Njsurveyman Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 I was recently invited to participate in this study, however they are now telling me to go out and buy a certain brand of ice cream. Well.....where is the money they expect me to use for this?? There's no way I am using my own money with the possibility and hope they will reimburse me (which will probably not be for another three months (if they ever do). I would definitely be cautious about this study if anyone else is invited to participate. These companies need to realize that if they WANT our help to test a product that we need to actually purchase, we should be given the money to at least purchase it with first. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Heck yes. I did a product test awhile ago and was given a e-card to buy the product at Walmart. Money given upfront. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neminem Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Yeah, no kidding. The only time I've been told to test a product where I wasn't just shipped a box with the product in it, they mailed me a paper coupon to take to Walmart to redeem for a free box of the pizza in question. (Incidentally, because it was from BzzAgent rather than a traditional survey company, rather than telling me I'm not allowed to say what it was, they actually encourage me to say what it was: it was a brand called Urban Pizza, and it was actually pretty solid. Not sure it'd be quite worth 7 bucks a pizza, but pretty solid anyway. Was a steal at 4 bucks - they sent me one for free, and coupons for 3 bucks off several more. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footfree Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Last time I did a a test survey like that for them they sent me the check then asked me to go buy it.I would write them and ask for the money upfront.However they are not good about answering emails.They are just as bad as GTM. I did a survey for McCormick where they sent out some seasoning to try and I had to buy the meat myself.Boy was I ticked ,I hated the seasoning and was out the money for the meat.Plus the time it took to go buy the meat and all that.I wont do that type of survey anymore unless I'm paid upfront to give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somelady Posted October 7, 2016 Report Share Posted October 7, 2016 Yes, I agree. I was sent a check to buy a box of white castle burgers for a survey. I would never use my own money for a product test. The only times I used my own money was when I was doing mystery shopping, I had to buy a product and return it that same day. Or go to the theater and watch a lot of movies, but it was a trusted company that reimbursed your money , paid for transportation and paid for the mystery shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njsurveyman Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I contacted Ipsos and they claimed that Focus Point Global should have given me the $6 to buy the ice cream with. Well, still nothing, even though they keep sending me emails telling me to get started. Smh. Is anyone else participating in this ice cream panel? I'd like to hear from you. I am not even sure if they are supposed to send the money via snail mail or paypal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footfree Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 I contacted IPSOS and they claimed that Focus Point Global should have given me the $6 to buy the ice cream with. Well, still nothing, even though they keep sending me emails telling me to get started. Smh. Is anyone else participating in this ice cream panel? I'd like to hear from you. I am not even sure if they are supposed to send the money via snail mail or paypal. I'm not with this particular panel however when they did send me the money it was by snail mail(check). And btw congrats on getting a answer- you should ask them when they sent the check who knows it could have gotten lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njsurveyman Posted October 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Ok. Perhaps mail was slowed down due to Columbus Day. It was Not Focus Pt Global who gave me a response, it was Ipsos telling me that FPG should be sending me the money. They are only offering to pay an additional $10 upon the conclusion of this study anyway, so I'm not too concerned. I have an in person coffee taste test paying me $125 on the spot this Wed., so that's where I am channeling my enthusiasm right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footfree Posted October 11, 2016 Report Share Posted October 11, 2016 Ok. Perhaps mail was slowed down due to Columbus Day. It was Not Focus Pt Global who gave me a response, it was IPSOS telling me that FPG should be sending me the money. They are only offering to pay an additional $10 upon the conclusion of this study anyway, so I'm not too concerned. I have an in person coffee taste test paying me $125 on the spot this Wed., so that's where I am channeling my enthusiasm right now. Congrats on the taste test- I wish I could get a invite for focus group been awhile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somelady Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Or the mail could have been slowed by the hurricane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njsurveyman Posted October 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 No, Ipsos contacted me and flat out lied to me telling me that I was indeed already sent the money and verified to have received it to buy the ice cream with ($6.00). I basically wrote them back and called them liars and left it at that. I would never do anything again if it involves Ipsos. They are extremely untrustworthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD Posted October 16, 2016 Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 Ok. Perhaps mail was slowed down due to Columbus Day. It was Not Focus Pt Global who gave me a response, it was IPSOS telling me that FPG should be sending me the money. They are only offering to pay an additional $10 upon the conclusion of this study anyway, so I'm not too concerned. I have an in person coffee taste test paying me $125 on the spot this Wed., so that's where I am channeling my enthusiasm right now. What site did that come from? I did test a coffee maker for 3 months and didn't get to keep it but got 3 months of free coffee and couple of dollars for a post test survey. I have definite opinions about coffee taste and would love to do a taste test. $125 would make it a even better:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njsurveyman Posted October 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2016 The coffee taste test was via Advanced Focus Group company. They only conduct focus groups in NYC though. The focus groups are the ones that truly pay well and put survey companies to shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
footfree Posted October 17, 2016 Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 What site did that come from? I did test a coffee maker for 3 months and didn't get to keep it but got 3 months of free coffee and couple of dollars for a post test survey. I have definite opinions about coffee taste and would love to do a taste test. $125 would make it a even better:) I go two places where I live that has live focus groups.If you haven't checked for one in your local area I would suggest to try.The experience is much better going there then online,plus they pay right there on the spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njsurveyman Posted October 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2016 UPDATE: Today I received a $6 Paypal deposit from Focus Forward aka Surveysquad. However, this study WAS being conducted by Ipsos via Focus Pt Global. But, they want me to purchase 2 tubs of ice cream (which cost about $4 each not on sale). This just gets stranger and stranger. This also comes after I told the company to remove me from this study. I wonder if they have the ability to yank that $6 back, since I dropped out of this totally disorganized study?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now