charge you a fee as a shopper so you 'get better jobs', forget it.

Generally you get no benefit or very questionable benefit from paying to shop, whether you are buying certifications or paying an MSP for some kind of priority in shop assignment or pay schedule or paying some referral company to provide you with leads. Each opportunity to pick your pocket is 'only' a fairly small amount that perhaps shoppers won't balk at. It is unnecessary and of little use at best.

Anonymous - Shoppers are so sharply opinionated on this subject that you'll probably have to figure it out on your own. Talking about this is like jumping in the middle of an eggbeater. You'll get spun around and spit out the other side covered up with egg, but you won't know any more with any certainty because you'll hear opposing opinions, all of which have elements of truth. Every shopper who comments, including me, will have a bias.

If you have years and years of experience and you have already established yourself with a large number of MSPs, I don't see how this can help much. On the other hand, I went through gold certification when I was relatively new and I believe I got some benefit from it. Under the same circumstances, I would do it again. If I had 15 years shopping under my belt, I wouldn't consider it unless MSPA expanded and improved the program.

As far as whether it gives you an edge with the companies, that depends. If you're asking will it move you up the ladder above an established, experienced shopper forget about it. If you're asking will jobs pay you more because you're certified, I don't think so. If you're asking will you get special offers, from time to time I've seen email offers directed to gold shoppers. For all I know, everyone else in the world got the email with a slightly different wording. If you're asking will it distinguish you from a bunch of other new shoppers, it can't hurt. MSPA certification does identify you as someone trying to learn and establish yourself. After that, it's up to you.

My view is in accord with Flash's.

I think it's another way for MSPA to make money. And they admit it may not benefit you.

MSPA is an organization for MSC's.

Seems to me if MSC's were so interested in only hiring Bronze, Silver, and Gold
certified, they wouldn't be advertising all the time for new shoppers and would just be sticking to their certified shoppers; which obviously isn't happening.

shoppinalong - you made a valid point that if MSPA members valued the certified shoppers so much, they would be using them and not soliciting all the time for new shoppers. One issue is that there aren't enough certified shoppers to take care of all the MSPA member shops. Another issue is that there are tons of great shoppers who aren't certified who are just as qualified, if not more so. Another issue is the certification program is not good enough to generate the respect it needs.

I took that program on the DVD, so I can't speak to the programs presented at the conventions. The program I did was helpful and I learned a lot, but it really only skimmed the surface of what I needed to know to be effective. It helped me along, but it wasn't a solid educational base for mystery shopping/auditing. I've learned a lot more from the tutorials on the MSP sites and from this forum. I think that speaks loudly about how much the program needs to be improved. If it were better, I believe the MSPA members would rely more on the certified shoppers, and the certified shoppers would get more opportunities for work than they do.

This program needs to be better. It needs to be offered on line only so everyone gets the exact same presentation on the same playing field. Attending conventions and networking would be rewarding and informative, but attending a convention hundreds of miles from home should not be required to get certified. I would be in favor of the MSPA making a concentrated effort to improve and expand this program to meet our needs and expectations. I would hope it could be set up on the format of an on line college course, and be just as intensive and as well tested out.

It helps because you get prioritize over others although at times it does not.

See the current posts re Freeman MSPA. I say no no no.

I know that I have received shop offers because I have the certification. The reason I know it that the email or phone call tells me so. It doesn't happen very often, but it has been often enough to pay for the certification costs.