by Kalisha Buckhanon

Created on: August 10, 2010

By far, Pinecone Research is one of the few truly honest, viable and rewarding consumer survey panel sites in America.  I happened upon Pinecone Research by accident.  I had placed an ad on Craigslist to gain potential members for a writing workshop, and an employee of one of Pinecone's partners thought they were responding to a different ad.  The employee realized her mistake after I responded to her asking for more details.  She sent me another email to apologize profusely for her mistake, and offered me entry into a $150 in-person focus group for the very next day.  She warned me that the survey panel was near full, but she would do all she could to include me.

It turns out, the panel was full.  But this employee's attitude and commitment to customer service is a reflection of my experience with Pinecone in general.  When I could not find the appropriate links she directed me to, I emailed their general inquiry line.  A representative emailed me back with sincere apologies that the study was full, but she offered insider information on three panels paying from $150-$600.  I did not qualify for them, but I was able to pass the information on to friends who did. These experiences were just the beginning of learning that what sets Pinecone Research apart from other survey companies is that they employ "live" people to recruit panelists, answer questions and help customers navigate the website. 

Their exclusivity to new members (I was only granted through due to my direct contact with their staff) guarantees that there are no shark attempts to lure customers in with free offers, penny survey payments and false advertising.  Most other sites accept member after member after member, compiling many people's data in order to bombard them with offers later, and then they send survey or panel offers that the consumer finds out they don't even largely qualify for!  This is why some of the payment offers for these sites are in the

In addition, Pinecone Research invests in more than typical market consumer research.  They do not exist just to sell products.  They offer panels based on trials of new medicines, true health maintenance and career advancement.  They also have a special segment devoted to business owners or other high-executive level decision makers. They are serious about making a difference in the consumer experience.

Most impressively, their sign-up process is relatively easy and devoid of long surveys asking for qualifying questions.  Once a person enters their preliminary personal data, they never have to enter it again.  Pinecone Research often partners with another great and legitimate survey company, Vindale Research.  Beyond special research projects and panels funded by major universities for true scientific progress, Pinecone and Vindale are probably most consumers' best bets to make sure they are not wasting their time.

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