Product Testing - is it for you?
Each week in our newsletter we try to bring you ways to save money or in the case of this week's story, perhaps make some money on the side. If you have the time and interest, "product testing" or "mystery shopping" could be for you.
A relative of mine has a fast-food business that is often visited by a mystery shopper sent by head office. She is philosophical about it. While it stresses her (mostly teenage) staff, it also helps to keep them at the top of their game.
As we all know, mystery shopping is process of going into a physical store and evaluating the overall performance of the employees. The mystery shopper goes in pretending to be a simple shopper, visiting the store for the purpose of purchasing an item. This shopper is either employed by the store or an external company, assessing the employee performance and submitting a report. There’s no specific requirements essential to become a mystery shopper, as you don’t need to hold a certain appearance, qualification or manner, you’re simply blending in with all of the other shoppers.
Over the years product testing had been one of the most genuine ways to make money from home. There are many benefits of working from home including not having to commute, working on your own schedule and so much more. There are a variety of ways to make money from home with one of them being testing free products.
Realonlinesurveys.com says generally, companies will send you sample products while others will send full sized ones, which you will test every month and then pay you for giving them your thoughts on the paid products.
Why Would A Company Pay for Your Opinion?
Most companies do this as part of their development cycle. They are interested in hearing what regular folks like you and I think of the products they are creating and developing.
So before they release the product to the market, they want to hear your opinion. Based on the feedback they receive they can then figure out the way forward. It saves them time, money as well as brand reputation.
Here is How Product Testing Works:
You will need to contact a company that offers these opportunities and sign up. Then you will fill out what they call a screener survey which basically lets them know if you qualify to be in the list of the next testing event for their products. Depending on the product and also the company, you can make between $3 and $125. In addition, the products are yours to keep!
Here are some companies that are happy to pay you to give your opinion on their products. Simply click the company name to get started:
- Pinecone Research – This company is by far one of the most trusted companies that’s been around since the early 90s. They typically pay $3 for every product you evaluate before it hits the shelves. Pays via Paypal.
- Toluna – This company invites product testers from the USA, Australia and Canada. Once on their website you will click on the tab that reads “Rewards”. From there click on the tab that reads “Test Products” in order to sign up. Invitations to receive their test products will come in your email. They offer gift cards as well as money as rewards.
- Valued Opinions – If you love beauty products this is just the ticket! You get to test a variety of them and if you are part of their focus groups, you get even higher pay.
- National Consumer Panel ( NCP)– This market research company has been around for years, formerly known as Nielson Home Scan. The will send you a FREE handheld scanner to use for scanning barcodes from household items. Then you are offered free electronics and other rewards for doing so.
- Survey Spot – This site also offers both product testing and paid survey opportunities. Again, the online survey opportunities are more. Product Review Mom was awarded $150 for testing a product. The type of products they send to you can include household items, foods and beauty products too. Reward is in the form of money via paypal, store gift certificates and Amazon gift cards.
- Mindspay – You can actually have a steady stream of income with this company. They have great opportunities for both online surveys and product testing. They pay out two times each month in $50 multiple times via paypal. You do have to keep a $9.03 minimum balance.
- Bzz Agent – This is another great company. You sign up and then take several surveys. These surveys will let them know where they can place you since they have several “Bzz Campaigns” happening from time to time. Once they have accepted you, products will be sent to you and with them several different offers that you can give to your friends and family. Of course the more offers you share, the more they will send you free products.
- Ipsos I-Say – This is just an online money making gold mine. It provides opportunities to take paid surveys, product testing and several other ways that you can make some money on the internet.
- MyView – This company has both product testing and online surveys with the latter being more than the former. However, since the product testing opportunities are emailed to you, you will need to keep a close eye on your email account. They give Amazon gift cards, as well as Prepaid Visa gift cards among others.
- iPoll – This company previously went by the name SurveyHead. Opportunities here include product testing, online tasks and paid surveys. They also use a mobile app that makes it easier for you to see what tasks are available for completion, products that you can buy, which one you can test as well as review. When you sign up you get a $5 bonus!
