Focus Groups

When I lived in Dallas I did focus groups for four different companies. I would come in and get paid to give my opinion on various products along with a group of other people. They paid anywhere from $30 (potato chip tastings) to $300 per study, depending on complexity. And it was also enjoyable "work".

We did taste tests of various foods (snacks, frozen and restaurant menus, even beers), bank products, credit cards, power tools, electric toothbrushes and pretty much anything you could think of.

If you are in Dallas, two of them were at LBJ and the tollway. One was in Lincoln Center and one just north of the Galleria on the tollway frontage road. If I recall, one was in Carrolton and one was in Plano.

Here's the one I can remember off hand, P&K Research in Plano. They are headquartered out of White Plains, NY.

[www.pk-research.com]

"Four company-owned research centers in key US regions: Chicago, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles"

They did a lot of chips/nachos/pretzels/frozen foods since Pepsico/Frito Lay is just around the corner from them.

I'll try to think of the others which have more locations nationwide.

Anyone else do focus groups?

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Found one of those in Dallas on the tollway, Focus Group by Schlesinger. They also have online stuff for considerable money ($50).

[www.focusgroup.com]

Just realized I got an e-mail from the Carrollton location in Dallas on Tuesday.

AIMS is currently enrolling in an Asthma study.
Qualified participants will receive up to $975 and medication.

Eligible participants must be:
12 - 55 years old

Market Research Dallas
972-666-0710
liza@marketresearchdallas.com / www.marketresearchdallas.com
Market Research Dallas / PO BOX 112663 Carrollton TX 75011

I've signed up to do research studies at NIH but haven't actually done one yet.

I do online focus groups regarding politics. That's relevant for where I live.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

@eyelove2shop wrote:

I've signed up to do research studies at NIH but haven't actually done one yet.

"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton

I'm signed up with two companies in my area, and have done several studies for one of them. The latest was a strange one. During Covid times I was paid to smell samples of cat litter and rate them. Did that one twice (I'm assuming they couldn't find enough people willing to come into their office).

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

I have one scheduled online next week for a relatively early evening hour. The subject is financial investments.

Just finished one this morning where I got to test drive six luxury vehicles, three electric three gas. Was paid $250. Was called back for round two which is another $250. If I get called back for round 3, it's another $300.

I want to do fun ones like y'all seem to do. My topics/subjects have all been business.

I just tried out for five online surveys. I did not qualify for any of them. This has happened to me at other survey websites that offer points that translate into stuff on their website or money that can be used for whatever they are promoting. I think I am beyond the reach of marketers. Even though many survey disclaimers state that no one is trying to sell me anything, they do not want me because I have little to do with whatever is behind the questionnaires. It's okay. (I also live far away from large cities/significant markets.)

Nonetheless, I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to apply for the surveys. They might end up with something they want or need.

@wrosie wrote:

Found one of those in Dallas on the tollway, Focus Group by Schlesinger. They also have online stuff for considerable money ($50).

[www.focusgroup.com]

Bach is not noise, Madam. (Robert, in Two's Company)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 05:30PM by Shop-et-al.

I've done them! I used to do P&K research in Chicago but moved out of the area so its not even worth the gas. There's another company that used to be in a few different malls - I think its called Quick Test or C&C market research, they would sometimes call me in for stuff or you could stop at their office in the mall and see if they had anything. They'd sometimes do taste tests, movie screenings, perfume sampling, all kinds of stuff.

Wow. I'm jelly. Looks fun.

I currently do taste tests and product testing for Matriz Sciences (formerly Contract Testing) here in Toronto. I am lucky one of their testing facilities is a quick bus ride away. Sometimes they also have focus groups for the same products. I have also done some online interviews for a couple of research groups. Don't recall the names at the moment. For one they walked me through a housing survey, for Statistics Canada, and I answered the questions and commented on my comfort level answering the questions, the readability of the questions, etc. I wish some MSC would do this same thing with some of their surveys and guidelines.

Lady Marius
Canadian Mystery Shopper

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2022 07:56PM by Lady Marius.

I tried to qualify for a study with Schlesinger and, as always, when I got all the way done it said something like, "We have already filled our quota." I think they don't really have focus groups. But I wanted to see if anyone else here has seen the "We at Ipsos" phrase in the terms that you agree to before completing the qualifier survey. I did. So there is some connection there.

I never got in one. Felt it's a scam for you to actually fill in the screening survey since that's all they wanted anyways.

@atan134340 wrote:

I never got in one. Felt it's a scam for you to actually fill in the screening survey since that's all they wanted anyways.

They’re not scams. And often, paid in cash or gift card immediately after the focus group if in person, or via email or mail if virtual.

Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.

Anything in the metro Atlanta area?

so even the legit ones I gotta spend some time upfront to do a screening survey and hope they contact me?

@atan134340 wrote:

so even the legit ones I gotta spend some time upfront to do a screening survey and hope they contact me?

Yes. They’re even more specific on the profile they’re trying to recruit, vs. most mystery shops.

If it helps any, I’m have a mock trial I qualified for that’ll pay $350 for a full day (~9 hours with time for breaks and meals) with meals provided next Thursday. Worth it for me, as I’ll just take a day off from my full time job for this.

Very infrequently shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado these days.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/19/2022 11:21PM by Tarantado.

I was liking the Crowdtap ones. Very quick. Very easy (virtual). I did a teacher one once and got the free lunch and $300. And the test taking one was like $100. I need a gig testing out new cars!

@Tarantado, I did a mock trial. Very similar. They did NOT give us meal breaks. Other breaks were taken when and if you were done with your busy work. The time went over by an hour. However, I enjoyed it. You would not believe some of these mock jurors. Hilarious in so many ways. Most entertaining.

Mine was virtual.

I have heard of the Mock Trials but can never get into them. It may be because I am an old retired white dude! The same reason that I can't do the buying smokes test or the alcohol test or the Murphy gas stations. I'm too old, or they just filled their quota.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/2022 07:20PM by 2stepps.

@atan134340 wrote:

so even the legit ones I gotta spend some time upfront to do a screening survey and hope they contact me?

Once you get on their radar they will call, text or e-mail you when they have something. They will call based on your demographic profile they'll have on file. .

You might have to answer some screening questions. It's not like the survey companies I've tried on the Internet where you spend 10 minutes taking the survey and then they tell you, you don't qualify and pay you $.03.

@wrosie wrote:

It's not like the survey companies I've tried on the Internet where you spend 10 minutes taking the survey and then they tell you, you don't qualify and pay you $.03.

I've had a few of those. It's frustrating to think the survey has started, then find out it's still the screening questions after you've answered 20 or more and then they show a kickout screen.

@Shopper797 wrote:

Anything in the metro Atlanta area?

Try Curios

we had a nice little place in the mall where you could stop by and make $3-$7 in cash to do various things. they didnt survive the pandemic though

shopping north west PA and south west ny

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/2022 03:52AM by cooldude581.

any wisconsin leads? Weirdly, Matrix has Wisconsin stuff, but I didn't see a sign up. I'd also definitely drive to chicago for $350.

@foodluvr wrote:

@Shopper797 wrote:

Anything in the metro Atlanta area?

Try Curios

Thank you but I Googled it and it did not come up with any focus groups.

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