Ask the Readers: Do You Take Surveys?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Christina, Tabathia, and Mel for winning this week's contest!
Companies love to know what you think, whether online, on paper, over the phone, or even in person. In fact, to get you to share your opinions, many surveys will offer rewards (freebies, discounts, etc.) or chances to win big prizes.
Do you take surveys? What's the best reward you have ever received for a survey? Have you ever used a survey to report an especially good or bad experience?
Tell us whether you take surveys and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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Yes, I take surveys.
Yes. The best one I did was to test out face creams. I received two full sized bottles of night creams and received $10 for filling out the survey.
It seems that only some surveys are worth taking in terms of the ratio of time spent and the payoff and countered with the risk that something will go wrong: survey quits or suddenly has met its quota for people like me. I prefer the cash as a reward, but sometimes you get products to test.
I've done a few surveys but have never earned rewards for doing them.
I'm retired and have more time than I know what to do with so I take surveys; Several pay cash, most award points that can be redeemed for gift card. Over a year I'll earn a couple hundred dollars worth of points/cash. Some sites also send free sample products so that's another bonus. I also learn about new products so, all in all, it's a productive use of my time. One caveat - I have separate email accounts for surveys and NEVER use the account that friends and family can use to contact me.
Yes. I have taken numerous surveys over they years. I probably average about $3 per survey but have gotten up to $10 before. Also, I have used surveys to report really good and really bad experiences.
yes, all the time.
I take surveys, but less than I used to because they don't pay much
I frequently use surveys to comment on a customer service experience. I do not recall ever completing a survey for a reward... just the satisfaction of sharing my thoughts/opinion.
I take surveys here and there, usually if I feel like I have an opinion that might help improve a product or service. One time I won a magazine subscription. That was a nice perk.
I do! I participate in e-rewards and take a few surveys a month. Once my points add up I usually redeem them for $25 Starbucks or iTunes gift cards. I probably earn a few a year...enough to support my coffee/music habits! I don't feel like all survey websites are a valuable use of time as some take forever to truly earn a reward, but e-rewards is more reasonable.
Yes, I do take surveys. I belong to Swagbucks, where I take them and earn cash and gift cards. The only annoying thing is when you completely finish a survey and it doesn't credit, and you feel that they've stolen your information. That is maddening. But otherwise, I enjoy being able to earn little treats for my family with what I can earn online!
If I feel like I have somethign to contribute I will take a survey. I do them through Swagbucks because I earn points. I also am a member of several panels that pay for taking surveys so the rewards are endless depending on how long you wait to redeem them!
I do! I think it's a fun way to earn a little (stress "little" here) cash and test products. A couple years ago, I won $100 - most survey sites enter you into cash or prize drawings for each survey you take - that was my biggest win. I earn a few bucks here and there each month; I only fill them out when I have free time. Again, it's fun!
I use surveys sometimes if I have really exceptional service or really horrible service. It's a great way to share your feelings and reward those who are amazing at their job. I lost my dave ramsey envelope system at my local grocery store with $700 in it, and the cashier returned it to me and called me. Amazing! That deserved a survey!
Not usually because I'm really not interested in doing it. If I want to report a good or bad experience, I go right to source and let them know either by email or a letter.
I would take surveys but I am always turned dow. I am 58 raising a baby and two small children. I do things that most people my age don't do. I use the products and have opinions.
Definitely! I may not technically be getting paid much for the time spent, but it still feels like a fun way to get a few extra dollars.
Yes I take surveys for payment and reward. The best rewards I've rcvd are checks for avg. of $30/month from Pinecone Research (I take 10 surveys a month for $3 a survey). Nice spending money. I also rcvd electronic gift cards from Amazon and Paypal from MySurvey.com. Easy money!!!
Very, very rarely.
Sometimes I will when the survey is a "how did we do today" kind of thing on a receipt and I figure a particularly helpful clerk will get some kind of small benefit for me hitting "5 - Extremely Satisfied."
I have two different survey sites I use on a regular basis and I try to always do the survey if one is available on the bottom of one of my receipts. I've gotten free laundry detergent to test, shampoo, and a little bit of cash. Sometimes I think it's really not worth it but every little bit helps these days.
Yep, I did surveys for quite a while in college to earn pocket money. :) I still do them occasionally as well.
Nah. I did for awhile, but they are SO boring it's just not worth my time.
If I say "no" doesn't that make me a liar?
I took surveys for almost two years, but decided that the time spent was not worth for me. I also felt a bit overwhelmed by it, and it definitely started to stress me out.
I take surveys when I have time. I try to do it right after I get the invitation, so I don't forget!
I only do surveys using PineCone. They reward you with $3 for each survey taken.
I have done surveys before but I found that they really aren't worth my time now that I'm busier. I do however do phone interviews for companies that I care about and I do answer the ask the readers survey quite a bit!
Yes, I participate in surveys. Never got anything for that. Also, yes, I have used surveys to give complain or compliment.
i only answer surveys if i believe the business really needs or deserves the feedback OR if they are offering an incentive. my time is worth money too.
Yes, I do participate in surveys!
I do take surveys. I like sites like Pinecone Research. I also do focus groups and taste tests in real life. I have been paid $40-$75 for an hour or two of "work".
I take surveys on occasion for products I use or like (or really don't like). The best reward I've received is a gift card, which is pretty sweet
I take surveys usually for rewards. I also like to take surveys at the end of a call to report good or bad customer service.
I still take the occasional survey. They all pay various amounts of points that can be redeemed for gift cards or a check when--If!-- I accumulate enough.
At first itwas fun to get things like amazon gift cards for free, but eventually the novelty wore out. I realized that taking surveys is a major time suck. For the most part, I'd rather have my time than a five-buck gift card that takes hours to earn.
I am a member of both MyPoints and InBox Dollars and take surveys through those programs to earn points and dollars respectively. While neither program will pay my bills, I generally cash out both just before the holidays to make things a little easier.
I occasionally take surveys online if they are not too long.
Carrie
I was downsized when I was in my early sixties, finding another job has been difficult, I had to start social Security early or starve. While being time consuming, surveys do offer a few extra bucks, I usually try to avoid the sites that take forever to pay and try to do a few when I get time.
no...it seems like many online put your computer at risk for viruses and such...not worth the frustration.
I take Target surveys after shopping at the store for a chance to win gift cards.
I take surveys but only from a few trusted sites
Yes. Those redeemable for cash.
The best reward I've ever received for taking a survey? Being able to tell a company and in industry what I felt and thought about them.
Yes, but it's a mixed bag. Sometimes I don't because I don't want to collect points. I actually want to win something. lol I haven't so far but one day I will!
Yes, I love to do surveys!
Yes, I have taken surveys. I have been paid a couple of times.
Yes, I take surveys. I've earned a little pocket money, but really should find a more lucrative way to spend that time. Isn't this a survey of sorts? :)
Yes, but not as much since my baby was born.
I try, but it's hard to find the time. I am pretty faithful to e-rewards for surveys, but Ipsos just sends too many.
I'm signed up with Survey Money to take occasional surveys. They donate 50 cents to a favorite charity every time I take one. So far, I've donated $9 to the Pet Finder Foundation.
I take surveys found at the bottom of receipts. I've never won anything, but I do sometimes save money off of my next visit or in the case of Subway earn a free cookie.
I do take surveys. I haven't really received much in the way of rewards - some coupons only. I do them when I have the time for companies or about companies that I patronize because I just think it's valuable to give feedback!
Yes, I like pine cone because it pays $3 per survey and sometimes you get to try out new products.
If I'm in the mood to take a phone survey, sometimes I will, but the only surveys that I usually take are the ones on Swagbucks.com to earn swagbucks.
I took a bunch of psychology surveys/ tests in college, because we would get emailed about them all the time and beat doing homework. They put all of our names into a raffle and one year I won $50. But otherwise I don't do many surveys, but would be interested for the sake free stuff/ money.
Wouldn't the majority of folks who answer be people who do take surveys?
Isn't this -- a survey?
I do take surveys. People love to be asked about their preferences and about what they think, and to compare their answers everybody else's.
yes sometimes. depends on if i have time and the length of the survey
Yes, I have taken surveys for several years. However, I have noticed that I don't qualify for as many as I used to. I believe that I am close to the age category that many companies don't really care about our opinions. They are mostly concerned with younger people and their preferences. Ah, well, it was fun while it lasted.
I take them occasionally when I'm in the mood. I mostly do it on swagbucks.
Yep. I used to take them through mysurvey.com, but I was spending tons of time taking them for little return. I now occasionally take one through Swagbucks, and the return seems better. The surveys I enjoyed the most were not through mysurvey but some company they worked with, emsense, and when I closed my mysurvey account, I stopped getting them. Each 30 minute survey got me a $5 gift card, if I remember correctly. It was an awesome return, and I enjoyed the surveys, which included watching videos and answering questions while wearing a headpiece. I did enjoy the occasional free samples from mysurvey, though. I got free diapers, face cream, and various food samples, like pizza and chips.
Yes, I do surveys, mostly for award points.
I do surveys to make money for the extra things not covered in my budget.
Yes, I take surveys. It is what provides stitcal information.
No, I usually don't take surveys. But, hey maybe I'll start, especially if there is a reward involved! I am more inclined to take a survey if I care about the business and use it frequently. Random surveys are less appealing and feel time consuming. I am more likely also to take a survey if I have had an exceptionally good or bad experience. The closest thing I've done related to reporting a poor experience was writing a review about a undesirable employer. I also wrote a review on Yelp for the woman who did our invitations. She was fantastic!
I've been doing on line surveys for a few years. Its a passive income, done on my laptop while watching tv. I take the points and convert them to AirMiles for free gas or get the prepaid Visa cards. Roughly works out to be about $300 a year.
Every so often we get to try a product like laundry detergent. The best was a Keurig and Tassimo study. Each machine came with a $75 gift certificate for coffee. As a reward for our participation we got to keep the machines.
I ABSOLUTELY take surveys! I get lots of rewards -- gift cards, products to test, and cash -- all for just a few minutes of my time.
Yes I take surveys. I use GlobalTest Market and although I don't always qualify for the surveys it is still nice to do and earn a little extra cash/gift cards.
I will fill out a survey to get a free sample or $ off coupon, but not really for any other reasons. I'd be interested in seeing some reputable resources for other good causes!
I do sometimes, if the potential payout is good or if I feel strongly that my opinion should be heard, or if I really want the surveyors to have good data.
I take surveys. My best reward was a $5 Amazon gift code. I use surveys more to report bad service than good service.
Yes, I love surveys! I love getting product tests in the mail and cash for my opinion! I am very committed to doing surveys and the extra funds help tremendously!
I take surveys; especially if I have a suggestion or a gripe
I've done a couple. The last one was online and involved logging into a website over the course of three days and answering discussion questions posted there. I spent about four hours on it total, and got a $150 Visa gift card--$37.50 per hour is worth it!
Yes! I took a health survey in March and was entered into a sweepstakes. I won a $500 Walmart gift card.
Yes, I do surveys. I use acop.com, mturk.com, multiple phone apps, and the arbitron radio survery that comes in the mail with cash. I like the fact that I can earn some extra cash when I want to. Granted it isn't much, but a couple hundred bucks over the course of a year is a couple hundred bucks...
Yes, I do! And I'll do the survey that is on your receipt for a store asking about service and store appearance.
Yes, I take surveys that allow me to earn a few extra bucks in the form of gift cards, magazine subscriptions, or rewards points that I can put toward earning a free flight or a hotel stay. Last year, I took enough surveys to earn about 7,500 points to the Hilton Honors rewards program. These points, combined with those I earned from previous stays, were enough to send my parents on a free two night getaway to Tucson, AZ for their Christmas present!
I've also used points from surveys to get year long magazine subscriptions, which doesn't require filling out nearly as many surveys as you might think. It's been a great way to get free reading material!
Yes, I take surveys. I love giving my opinions and getting rewarded for them!
Yes, I take surveys regularly. I'm in marketing so I understand the importance of them!
Indeed I do. I enjoy taking surveys, particularly if they're on an important topic and I sense that I may have some influence on the results. Many surveys are interesting and fun.
No.
On principle, I would never respond to a survey.
Wait, what did I just...? Oh, no! What have I done!?
I tried doing surveys for money, but I probably was trying the wrong sites. Seemed like a lot of work and giving away of information for very little return, so I stopped.
I used to take a lot of surveys, but the rewards did not compensate for the time spent. Plus, answering all those repetitious questions began to be annoying.
Yes, I used to take a A LOT of surveys -- the kind of site where if you do a ton of them, you eventually earn points for gift cards. It was good for killing time, and I was able to get several $25 gift cards. I haven't done it in over a year, because I don't have that sort of down time anymore.
Rarely, I do, but really the time invested doesn't yeild a good return. Crowdtap did everyone a dirty and ditched all our points. It was really criminal how they wasted our time. After that, I just stick to Swagbucks.
I used to but have found that the time spent isn't worth the reward.
Oh, I definitely take surveys. I get them from Swagbucks and MyPoints, mostly. I love the way the points add up!
I have entered a lot of surveys from the fast food place, discount store, hardware store, but I have never won any prizes.
I take surveys to try to get a little extra spending money. If the survey is for an entry into a drawing, I only take it if it isn't ridiculously long.
I usually take them if I have time and I think the best reward I have received was a gift card for either $25 or $50 Visa GC
sometimes......it depends on what it's for
Yes, I do surveys pretty often. In the past I've done surveys for companies that have paid me, usually $3 per survey. I've also done some that have sent me free magazine subscriptions although I didn't do these often, and eventually stopped altogether, as I don't like to use up the resources that is required to manufacture magazines. (Trying my best to reduce my footprint on earth.) Now, I do surveys to earn points that I can use as entries for scholarships to help pay for my upcoming college expenses. Hopefully, it will pay off some!
I used to be signed up for survey companies but never found they were worth the effort for the return
Yes I've taken surveys before. The biggest reward I received was $100 check
I do not take surveys.