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If I was ever again in position to buy (or advise somebody on buying) an online survey, I would wholeheartedly recommend Pinecone Research. Those hypothetical research buyers interested why, please proceed to the *Research Buyers* section. Pinecone is also a great choice for potential respondents. Those (more likely to be reading) read on.

This opinion is based on my current activity in research panels and my professional history. I am currently a member of several online market research panels. Considering the fact that for many years I used to work on the other side, as a market researcher in all capacities from the interviewer to the analyst, project manager and research director of an agency, I am probably not exactly the kind of innocent respondent some surveys would require.

==Respondents: Intro ==

Pinecone was one of the first companies I have signed up to about two years ago and remains unequivocally the best. In fact, the only other one that even comes close is ACOP, but even they are not as good.

Pinecone is a New Product Development Internet branch of the international research giant AC Nielsen, which is (or at least used to be until recently) the largest market research company in the world, known best for its audits (including retail and internet) but engaged in pretty much every kind of research.

Pinecone, however, deals strictly with consumer projects and all of them as far as my experience goes concerned new product development and testing. You will not find surveys in which you are treated as a representative of the company you work for (business to business research) or opinion polls. This is all good for the clients of Pinecone as it ensures they use Internet surveys for what they are good for.

It's not of a major concern to the respondents, though. What is, is the fact that they pay their participants very well (GBP 4 per survey) and that they pay for every survey (apart from occasional very brief and clearly marked pre-screeners), promptly and every time, without the need to accumulate points, reach a payout level, collect credits or wait for weeks until something appears on your statement.

They pay in real money via PayPal.

The way the whole process works is as follows: you receive an email invitation (always from Karen Scott at Pinecone), and you have few days to complete the survey. The payment is in the post pretty much at the same time so if you delay your work, you might even receive it before completing the survey, though recently

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