topic Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read in Community Chat

Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

PickyPicky3 — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:29:57 GMT

Today I was "allowed" to complete a full "qualifying questionnaire" on financial activities to see if I was eligible to complete the opinion survey on financial activities. The first screen listed about thirty kinds of financial accounts from checking account to different kinds of stock and bond accounts. No one has ever asked for that much information, but it was still generic, and I did it. A mistake.

The next screen presented even more detailed account types and asked me to check which kinds I used. No grocery store needs that kind of information. I realized I was being deceived and I stopped. I could not uncheck the information from the first screen.

I started another qualifying questionnaire on Smart Devices. It was equally detailed and frightening. I didn't proceed.

E-Rewards, part of Research-Now/Dynata, is gathering massive amounts of personal information and calling it "qualifying questionnaires."

This is a polished, professional international company, and so are its big name corporate clients. I almost never get taken in, but this one got me a little bit. I spent today cleaning up as much as possible.

Nothing to discuss here. If you get an invitation to join E-Rewards, delete it fast. And let others know.

Now I'm glad yesterday I was rejected so quickly.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

millieshops — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:31:22 GMT

@PickyPicky3 So glad you realized what was really going on and ba cked out.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

mspatmac — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 23:34:48 GMT

Thank you @PickyPicky3 for sharing your experience.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Kachina624 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 00:57:51 GMT

Qurestion... @PickyPicky3 Why is it so important to you to complete a time-consuming, highly personal opinion survey? If they want more than a yes or no opinion ion, I'm gone. I also won't leave an email address.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

PickyPicky3 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 01:31:41 GMT

@Kachina624 The invitation to join E-Rewards came from Acme Markets. Do you remember Acme, Philly's hometown grocery store? I already had a rewards account there. So easy -- take an opinion survey and rewards points will be put in your account.

Then I learned about the qualifying questionnaires and got booted out of the first one. It all seemed so simple, until I figured out what was really going on.

I'm just human, I guess.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Love my grandkids — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:43:55 GMT

@PickyPicky3 I got one of those from Safeway where I have been a good customer for years. I still had it in my inbox but just now deleted it.

i had no intention of completing it and after what you posted, I'm very glad I did.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Kachina624 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 03:25:08 GMT

@PickyPicky3 Surely do remember Acme Stores. That was mom's go-to grocery store.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

STYLE — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:15:27 GMT

@KACHINA 624 i was about SEVEN YERS OLD WHEN I STARTED GOING WITH MY MOM TO THE ACME GROCERY STORE IN NEW JERSEY. I THOUGHT THAT PLACE WAS AMAZING. I LOVED GOING THERE. THATWAS 76 YEARS AGO. I HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE STILL IN BUSINESS. LEFT NEW JESEY WHEN I MARRIED AND ONLY RETURNED TO VISIT FAMILY.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

hckynutjohn — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:34:07 GMT

@Kachina624

I was wondering the same thing about why the author of this thread @PickyPicky3 would even want to do any of the things mentionec.

If I fill out anything and it gets to "annual income"? I stop without saying a thing. So they have my name/address etc. but anyone that has ever been on any website and thinks their private information is private?

Time to move into this era of the new technology.

hckynut 🇺🇸

@Kachina624 wrote:
Qurestion... @PickyPicky3 Why is it so important to you to complete a time-consuming, highly personal opinion survey? If they want more than a yes or no opinion ion, I'm gone. I also won't leave an email address.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

cotton4me — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 06:53:26 GMT

I learned my lesson about this a long time ago. I completed an online survey for a company I trusted and began getting unrelated spam email which I’d never gotten before. The survey didn’t ask highly personal questions. However, I didn’t appreciate my email address being shared with obvious spammers. I have never filled out another survey.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

CalminHeart — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 11:38:34 GMT

A lot of scams look like they're from real sources. I'd never provide that much personal info to anyone online. I didn't even have to provide all that to buy my home.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

FrostyBabe2 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 20:26:42 GMT

E-Rewards is NOT a scam. I've had an account with them for many, many years. I started when I was able to redeem rewards for miles on Northwest Airlines. Of course, NWA no longer exists, and Delta doesn't participate, so I'm not all that active on the site.

Yes, it is a bit of a pain to get started, largely due to the huge number of questions you need to answer in order to complete your profile. But you can always choose to not answer a specific question. You just might not get surveys that match your interests.

Yes, their surveys seem to collect a huge amount of personal info. When a survey asks questions that I don't want to answer, I either bail out of it or select "choose not to respond" or "refused".

Yes, their rewards seem to be lacking. It would be better if they rewarded people in terms of points rather than currency. Current redemption levels are roughly $3 in E-rewards currency for $1 in whatever giftcard you're choosing. But I just got a Ralph Lauren embroidered/eyelet polo from Macy's for $6.92 out of pocket by redeeming my rewards. And I still have over 700 points left.

E-rewards isn't for everyone. But it is NOT a scam, and you can always refuse to provide personal info.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

PickyPicky3 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 15:17:51 GMT

@FrostyBabe2 I'm so glad you posted this information and I'm glad you have had a positive experience with e-Rewards. I still consider its program to be deceptive, and IMHO if it's deceptive, it's a scam.

Have you ever had any problem claiming your rewards? Have you received marketing materials that may have been generated by e-Rewards?

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Spurt — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 15:39:33 GMT

@hckynutjohn wrote:
@Kachina624

I was wondering the same thing about why the author of this thread @PickyPicky3 would even want to do any of the things mentionec.

If I fill out anything and it gets to "annual income"? I stop without saying a thing. So they have my name/address etc. but anyone that has ever been on any website and thinks their private information is private?

Time to move into this era of the new technology.

hckynut 🇺🇸

@Kachina624 wrote:
Qurestion... @PickyPicky3 Why is it so important to you to complete a time-consuming, highly personal opinion survey? If they want more than a yes or no opinion ion, I'm gone. I also won't leave an email address.

@hckynutjohn

When I see income and age and marital status (single, married, divorced, widowed---🙄) its a BIG RED FLAG and a NO GO! Sounds like their phising for more than prefercences on products ......

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

PickyPicky3 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 16:29:51 GMT

The basic questions of age, marital status, income, etc. have been used in legitimate market and opinion research since the beginning. That information is important to a company for advertising and planning purposes.

The problem comes when researchers sell your data to companies, political parties, and other kinds of organizations. Then you can get bombarded with ads, solicitations, and other things not wanted.

The e-Rewards website says they don't sell your data, but if you work through their privacy policies the small print says otherwise.

Last night I got a request from Amica Insurance to complete a survey. Haven't heard from them in a while. It was a short, intelligent and relevant survey on how my driving experience has changed since the pandemic. I was glad to help them out.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

hckynutjohn — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 17:05:26 GMT

@PickyPicky3

The questions you mentioned with reference: "since the beginning", was decades before this thing called the internet. I too filled out forms, sent to me, but only with a product I purchased via mail order.

When I bought in a B&M store, I don't remember being asked to fill out a research form. A form for a payment plan, yes. For research purposes, no. These B&M stores interests were increasing their customer base, not making money from selling information to others. Online research?

You look at many free online websites where you pay no money to get answers and recommendations. Many don't give a thought to "I wonder how they operate without charging for their service". Hello people.

I have been invited to groups where I was paid, along with several others. We were asked to offer the good and the bad about our experiences with whomever this info company was representing. Guess you could call this similar to political focus groups, with pay however.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Trailrun23 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:03:44 GMT

I get emails for stuff like that all the time. The latest is a delivery notice saying my pkg couldn't be delivered since I wasn't home, etc. I get about 6-8 if the same notice everyday. It asks for alternative address and a other form of payment....I just delete it now but nowhere to unsubscribe.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

bikerbabe — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:12:16 GMT

I had a job as a teenager trying to get people to complete surveys. Miserable job.

As an adult, completing a marketing survey is the LAST thing I would do. 🤣 🥴 The only exceptions are occasionally from vendors I currently do business with and they ask for product and buying feedback.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Trailrun23 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:16:53 GMT

I know most of these companies just sell whatever info you give them, then you will be deluged forever with promos, emails, and even more surveys aka fundraising asks.. It will only get worse with a midterm election coming up in a few months.

Re: Update on Market Research Reject -- Important -- Please Read

Porcelain — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 19:21:20 GMT

They then sell that info. And anything they say they won't sell can be hacked or sold under new management.

That'd be a nope from me. Kroger already knows everything about my lifestyle from the data gathered by my rewards card. No need to hook that up to my bank accounts and investments as well.