DVC Marketing call?

[burnsoc]

Has anyone received a call before their trip to WDW from DVC asking to be part of a research thing at the Yacht Club. I was asked questions about my frequency of visits, number of contracts, how long I've owned, and internet usage. I was told they'd give me seventy five disney dollars and it would only be an hour. Is this for real? Has anyone else participated in one of these? I scheduled an appointment, I hope it's not some sales thing.
-Chris

 

[dianeschlicht]

Sounds like a focus group. I would go for it!

 

[Danthesand]

I run market research for a Fortune 100 company. If this is a focus group, compensation of $75 for participation in a two hour long session is insulting.

The time of a consumer with the sort of income and assets required to buy into DVC is worth much more than that, particularly when they are on vacation!

The going recruiting rate employed for any decent fieldwork firm for that sort of focus group participant would be at least in the $120-$150 range, even more if they are trying to get some heavy hitters (ergo, big point owners and/or frequent/seasoned program users).

Then again, this doesn't entirely surprise me. I've been contacted via email by Disney several times to participate in some of their proprietary on-line surveys, and I've met two of their more "senior" research managers at conferences. Based on all those experiences, while I have enormous respect for the company overall, let's just say that they don't hire the best and brightest to run their primary consumer research, and it shows when that area implements anything.

 

[rocketriter]

Did I hallucinate? I thought the OP wrote that this would be one hour for $75, not two.

 

[Danthesand]

Did I hallucinate? I thought the OP wrote that this would be one hour for $75, not two.

My error, but an hour long "session" confounds things even more. If this is a qualitative disucssion (a.k.a. focus group), that's not enough time to get into any sort of substantive discussion with a group, particularly if you want to probe.

And while everyone has their own idea of a deal, I wouldn't give up an hour of my waking time while at Disney for only $75. Between tickets, dining and the amortized maintenance costs I'm paying to own, I'm probably spending more than that there per hour!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Disney often does short focus group type things with guests. I have done plenty of focus groups (not at Disney) where we were there only about an hour, and we only got $50. Would I give up vacation time for it? Sure, if it meant they were trying to figure out what members are wanting.

 

[CharlesTD]

We did one at Epcot in 98 for AT&T and they paid my DW and I 35.00 Disney dollars each for about a half hour of sitting doing a survey. We then went and had dinner at the Coral Reef with it LOL. I would do the hour for 75.00 Disney Dollars why not it isn't actually hurting my holiday time at WDW.

 

[Simba's Mom]

This sounds so cool! Is there any way I can increase my chance of being picked for one of these focus groups (maybe stand up front, jump up and down, and scream "Pick me! Pick me!)?