It's all business. If they can pay $2 less per survey, they save a lot of money (and thus make more of it). I still have not decided whether I will be give in to PC blackmail and take the $3 per survey (and product tests) or continue with the $5 (and the possibility of being dismissed from the panel).

If people are willing to take surveys for $3, PC will pay people $3. I'm guessing that by offering people the 'opportunity' to sign up for Pinecone by using the $3 banners, they were testing to see if people would be willing to take surveys for $3. As it turns out, people are willing to do so (simple supply and demand).

This is not the only way to make money as any good SD'er knows.

I agree with your point that PC isn't the only way to make money, but it is (at least IMO) a very good source for product tests. I do get the occasional product test from SurveySpot, MySurvey, and Synovate, but PC has a lot more of these product tests.

That said, this decision would be quite easy if Pinecone didn't have product tests.

Uhhh.... :eek:

i like the PT. my BF just got the most delicious one. i REALLY hope they make the product

I wonder how long will it be before they switch to another method ? And we get the DNQ .

OK I am MADDDDD. I tried to log in to my account and I couldn't get in. I emailed Pinecone to find out what the problem is and received this:

Thank you for your email.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel. Dont bother trying to sign up again they will catch it LOL

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel.

Sincerely,

Yes I got the same email but it took me 3 months or so of emailing them to be told. Nice of them to inform their panelists of their removal.

I wonder how long will it be before they switch to another method ? And we get the DNQ .

DNQ for surveys would SUCK. so bad.

I agree with your point that PC isn't the only way to make money, but it is (at least IMO) a very good source for product tests. I do get the occasional product test from SurveySpot, MySurvey, and Synovate, but PC has a lot more of these product tests.

That said, this decision would be quite easy if Pinecone didn't have product tests.

Uhhh.... :eek:


PC is the only place I've been able to make money at. Surveyspot only sends me chances to win never paying. The others I've used use a points system and most are little points for half hour and longer surveys.

I got the dreaded $3 survey email as well. I think if you don't agree to take less money you won't get surveys anymore. As others have pointed out there are plenty of people who will accept $3 for a survey, plus a lot of people who recently joined will accept $3. Personally I think just like gas going for $4 a gallon, and house values plummeting, this is just another show of how really terrible the economy is. I miss the Clintons at least the economy was better then.

Has anyone else noticed that while the prices of products at the store keep going up, the size of them keeps shrinking? I love how things are packaged to look like more than it really is. Why don't the companies save money on the deceptive packaging and charge .10 less, at least that would be a benefit to everyone, instead of making more packaging that goes in a landfill to ruin the earth. All about the all mighty $ and no one seems to care about future generations. I don't know why, because this is their legacy, and when we are dust in the wind that is all we have left.

please stay on topic.

use the chat thread in the lounge (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=17819&t=802094&highlight=chit) for off topic and/or the podium for political views.

I have been a member of Pinecone for 3 years and have always gotten $5 each for completing a survey. Is this how much they have paid for years prior to this, or did they used to give less and give increases over time?

I am a longtime PC member, and I turned down the demotion. I've only been getting maybe one survey a month and haven't gotten a product in many moons. So, if they drop me, oh well. One less trip to the ATM to cash a check (no Paypal for me, they charge)

I am a longtime PC member, and I turned down the demotion. I've only been getting maybe one survey a month and haven't gotten a product in many moons. So, if they drop me, oh well. One less trip to the ATM to cash a check (no Paypal for me, they charge)

I get my Pinecode payments by PayPal and I don't get charged. And I have a premier account too. I only get charged when buyers pay me.

right I have this also and paypal does not charge a cent

Gee, I didn't know this til I just looked at my paypal account....last year from Oct thru Dec of 2007, I was getting 3 to 4 surveys that paid $5 per month. Then 2008 starts. I remember getting this email at the beginning of the year to switch to $3 a survey but I didn't respond. I see that starting with January of this year, I went from 3-4 surveys a month down to 1-2. I got about two a month thru March. Now I've received only one a month. I guess that is proof to me that they are giving more surveys to those getting $3 vs $5. I read thru here and was prepared to hold out again. But the proof for me is in my payments. Pinecone was a steady source of almost $20 a month every month for more than a year. Now, I get $5 a month!! Oh, and I just got the email again to switch to $3 surveys.

dreaded $3.
and today I received a pt....huge box...tiny product, geesh they could at least pay me what it cost to ship :(

Honestly, it's just not worth my time at $3.

Did any of you get the survey and try at home product for XXX? I got it, ate it and did not like it. Took the post survey today about it and told them the truth.

you're not allowed to say what product you're testing!

i'm a new pinecone user and just received a $3 check from them yesterday, and 2 PTs today. i'm not yet displeased :)

i'm a new pinecone user and just received a $3 check from them yesterday, and 2 PTs today. i'm not yet displeased :)

You would be if you were getting $5 per survey and they threatened you to accept $3 or worse they simply dropped you w/o explanation.

You would be if you were getting $5 per survey and they threatened you to accept $3 or worse they simply dropped you w/o explanation.

i'd take $3 over $5 any day of the week if it meant i'd still be involved. $3 is better than $0. :)

I agree

i'd take $3 over $5 any day of the week if it meant i'd still be involved. $3 is better than $0. :)

Wont be long before its a sweepstake entry ;)

i'd take $3 over $5 any day of the week if it meant i'd still be involved. $3 is better than $0. :)

Well I guess that depends on how much you value your time. My surveys usually take about 20 minutes, but I have had some that take 45 minutes. I have had some shorter ones, but to fairly give accurate and not rushed responses 20 is usually about right. I guess 20 minutes for $3 is ok, but for any surveys that take more time I don't believe the compensation is very much.

This might be ok for someone who only makes $5 to $7 an hour anyway, but for someone who works and has kids the time may not be worth it anymore. Pinecone may lose people with families who are busy and can't afford to give up a half an hour for $3. Honestly clipping coupons may pay off more.

Well I guess that depends on how much you value your time. My surveys usually take about 20 minutes, but I have had some that take 45 minutes. I have had some shorter ones, but to fairly give accurate and not rushed responses 20 is usually about right. I guess 20 minutes for $3 is ok, but for any surveys that take more time I don't believe the compensation is very much.

This might be ok for someone who only makes $5 to $7 an hour anyway, but for someone who works and has kids the time may not be worth it anymore. Pinecone may lose people with families who are busy and can't afford to give up a half an hour for $3. Honestly clipping coupons may pay off more.

right now, if it took 2 hours to make 3 bucks, i'd do it. the only reason i'm doing this survey junk right now is because i desperately need the money. as soon as my money situation resolves itself, i probably will just delete the emails.

did anybody actually get dropped from Pinecone for saying no to the 3 dollar thing? Really??? Or is this just a bunch of whining.

Wont be long before its a sweepstake entry ;)

It's so true! I had good experiences with survey companies in the past that suddenly decided that sweepstakes entries are worth my time. :nono: They aren't.

did anybody actually get dropped from Pinecone for saying no to the 3 dollar thing? Really??? Or is this just a bunch of whining.

In answer to your question I have no idea, but the Pinecone survey asking if you will accept $3 instead of $5 plainly tells you if you choose to stay at the $5 level you won't get as many surveys. So maybe they won't drop you so to speak, but your survey opportunities will drop considerably.

This is because some companies won't want to pay at the $5 level, when they have a large panel to choose from at the $3 level. In addition, they have had several people sign up at the $3 level, so they may not need the $5 level people as much anyway. It is probably more a courtesy to you if you are at the $5 level, to ask if you would be willing to accept $3 instead, as they have many other panelist anyway.

Also I don't think whining is an accurate term for people discussing if $3 for a survey is worth their time.

I do not even remember anwering if I want $3 or $5. I get $3 checks and happy to get them. I am not greedy. I get plenty of surveys everyday from them and test at home products to boot. So I will remain a member as long as they will have me.

I dont think I really read it thoroughly enough so I am glad that someone posted it here. So I just clicked yes and then I was not able to get the text back on the screen. My fault. I clicked too impulsively and just agreed. (I hope I didn't sell my soul LOL)

Anyway if this is in fact what I agreed to then the surveys better be shorter and if they are not the quality of my responses will not be as in depth as they previously were.

Probably been asked before, but why am I only able to get about 2 surveys a month and zero test products? Is it a demographic thing or because i joined in January?

I do get a bunch of ---household surveys. whoopie.

Well, I accepted the $3 demotion. Felt it would be worth it to get more surveys, if that does happen. I only do them when I have the time, and working at home, with no kids, I can afford to only get paid $3. It's better than useless points I get from some places, or entries in sweepstakes only.

I got the same email yesterday..and I chose not to take $3.They will prob make it mandantory anyway eventually

I read the thing carefully before I clicked yes. They said that eventually the $3 thing will be the ONLY way to get the rewards. It sounds like they're basically telling people they're being phased out.

[QUOTE=pixietwin;11836061] I guess that is proof to me that they are giving more surveys to those getting $3 vs $5. QUOTE]

I talked to my mom and she gets less $3 then I had been getting $5 since she's been there. So that might not nessicerily(sp) be right either.

I received the dreaded $3 e-mail as well. I REALLY don't want to accept it, but I'm afraid of being dropped by them.

I've been with PC since 1997, and have lost count on how many $5 checks and PT's I've received over the years. $3 isn't $5 but it's better than nothing. And like the e-mail stated, soon this will be the only incentive offered, and spots are filling up. So you can call me a scab or whatever, but I'd rather be on the inside looking out, than on the outside looking in.

[QUOTE=pixietwin;11836061] I guess that is proof to me that they are giving more surveys to those getting $3 vs $5. QUOTE]

I talked to my mom and she gets less $3 then I had been getting $5 since she's been there. So that might not nessicerily(sp) be right either.

Exactly you cant exactly go back and say I was told if i said yes to the $3 why am i still not getting more surveys.

Either way you feel, for those of us who have always got $5 this is really crummy! I still have not made my mind up but I think if I don't pick the $3 I will just be phased out anyway? I agree with who ever said if the $3 surveys aren't alot shorter I am not giving quality answers eithers! I have noticed that the $5 surveys keep getting longer, My DH helped me fill one out recently after we both did a PT & he said this isn't worth $5 so when I asked what he thought about the $3 thing he said H-ll no I wouldn't do all that for $5! I dunno I hate to cut down but at least then I would still have the option to leave if I didn't think it was fair?

Anyone not getting payments? I had a problem with PayPal, was getting paid regularly that way - next day after survey. Then I had to get checks and got those within a week. Now I got PayPal sorted and switched back, even got the email from Karen confirming the switch. Now I'm not getting payments and they're not showing up in my history. I thought I should wait a few days to see what happens and see if it's happening across the board.

Probably been asked before, but why am I only able to get about 2 surveys a month and zero test products? Is it a demographic thing or because i joined in January?

I do get a bunch of ---household surveys. whoopie.

This happened to me a few years back when we all were Fat Wallet discussion members B4 SD existed. I was a member of Pinecone and got 2 maybe 3 surveys every 6 months so you are doing way better than me. I guess they finally dropped my name out b/c it ended. When I signed up this time it was a big surprise to see they like me now and are interested in my opinions. Hang in there, go change your profile or something a little bit.

Right after I said no to the $3 switcheroo they sent me more
household questions. Hmm...

Saying yes to a reduced amount now tells them you'll likely agree
to $2 in the future.

The economy is at a record low with gas and food prices soaring.
Pinecone figures NOW is a great time to take advantage of your
neediness and offer you less than minimum wage for some of their
surveys.

And of course a lot of those product tests required time for me to
pack up and haul to the post office. Is that worth the cost of your
gas?? :dontknow:

"We will occasionally ask some questions about your household in order to match the appropriate questionnaires to you. This usually includes just 3 or 4 questions and is brief. These questions are uncompensated."

3 or 4 questions?!?! More like 3-4 sections of questions.

I got a survey today, along with a email after saying that I would get the new $3 payment or something like that.

Whatever, I do more for less on other sites, it's just something to do while I am bored, which is often. The fact that I get paid for it, even a little, is good enough for me. It keeps my fast food addiction hidden from my husband. :lol:

I've noticed. Down to $3 per survey, that's pretty low considering the time, effort, and depth of most of them. Still, a lot of people have wanted to sign up and it's ridiculously hard considering it's just a paid opinion site.

We shall see, I guess!

I got the same email telling me that you had to sign up for the new $3.00 program a couple of days ago. I accidently hit yes, but then I emailed Karen at Pinecone & let her know that I wanted to stay in the $5.00 compensation if it would not force me out of Pinecone. I let her know that I am extremely upset that if I had to take the $3.00 then it was pretty much a ripoff since :

1. I barely get any surveys from them in the first place (I guess I'm too old for their precious panel)
2. I never win on any of those community drawings
3. Their surveys take FOREVER to fill out & my time is worth more than $3.00
4.And like another poster said, I let her know with the raising cost of everything from gas, food, etc, I couldn't believe that Pinecone would be doing this to their panelists just to save their company a few dollars. I told her that I felt like I was being strong armed to take the $3.00 because it says pretty much that you have to to stay a member of Pinecone. I also let her know that I can't possibly be the only panelist who feels this way.

I think it is absolute garbage that they are doing this to us. How does everyone else feel about it? I think if we all started emailing Karen about how much we hate this new system, maybe they would get a clue & go back to how they were. Just my 2 cents. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now :)

I got the same email telling me that you had to sign up for the new $3.00 program a couple of days ago. I accidently hit yes, but then I emailed Karen at Pinecone & let her know that I wanted to stay in the $5.00 comensation if it would not force me out of Pinecone. I let her know that I am extremely upset that if I had to take the $3.00 then it was pretty much a ripoff since :

1. I barely get any surveys from them in the first place (I guess I'm too old for their precious panel)
2. I never win on any of those community drawings
3. Their surveys take FOREVER to fill out & my time is worth more than $3.00
4.And like another poster said, I let her know with the raising cost of everything from gas, food, etc, I couldn't believe that Pinecone would be doing this to their panelists just to save their company a few dollars. I told her that I felt like I was being strong armed to take the $3.00 because it says pretty much that you have to to stay a member of Pinecone. I also let her know that I can't possibly be the only panelist who feels this way.

I think it is absolute garbage that they are doing this to us. How does everyone else feel about it? I think if we all started emailing Karen about how much we hate this new system, maybe they would get a clue & go back to how they were. Just my 2 cents. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now :)

The odds of you getting any kind of response from 'Karen' are about a slim as them caring what your feelings are on the matter. But good for you for at least trying to tell them off.

The odds of you getting any kind of response from 'Karen' are about a slim as them caring what your feelings are on the matter. But good for you for at least trying to tell them off.

I got a response - nothing special
but voicing your opinion to them directly lets them know directly.


You CAN email them, I think I just hit reply on the downgrade survey email.

I got a response - nothing special
but voicing your opinion to them directly lets them know directly.


You CAN email them, I think I just hit reply on the downgrade survey email.

Yeah, I got a response too when I emailed her months ago when we first got the survey asking us our opinions on this upcoming garbage. Let's see if I can find her response. Ah, here it is:

----
Your message

To: Karen Scott (USA)
Subject: Regarding the recent Pinecone Research survey (about Pinecone
Research)
Sent: Fri, 2 May 2008 00:53:29 -0400

was deleted without being read on Mon, 5 May 2008 12:06:28 -0400



Final-Recipient: RFC822; scott@pineconeresearch.com
Disposition: automatic-action/MDN-sent-automatically; deleted
X-MSExch-Correlation-Key: gQ56BBWFZk2iJ8OtGzc5nA==
Original-Message-ID: <481A9E49.6010707@gmail.com>

----

=[

I got the same email telling me that you had to sign up for the new $3.00 program a couple of days ago. I accidently hit yes, but then I emailed Karen at Pinecone & let her know that I wanted to stay in the $5.00 compensation if it would not force me out of Pinecone. I let her know that I am extremely upset that if I had to take the $3.00 then it was pretty much a ripoff since :

1. I barely get any surveys from them in the first place (I guess I'm too old for their precious panel)
2. I never win on any of those community drawings
3. Their surveys take FOREVER to fill out & my time is worth more than $3.00
4.And like another poster said, I let her know with the raising cost of everything from gas, food, etc, I couldn't believe that Pinecone would be doing this to their panelists just to save their company a few dollars. I told her that I felt like I was being strong armed to take the $3.00 because it says pretty much that you have to to stay a member of Pinecone. I also let her know that I can't possibly be the only panelist who feels this way.

I think it is absolute garbage that they are doing this to us. How does everyone else feel about it? I think if we all started emailing Karen about how much we hate this new system, maybe they would get a clue & go back to how they were. Just my 2 cents. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now :)

You mentioned about the rising cost of everything, and how PineCone should understand, but quite frankly, their costs have probably risen dramatically also, and they need to do this to stay in business and to stay competitive in their market.

And really for every person who got $5.00 before who no longer wishes to participate, there is another person around the corner who will take the $3.00 and be very happy about it...IMHO.

Yeah, I got a response too when I emailed her months ago when we first got the survey asking us our opinions on this upcoming garbage. Let's see if I can find her response. Ah, here it is:

----
Your message

To: Karen Scott (USA)
Subject: Regarding the recent Pinecone Research survey (about Pinecone
Research)
Sent: Fri, 2 May 2008 00:53:29 -0400

was deleted without being read on Mon, 5 May 2008 12:06:28 -0400

Final-Recipient: RFC822; scott@pineconeresearch.com
Disposition: automatic-action/MDN-sent-automatically; deleted
X-MSExch-Correlation-Key: gQ56BBWFZk2iJ8OtGzc5nA==
Original-Message-ID: <481A9E49.6010707@gmail.com>

----

=[

I have a very difficult time believing that!:nono:
Please!
They are all about opinions/marketing!

There are formulas for each person who contacts them with a particular opinion represents so many more who don't take the time.

Yeah, I got a response too when I emailed her months ago when we first got the survey asking us our opinions on this upcoming garbage. Let's see if I can find her response. Ah, here it is:

----
Your message

To: Karen Scott (USA)
Subject: Regarding the recent Pinecone Research survey (about Pinecone
Research)
Sent: Fri, 2 May 2008 00:53:29 -0400

was deleted without being read on Mon, 5 May 2008 12:06:28 -0400



Final-Recipient: RFC822; scott@pineconeresearch.com
Disposition: automatic-action/MDN-sent-automatically; deleted
X-MSExch-Correlation-Key: gQ56BBWFZk2iJ8OtGzc5nA==
Original-Message-ID: <481A9E49.6010707@gmail.com>

----

=[

You can see and read the e-mail and if you hit delete, it will show deleted without being read - if they hit delete and they viewed it without opening the whole e-mail...

funny that a website meant to give companies the opinions of its users and such, are not listening to the opinions of their own users

I have a very difficult time believing that!:nono:
Please!
They are all about opinions/marketing!

There are formulas for each person who contacts them with a particular opinion represents so many more who don't take the time.

You think I faked that?

You can see and read the e-mail and if you hit delete, it will show deleted without being read - if they hit delete and they viewed it without opening the whole e-mail...

You are incorrect. Unless your email client does it automatically, as soon as you click an email that has return receipt requested, it will pop up asking if you want to send a return receipt. If you hit yes, it will send a READ confirmation, if you hit no, it will send nothing. Regardless of whether you actually read the email, how much of it you read, or how long it was on your screen. Some email clients are configured (or can be) to do this by default automatically.
The response I got was that my message was DELETED without being read. This was an automatic response. Whether on purpose or by accident, whoever was checking that mailbox deleted my email without opening, selecting, reading, glancing, etc. at it. In any case, it was quite rude, and goes to show how bad the company has become in terms of it's caring about how we feel.

You think I faked that?



You are incorrect. Unless your email client does it automatically, as soon as you click an email that has return receipt requested, it will pop up asking if you want to send a return receipt. If you hit yes, it will send a READ confirmation, if you hit no, it will send nothing. Regardless of whether you actually read the email, how much of it you read, or how long it was on your screen. Some email clients are configured (or can be) to do this by default automatically.
The response I got was that my message was DELETED without being read. This was an automatic response. Whether on purpose or by accident, whoever was checking that mailbox deleted my email without opening, selecting, reading, glancing, etc. at it. In any case, it was quite rude, and goes to show how bad the company has become in terms of it's caring about how we feel.

But if you have autopreview on your Outlook, you can see what the e-mail is and read it and still click delete, and it would register as deleted without being read - even though you were able to see/read it.

i just got another PT from pinecone today. they love me, apparently. third one this week!

FYI: After not receiving any surveys from PCR in over a month, I finally got the blackmail letter yesterday. I told them to kiss my arse and I'm staying at $5 till they drop me. Today I just received a new survey for $5.
Goes to show, maybe they were just trying to trick all the suckers into getting a pay cut, while continuing to pay the big bucks to the people with more testicular fortitude...

i just got another PT from pinecone today. they love me, apparently. third one this week!


PT - product to test? Are you on the $3 or $5 list? I have been signed up for about 8 years now and I think, to date, I've received about 6 items to test. I can remember them specifically. I guess that's a low number?

I am \mad now that I changed to the cheap one,do you think a letter would help or should I keep it as is, this sucks so much

i got a survey today. :woot: said the second part will be emailed to me soon and they'll pay me $10.

FYI: After not receiving any surveys from PCR in over a month, I finally got the blackmail letter yesterday. I told them to kiss my arse and I'm staying at $5 till they drop me. Today I just received a new survey for $5.
Goes to show, maybe they were just trying to trick all the suckers into getting a pay cut, while continuing to pay the big bucks to the people with more testicular fortitude...

:lmao: We'll see what response I get, if anything, from her. It's no skin off my lovely behind if they drop me. I have only received 2 PT's from them the whole 2 years I have been a member & probably only $20 - $25 total from them anyway. I guess they don't give a fig about what a 39 year old female who is in the 100,000 grand or more a year gross total income has an opinion about. I wish I knew what companies they worked with so I could purposely buy from the competitors, then maybe they would give a damn when those businesses started to lose their profits.

Wrong thread post.

I switched to the $3. When I took the survey about it I put on there that I didn't want the sweeps with less money but after seeing the email about not getting any surveys at $5, I figured I'd rather get two $3 surveys than zero $5 ones. Plus I am sick of doing household survey after another with no PT or payment.

I switched to the $3. When I took the survey about it I put on there that I didn't want the sweeps with less money but after seeing the email about not getting any surveys at $5, I figured I'd rather get two $3 surveys than zero $5 ones. Plus I am sick of doing household survey after another with no PT or payment.

They just said that so you take a pay cut you wont infact get anymore surveys than you do now. They will be offered to people getting $2 first.

They just said that so you take a pay cut you wont infact get anymore surveys than you do now. They will be offered to people getting $2 first.

I might believe you if there weren't so many n00bs on this thread getting $3 surveys regularly. We'll see. There is no such thing is a pay cut when you are already getting zero.

BTW: That survey I just got today had THREE different products I had to give my opinions on. Granted each product had less questions about it, still..... They should be paying me $15 not $5. I feel bad for the people who are only getting $1 a product survey. Oh wait, no I don't. They bowed down to their demotion.
But still, THREE?
And I noticed that the website for taking surveys is MUCH different. Crashed Firefox the first time it loaded. And at the end, it didn't ask me if I wanted a PT. Told me I would hear back in "a few weeks" about another survey.

Wow. Came home from vacation and found the strongarm email (plus reminder email) in my inbox. Take the pay cut or get phased out. Thanks PineCone. :rolleyes:

me too I am so sad

me too I am so sad

What are you going to do? I have it sitting here open... I don't even want to answer it.

I took the three dollar dumb deal, but wrote and asked if we had to

I get about one survey a month from them, so no sweat off my back to decline the $3 "incentive". After all, it takes about a half hour to do their surveys if you do them right, and that's only $6 an hour. Bleh.

It makes me wonder if anyone even win those sweepstakes or is it a scam?!!??!
I took the 3 dollar demotion as I am a student just looking for a few bucks to go out and grab some goodies or grab some food.
I guess I'm selling my soul :(

I responded yes to the email of doom, then got a $5 survey a few days later. This was after I'd also gotten a email reminding me that I had agreed to their pay cut and that the program would be implemented to my paypal or whatever.

I responded in the negative. $3 is just too little. The last survey I did for them took me 35 minutes. They should be paying us more than $5 - not less. If they don't send me any more surveys then so be it. I

i got a survey today. :woot: said the second part will be emailed to me soon and they'll pay me $10.

I got the same one...was hoping for a product test from this one too! LOL.

I joined the 3 $ offer. Have u?

Anyone get the stupid video test again? Blah I hate this thing.

Well I still haven't answered the question from last night, lol. I don't want them to drop me but I agree that $3 is far from adequate for the amount of time these surveys take, plus they seem to have gotten even longer lately. Oh what to do. Blah.

Well I still haven't answered the question from last night, lol. I don't want them to drop me but I agree that $3 is far from adequate for the amount of time these surveys take, plus they seem to have gotten even longer lately. Oh what to do. Blah.

I agree with you. I got the email on 6/22 and have not responded yet. I just got the reminder email this morning. I'm torn because I agree with both sides. Even though I don't use my money for anything significant, like bills, I do enjoy getting those $5 deposits in my PayPal so that I can use the money to buy little things I want on E-Bay. Those surveys are so long sometimes! I'm still undecided. I will probable wait until the last possible minute to make a decision. Procrastinating is what I do best! ;)

BTW: That survey I just got today had THREE different products I had to give my opinions on. Granted each product had less questions about it, still..... They should be paying me $15 not $5. I feel bad for the people who are only getting $1 a product survey. Oh wait, no I don't. They bowed down to their demotion.
But still, THREE?
And I noticed that the website for taking surveys is MUCH different. Crashed Firefox the first time it loaded. And at the end, it didn't ask me if I wanted a PT. Told me I would hear back in "a few weeks" about another survey.

those surveys you're talking about sound like the non paid ones for getting info about you.

those surveys you're talking about sound like the non paid ones for getting info about you.

Yeah, but it wasn't. I'm 100% positive it was a real survey, not a household one (it said so). It also said how each of the three products would have less questions, to be more comparable to one long product questionnaire. BUT STILL! 3 times the profit for them.

:D

You REALLY need to edit the rest of that post out, Pinecone will delete your account for posting that kind of info, you are supposed to even say what a survey is about, much less specifics.

You REALLY need to edit the rest of that post out, Pinecone will delete your account for posting that kind of info, you are supposed to even say what a survey is about, much less specifics.

While you might be correct that saying specifics is against the PCR rules:
1) I doubt PCR will be able, even if they cared, to find out who those people are based on the SD handles.
2) SCREW PCR. Why should anyone care if people piss them off? They sure as hell don't care about us. We are simply, to them, a never ending cheap labor resource for them to exploit to turn a profit.

While you might be correct that saying specifics is against the PCR rules:
1) I doubt PCR will be able, even if they cared, to find out who those people are based on the SD handles.
2) SCREW PCR. Why should anyone care if people piss them off? They sure as hell don't care about us. We are simply, to them, a never ending cheap labor resource for them to exploit to turn a profit.
well, the person who is getting paid to do that survey, may care if they piss off PC, and may not know that they are posting something against the rules.

Plus, this site has kissed PC's butt before, and may not like the posting of info. They already don't allow direct link to the page of a site that has a banner, so who knows?

well, the person who is getting paid to do that survey, may care if they piss off PC, and may not know that they are posting something against the rules.

Plus, this site has kissed PC's butt before, and may not like the posting of info. They already don't allow direct link to the page of a site that has a banner, so who knows?

That's probably because PCR used to advertise on SD. Kind of biased imho.

While you might be correct that saying specifics is against the PCR rules:
1) I doubt PCR will be able, even if they cared, to find out who those people are based on the SD handles.
2) SCREW PCR. Why should anyone care if people piss them off? They sure as hell don't care about us. We are simply, to them, a never ending cheap labor resource for them to exploit to turn a profit.


ROFL I can see the Pincone Police coming for me now. LOL

While you might be correct that saying specifics is against the PCR rules:
1) I doubt PCR will be able, even if they cared, to find out who those people are based on the SD handles.
2) SCREW PCR. Why should anyone care if people piss them off? They sure as hell don't care about us. We are simply, to them, a never ending cheap labor resource for them to exploit to turn a profit.

Against the rules here at SD as well which might be why one wouldn't want to go "pissing" people off :wave:

wowww.. i just clicked on a survey on surveyspot. it redirected to PC!!
so yeah they are outsourcing!

wowww.. i just clicked on a survey on surveyspot. it redirected to PC!!
so yeah they are outsourcing!

That's been happening for awhile with a few different survey panels.

I chose the $5 option and got a regular survey today.

I chose the $5 option and got a regular survey today.

People who chose the $3 option are still getting the $5 also, but soon the changes will take place and those who didn't take the $3 I highly doubt will get anything. It's a shame, but oh well I guess.

I selected the $3 option and I hope I will get them as often as I had in the past. Overall, I have noticed a DRASTIC decrease in the number of surveys I have been getting during the past 2 months. Plus, the reward amounts are dropping. I did see an article on the web a few months ago on the best way to make extra money and online surveys was one. This accounts for the decrease in survey offers I am sure!

I think in the summer it always dwindles too though so something to contemplate and/or consider

I am just curious, which age category are most of you in where you are getting surveys all the time? As I stated before, I'm older & I don't get squat from them so was just wondering.

I am 50. I used to get 2 a month but lately its been one a month.

I am 22 - I used to get alot, but lately not too many
My mom is also signed up (we dont live together) she is 52 and gets maybe 5 surveys a year. BLAH

i am 26 and i have only gotten 3 in a little over a year. and they were only $3 dollars a piece

scratch that i just looked 5 surveys in a year and a half all 3 bucks

I am 23 F and have been consistently getting about 3 surveys a month since January when I first joined. I have also gotten several PTs. (I am in the $3 bracket)

mine have slowed down too.im at $3

but i just checked and have gotten 3 a month paid since february

Well this all sucks esp with the fact that many people are still getting 2 to 3 a month and are new members while I've been with them for about 8 years and have been getting one a month since the new year.

I am just going to keep the 5 dollar option for now. If they always get rid of you, You can always find a 3 dollar banner to sign up again.

Just got a PT from them today :)

I was at $5 and accepted the $3 pay out so as to stay with pinecone my daughter took a survey yesterday for them and I got paid today and it was $3 ...so wanted to let everyone know that the change has started..... I hope everyone has a good day :)


I didn't think you could resign up once pinecone let you go... sorry if I am wrong I just always thought that... Thank you

I wrote and asked and they said they are phasing out the five dollar one anyhow

I wrote and asked and they said they are phasing out the five dollar one anyhow

Wow, so somebody responded to you and said that? Oh well, I guess I have been putting it off long enough. I'm gonna bite the bullet and accept the $3 invitation. Like my sister said, " Any free money is better than none." :nod:

yes and you must email the right person

I wrote and asked and they said they are phasing out the five dollar one anyhow.

I'm suspicious of that phasing out. Got my $5 survey today even after turning
down the $3 and I've never received a notice confirming my choice not to
downgrade.

OTOH, my quality of work is very very good. :scratch:

I don't know, but a $3 check seems stupid and wasteful so sweepstakes and
PayPal only are in their future and I don't see that keeping quality high and
corporate clients happy.

If they do cut me out completely, I will absolutely contact the companies I
have done product tests for, but not to whine. Cut out the middleman. :cool:

I wrote and asked and they said they are phasing out the five dollar one anyhow
can you copy and paste the entire email? i'd like to see exactly what they said and how they worded it, thanks

I didn't think you could resign up once pinecone let you go... sorry if I am wrong I just always thought that... Thank you

I do believe you can. Usually the emails telling you that you're removed say you can sign up later. Either way, I have another address I can use so all I have to do is reset my ip and I'm golden :D

Wow, so somebody responded to you and said that? Oh well, I guess I have been putting it off long enough. I'm gonna bite the bullet and accept the $3 invitation. Like my sister said, " Any free money is better than none." :nod:

Ill pay you $3 to come clean my house and you need to wear a uniform :) $3 is better than nothing.

I don't think they're even reading the emails now. I sent an email about not getting paid for a survey and even included the survey number (ending in -1001) and they responded back saying "You do not get paid for studies ending in -3001". DUH! Argh so frustrating.

I don't think they're even reading the emails now. I sent an email about not getting paid for a survey and even included the survey number (ending in -1001) and they responded back saying "You do not get paid for studies ending in -3001". DUH! Argh so frustrating.

I just got a household survey that ended in 1001. Wonder if I'll get a check?!?! =[

So funny what I just said about what's next - sweeps and PayPal.

They just asked me to change payment plans after disguising it as
household questions. BzzAgent just bumped me up a level and I'm
getting more out of that now.

Time to move on...

I had gotten a $5 survey the other day, but today I got my first $3 one. It hurts a little, but money is money. The surveys were not that long whatsoever.

Ill pay you $3 to come clean my house and you need to wear a uniform :) $3 is better than nothing.

That's just being a little ridiculous. Doing surveys by sitting on your butt and clicking a mouse for $3 is one thing, another thing entirely to clean ones house.

That's just being a little ridiculous. Doing surveys by sitting on your butt and clicking a mouse for $3 is one thing, another thing entirely to clean ones house.

So are you trying to say that people who cut lawns for a living should be making more then people who 'sit on their butt' all day doing any number of jobs in the financial, business, IT, etc. industries? I know many people who make well over six figures a year just 'clicking a mouse'. Intellectual work can be just as demanding as physical work.
Once again, outside of their management, marketing, and support team, and the mediocre expense of their basic infrastructure (office) and server, *we* are PCR's only major expense. But we are also the generating source of all of their income. They don't have trucks and other miscellaneous equipment that the cost of fuel has effected like some companies. We are in essence, their factory.
But over the last 10 years, while the cost of things has gone up, they have always paid the same amount of money. We have never received any raise, even though I am quite sure they have charged more to their clients for their services. So inflation alone has paid us less and less over time. That $5 check back In 1999, when PCR first started if I recall, and according to inflation calculators, is today worth only $4.06 in today's dollars. In reality, just to keep up with inflation, we should be getting paid $6.34. But instead of that, they have turn around and given people LESS money. It's win-win for them. Charge clients more, pay producers less.
I think that the ideal scenario would be for us to create some kind of union. Granted it would be theoretically impossible for us to find out all of the PCR surveyors, let alone convince them to join, but imagine how nice it would be to cut off PCR's entire income generating stream until 'Karen Scott' sat down at the negotiating tables with us. I'm thinking $10 a survey for all existing 'employees' with $1 raises every year.....

I think some emails they do not respond to as they do not go to the right person, keep trying honest, they do answer which is really nice and personalized, how many other companies or survey companies for that matter ever even answer you?

They weren't very kind when they responded to me. I got a generic," you have to sign up for the $3 offer or you're out" email. They didn't personalize it at all. I took the $3 offer & right away they sent me a "nice", personalized email saying thank you for taking the $3. If that isn't being strong armed, then I don't know what is. As a previous poster stated, they were saying about forming a union, I had already posted that I thought what Pinecone was doing was garbage & suggested that we ALL write to Pinecone to let them know how we feel about this nonsense about giving up our $5 or we're out. If others are as unhappy about it as I am, & if you haven't done so already, I strongly suggest writing to Karen Scott & letting her know how you feel. It's amazing what a ton of emails being flooded at you can do.

It's amazing what a ton of emails being flooded at you can do.

Select All->Delete

But I do agree with your point that we should all e-mail them. I have already, when the first 'how do you feel about this' survey came out over a month ago, but as I posted before, it was deleted without being read.

even if if i didn't get the 3$ for doing a survey i do it because i enjoy it as its my hobby,its just a little extra money i can ut away.

so i realize that i'm a LOT late on this discussion, but I just felt i needed to share. After a lot of debate, I decided to go for the $3 deal because I've definitely seen a huge decrease in the number of surveys sent to me over the past few months and I wanted to see if maybe i got more surveys or PT opportunities. And plus, I do all the surveyspot ones for $3, so I guess I'm willing to accept almost nothing.

Anyway, so I signed up for the $3 thing probably around the 25th. On the 27th I got my first survey since the switch and was bracing for the change. Just got my paypal email, though --- $5.

I dont know if they just hadn't registered my response to their blackmail yet, if the $3 thing hasn't taken effect yet or what, but I just thought it was interesting. Anyone else have a similar thing happen?

Anyone know who long it takes to get paid after you do a focus group with PC. Did one last week and was wondering how long before I see it.

I just got my second paying survey after accepting the $3 per survey. My first paying after accepting was at the $3 level.

BUT maybe this means I will get more now for once.

since accepting the pay cut I got one survey but it was a little long and did not get paid and for product test they said they would pay if I mailed back, but never got anything

Seriously... who is getting these paid surveys and PTs? I haven't gotten ANYTHING lately.

I'm a 21 year old educated white female, with a whole lot in the bank. I spend quite a bit, too, am discerning, and very thorough with everything I do. You'd figure advertisers would care about marketing to people like me, ha ha. I'm part of a tech-savvy younger, spendier generation, and actually have much more money than most to spend on top of it.

I don't even know why I did these in the first place. They aren't really worth the time they've been taking, especially when you factor in the free time (dual meaning, for sure) spent on those household surveys.

I really can't figure out their strategy. When you pay someone less, you usually get less! Especially when the people you pay are already used to getting more for the work. I cannot fathom how advertisers are not going to lose faith in choosing PCR with such a nearly unanimous blow to their image over this. Perhaps when they see the lower price they spent got them crap quality. But that is the advertising world, I guess. Bottom line: bottom dollar.

Someone out there has to still value quality over quantity. Maybe another company will fill PCRs void. It's a good niche now that PCR abandoned their domination of it.

quick question ... recieved a survey and it paid the $3 for the survey..but it asked me if they sent another survey to go with this, they would compensate with a $10 payout ...Does anybody know if that is on top of the $3 per survey and when they would normaly send the $10 .. I have recieved $3 for each of the surveys (paypal)

I really can't figure out their strategy. When you pay someone less, you usually get less! Especially when the people you pay are already used to getting more for the work. I cannot fathom how advertisers are not going to lose faith in choosing PCR with such a nearly unanimous blow to their image over this. Perhaps when they see the lower price they spent got them crap quality. But that is the advertising world, I guess. Bottom line: bottom dollar.

I got 2 household questionaires (sp?) after saying no to $3 and one of them
was disguised as a strong-armed attempt to get me to switch from checks
to PayPal.

The answer is they have no real strategy. Google: "how are Nielsen ratings
are determined" (that's their parent company) and you'll see exactly how
screwy things are.

Why can't Mr. SD swipe their business and regulate us as sort of a union?
I'd accept $3 then because of all the other benefits this site provides.

P.S. Phonic, I hear ya, but until you've cleaned public toilets for a living and
been a maid in 4 story mansion... I'd have given anything for a point and click
job. But everyone makes the same choice. If your job sucks find another one
that sucks a little less. :rolleyes:

quick question ... recieved a survey and it paid the $3 for the survey..but it asked me if they sent another survey to go with this, they would compensate with a $10 payout ...Does anybody know if that is on top of the $3 per survey and when they would normaly send the $10 .. I have recieved $3 for each of the surveys (paypal)

Same thing happened to me so I emailed pinecone yesterday and haven't heard whether or not the $10 will be a different payment Will let you know if I hear anything

quick question ... recieved a survey and it paid the $3 for the survey..but it asked me if they sent another survey to go with this, they would compensate with a $10 payout ...Does anybody know if that is on top of the $3 per survey and when they would normaly send the $10 .. I have recieved $3 for each of the surveys (paypal)

i got 2 of those surveys, and were basically the same thing. :dontknow: . havent gotten part 2 either. was just paid for each of those surveys.

thank you for emailing and maybe it will come after the 9th which was the cut off for the one I got

Since saying that I was staying at $5 (like a week ago), I have gotten 3 paid surveys. So, they didn't cut me off yet. But, I guess I have to wait and see what the check amounts are once I receive them. They should come next week. 2 payments came this week and they were both the $5.

thank you for emailing and maybe it will come after the 9th which was the cut off for the one I got

Dear Panelist,

I would like to thank you for your participation and apologize that you were
paid only your normal amount instead of $10.00 as mentioned in your invitation
to this survey. We will be sending the remainder of the payment within the next
few days.

Thank you for your patience:bounce:

well heck thats nice

Well, I cowed and took the $3 and have just received one offer since (in the past month) and it was pretty long as usual also

me too wish I would have kept the five

I completed a survey almost two weeks ago, and have yet to receive my check. I have never had to wait more then 2-3 days in the past. PCR's website says the check was issued on 6/27 (even though I completed the survey three days prior).
Just goes to show another way the company is going downhill.

wow I got a product test today, and all I can say is I seriously can not believe they want it back. I am almost disgusted to send such material back. YUCK!

wow I got a product test today, and all I can say is I seriously can not believe they want it back. I am almost disgusted to send such material back. YUCK!

The only PT I have ever received in my 5+ years of service was some really nice crockpot dish, which was like 5 years ago. Fortunately they didn't want it back after we ate it....

I had one they wanted back and they said they would pay for that,but did not, so what do I do? Also just got another test product a few days ago too.

Well, when I took the "survey" about whether I'd be willing to switch to the three dollar group, I said "yes" thinking it was all theoretical: would you, in the right mood, on the right day, if you heard that no one was getting $5 surveys anymore, be willing to switch? Turns out I had just signed away my $5 group status. Rats. Now I'm in the $3 group and haven't gotten a survey since. Live and learn.

I had one they wanted back and they said they would pay for that,but did not, so what do I do? Also just got another test product a few days ago too.

Do you get paid via check or PayPal? Back when I was in your situation the $5 compensation for mailing the test product back was included with the return shipping supplies they sent. I was getting paid via check back then though. :dontknow:

Anyone signed up for the tmobile or AC Nilson mobile test? I thought i should get $10 for signing up and another $3 after the whole period..

The link from the 6/22 email still works. I'm sticking to my guns and taking the $5 surveys whenever they come, until that bracket is phased out. The $5 surveys have become increasingly annoying in length to the point where I swear they ask the same questions that aren't related to demographics (excluding the household surveys).

If I'm really strapped for cash down the line that I'd take a 30 min survey for $3, I'll look for the PCR banners on other sites, as others have mentioned. But my time, even my free time, is worth more than approximately $6/hr on a semi-weekly basis.

I already took the Paypal incentive early this year so I hope that factors for at least something in future survey considerations...

You just get e-mails right? You don't check your homepage right?

It has been over a month since I heard from them.

The link from the 6/22 email still works. I'm sticking to my guns and taking the $5 surveys whenever they come, until that bracket is phased out. The $5 surveys have become increasingly annoying in length to the point where I swear they ask the same questions that aren't related to demographics (excluding the household surveys).

If I'm really strapped for cash down the line that I'd take a 30 min survey for $3, I'll look for the PCR banners on other sites, as others have mentioned. But my time, even my free time, is worth more than approximately $6/hr on a semi-weekly basis.

I already took the Paypal incentive early this year so I hope that factors for at least something in future survey considerations...

Yeah I kinda told them to stick the $3 too... I'll stick with the $5 even though I know it means I'll probably never see another survey from them. They did send me a household survey two days after I did that. But I don't expect it to mean anything.

tls

I never responded to the $5 email - the first questionnaire in my entire history with PineCone that I haven't completed. Guess I'll just wait and see what happens. :dontknow:

You just get e-mails right? You don't check your homepage right?

It has been over a month since I heard from them.

I actually have started to now check my account as there seems to be times where I have surveys waiting for me and I may have not received the email from them or they send it a week later.

I'm done and reporting my experience to Survey Police. :mad:

They sent a survey and I completed it - taking my time and giving
thoughtful answers.

About 2 days later they sent another survey invite saying they had
some follow-up questions about xxxx that they forgot to include. Well this
second survey had nothing to do with xxxx at all. Completely different.
They are refusing to compensate me and aknowledge that there even were
2 completely different surveys.

I haven't heard from them since I agreed to the pathetic $3 payments.

Since saying that I was staying at $5 (like a week ago), I have gotten 3 paid surveys. So, they didn't cut me off yet. But, I guess I have to wait and see what the check amounts are once I receive them. They should come next week. 2 payments came this week and they were both the $5.

I should have stuck to my guns. ME! And I just signed up for the 3 bs two days ago. It's just the hope that maybe I'll win the fictictious sweepstakes! ha The holy grail of surveys has started to really suck.

I'm done and reporting my experience to Survey Police. :mad:

They sent a survey and I completed it - taking my time and giving
thoughtful answers.

About 2 days later they sent another survey invite saying they had
some follow-up questions about xxxx that they forgot to include. Well this
second survey had nothing to do with xxxx at all. Completely different.
They are refusing to compensate me and aknowledge that there even were
2 completely different surveys.

Get em girl! Good luck, seriously, I know all of us on here work hard and really put our all into pinecone and now getting shafted is not good business.

I had a product test waiting for me on the porch Sunday. I didn't bother to look on the porch Saturday, so it sat there all night :lol:

This is only my 2nd PT from pinecone, but :woot:

Get em girl! Good luck, seriously, I know all of us on here work hard and really put our all into pinecone and now getting shafted is not good business.

Trust me, their recent actions will show in the quality of their results. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. :nod:

I just got a "reminder" that I need to take an "important" survey :rolleyes: for them. What to do, what to do... :confused:

I just got a "reminder" that I need to take an "important" survey :rolleyes: for them. What to do, what to do... :confused:

I'm in the same boat, wondering if saying no to the $3 is better than giving no answer at all. I haven't decided what to do yet...

I did just receive a household questions survey though that said it would take about 10 minutes of my time... there were about six questions and it was done. :confused: Did anyone else get this?

I'm in the same boat, wondering if saying no to the $3 is better than giving no answer at all. I haven't decided what to do yet...

I did just receive a household questions survey though that said it would take about 10 minutes of my time... there were about six questions and it was done. :confused: Did anyone else get this?
I got that too...but I think its going to be standard message before HHQ, because the last one that I got said the same thing, it was a bit longer though.

Shortly after I agreed to $3, I was sent 2 surveys within the week. Prior to that it had been crickets chirping for a month. While I'm not happy about the payment drop, I am happy to be making at least a little bit of money from them again.

I guess I bragged on PC a little too much. I was getting 3 surveys a day paying $3 each. Then I got a $10 honarary one. Checks came pouring in. I saved them all up so it would look like I had a fat bonus. LOL Now as of this week? Nothing. No surveys.

Just got the remainder of the money that PC owed me for a survey I took that was suppossed to pay $10... it went to my paypal account... :)

I have a survey that they claim is a HHQ, but it ends in number 1004? WTF is 1004? I also have the standard 1001 and 3001 surveys, but i have no clue what the fark a 1004 survey entails.

Almost afraid to take it.

I have a survey that they claim is a HHQ, but it ends in number 1004? WTF is 1004? I also have the standard 1001 and 3001 surveys, but i have no clue what the fark a 1004 survey entails.

Almost afraid to take it.

I think those are the new PCR survey's where they charge you $5 to take them. j/k =].

Just my 2 cents
Every since getting the email to lower down to $3 and sweepstake entries.. I told them NO I won't go down in the money I get paid.. I have received 4 surveys.. Within a month...
They asked if I belonged to another survey group.. And I told them no.. (I really don't)

i got my first check for $3 in the mail today. it made me so sad. i used to get $5 ones. *sigh*

I ignored the first two emails from them about the $3 surveys, but after getting 1 survey in 2 months, I gave up and said 'yes' to $3 plus (woohoo!) :rolleyes: a sweepstakes, I have gotten nothing since then. :(

got some surveys but it sucks others get to stay at five, are lots of people reporting pc poorly on survey police and where do i go to see that

got some surveys but it sucks others get to stay at five, are lots of people reporting pc poorly on survey police and where do i go to see that
http://www.surveypolice.com/pinecone-research
they're ranked first, but im sure thats because most of the voting was from before the $3 switch. if you look at the most recent reviews you can see that they're giving them lower reviews now

thanks what one do you like?

I have a survey that they claim is a HHQ, but it ends in number 1004? WTF is 1004? I also have the standard 1001 and 3001 surveys, but i have no clue what the fark a 1004 survey entails.

Almost afraid to take it.
I did both a 1004, and a 3001, and they are both HHQ's, but the 1004 survey is much shorter

well at least there's that

I just wish I would get one :(

I was one of those who said no to the change from $5 to$3.I went to see how long it had been since i had a survey from them monday and couldnt get in.I e-mailed "karen"here was the resonse I got today.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel.

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel

DROPED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WITH THEM 7 YEARS and would not go to $3 .How about that :mad:

I was one of those who said no to the change from $5 to$3.I went to see how long it had been since i had a survey from them monday and couldnt get in.I e-mailed "karen"here was the resonse I got today.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel.

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel

DROPED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WITH THEM 7 YEARS and would not go to $3 .How about that :mad:


sucks

ever since i chose to stay with 5
i got like 8 surveys in 3 weeks. even better than b4

I was one of those who said no to the change from $5 to$3.I went to see how long it had been since i had a survey from them monday and couldnt get in.I e-mailed "karen"here was the resonse I got today.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel.

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel

DROPED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WITH THEM 7 YEARS and would not go to $3 .How about that :mad:
I kinda thought that would happen to people.

I swallowed my pride and took the $3, because I like getting the PP.

I'm sooo sorry that happened to you

I was one of those who said no to the change from $5 to$3.I went to see how long it had been since i had a survey from them monday and couldnt get in.I e-mailed "karen"here was the resonse I got today.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel.

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel

DROPED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WITH THEM 7 YEARS and would not go to $3 .How about that :mad:

that sucks :hug:

You can (if you want) re-apply after like 6 weeks or something.

:moved from 5 to 3. Received one actual survey and 3 "we would like to know more about you blah blah blah" Been with them for 3 years. Don't they have all this crap?

was one of those who said no to the change from $5 to$3.I went to see how long it had been since i had a survey from them monday and couldnt get in.I e-mailed "karen"here was the resonse I got today.

Periodically we have found it necessary to refresh the composition of
our research panel in order to stay current with changes in the general
population and to provide clients with the broadest possible spectrum of
consumer opinions. In doing so, on occasion we have had to discontinue
the membership of some of our panelists.

Your household was on the list for deactivation and subsequently removed
from the panel.

Although we are unable to reactivate your membership, we appreciate your
past participation and interest in the panel

DROPED BECAUSE I HAD BEEN WITH THEM 7 YEARS and would not go to $3 .How about that


I am sorry that that happen to you, I like you have been with them for 7 years, but I also figured if I didn't take the 'pay cut 'I would be dropped. So I did. Also before they sent out the notice I was only getting 1-2 surveys a month from them and that was down from 5-6 and those always had products in them.
Since I have changed to the new pay scale I am getting more surveys again, plus now that I also changed to getting payed through Paypal it gets payed the next day instead of having to wait 3-4 weeks for my check.
If it were me, I would be looking for the sign-up links.Other companies are cutting back in the same way and are not giving us any choices either so I really don't know why everyone is that surprised that they did it in this way.They did give you the option and you chose whether or not you wanted to take what they were offering, you said no you didn't like their offer so they decided they really didn't need you any more because they had enough people who did decide to take their offer.So now you have a choice, kick yourself for not taking it and hope they let you back in again (if you decide to re-sign back up ), or just be like so many others and just go around complaining because!

Of course, those who can spell correctly and use proper grammar are worth more than 3 bucks a throw.


Some of the longtime Pinecone members who are able to spell, or use spellcheck, are being recruited by"other" survey companies , along with higher retail value products to test.
No need at all to complain about that.

PS- those survey companies give out VERY nice "Thanks for joining us" gifts and pay promptly.

Just got this:
-------
Dear Panel Member:



Summer is a time of food and friends, warm days and fun times. While we at PineCone Research can’t wait for you to share those special months with us and take part in many studies with new and exciting products, we need to ask you today to renew your commitment to security. You, the member, are the foundation of this important principle.



We are a new products panel. Just as we take great care in preserving our members’ personal information, we need to protect the intellectual property entrusted to us by manufacturers. For this, your continued support is necessary.



What this means in real terms is that PineCone concept and product evaluations are to be kept confidential. At the beginning of every concept and product evaluation survey you will be asked to agree to the security and confidentiality agreement. When you type ‘I AGREE’, you are promising that you and all the members of your household will keep the subject matter of your PineCone experiences confidential. As tempting as it may be to share these experiences, remember that the products and ideas we test with you belong to the client. Violating your agreement to confidentiality by discussing questionnaire topics, product ideas or samples with people outside your household will lead to swift action in accordance with our policies. Remember that discussion outside the household includes but is not limited to Internet chat rooms, blogs and postings on bulletin boards.



Please click on the link below to learn more about member confidentiality.



http://www2.pineconeresearch.com/membership_agreement.htm



Thank you again for your interest and confidential participation in the PineCone panel! We look forward to your participation in future surveys.



Karen Scott


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Website: http://www.pineconeresearch.com
Email: scott@pineconeresearch.com


This message is being sent to the entire PineCone Research panel. No response is required from you at this time.
------

How nice!

If you got dropped from the panel they will not let you resign up btw.

Of course, those who can spell correctly and use proper grammar are worth more than 3 bucks a throw.


Some of the longtime Pinecone members who are able to spell, or use spellcheck, are being recruited by"other" survey companies , along with higher retail value products to test.
No need at all to complain about that.

PS- those survey companies give out VERY nice "Thanks for joining us" gifts and pay promptly.

How do you get recruited for the other companies?

Of course, those who can spell correctly and use proper grammar are worth more than 3 bucks a throw.


Some of the longtime Pinecone members who are able to spell, or use spellcheck, are being recruited by"other" survey companies , along with higher retail value products to test.
No need at all to complain about that.

PS- those survey companies give out VERY nice "Thanks for joining us" gifts and pay promptly.


:rolleyes: Thank-you,for your kind thoughts.I was a little upset and not watching my typing.Guess I was not expecting the typing police.

I joined Pinecone late last year (joined @ $3 rate) and was getting about one survey per month, which included 3 or 4 PT. I felt like I was a good panelist; I followed directions to a "T", filled out all follow-up surveys thoroughly and way before deadline, etc. The last thing I received from PineCone was in late May. Then nothing.

I log in every now and then to make sure I haven't been booted. But I just don't know what to think. I guess I just won't hold my breath waiting on another PC survey.

I've been getting more surveys now then I have in the past 4 months since switching. Just one or 2 PT's for me this year but that's ok.

But my grandma really liked the last one they sent us. LOL

:rolleyes: Thank-you,for your kind thoughts.I was a little upset and not watching my typing.Guess I was not expecting the typing police.

I was NOT commenting on YOUR typing skills, OK?


As for being recruited by some of the other companies, most do not have sign up by internet banners , referral only.
I will say that it was another (former) longtime Pinecone member who gave me my invitation, someone who was treated very poorly by Pinecone.
Higher end products to test, for decent pay and being really valued and treated with respect makes a nice change.
More than that I cannot discuss on an open forum.

There are so many people fighting for the scraps Pinecone and associated survey companies are willing to toss them that the entire internet survey business has suffered.

I was NOT commenting on YOUR typing skills, OK?


As for being recruited by some of the other companies, most do not have sign up by internet banners , referral only.
I will say that it was another (former) longtime Pinecone member who gave me my invitation, someone who was treated very poorly by Pinecone.
Higher end products to test, for decent pay and being really valued and treated with respect makes a nice change.
More than that I cannot discuss on an open forum.

There are so many people fighting for the scraps Pinecone and associated survey companies are willing to toss them that the entire internet survey business has suffered.
you could PM ( private message) people........:)

I agreed to the $3.00 per survey put didn't to the paypal .Do they lesson your survey's for not agreeing to that?

I agreed to the $3.00 per survey put didn't to the paypal .Do they lesson your survey's for not agreeing to that?

I have always had the $3 surveys at least once a week.but since I got that email about paypal and switched to paypal I now get hardly any surveys.If you are still getting checks ,stick with that.

Of course, those who can spell correctly and use proper grammar are worth more than 3 bucks a throw.


Some of the longtime Pinecone members who are able to spell, or use spellcheck, are being recruited by"other" survey companies , along with higher retail value products to test.
No need at all to complain about that.

PS- those survey companies give out VERY nice "Thanks for joining us" gifts and pay promptly.

How do you get recruited for the other companies?

you could PM ( private message) people........:)


she is full of crap. that's her way of promotion her own referral where she gets paid to refer people:)

in the end, there is one reality that most of you don't think about. survey companies inherently do NOT want you to be a part of other survey companies, nor they want you to ever been a part of anything related to it. why?

a lot of their customers spread around their research through several companies. heck, in past i did 3 same surveys for different pay with 3 diff companies in 1 day...

also, as most of our oldschool survey takers, i dont really care about wtf is survey about and i take it just to write whatever the heck they want to hear.

personally, my beliefs worth more to me, but idea is, if you survey 1000 people about 1 topic, 1 voice will be muddled by others.

she is full of crap. that's her way of promotion her own referral where she gets paid to refer people:)

in the end, there is one reality that most of you don't think about. survey companies inherently do NOT want you to be a part of other survey companies, nor they want you to ever been a part of anything related to it. why?

a lot of their customers spread around their research through several companies. heck, in past i did 3 same surveys for different pay with 3 diff companies in 1 day...

also, as most of our oldschool survey takers, i dont really care about wtf is survey about and i take it just to write whatever the heck they want to hear.

personally, my beliefs worth more to me, but idea is, if you survey 1000 people about 1 topic, 1 voice will be muddled by others.

:nod: :nod: I have done several surveys as well with several different ones who offer different pay for a survey of the same.

It's the best survey company :-)

just got my first $3.00 check today signed up last week

just got $15 for survey No. XXXXX. - - -

I never get surveys over 3 dollars... WTF! :(

just got $15 for survey No. 36450-1008.. but i have no idea what this survey is about.. anyone knows?

did you do the one about bills?

I still don't know how to sign up for pinecone research--do you still have to search for a banner ad somewhere?

I still don't know how to sign up for pinecone research--do you still have to search for a banner ad somewhere?

Yes. I haven't seen any banners around for awhile.

Wow. I had resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to get anymore surveys since I refused to drop my payment amount from $5 to $3 but I just had one for my daughter to do. I guess they've got plenty of 40something stay at home moms but not many 15 yr old girls on board. Of course since she did it, she gets the $5 but still... I was rather surprised to see an actual survey instead of just household questions.

tls

did you do the one about bills?

I did.. That makes sense..

I haven't heard anything from Pinecone ever since I sent them an email about the whole moving from $5 down to $3 for a survey. I guess they are ticked-off at me. :rolleyes:

just got $15 for survey No. 36450-1008.. but i have no idea what this survey is about.. anyone knows?

did you do the one about xxxxxx?

Just a friendly reminder, each survey enters you into a legally binding contract not to discuss in any way what the surveys are about. You sign a digital confidentially agreement each time. Pinecone can drop you and/or take legal action.

I'm tired of reminders in my email about people posting confidential information
on message boards. :sleepy:

I hadn't gotten any surveys for a few months, so I thought that was a little strange. I thought maybe I was out for some reason, but had no idea why. I logged onto the web site to see what was happening and I had three available surveys that I didn't get emails for. One was to late to complete, one was household questions and one was a regular survey. I wonder why I stopped getting my email notifications after gettting them fine for two years? I wonder if it has to do with my Internet provider filtering certain emails. They are not even in my spam folder, while other complete junk is. I emailed Karen about this, as I don't think adding them to my address book will help. Has anyone else had this problem with email notifications?

email Karen and tell her, she seems real nice and understanding about those things, but do e her

Just got a new survey :)

:eek: i hope they don' track sd

Just a friendly reminder, each survey enters you into a legally binding contract not to discuss in any way what the surveys are about. You sign a digital confidentially agreement each time. Pinecone can drop you and/or take legal action.

I'm tired of reminders in my email about people posting confidential information
on message boards. :sleepy:

It is a known fact that PC checks up on things here, doubt it is very often though, but who knows.

For those of you who got your account closed and planned to sign up in the future. Just a little heads up:



Thank you for your e-mail!

I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, but we are currently only offering PayPal to established panel members. You will be notified when you are eligible to select PayPal as your method of compensation.

If you have any other questions about compensation, please send me an email.

Thank you again,

Karen Scott

I've been a member of PC for about 6 years and LOVE IT!!! I get several surveys a month and product testing. I have always received a product to test everytime it asks and I have gotten some pretty neat stuff.

I have friends who want in but you cannot join without finding a banner. I have never heard nor seen any emails for invites or referrals or whatever, according to PC the ONLY way you can become a member is to find a banner.

Anyone know where there are banners?? With all the new security of MS IE 7 most banners are blocked, but if I knew of a site that had one I could change security settings so I could see it.

Anyone???????? PM me please if you know where they are, as for the email invites, I think they are probably bogus, I'd definetly forward it to Karen and ask about it.

PC pays promptly and offers a steady stream of surveys for me, another site I use pays with $10 amazon certificates.

what is the other site please?

what is the other site please?

I'm not sure how this site works it you have to have so many posts before you can post links or email addresses because it won't let me do either even in PM. But check your PM. :)

I'm not sure how this site works it you have to have so many posts before you can post links or email addresses because it won't let me do either even in PM. But check your PM. :)

Also, I can only have 5 PM stored at a time, so all you who PM me I've answered you and then had to delete your messages :rolleyes:

according to PC the ONLY way you can become a member is to find a banner.

.

No, that's not the only way to join. I have received emails asking me to send a sign up link to people I might know that would be interested and that fit a particular criteria.

No, that's not the only way to join. I have received emails asking me to send a sign up link to people I might know that would be interested and that fit a particular criteria.

Good to know that Shellac, I have spoken with Karen and she told me that you can't do referrals that they must click on a link, but that's been a long time ago so maybe things have changed since then. :)

Also, I can only have 5 PM stored at a time, so all you who PM me I've answered you and then had to delete your messages :rolleyes:

Can you send me a PM with this site info?

Good to know that Shellac, I have spoken with Karen and she told me that you can't do referrals that they must click on a link, but that's been a long time ago so maybe things have changed since then. :)

I've been a member of PC for a couple years and I'm pretty sure they still only recruit members through these hard-to-find banner ads (luckily I found one a couple years ago!).

I just got a PT from them :)

sometimes it says product test but you do not get, right?

sometimes it says product test but you do not get, right?


Right, you do not always get to test the product, that you done the survey on.

I've been a member of PC for a couple years and I'm pretty sure they still only recruit members through these hard-to-find banner ads (luckily I found one a couple years ago!).

I have definetly gotten emails from them asking if I knew any people that fit very specific criteria that would be interested in joining. I know I can't be the only one and I've seen them mentioned here before.

I have definetly gotten emails from them asking if I knew any people that fit very specific criteria that would be interested in joining. I know I can't be the only one and I've seen them mentioned here before.

I have tested many products from PC, almost all of the ones that ask if I would, a week or so later I would get the product in the mail, then you get paid again for a follow up. I've had follow ups that paid $25.00 because it was a group discussion and set at particular times you had to be there.

can't rep you yet, ran out, but will, thanks

What I mean is sometimes they ask you, but does not always mean you get, I never got those big dollar ones.

How do I sign up?
Have been searching for ages..

I'm always asked if I'd be willing to try the product... but I have never received a product.

how do i sign up?!?!?

I do not know, you have to find a place where the logo is seen, it can be on here, so keep watching, only posted when available, check here or on fw or volition

Yes!
I found a link to sign up just now.
Do they accept 18-24 females?

I regret agreeing to do 3 dollar surveys.

I regret agreeing to do 3 dollar surveys.

Don't regret it. I denied the $3 surveys, and now barely hear from them. At most, I see one a month.

So $5 surveys are no longer available?

So $5 surveys are no longer available?

It all depends. I declined the $3 and stayed with my $5 surveys and I still get at least 2 paid ones a week and a crapload of household surveys. I have had 2 PT's since declining as well. I think it all still depends on demographics, as always, and not so much the pay rate you are at.

If you sign up now they are $3. If you had already been a member getting $5 they will "ask" you to drop down to $3. Or they will more or less cut you off.

just a question,
when you sign up do they accept everyone? or only certain ppl?

I'm relatively new to Pinecone so $3.00 or $5.00 it doesn't make a difference to me. Money is money! If that means my DH can have a sub instead of a pb&j one day then it definitely helps!

I opted in for the $3.00. Been a member for over a year with them. I always got two surveys a month, now it's just one survey per month.

I put off answering their "important survey" for too long and it closed. I'm still receiving $5 surveys (although I don't think I get as many as I once did).

I took a survey friday and didnt receive the paypal today, this is the first time (in the past 2 years) that I havent received payment the next business day...why pinecone why are you falling apart.

I opted in for the $3.00. Been a member for over a year with them. I always got two surveys a month, now it's just one survey per month.

I always got one survey a month and still get one survey a month. I'm at the $5 level.

Everyone has to realize that the amount of surveys that PCR gives to people varies on a lot of criteria. You may have been getting 2-3 surveys a month, but if their clients don't need anybody in your demographics right now, the amount of surveys you get will go down or stop. Right now we don't know whether each survey (based on number) is also regulated based on payout. IE: Whether survey 12345-1000 is a $3 or $5 one across the board, or whether it's dependent on each person and their respective payout levels. And while I think we are all in agreement that the amount of surveys in total have diminished, it's not a good idea to compare one persons quantity with another's, as I don't think there is much bearing on it. I, like many, did NOT agree to the paycut, and right after denying it received two surveys in two weeks. Before that I went two months without getting one. Coincidence? Who knows.

What I do think that we should do as a collective group, is use the wiki to mark off what surveys (based on number) we have done, and the payout we received for them. This would not be a violation of PCR rules, as we would not discuss the details of the survey, but it would allow us to determine if people are completing the same survey for different amounts of money or not. If we could determine that, it would also go to show that people were foolish to accept the paycut. Just an idea.

I find when I do my surveys immediately when they come in (if you can time it withint an hour or so after it's sent...) then you get much much more.

Basically do them as quickly as possible and more will come in.

I posted earlier how I used to consistently get 3 or 4 paying surveys per month. This year I get one a month. Then about two months ago I accepted the 3 dollar payment and all I have received is 4 stupid long household question surveys that don't pay at all :mad:

I took a survey friday and didnt receive the paypal today, this is the first time (in the past 2 years) that I havent received payment the next business day...why pinecone why are you falling apart.I've received 1 paying survey since the $3/$5 switch email (I stayed at $5, btw) and I got the payment 1 week after I took it. Pretty surprising to me.

I find when I do my surveys immediately when they come in (if you can time it withint an hour or so after it's sent...) then you get much much more.

Basically do them as quickly as possible and more will come in.When I first started, I'd do them right away and would only get 1 per month. I got annoyed with how sporadic they were and started waiting until the next day to do them and the month that I was without my laptop and had to rely on limited internet time at the library, it would take me a few days, and I got, like, 4 surveys that month. :dontknow:

I've received 1 paying survey since the $3/$5 switch email (I stayed at $5, btw) and I got the payment 1 week after I took it. Pretty surprising to me.

When I first started, I'd do them right away and would only get 1 per month. I got annoyed with how sporadic they were and started waiting until the next day to do them and the month that I was without my laptop and had to rely on limited internet time at the library, it would take me a few days, and I got, like, 4 surveys that month. :dontknow:
Has anyone here taken the 3 dollar offer and then changed their mind? They are so offbase and the nonperson karen scott didn't respond to my email at all, then I was asked to do 3 surveys for no payment whatsoever and did it out of anxiety and losing pinecone, after being extremely ill. My opinions and responses are worth 5 bucks and I changed my mind. They certainly have REALLY gone downhill. I wonder if the people in the UK feel the same? The surveys are crazy-talk about going from apples to oranges-they don't make sense at all. Oh, and I want a list of ANYONE who wins the sweepstakes. There is no such thing. I haven't gotten paid in over a month and I think it's really crappy to make people think they did not have a choice. My friend thought the same thing.

Geez, I've now had 5 household question surveys and no paying surveys for the past 2 months and as I've posted before ... I used to get 3-4 paying $5 per month. Now I get no $3 but all these household surveys.

Many have tried to explain that Pinecone is following a well established pattern, survey companies that get greedy and discover that any number of internet users will take ANY amount of abuse for whatever crumbs you care to toss them.
This makes it nastier every year for everyone.
And, by the way, is ruining the data to the point that if it continues NOBODY'S DATA is gonna be worth ANYTHING.

Many have taken insults and abuse on this very thread for trying to help people navigate dangerous waters.
Until THAT changes, nothing else will change.

If every poster on this thread who has been nasty to another poster, because of sumpthing PINECONE did, would apologize and agree to work together, abuse would not happen as often, panelists for ALL surveys would be valued more.
Pinecone, and others, could not abuse without willing to be abused panelists.
Or panelists willing to abuse others.

I will be happy to go first.

I apologize to any poster I may have offended.
Unless you work for Pinecone as a shill it was entirely accidental. If you DO work as a shill for Pinecone then, YES, I DID mean to insult you.


Tell Pinecone to P up a rope and we ALL get treated better, or keep carping on each other like a paid shill for Pinecone and take what you get. Hint, the internet only works for the good of all when we ALL work together.

I've already gotten 2 paid surveys so far this month, including one that I just completed. I'm at the $3 level and have been from the start, though. I agree that some of the surveys jump around in content, and the household ones can often be longer than the 5 minutes that they state, but overall I'm still pleased with making $3 a few times a month. I'd be upset, though, if what I got paid was cut by such a large percent like they tried to get the $5 people to agree to...

What I find personally amusing is the fact that SD mods want to help out PCR by not allowing people to post direct links to their banners. Why? They claim because they want to 'stay in Pinecone Research's good graces'. Hrmmmm.... And what benefit is there to being in the good graces of PCR. And why should they care about that? Kickbacks? If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would be coming to some conclusions....

Ok, I guess I'm the only one taking surveys since everyone else is mad, fine with me. I have been w/ pinecone since Jan. and only got one PT, and then this week I got two :D, one AWESOME one (well at least I think it is awesome, they sent a lot of a product I use. :) This has been the best month EVER for me from PCR :)

BTW:
I believe that SD wants to make sure that PCR isn't mad at them because I believe PCR has the right to tell SD to close the PCR thread, and SD wants as many good threads as possible, so they get more vistors = more $$$ from ads, etc. etc.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's what I believe it is.

I think the past month was just a light month.
the previous month, I did almost 10 paid surveys.
then in july it went down
but august looks promising. i just got my first PT in a while...and someone obviously opened..and peeked to see what it was then re-sealed it. I guess they read the notes that came with it because that was all balled up in the box when I opened it. but get this...they re-sealed it wrong..lol.
I can't believe those bastards.
I am almost tempted to file a complaint.
who the hell is opening up my stuff?

either way...it's extra money and like someone said before, they could probably easily find people who would take these surveys for free if they were promised the PT at the end. none of the surveys I have ever taken have been longer than 15 minutes, save one. and they paid WELL for that long one.
maybe u guys are slow survey takers! LOL.

:iagree: I never have had an uber long survey from PCR, zoompanel yes, but never PCR :lol:

I just had my first survey at the new $3.00 level and it was longer than the $5.00 surveys were. That just stinks.

so far I had 5 paid surveys but one paid survey is on the way. Better than nothing.