RANT: I'm mad at Dole ~ ripoff survey!

[Trixiezzz]

I try to do the daily survey on SR and I'm just about to get mad at what a ripoff some of them are.

I just spent about 10 minutes answering about 20 pages of many questions per page... about my consumption of juices, soft drinks and the like for the Dole Company.

Then, I told all about our household demographics and income and all that personal stuff.

After all that time, they say the "sorry you didn't qualify..." line. Impossible!! By that time I had ALREADY TAKEN the stupid survey and given them all my impressions of their stupid new drink, as well as other competitive brands.

I am seeing this more and more in these surveys. This type is a total ripoff. They get what they want and refuse to pay for it.

I am going to STOP buying Dole products. I know it won't do any good, but it'll make me feel better.

Has anyone else been getting this shady way of doing business?

Some of these surveys are very pleasant. But these bad ones ruin it for all!

 

[poohbear2]

This just happened to me but with a survey on technology. I was on for about 10 minutes and was asked all these questions about my buying practices and then I wasn't qualified! This happened to me yesterday also. I feel your pain.

 

[mike&amy1508]

This happens to me almost every time. I rarely even bother with them anymore.

 

[bumbershoot]

I hate those surveys (though right now I'm craving pineapple juice like you can't even believe).

For what it's worth, when that sort of thing is reported to Tricia, she does take it back to the main survey company, and they take it up with the advertisers, and on down the line. Because if YOU didn't get credit for a survey that was, to all intents and purposes, finished, then Tricia isn't, and Greenfield isn't, etc etc etc. NO ONE wants that scenario, except for the people who created the survey... So definitely report it to SR. I don't think she can get you credit, but I do believe she will try to make it better for the future.

 

[rflorek]

I am going to STOP buying Dole products.

It's not Dole's fault that that you don't qualify for a survey. The survey companies set up the survey based upon the information needed by the company that hires them to do the survey. It may be a problem with the survey set-up. Your best bet is to contact SR and have them investigate with the company.

 

[sunshinegirl]

Something that I heard about another survey was that they look at how much time you spend. If they think that you made it through the survey too quickly, they say that you did not qualify. The problem that I ran into with one of them was that they set the timer too high. So although I really did take my time, the timer was set bogus. Once they figured it out, they gave me the credit.

So it is always worth reporting. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. But I know they are trying to make them more legit. We just have to keep giving them all the feedback that we can, especially including specifics about the surveys that seem unfair.

 

[missymouse]

Am I correct in assuming that if it doesn't take you back to the SR page you will not get credit? I have that happen alot to me especially the ones that have you evaluating a website. It makes you download a program and then it just ends with their congratualtions. So far I haven't been brave enough to just wait and see so I always try to get another survey. I really want the $5 bonus for surveys so I get my SM status by August.

 

[bumbershoot]

Am I correct in assuming that if it doesn't take you back to the SR page you will not get credit? I have that happen alot to me especially the ones that have you evaluating a website. It makes you download a program and then it just ends with their congratualtions. So far I haven't been brave enough to just wait and see so I always try to get another survey. I really want the $5 bonus for surveys so I get my SM status by August.

If the system lets you take another survey (doesn't give you "we're sorry, you've exceeded your daily survey limit" message), then you won't have gotten credit for the previous one. IMO not being taken back to SR is a good way to judge, but not receiving that "daily limit" message is the best way to determine if you got credit. In my experience, at least.

 

[Trixiezzz]

It's not Dole's fault that that you don't qualify for a survey. The survey companies set up the survey based upon the information needed by the company that hires them to do the survey. It may be a problem with the survey set-up. Your best bet is to contact SR and have them investigate with the company.

Yes, I understand that. What I'm complaining about is that I don't consider 20+ pages of detailed questions a "qualifying" round.....I consider THAT the survey!

I'm used to a page or two of basic demographic qualifiers. That's ok with me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes, I understand that. What I'm complaining about is that I don't consider 20+ pages of detailed questions a "qualifying" round.....I consider THAT the survey!

I'm used to a page or two of basic demographic qualifiers. That's ok with me.

Absolutely. And I think that no one but the company actually doing the survey and paying greenfield who pays SR who pays us (at least this is how I understand the system!) actually feels that it is fair! But, as far as I understand it, it doesn't go back to Dole itself, but their advertisers...Dole hires them, they do the rest (as far as I can figure it out)...

But no one after that point thinks it's fair, especially not SR. As far as I can figure out.



Dangit, the yearning for pineapple juice is back! Augh, must stop thinking about Dole...

 

[MommyBoo!]

You know, about 4 or 5 years ago, my son did a survey for Pringles. He was supposed to be paid $10.00. Well, the payment didn't come. The survey company was not answering emails or phone calls. I was on another board at the time and several of us had kids who did the survey. We contacted the company who makes them (can't remember which one offhand). I did get put through to someone at the company who worked with the surveys somehow. And we all did get paid. I don't know if I would have called for just me but it made us mad that they would not pay kids, ya know?

So, the companies are aware of the surveys and there could be someone there to voice your opinion of their survey to. They may not have been the ones to process the survey but it has left a bad impression of their company with you.