by Linda R.
Member since:
August 14, 2006

Incentives

September 10, 2006 09:46 AM EDT
views: 78 | comments: 29
The internet is full of survey sites.  Many of us join a few of these groups in response to email invitations from survey companies or from friends who are already members.  Some of the surveys are interesting and it's fun to receive and test new products occasionally 

As compensation a few companies offer small amounts of cash and many award points or tokens for completed surveys.  And then there are those that offer entries in sweepstakes and drawings.  Supposedly someone wins the offered prizes. 

Obviously the majority of people prefer to receive cash or gift cards.  And tokens can be saved and redeemed for a variety of merchandise.  But for the life of me I can't see where these sweepstakes entries have any value.  I would rather receive a penny than a miniscule chance to win a million dollars.


 
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Comments: 29

Dawne Joy Sep 10, 2006, 9:51am EDT
I agree. Me too. I guess that's why I don't play the lottery much...
John B. Sep 10, 2006, 10:04am EDT
I also agree. Most of it is for the fun and even a small token point makes the game more interesting
Barbara F. Sep 10, 2006, 10:17am EDT
I don't bother anymore...don't have to the time for the most part...
Angela <:3---}~~~~ M. Sep 10, 2006, 10:25am EDT
i will never waste my time on a survey that offers sweeps entries. i do them for those that pay. if they want my time i want cash.
Mari J. Sep 10, 2006, 10:31am EDT
I totally agree. (though I have won the occasional sweepstakes - $10 *whirls finger in air*)

I'm on over 40 of the panels now - and even though finding time for the surveys is tricky - it's still loads of fun. I'm actually (after about 9 months of doing this) starting to see a regular, albeit small, income. Between 15-30 bucks a week is better than nothing. Plus I get loads of free stuff. I may never have to buy shampoo again.

If you ever want a really exhaustive list of panels that are legitimate and join-worthy, www.freelancebyu.com has the best list I've seen so far. Just click on her "surveys4$" link. Her freebie forum is also pretty good.
Cassandra M. Sep 10, 2006, 10:47am EDT
Yep, the sweepstates are kinda pointless.
William M. Sep 10, 2006, 12:07pm EDT
I agree completely.
judy l. Sep 10, 2006, 12:37pm EDT
Even the points are useless unless you do an aweful lot of surveys
Linda R. Sep 10, 2006, 12:58pm EDT
I prefer cash but points are the next best thing.

I recently got a $25.00 Amazon gift certificate from one program and a $50.00 Amazon gift certificate from another. I redeemed them by applying them to my Amazon account (added to some others I had already redeemed) so now I have a relatively large credit balance to use for the holidays.
**AngelEyez** a. Sep 10, 2006, 1:16pm EDT
Yes i ALSO hate the sweeps I dont bother.. I like the points etc.. gosh.. Im on alot of them but heck if anyone wants to they should post what places you go to.. I know Most are already involved but im sure there are some out there that are very hard to come across to sign up for thanks!
Sandra L. Sep 10, 2006, 1:36pm EDT
Linda. I agree. So far the only group I have received actual money per survey from is Pine Cone. I lucked out and got that link off Gather! I understand it's pretty hard to sign up with them and they don't put out invites very often so when they do, you really have to snap it up!
I have just started skipping the sweepstakes entries. The last thing I want to do is spend 10 - 20 minutes of my time for the mere chance that I MIGHT win some money. I'm not even sure that they really pay out.
Homebody E. Sep 10, 2006, 1:41pm EDT
Totally agree. I refuse to do surveys that only enter you in a drawing. I do Attitudes Across America and Epoll, and I think that's about it. The only reward program I do anymore, either, is QuickRewards.
Laura B. Sep 10, 2006, 2:33pm EDT
If I don't get money for my time I won't do a survey for a sweeps chance.
Sandra L. Sep 10, 2006, 3:16pm EDT
Laura, what is Attitudes Across America?
Cindi P. Sep 10, 2006, 3:21pm EDT
Phonehog is one of my Fave's, you get a long distance phone card when you sign up, and you get minutes for checking out their ads. I got 283 minutes without spending a penny! : )
Melissa W. Sep 10, 2006, 4:10pm EDT
Great points! I don't bother with the "sweepstakes" survey sites anymore, either. I have found that in many cases, the surveys are more complicated than the survey sites where you earn points, gift cards, or other rewards. It's definitely not worth it to me!
Susan *. Sep 10, 2006, 4:15pm EDT
yep! I agree...I usually don't even bother with surveys if they offer "a chance to win millions"...I'd much rather have a couple of bucks in PAYPAL...call me cheap but the contests really seem pointless and not worth the time.
Carol Roach Sep 10, 2006, 4:19pm EDT
I agree with you
Carolyn K. Sep 10, 2006, 4:31pm EDT
I'll do anything if the incentive is right. Not fussy just want to be compensated for my time some how.
Linda R. Sep 10, 2006, 4:35pm EDT
So far I think the consensus is that the sweepstakes or drawings aren't worth much if anything. I've always felt that they're an insult to my intelligence.
Tab B. Sep 10, 2006, 5:46pm EDT
So if none of us ARE winning the sweepstakes, who is????!
I like getting the checks in the mail, or a balance to Paypal. That is how I treat myself to lunch occasionally (if I can get away from the kids - otherwise I need two of those payments!)
Hi,

I totally agree, the surveys and I joined one of them, not realizing that it was a sweepstakes entry, are pointless and I want the ones that pay me "something". It seems only fair as you're filling out their surveys is working for them, in a sense.
Baylee C. Sep 10, 2006, 11:39pm EDT
I definitely prefer cash to sweepstakes... but I can tell you that I know most of the survey companies are legit in the sweepstakes drawings are legit. I have occasionally won some big drawings. A couple months ago I won three drawings in one week, for almost $300.
Linda R. Sep 10, 2006, 11:44pm EDT
Congratulations Alicia. I never heard of anyone I knew winning one of those before.
MrElf 1961 Sep 11, 2006, 6:06am EDT
cindy, could you share a link to Phonehog?
Cindi P. Sep 11, 2006, 1:13pm EDT
Sorry I forgot that! www.phonehog.com!
Baylee C. Sep 11, 2006, 1:30pm EDT
I've had friends that have won more than me!lol I won from Microsoft, a couple from Stanford, one from DRI and some other place... I was shocked! I still pass on most of the drawing surveys, however, if there are guaranteed cash paying ones available, even if they are only for a few dollars.
Janet H. Sep 11, 2006, 4:12pm EDT
What I earn most from the surveys is magazine subscriptions. I have so many free magazine subscriptions that it isn't even funny, and I rarely read magazines. I have gotten money but not a lot, gift cards, and products to try and keep. Sometimes doing the surveys is fun but sometimes its a big waste of time. I was on the Neilson Homescan panel long enough to earn a hot air popcorn popper but we got tired of scanning everything we bought and sometimes the data didn't upload well.
Linda R. Sep 11, 2006, 5:01pm EDT
Thanks Janet I'm not into magazine subscriptions but I do like kitchen gadgets. I've been on the home scan panel for about 1 1/2 years. I don't mind scanning probably because I don't shop a lot.

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