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I was on a survey panel, not going to mention which one, when I suddenly scored $5.00 worth of surveys in 20 minutes. This on a panel where I hadn’t gotten squat in the last couple of weeks, despite being on there for an hour every day. It then hit me that I was on there at just the right time to get and successfully complete those surveys. It also occurred to me that it was pretty random, like no real control over being able to complete surveys. And it reminded me of something that I seldom do. That would be gambling, specifically slot machines. The reason I seldom gamble is because it’s so random, and mostly relies on luck and timing. And I’m an admitted control freak. Control freaks usually don’t like gambling. It’s a waste of money for me, money I can blow on so many better things like wine, chocolate and costume jewelry. Think of it. You go on a slot machine and hope it hits. It takes absolutely no skill whatsoever. You’re just pushing a lever or hitting a button. And maybe if you’re real lucky, you’ll leave the casino with more than what you came in with. The odds will always be against you and for the house. It’s random luck and timing. I think it’s a good analogy for survey companies. With these surveys, based on what I’ve observed in the 15 years or so I’ve been doing them, loyalty doesn’t mean anything to these companies. It doesn’t matter whether you’re with a company for two weeks or 15 years. They will continue to screw you out of money, dump you, accuse you of being a liar, etc. They’re happy to take the money they should pay you and pocket it after disqualifying you. They do not care nor have any sympathy if you spend hours a day trying to complete surveys. You get close to nothing for making an effort. When you do actually successfully complete a survey, you almost feel like celebrating because it happens so rarely. It’s easy to get discouraged. Then you have a great day where it seems like taking candy from a baby, like you make $20 in a day. I did that once, and only once. I felt like I was invincible. And that happens so rarely, it really is just luck and/or good timing, all random. I don’t think it has anything to do with being truthful and actually working hard and completing surveys. There is a lot of chicanery going on in the background from “the house” or survey company. They keep you “hooked” because you successfully get say $0.50 from a survey you worked on for 30 minutes, and you just keep going, and get nothing after that. It really is like gambling. I felt like I hit a jackpot after getting that $5.00 worth of surveys today. Now I’m sure I’ll get nothing for weeks after that.

Monster!

Godzilla

You're a good person, Dawn!

Or at least, Sample Cube needs a desperate rehaul. The amount of survey routers you get spun through before you can even get a chance to glimpse at an actual survey (if you're lucky enough to not be instantly disqualified) is insane. I start off on Quickrewards, go to the Your Surveys surveys. That takes me to sample cube. That takes me to sampilcio.us. That takes me to Quest mindshare. That takes me to ups surveyrouter. And then I get looped back to sampilcio.us before I can even see the actual survey, where it tells me I don't qualify. Even though back when I was on Quest mindshare, it said I did qualify for the survey. At the very most, I should have to answer the qualifying questions that sometimes comes before the survey only once. Not four times. Why is it so difficult to take me straight to the survey, when other companies manage to do it. It's frustrating, and far more time consuming than it should be. Just take me to the damn survey, stop shoving me through cint and opinion inn and all these other routers in one go. The experience doesn't have to be this dull and repetitive. Thanks for listening to my TED talk, I just really can't wait for the day when sample cube shuts down or (unlikely) improves their service

I remember the good old days back in 2008 when survey panels used to pay great and not everything was purchased by "Dynata" but privately owned. My most favorite memory was Surveyspot giving out almost $3 per survey and ton's of home product tests. Onopinion when they were still privately owned and even MyView. How have times have changed it's so sad how all these great panel have been killed off by "Dynata" which is on a banning spree and getting a true panel these days that actually cares about it's members and has great rates are all gone. I attached some photos for those of you which might bring back some good memories. Found a pic of that scratch card on Survey Spot, those were good memories.

I've been with this site for years and have always found them very good. I probably cash in my rewards about once every six weeks, so they're a nice little earner. I received a message like the one above when I had just moved home and put in my old postcode and my new one, silly me, but I still continued receiving surveys from them.