My Experience so far with Survey-Taking Income

Last week I saw a book by Barb Webb and Maureen Heck called, "The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet: Make money with mystery shopping, surveys and point programs." On the back cover it says, "Would you like an extra $10,000 a year without ever changing out of your pajamas? It can be done--The Mom's Guide to Earning and Saving Thousands on the Internet shows you how!"

I like how the book is realistic on the income potential but I'm still baffled by making $800 per month on surveys and mystery shopping. I'll admit, I haven't spent a great deal of time surveys and mystery shopping mostly because my first attempts didn't net me any cash. I have received a CD player and a bra from Victoria Secret as payment. Oh... yes, I did earn $1 on a radio survey. I did a mystery shop at Kmart that earned me $11 but I had to spend money while I was there. I netted about $5.

I read the book, was intrigued and thought I would try some surveys (I like to work 100% from home and online so the mystery shopping didn't appeal to me). I signed up for a few companies and have received one survey for which I didn't quality (many want answers only from a specific target group) but I was entered to win a cash prize (I'm still waiting for my winning notice). With so few surveys coming to me and my not qualifying for over half (am I too old, too young, what???), I figured I needed to join more to get the volume I needed make $800 as the book said.

I have found many places that have survey databases for a fee (survey companies themselves are free). I'm always leery about a fee but I found one that would let me in for free IF I completed an offer of some sort. So I did that. I got the list of survey companies and began joining some of the programs. I get emails several times a day about earning up to $50 for a survey. WOW! However, when I go to do survey I have to sign up for a trail offer of something including submitting my payment info. HMMMM... that doesn't sound right. As far as I can figure, some of these survey companies will pay you money to sign up for these trial offers and its all disguised as a survey. What's in it for the company? Likely they get an even bigger paycheck from the offer program for having referred you.

So, I have earned $1 for doing a Nesquick survey and I have an email box full of high paying survey offers that are really looking to get me to buy something. I'm back to my old idea about survey's which is; if you really need to make any significant income on a regular basis, surveys are probably not your best option. In fact, that $800 a month that the book talks about is from doing surveys, mystery shopping, point programs and auctions. Divided evenly, that's $200 per month for each income method.

Again, I haven't put a huge amount of effort mostly because I think it will take more time than its worth (and I don't seem to qualify for most of the survey's I'm offered). But, perhaps some of you are making money with surveys. I'd sure like to hear from you if you are.

BTW... while I'm skeptical about a good income from surveys, mystery shopping and point programs, the book does offer some really helpful tips on saving money with online coupons, research and bargain sites.

If you'd like to try your hand at surveys, here are the survey sites that in my experience offer real surveys:

American Consumer Opinion
Greenfield Online Surveys
Survey Savvy
Survey Club (I'm still waiting on a survey from this company but I haven't gotten any "free trial" surveys either).
Keynote Research Panel (payment in form of Amazon certificate)

Leslie