A few months ago, I signed up with a local marketing research company. So far, I have been chosen for two studies.
The first one was a focus group. I was forced to sit and read US Weekly, People Magazine, and a couple other gossip magazines. Then I got to sit with 10 other women and dissect what we like and don’t like. I happen to really like trashy magazines so it was a lot of fun. It also paid $75.
Today, I got to go a taste test. I and 15 other people were escorted into a white room by official-looking robots people wearing white coats. Each of us were seated in a little white box with a keyboard, water, crackers and napkins. I started answering the questions. Then the screen asked “are you ready for your chicken sandwich?” Then a clock started counting down. Within 30 seconds, a little sliding door opened and a gloved hand slid a tray into my cube. Then the window closed.
I took a couple bites of the sandwich and spent the next 20 minutes answering questions like “How do you feel about the color of the breading?”, “ How is the texture of the bun?” “The quantity of the mayonnaise is….”
Then they paid me $20. It was awesome.
PS. If you are local and you want to sign up, leave a comment. They are usually looking for more people.
that? that is AWESOME. *jealous*
Paid to eat? Sweet. Sweeter if you were paid to eat candy.
Man, sounds like my kind of research!
hilarious.
this is the kind of thing that I think I would like but I imagine that I would actually like thinking about it more than I would actually doing it.
then again, if I were local to you, my keyboard would be smoking with how fast I would reply!
Had a (ex-)co-worker that did something similiar except after one lengthy set of questions she asked “what was that first question again?” – she wasn’t called again!LOL Sounds great! My ideal situation would be taste-testing chocolate!
I’m so jealous. About 4 years ago I signed up with the same research company. I never passed a pre-interview. I was too extreme in my answers. Only once was I called in. They only had 12 slots and 14 people showed up. The people in the white coats talked amongst themselves. Then they started calling names. I had flashbacks of team picking in gym class. I was never called. I felt terrible until they gave me $75 (the same as everyone who participated) and told me to go home.
Oh, I just remembered why I was never picked. I asked too many questions about each question they asked me. I was labeled “difficult” I’m sure.
The place I did my graduate work has a big food science program. I really wanted to be in the group that they recruited to taste the foods they were developing for the space station. Unfortunately, although the food was vegetarian, they wanted meat-eaters to taste it, and I was a vegetarian then. I can’t remember how much they paid.
That is rather creepy, the thing about, “Are you ready for your chicken sandwich? And the clock and the sliding in of the chicken like you’re a lab rat. But it sounds like fun and for $20 I’d happily be ready for my chicken sandwhich.
I used to do these as a kid. Lemonade all tastes the same after an hour. Same with instant noodles!
I’m local…where exactly is this research company?
Oh I love doing these things, but not the food ones. Can I sign up? I’ve done a few focus groups and LOVE the cash.
Is this the one in Grandview? Definitely let me know! I’m betting they won’t want me doing taste-test stuff because I’m vegetarian, though…Also, do you guys happen to know a good kid-friendly corn maze or pick-your-own pumpkin place around here?
is it me? that halloween’s around the corner? too many scary movie flicks? that sounds creepy.
“are you ready for your sandwich?”
insert sandwich, hand and robot choking you from behind.
me, it’s definitely me.