Gold Certification DVD -- It's Here!

It's here...what so many shoppers have been waiting for...The MSPA Gold DVD is finally available! Now, finally, there's a way to become MSPA Gold Certified without having to wait for a Gold Certification Workshop to come to a city convenient to you. Now, become Gold certified on your own time, at your own pace from virtually anywhere. We're sure you have questions, so we've answered many of the most common questions below.

Gold Certification DVD Frequently-Asked Questions

What is the Gold Certification DVD?

How much will it cost to buy?

Why did the MSPA create a Gold DVD?

Can more than one shopper share a Gold DVD?

What value do Gold Certified shoppers bring to member companies...and what value will Gold Certification bring to me?

Will the Gold Certification DVD be any different from the Workshop?

Can the Gold Certification DVD be played on DVD players connected to TVs and to players in computers?

How will MSPA member companies support the new Gold DVD?

Click here to purchase the Gold DVD (prerequisite: MSPA Silver Certification)


What is the Gold Certification DVD?
It is a video version, on two DVDs, of the entire Gold Certification Workshop with instructor Cathy Stucker. MSPA filmed a workshop in a theatre setting with shoppers in the audience. Because it was professionally produced and has an easy to navigate chapter sequence for viewing, it's almost like being at a live Gold Certification workshop. No content was omitted from the live workshops - it's all there. (Back to top)

How much will it cost to buy?
$99.00 plus applicable taxes, where required, and shipping, which initially will be $5 per Gold DVD package in the United States.(Back to top)

Why did the MSPA create a Gold DVD?
The number of Gold Certified shoppers represents just a fraction of the total number of shoppers who regularly work for MSPA member companies. MSPA member companies are clamoring for more Gold Certified shoppers. There are just over 4,840 MSPA Gold Certified shoppers in an industry of more than 1,000,000 shoppers. As much as mystery shopping companies want to engage Gold Certified shoppers, there is a shortage of supply. This is partly because live workshops have a limited reach. The Gold Certification Workshops are sometimes impossible for shoppers to attend due to scheduling conflicts, distance, or cost, which includes travel, child care, and other costs in addition to the Workshop fee. The MSPA Gold DVD program is a way to bring certification to all the smaller cities and rural towns throughout North America. It's affordable, convenient and efficient.(Back to top)

What value do Gold Certified shoppers bring to member companies...and what value will Gold Certification bring to me?
In recent research by MSPA members and industry vendors (including SurfMerchants and Archon), we found the following:

  1. Gold Certified shoppers have a much lower "flake" rate;
  2. Gold Certified shoppers typically have higher grades;
  3. Gold Certified shoppers often are more professional and committed to their work.
Because MSPA member companies find value in Gold Certified shoppers, they are more likely to:
  1. Give Gold Certified shoppers earlier access to "plum" assignments;
  2. Release assignments to Gold Certified shoppers first;
  3. Depend on Gold Certified shoppers to a greater degree on critical assignments;
  4. Select Gold Certified shoppers for the higher-compensation assignments. (Back to top)

Will the Gold Certification DVD be any different from the Workshop?
In terms of content…no. But we've added new components to both the live workshops and the DVD that will greatly enhance the value of MSPA Gold Certification. Both will, from here on, incorporate a writing test and a shopper evaluation test in addition to the Gold Certification content exam. We believe these new components will make MSPA Gold Certification even more valuable than before.

How will MSPA member companies support the new Gold DVD?
MSPA members have already begun to show their support for the new Gold DVD program. PROS Mystery Shopping and IntelliShop, for example, have come forward as Sponsors to help underwrite the cost of the DVD. We expect that many more member companies will, as the number of Gold Certified shoppers grows, release shops to Gold Certified shoppers first. Others have discussed plans to have shopping programs that are exclusive to Gold Certified shoppers. Many MSPA member companies already indicate their preference for Silver or Gold Certified shoppers and, with the growth in the number of available Gold Certified shoppers, we expect those preferences to have more 'teeth,' since the supply will begin to more closely match the demand.(Back to top)

Can the Gold Certification DVD be played on DVD players connected to TVs and to players in computers?
Yes, as long as your player, whether connected to your TV or to your computer, is a standard player in common use in North America, your Certification Gold DVD should work just fine.

Can more than one shopper share a Gold DVD?
No, when you purchase MSPA Gold Certification, you are not paying only for a DVD, you are paying for the development and maintenance of the training and testing program as well as the maintenance of the shopper data base so that companies can verify certification status. Similarly, each person who attends a Gold Certification Workshop must pay to participate. Each shopper who wishes to achieve Gold Certification must pay to participate. The Gold Certification tests are coded and the code is valid only for the shopper who purchased the DVD. (Back to top)