Is the DVD program from MSPA for Gold Status Worth It?

Is the program worth the $75 you have to put out? Do you automatically get better paying or more jobs immediately? Thanks

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Even the MSPA does not tell you that you will get better jobs if you buy certification. If I recall correctly their website statement is to the effect that you MAY get preferential treatment ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. And I can assure you that even if you and your doppelganger applied for the same job you would not exist in an "all other things being equal" universe because one of you would have requested the job first.

There is a lot of discussion through the forum over the years about certification with some folks who have gotten it sure that it has opened doors for them and others feeling equally certain that it has not. My own notes as an uncertified shopper comparing jobs with a gold certified shopper friend in a nearby area was that we were seeing and receiving the same jobs. It is out of your pocket if you choose to pay and I have never ever ever seen convincing reason to do so.
Any time you better your education in your field it is good for you. I personally want to upgrade to Gold. I don't think I want to do this for status or more shops, but because it is kinda like paying your dues. In my opinion, it's kind of like a salute to the founder. The price seems very reasonable and is a business expense, but I think I would prefer a real live workshop near my area.
I did the Gold Wprkshop during my first three months of shopping. The most useful things that I learned came from the give-and-take during workshops woth schedulers and veteran shoppers, woth lots of audience participation. Since this aspect is lacking in the DVD format, I favor the workshops at the IMSC conferences.

Full disclosure: for the first time, I will be leading a workshop at an IMSC conference in a few days. That is my way of paying it forward for all of the help and mentoring that has been given to me on two shopper forums, by other shoppers, and by MSC staff and schedulers over 6 years.

Whatever you do to improve your shopping skills and learn about innovations and technology will boost your shopper income/effciency. People learn in different ways. So, read, read, read, on the most active shopper furums. But, also consider forums where you can see, hear and hug your fellow shoppers. This can be a very lonely enterprise without interactions with real people (That includes forum friends!) who have walked the same road.

And, at these gas prices, we may all be walking, lol.

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 paid for the DVD 2 months ago. I watched it and never took the test. I will get around to it one day. I did the Silver for 15 way back when. I still get shops that are supposed to only go to certified shoppers but who knows if they are telling the truth. I know that dependability and good work will get you more work than any certification will. I know schedulers who have switched companies who contacted me to do shops for where they work now. I actually got a shop one time from a scheduler who emailed me about it privately. I signed up with the company and still do work for them.
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