The Best of The Best of The Best (pineconeresearch.com)

Member Name: Teena2003

Product:	pineconeresearch.com
Date:	09/04/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: regular surveys, fair payment, produt trials

Disadvantages: not easy to sign up

I am a member of a variety of survey sites. I enjoy answering surveys, in particular when the payment you get is also decent and reflects the time spent answering the, sometimes, ridiculous questions.

There are not many sites where the payout is decent in relation to time spent, but there is one that is head and shoulders above others. This company is pineconeresearch.com.

I have been a member for a couple of years now and have been pleasantly surprised by how many surveys I have actually completed.

=== How to join ===

Pinecone, unlike other survey and research sites do not allow potential members to go to their website and just sign up. You have to find, what some people I know refer to as 'the holy grail of web banners'. The only way to sign up with Pinecone is literally to trawl the internet and try and find the, often, elusive banner the company have placed on certain websites. In a lot of cases it can be found on cashback sites, other suvey sites, sometimes even click to pay sites. But be aware that, as soon as these banner ads to join appear, they disappear just as quick. They don't hang around for long so, if you are not a member and want to join, click on the pinecone banner ad as soon as you see it and sign up.

You will be taken through the normal sign up procedure, click submit and then have to wait for someone from the company to get in contact with you to complete the registration.

All in all it took a couple of weeks before I got the all clear and was welcomed as a new panel member. You receive your log in details including password. You cannot change any of them buy it doesn't actually matter as with every survey invitation you also get a reminder of all your log in information.

At some point I was actually a little worried that I would not qualify as I could not get the video part of the site working. That has to do with my very strict security settings on both my home and work computers. But there was nothing to worry really. I soon received invited to take part in surveys.

=== Surveys ===

When you receive an email to answer surveys there are two types.

Household surveys: unpaid surveys that take just a couple of minutes to answer and are there to establish what you know, have or are willing to buy in the near future. This will put you on the list of future surveys.

Full length surveys: surveys that pay (in the UK it is £4.00 per survey set fee - no more and no less) and give you a chance to say what you think of a certain product. The surveys are open for about a generous week so even if you cannot answer it all straight away, there is a way of re-entering the survey and picking up where you left off.

The best part of Pinecone is that by the time you receive the invitation for the survey, you know that you have qualified and there is no way you are being screened out at any stage. You will definitely go all the way to the end and get paid within a few days of completing the survey.

Pinecone Research are very hot on security so I won't be able to tell you exactly what products I have been asked about but in general, it can become very obvious after just a few questions. While I am not a liberty to discuss individual products, I can say that over the past couple of years I have answered questions about bath products, female hygiene, different foods and more.

Before you are allowed to enter the survey you are asked to confirm that you agree with the company's security and safety by typing your agreement in capital letters into a box. This is legally binding so you better not discuss any details about the products with other, as they are, in some cases, product prototypes and ideas only.

There are too many companies out there who are just interested in finding the best answers and within a few moments you realise what they are, you don't necessarily have to answer honestly just to get paid but Pinecone is the only company where I can honestly say that I give my own opinion, not what I think the company want to hear.

=== Product trials ===

Towards the end of every paid survey you are usually asked if you are willing to try out the product if the producer thought you were in the target group. I not always tick the 'yes' button because there are products I dislike and would not want to be testing them at all - ever. Then, and that is the majority of times, I declare that I am willing to test the product.

I don't know what you have to do to get picked but so far I have only once managed to get a product sample sent to me. I wonder if they screen your answers and if you are too negative you aren't picked - but then again, that would be the perfect opportunity to change someone's mind.

Once you are picked you will receive an email alerting you to the fact that a package is on the way to you - either by post or courier - and what to do once you receive it.

I was off work and on holiday for a week when my parcel arrived by courier. I must say, I was absolutely astonished that a courier company was used to deliver a particular product. While I understand, to a point, why this was - food products not having a long shelf life - I am surprised that the company is willing to spend money on couriers just to get people try and evaluate the product.

The box - massive - I received bared no resemblance to what was actually inside and I did joke with the courier guy when replied to his 'but it is very light' with an 'I wish I could tell you what was inside'. I unpacked the product which was minute compared to the box it arrived in.

The product trials come with strict instructions not to share it with people outside you home or give away and tells you to try it over a few days to get an idea of what it is like before they send you a follow up survey where you are asked to give your opinion again about the product, this time not just the theoretical idea but the finished item.

=== Payment ===

Payment varies between countries but in the UK it is a steady £4.00 per survey. This will be paid either into your paypal account or, if you prefer, by Luncheon Vouchers (LV). These vouchers are accepted in a huge number of shops in the UK including supermarkets and sandwich shops.

At the beginning I had payment sent by way of Luncheon Vouchers. I had a few problems with paypal and didn't want to use them until it was sorted. The voucher booklets arrived within a week of completing the surveys and were valid for one year. There was no rush to spend them and I often took them with me too the airport when I had to fly abroad on a budget airline and needed to stock up on food items at the airport.

Once my paypal problems were over I contacted Pinecone and they switched me over to paypal payments. Now, a few days after completing a survey I get an email alerting me to the fact that money was paid into my paypal account. Brilliant.

=== Summary ===

All in all I would say that Pinecone research has been very good to me. I must be part of their target market as I receive at least one survey a month, most months I receive at least two or more.

I would say that, if you are lucky to find a Pinecone banner, go for it. It is one of the best survey companies out there that consistently send email invitations for you to participate and also pay for the time you spend answering questions.

Also, be aware that, if you are slacking and do not answer the surveys sent to you, you will receive a warning from the company, telling you that you agreed to participate in their surveys and if you fail to do so on a regular basis, you will be kicked off the site. (I know this because I failed to complete two or three surveys in a row due to time constraints and work pressure but made a point of answering all surveys - honestly - since then to stay on the panel).

Pinecone research are a reputable company who pay for your time and are one of the best companies out there - as long as you can find their banner to sign up if you're not already a member.

Those of you who have not yet found the 'holy grail of banners' GOOD LUCK! You really won't regret signing up if you're lucky enough to spot the banners.

© Teena2003/Minnitee/Tempus_Fugit

Summary: A company that promises a lot - and delivers