Top Ten Scams

Online market research companies are always on the lookout for members of their panels. Retail firms, manufacturing businesses, and other organizations contract online research companies to get consumer input on their products. Consumer panels are then set up, often based on demographic profile and interests, to respond to surveys designed to get inputs from consumers in the development and improvement of products.

Online surveys include product concept studies, wherein you will be asked for your opinion about a new soon-to-be-launched product based on the pictures and description shown. Others will query you on your usage of a particular type of product, while others would seek your comments on the clarity and effectiveness of a product advertising copy. In some cases, you will receive a sample of the product to test and use. Your opinion will have an impact on everything from product performance to style, varieties, features, pricing, among others. The goal is to determine what product ideas are winners and which are losers.

You will be contacted through email for surveys that fit your demographic profile. Filling out these surveys takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. You will be given a timeline to respond to the survey, from one to two weeks, the comfort and convenience of your own PC and at a time that is convenient for you. In between, you may be asked to fill out "qualification surveys" to help the company match up your profile and interests with their clients. Usually, no compensation is given to qualification surveys.