Home alone.

[sarren]

Just had a call from the polling company for The West Australian. She asked me questions about politics and banks. Was there ever a time when pollsters asked questions that WEREN'T about politics and banks?

I quite liked this person -

Caller - Do you believe your financial institution cares about your needs and opinions?
Me - No to the power of infinity.
Caller *snort* Well, they're a bank, aren't they.

Then she asked me if I was interested in being part of a focus group. Since I am now GettingInvolved!Girl I asked for more information.

Me - Let me get this straight. They pay you up to $80 to go to a hotel and have refreshments and talk about stuff for an hour. Where do I sign?
Caller - Well, you do have to drive to Applecross, and by the time you park ::koff::but yes, they are quite fun and once people are on the list they tend to stay on forever.


The 'forever' bit's a bit chilling. If I start acting weird* you'll know I've been BRAINWASHED and am now involved in a CULT.


*Yes, yes, whatever.

Comments

[zebra363.livejournal.com]

Focus groups are fun! I used to be part of a market research one (though I'm sure they only paid $25) and I was sorry when they stopped calling me. I had to go to Subiaco once to eat a lot of different kinds of chips, and would of course be happy to do that for free.

[artisanat.livejournal.com]

fred_mouse gets asked along to Applecross to do focus groups sometimes. Last time she got a $75.00 voucher to spend at a jewellers and has a nice pair of earrings to show for it. If she is now brainwashed and involved in a CULT it has gone straight past me.

[fred-mouse.livejournal.com]

ah, but they ring up often enough to ask me to come along on nights I can't get there, so you need to be up to the task of saying 'no' a lot. And you are only allowed to do one every 3+ months, but they forget that you've already done one, and ring you up anyway...

but it is fun when it happens to work out!

[bardiegrub.livejournal.com]

I've done market research focus groups for years. I love getting paid to be opinionated.

[victorian-tweed.livejournal.com]

Ohhh so that's what focus groups do. Thank you for edumacating me.

[mr-booboo.livejournal.com]

Multi-focus group and market research person.

Last time I got $50 to look at milk. I was offered $40 to taste test new flavoured milk but it was on a Saturday so I couldn't go. I do internet surveys for Murdoch and after 3 surveys, I get 2 free movie tickets - sometimes they even give to Myer card vouchers. My last focus group only paid me $70 but whatever.

Yeah, I guess I'm an addict. So what? I don't mind wasting an hour here and there.

[pionie.livejournal.com]

I got paid £20 to go and talk about London Transport once for an hour, with all the crisps and cheap wine we could consume - I'd do it again like a shot - $80 is even better!

[sarren.livejournal.com]

Not much better. The pound pretty much put the smack-down on other currencies. I can't even buy from Amazon.uk anymore. *is sad*

Yay for crisps and cheap wine!

[kremmen.livejournal.com]

I'm on market research lists both here and in the USA. (Yes, I sometimes do them when I'm over there too.)

I've been in a number of focus groups, from design of electric toothbrushes to gas heater preferences to credit card reward schemes to supermarket shopping.

[cricketk.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I'd like to do this as well.

How on earth do I sign up?

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I don't know! Ask one of the apparent EXPERTS on our flist!

I can certainly ask them if and when they ever call me up.