Those mall survey takers

[rageaholic]

I used to work at a call center for a market research company. Most of the time, the clients' (the companies we did the surveys for) contracts required us to lie about the length of time the surveys took. I hated doing that, thus, I didn't stay at the call center very long.

Grr, I figured it was the idea of corporate to have their employees lie about the test time. What's worse is they get away with it because they still get their results.

[rageaholic]

Too bad they don't do that in any of the California malls I've wasted months of my life in. I did do a couple when I was in Texas a few years back, mostly because I was just window shopping and had time to kill. Made $20 and got to try a cinnamon Jack Daniels that I've not seen for sale, so it worked out for me. They asked for 15 minutes, when I got in I let them know I had time and did 5 surveys. So, you are welcome other person who would have been upset, I did those surveys and the shot for you!

Meh, I liked doing the survey (well at least making money off of it). I just didn't like being lied to. It's such a cheap tactic.

[SuperNat]

I did one of those surveys once.. took half an hour, had to test out some new schnapps drink and I got paid $45

[EricKei]

I like taking these. It gives me the very silly but satisfying notion that my juuuuust slightly skewed preferences will be used to determine the norm for a national product. And soon, products all over the world....HAHAHAHAHAHA POWER HAHAHAHAHAAAH- ooh! piece o' candy....

[PepperElf]

i did one once, it was a food-test survey in san fran

wish they'd have let me finish more of the food.

the "payment" was a free pass the aquarium i was planning on going to anyway so.. not bad.

[KellyHabersham]

The only time I've taken one of those surveys was about twelve years or so ago.....had gone to the mall with a cousin, and the only things I remember are that we each got paid four dollars, and were given samples of food to take home (It was a "Skillet Sensations" type of thing.....not sure exactly how to word it)

[draftermatt]

My wife and I got stopped in a mall once by them. I told them we were busy, she didn't understand that I wanted to get away.

So we got to sit for an hour watching clips of movies that were coming out soon to gauge if we would pay money to see them.

Got $5 for our time, woo hoo.

[Andara Bledin]

If you ever want these people to go away, start asking stuff like their name (or employee ID, etc), their company, the company's contact information.... you get the idea. If you appear to be gathering info to make a formal complaint, there's a good chance they'll seek out less dangerous prey.

I've never been stopped to do a survey while in a mall. Then again, I'm hardly ever in malls.

I have done market research surveys (used to belong to two different research groups) for about $50 a pop (and sometimes a meal, if they were taste testing for entree foods), and I currently do a shopper thing that records what I buy and from where.

^-.-^

[Teysa]

I used to do those surveys quite a bit. I never minded since extra money was extra money. The last few times I've been to the mall I haven't been asked. Of course that may have something to do with the fact that I was still in my work uniform and probably obviously didn't qualify.

[Twin2]

I've been lucky with surveys in so far as the last one I can remember taking was at Hershey Park, and was on how a potential new chocolate recipe tasted (pretty good by my standards anyway). Wish I had the same luck with people calling for donations.

[bacchinalus]

the mall i work at has a group of these people

they don't like me

it might have something to do with the fact that i told them in no uncertain terms that they weren't collecting the data properly, and everything they do is skewed

them: would you mind answering a few questions for a survey? we'll give you 5$
me: *answers no to each question she asks*
them: ok nevermind you don't qualify to participate because you answered 'no' to everything i asked
me: so you're telling me that nowhere in your data do you count the people who don't use these products, and you only ask once you know the person does use them? where's my 5$?
them: well you didn't qualify for the survey, so you don't get it
me: i answered questions, just not the answers you wanted. do you admit you lied about giving me money for my time?
them: .......*runs away scared*