What are surveys and why companies pay us for taking them?

Posted by Offer Tsuriel on September 11, 2009

Survey, by definition is a tool that merchant uses to find out about the opinion that his customer have or will have when he’ll meet his product. Big companies, like IBM, Microsoft and Apple use surveys to understand the end user behavior when he interacts with their new software or other product.
For example, few weeks ago one of the on-line survey companies sent me an offer from Microsoft to take a short survey about the new Windows 7 packing, as it will be presented in retail stores when the final version will be launched. So they sent me a few pictures of different packing and a 5 pages survey.  The payment was $13.5 and it took me about 15 minutes to answer. So, this important piece of information can save thousands of dollars to the Microsoft company because as more opinions they have on their software packing, more preliminary statistics, so they can easily decide how to

pack their product. I will use the same Windows 7 example to show you that your professional skills are irrelevant in this kind of job. It doesn’t matter if you are a gardener, butcher or high skilled engineer to answer the question that Microsoft wants you to answer. They ask you about your first impression and your first thought when you presented with a certain picture of their software packing. Although, every person will react differently to each picture and that is why you must fill your personal information page so they can connect your answers to what you really are.

Now, why companies actually pay us for taking their surveys? To answer this question I will use the Walmart survey example. Just think about how many times you was asked to write few words about your shopping experience in the Walmart stores. I personally received hundreds of brochures and even number of times was approached by their representative while shopping and was asked to answer a few question about my shopping experience. My regular answer was “I am sorry, but I am in a hurry, may be next time”. All their brochures found their place in my garbage can. Isn’t it a waste of time and money? Walmart took a different approach, why to print expensive brochures and hire man to ask you question that you don’t want to answer? The used this money to pay you for your opinion. Now, do you want to answer their questions? Of course you are, you get paid for this! So, now they can ask about DVD prices and if you prefer Plasma or LCD television in your living room and you will answer all of them, if you want to get paid. My personal opinion about taking on line surveys is that you can live from that and the survey company satisfaction as guaranteed!