Reviews of paid survey sites; the good and the bad.
Good Paid Survey Sites; a rare bird.
Published on March 21, 2008 By StephenRoy In Consumer Issues

Paid Survey Sites - Reviews.

 

Total Sites Reviewed: 22   Legitimate Sites: 3

 

Paid Survey Sites Reviews is a forum set up to try and separate some of the good from the bad regarding the large number of online money making and paid survey websites out there. Paid Survey Sites Reviews aims to review and rate a variety of these paid survey sites, pass these reviews on to our readers, and let them know how the sites rated. 

Paid Survey Sites: Be aware…

You’ve probably seen ads on Google or Yahoo or MSN like:

  • Make $20-$70 Cash per Survey. Free to join, see if you qualify.
  • Survey Firms Paying $25-$100/hr.
  • Make extra money from home. Anyone can do it. Start today.
  • Why Pay When You Can Get It For Free? Make $50 In 15 Mins.

Paid survey lists are one of the oldest scams on the Web. You've probably seen ads for these companies on search engines, Ebay, and other sources.

We counted over 400 ads out there promising to make you rich just filling out simple surveys from your computer. But why are there so many? We all know it would be fabulous to work from home by giving our opinions on the products we buy. Almost anyone would like to have a nice check delivered to their door, just for reporting what is on their mind. We've seen the screen shots of checks, or financial banking statements on the paid survey web sites. We've seen the big claims people make about making tons of money, AND how they can show you how to do the same thing. I can tell you right now that about 95% of these people are total frauds. You may have even fallen prey to one of these frauds, selling you their latest survey company lists. As is my habit, I decided to get to the bottom of this latest get rich quick program, and find out if there really were any actual legitimate programs to make money filling out surveys. I started by contacting the seller of every paid survey program I could reach. I purchased several of these programs to see what they were all about. I took each program for a test drive over a 2 month period, using the program exactly as the author told me to. In addition I used only the resources the program provided for me, to see if I could actually make cash typing from home with what they offered. Well, I was truly disgusted with 95% of what I found. Many of the owners actually bragged on their websites about how many people bought their useless programs. I repeatedly found:

• So called "Free" survey lists. All they want is for you to give them your name and e-mail address. They claim they are free but they only give you a small sample then want you to pay for an "upgraded" membership.
• Outdated information. This is typical of many scammer sites. A dead give away, but usually by then it’s too late to get your money back.
• Non-working phone numbers for the survey companies that are supposed to pay you. Again, too late to get your money back.
• Links leading to other sites that ask for more money. This is a common way to spot a scammer site. You will usually be asked to join additional programs to make "real" money. Once again, by now you have paid and your money is gone.
• No help section, no FAQ, no email support.
• No member’s section, and monthly fees required for "upgraded" memberships.

I quickly realized that most of these programs were totally useless. Even worse, the owners knew it, and they were laughing all the way to the bank. Needless to say, I tried to get them to honor their money back guarantees. Typically I either got no response, or in some cases I was treated rudely and denied my refund. While sorting through all these different survey scams, I was able to locate a couple of individuals that actually ran legitimate businesses. The owners were every-day people like you and me that had found a way to make good extra money working from home on their PCs. Their membership areas were comprehensive, with a good amount of quality information about making a great living filling out surveys from home. I also chatted in several online forums, and met many satisfied customers who verified they were making extra money with these programs. Surprisingly I only found 3 quality programs out of the 22 I tried. But don’t take my word for it, read my reviews below and then visit the sites to see what you think. All 3 of the quality programs I found do charge a $35.00-$50.00 fee for access to their program, which is to be expected for any legitimate company that actually has people on staff who are dedicated to helping you get started. The owners of these legitimate companies were all helpful and friendly. If you do decide that you are interested in my first choice below, I advise you to join quickly, as the owners have informed me that they are getting so many new members by word of mouth referrals lately, that they may be limiting their membership in the near future. They don't have a large enough staff to accommodate many more people, and they are dedicated to providing excellent service and support to each person. Of the total experience, I have to say I was thoroughly disappointed with most of what I found, and unfortunately I expect more of these unethical sites to continue to pop up in the future. As always, I will keep you updated on any new findings.

Paid Survey Site Reviews and Ratings.

Paid Surveys Etc. - Review

Click Here To Visit Paid Surveys Etc

Price: $34.00
Money Back Guarantee:
Yes

Review:
Very popular and highly regarded paid survey program. Michelle McAllistor has been earning a living doing paid surveys and focus groups online for some time, and she shows you exactly how she does it. She was always happy to reply to my questions quickly and thoroughly. Her program is well laid out and very easy to follow, and the company list is extensive and easy to search. She also provides you with extensive free support to help get you started without any trouble. The company has a no questions asked 30 day return policy too. Because this program worked so well I never had a chance to see if they honor their guarantee, however I have no doubt that they would honor it. Be sure to use the coupon code "etc50off" so you can join for just $34.00.
  They give you some excellent information on paid surveys in general on their site so it’s well worth visiting even if you decide not to join.

Survey Scout - Review

Click Here To Visit Survey Scout

Price: $34.95
Money Back Guarantee:
Yes

Review:
Survey Scout is one of my favorite programs for a good reason. Not only do they connect you with companies that will pay for your opinion, but they also offer a bunch of other ways to make money from home. Included in the package is information on how to make money playing video games, how to get paid to drive, and how to get paid to shop. These are excellent bonuses. On top of that each survey pays you $25.00-35.00. The Survey Scout member’s area is well laid out and easy to navigate, and their information is the most up to date I have seen. Since they don't just give you one way to make money you can earn a lot of money doing different things from home. If you do 5 paid surveys you can earn $125.00 in about two hours with this company. Like the other programs, they have an unconditional money back guarantee.

Paid Surveys Online - Review

Click Here To Visit Paid Surveys Online

Price: $49.95
Money Back Guarantee: Yes

Review:
This is one of the older programs out there, and it has a huge following. Paid Surveys Online has helped thousands of people get paid to take surveys from their home. They also have a no questions asked money back guarantee. Their website is very easy to navigate and use to find information, and the company list is also well organized. They frequently update their list with new survey companies so there is always something new. This program requires that you have a PC or Mac computer with Adobe Acrobat Reader. I've been using this one for 2 months and I've done really well with it.

 

 


Comments
on Jul 23, 2008


Great article.  I have been taking surveys online for a long time.  There are a few that I have tested and used for some time and always get excellent compensation for taking their surveys.  I have written a blog article about it with links to some of the best legitimate paid survey sites on the net.  You can read my article here: http://legitimatepaidsurveysitesforyou.blogspot.com

on May 04, 2009

They cost a lot of money, are the really worth it and "etc50off" has expired.

Paid Survey sites are a good source of extra income. I'd rather not pay to have to get the full list. I have wrote in my blog about what legit online paid surveys that pay by check fast to stay away from and which ones are a good souce of income.

Sincerly,

Darius