Comments on: How to keep on top of your market research: small businesses

By: xi_an_toe_knee

xi_an_toe_knee — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:01:35 +0000

The way Toluna operates suggests that they have serious cash flow problems. I have seen posts that suggest that they have no line-of-credit with Amazon, despite the fact that Amazon vouchers are the most popular choice of people redeeming points. I have to wonder if Amazon do not trust them to make timely payments – Toluna certainly keep members waiting for earned rewards interminably.

By: yito168

yito168 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:14:56 +0000

Anyone has the same experience ??? The toluna rejected redeem my check, they said I have multiple account which is not, i only has one account. So I send them support ticket, buy it has been 4 weeks, but no repy back. And Toluna everyday still send me survey to do. if I have multiple account they should already suspend my account why they keep send survey to do, and not let me redeem my hard effor money. Happened to anyone ???

By: yito168

yito168 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:53:38 +0000

ANY ONE WORK FOR TOLUNA? I NEED YOUR HELP.
Toluna rejected me to redeem my check 3 times.
I DON’T have 2 accounts, the reason i’m so angry is,There is only me in my household doing the survey, and only me using my computer, and I only open one account, why they said i have 2 accounts? that’s why i keep e mail them I’M INNOCENT, and toluna have to provide me evident that what’s my second account is? I AM DEFINITELY SURE they made mistake, their customer service is lazy or don’t care us, how come don’t reply my e mails at all, if i really have 2 accounts, why they keep sending me e mail survey invitation they can just froze my account, why they want to take my survey opinion if i’m screw them. MORE IMPORTANT, toluna’s incentive are very bed cOMPARE TO OTHER survey company, if i want to cheat i will find other high pay company to cheat, no need to spend 25 mins to do a $0.60 survey. most of my other survey company i join, for 25mins survey i get pay at least $1.50 to $3. PLEASE KNOW, I’M NO TRYING TO CHEAT

By: Wally The Clown2011

Wally The Clown2011 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:39:38 +0000

My experience was similar to the top of the page- finish 30-40% of a survey then "screen out". Also- don’t even bother registering for items to test. Then I found out that not only were the rewards for dodgy online retailers only (CD WoW for example), they expire almost immediately (within a day or two) and can’t be used for 80% of the merchandise on the site. Maybe in the UK they are OK but in Australia it’s not a full scam but definately dodgy. I am a member of a couple of other survey sites with whom I have a good relationship and who actually send out products once in a while. John C from Perth. (Not an anonymous slagger, but not putting my full name or address on here.)

By: hensnchix

hensnchix — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:02:07 +0000

Sorry to hear that some of you are not happy with Toluna. I am awhitehill on Toluna and I’ve been a member since 9/10. There was a survey that took me 25 minutes to do and in the end it asked me what my race was, which after I answer I got disqualified. It did not say they had enough people within the group. I was not happy about that. They should have asked that info bio stuff in the beginning. So I said to myself I’m not taking anymore surveys that is 25 minutes or more even if the points were large. Most of the surveys I do now are for 1200 to 3000 points and if it takes longer than 10 minutes I would quit. Before I decided to stick with Toluna I did have my doubts. Sure I have not won any prize yet but have moved up a level and have earned bonus points. I did get to test a product once. I think because I did not like the product, I am no longer on the list to test products perhaps? I used to do surveys for opinion outpost but since their upgrade I have not qualify for anymore surveys. To date I have earn $100 from Toluna. So my suggestions are to vote for points, post interesting topics, and do short surveys or surveys that offer smaller points. I’m not a rep or am getting paid for my comment. Just thought I’d comment.

By: twelvedegreesnorth

twelvedegreesnorth — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 07:34:15 +0000

Hmm.. and for those who think that the site takes long to deliver your rewards only ‘cos it’s a big company doesn’t make sense to me. It’s now a world of delivering what you promise, and delivering on time. So what if it’s not a money making scheme, but give what you promise? Why do you want to haggle someone for so long? This makes me think if would they tolerate the same thing being done to them by their clients? Never. They just take the people for granted, I’m sure. And someone said, they take time with everything cos they have a million users. Well, in that case, DO NOT allow a million memberships if you can’t handle it. You’re not doing anyone a favor by finally issuing their voucher after 12 weeks. And many here even complained of discrepancies in account balances and things like that, and no replies to their emails whatsoever? This goes on to say the business ethics this company follows. If it were really concerned about its real force-drivers, the panelists, it would have diverted a majority of their time and consideration towards resolving their issues, and treating it on a priority basis. They seem to face all the technical issues possible, on the face of this Earth, but somehow shooting emails, that area remains unaffected. Mysterious. And even those of you, who got your vouchers, do you have even one instance where you got it in one shot? No. Probably no one has. It’s only after you chase them for long, do not give up, that they issue it. What does this indicate? They try and ignore you at first to see if that works. And I’m sure in most cases it does. So, now imagine the number of people going uncompensated and how this company keeps all the earnings to itself.
I am on Toluna yet, signed up a few days ago, taken a few surveys, and yes, they make-do with plenty of my information before telling me I don’t fit. What’s the most one can need to judge you if you are eligible or not? Age? Employment status? Sex? Industry you are occupied in? Why the heck your position, your household income, the office computer operating systems… and then get told, oh no, this doesn’t fit, sorry, but here, a voucher for a lottery! Even this screening process takes at least 10 minutes of yours. Never have gotten a complete survey myself, wondering what it is like.
These guys are making a lot of money, and it’s well, a shame if they can’t even provide something as measly as these vouchers to people who take their time out and do the job for them.
And modjo30, here’s the definition of scam for you:
a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation, Deprive of by deceit.
To ask someone for their services is like offering a job or hiring someone, and then not compensating for it as promised, IS a scam. But people who still believe this to be a fair way of doing business, well, all the best.
-twelvedegreesnorth@hotmail.com

By: schoschie

schoschie — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:49:15 +0000

Allright; the person in question has e-mailed me that she has in fact received personal threats. This may or may not be true, but I deleted the post with her personal information anyway. I also deleted her original comment.

Please refrain from attacking people personally. It helps no-one. Thank you.

By: schoschie

schoschie — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:27:51 +0000

throwaway1234, please don’t post people’s personal information. It is not a fair thing to do. It is okay not to agree with anything someone posts here, but it is not okay to pillory someone personally. However, because the info posted was/is publically available and since there is no direct threat involved, I am not deleting the post.

Please try to stick to the facts and don’t turn this into a personal bashfest. Thanks.

By: Morrikan

Morrikan — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:38:11 +0000

This comment thread is effing brilliant. I saw the ad on Facebook, thought it sounded cool but due to general suspicion of deals that sound too good to be true, I googled it and this page popped up.

I APPLAUD YOU, DEAR SIR.

I myself work for a market research company and whatever toluna is doing sounds like a complete gyp/scam/rip-off. No decent, reputable market research company would be so horribly inefficient in doing what it does. Their excuse of these vouchers being a gift is a horrible facade for the truth; the truth is that yes, market research companies WILL give respondents a gift for their time and effort, but damn it, respondents don’t need to bargain and wait for months to get a reply or their vouchers.

Putting in 30 hours to earn a couple of bucks which you still need to haggle with the company over is completely unethical and just downright low. Doling out vouchers to 5 out of 10 people who deserve them is not something to be proud about; their standard should be managing to keep up with their system and giving out their vouchers to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who’s done their bit for this company. Saying they’ll give something but not living up to it is a fucking failed promise, and displays a completely shoddy management (the folks who manage the scams) and frontline service (people complaining about useless customer service, and all that).

I spit on companies like these, and all the people they’ve paid above to say how wonderful and fantastic toluna is. Well, these buggers are probably getting paid in vouchers that they’ll never receive, so jolly good for them.

Thanks a lot, Schoschie, for revealing the truth about this turd-filled excuse of a company.

By: babydoll.chloe.t21

babydoll.chloe.t21 — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:54:25 +0000

We had a poor experience too. My partner has been building points for the last year, decided to exchange them for £30 worth of ‘love to shop’ vouchers in October 2010, it is now nearly April 2011 and we are still waiting, after opening a support case with Toluna to investigate they came back to us saying they got sent to an address that was NEVER registered with them. And now say they cannot be re-send and there is nothing they can do. I find this very contradictory as a Toluna employee wrote on this thread saying ‘if you do not receive your voucher you must contact us after 2-months and they will be re-sent’ but this clearly is not the case with us, they are constantly saying now ‘there is nothing we can do’ every though we can clearly show it was an error on the part of Toluna. We are very upset but will continue to argue our case. Does anyone know of a governing body that could be contacted to take this further? As Toluna have simply stopped investigating and are repeatedly saying ‘there is nothing we can do’. Any help would be appreciated.