Scam or not - Austin Market Research? *DELETED*

[Lone_Star]

Post deleted by Lone_Star

 

[converse]

I don't know about this place specifically, but being paid to be part of a market research study is not necessarily a scam.

As someone who does marketing research for a living, I can say that we usually have to pay participants for their time (whether it is a phone survey, a web survey, or one of those 1-2 hour long focus groups). Incentives are low (entry in a drawing or frequent flyer miles) for quick surveys, and are higher for longer/more inconvenient research.

The participants are taking time out of their day and want to be compensated. The compensation, though, is not usually $75, unless you are either spending a pretty long time at the facility or are a very hard to find group (like doctors or CFO's).

All that said, I'm sure there are people out there who may promise one thing (like a simple market research discussion where we want to know what products you use and why you use them), but then switch it to a sales discussion.

Before attending, you can ask/lookup who the company is to see if they are legit. There is a governing board for marketing research companies called CASRO that has guidelines about what companies can/cannot do. Sales is among the "cannot do" group of things.
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[accuratehorn]

Not a scam. I have done a few of these for a different company, I think it is Talmidge Market Research (sp?). They don't tell you exactly what company is paying them for the research, but you get paid to discuss a product, how you use a computer or the internet, or sometimes it is a mock trial where attorneys present part of their case and you discuss it as if you were the jury.
So there are legitimate reasons companies hire these market research firms. One was at Dell, they asked about laptop computer covers, metal or plastic, colors, textures, on and on. I did my best, but who am I, Joan f'n Rivers? I just wanted the computer to work.
Anyhow, they pay you in cash, you get a plate of cookies and a coke, and some company gets data from an impartial focus group.
They will screen you to find the group the company wants.

 

[Michtex]

Lone Star,

First Market Research was legit back in the day, so given that the company is made up of its former employees..

[Austin Market Research, Inc. came into existence in 2001 when a group of entrepreneurial qualitative market research professionals got together and decided to fill the void left by the closure of First Market Research Corporation in Texas. These professionals came from First Market Research, bringing with them years of experience and an infinite knowledge of the industry. The result is a company that provides unparalleled service at the most cost-effective rates. We welcome the opportunity to handle your project and prove to you why we are the best. Whatever your needs may be, Austin Market Research is at your service.

We take immense pride in our staff's professionalism and experience in the industry, and in the great city that we live in. Along with the combination of our dedicated, professional staff, and the excellent cross-section that a diversified city like Austin provides, we can handle any and all of your qualitative market research needs. There is no job too large or too small to garner out complete attention and devotion to excellence.

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