Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
MEMBERSHIP
SURVEYS AND PARTICIPATION
INCENTIVES/REWARDS
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: How do I join?
A: You become a PTS Panel Member by simply filling out our brief registration
questionnaire. See Join
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Q: By joining will it lead to irritating spam mail?
A: No, no, no, a thousand times no. We likely feel the same way you
do about Internet spam (unsolicited email) and the Golden Rule rules
here. We only send you email related to product testing projects or
pertinent, related information. We only send email to you because by
registering you have expressed a willingness to know about opportunities
to test products. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Q: Will this lead to irritating phone calls?
A: No, no, no, a thousand times no. We likely feel the same way you
do about junk phone calls and the Golden Rule rules here. We do not
ask for your telephone number in the registration. The only time we
ask for a phone number is when you are registering for a specific product
test. We ask for it there because of the possible need to communicate
with you by phone as is directly related to that project. Even then,
it is rare that we use phone calls, since email is always so much more
efficient.
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Q: How does the process work?
A: First, you register to become a PTS Panel Member. See Join. Once
you are there, we will send you email invitations to participate in
product evaluations as projects arise which match your general demographics
(obtained during registration.) These email invitations will spell out
the various details about the project, i.e., the type of product, the
estimated time involved, the time period, the incentives, etc. If you
are qualified and willing, you are linked to a screening questionnaire.
We select participants from among those who have completed the screener.
If we have more qualified registrants than we need, we randomly select
the participants.
By being a PTS Panel Member, you are not obligated to sign up for any
project. We are only interested in people who feel they have the time
and interest to participate in a particular project. Perhaps you qualify,
but know you will be on vacation or are otherwise too busy to register.
That is ok. It is all voluntary. However, once you register for a specific
project and are selected, we expect you to follow through and complete
the project. People who fail to, and who do not have a reasonable explanation
(computer crash, illness, etc.) will be removed from the PTS Panel.
On the other hand, people who successfully complete a product evaluation
by the survey deadline, are placed in a Super Panel.
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Q: What is an email invitation?
A: An email invitation is a letter sent to selected members of the PTS
Panel inviting them to participate in a specific project. It will include
vital information, such as: the type of product, the estimated time
involved, the time period, the incentives, etc. It will also contain
a link to a screener questionnaire. If you are interested in the invitation,
you can click on the link, fill out the screener and become eligible
for project consideration.
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Q: What is a screener?
A: A screener is a questionnaire filled out by prospective participants.
We take the information from the screeners to help select the appropriate
matches for a particular project.
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Q: What is a Super Panel?
A: Reliability is a highly sought after virtue among project participants,
particularly for product evaluations. Participants who successfully
complete projects and fill in their feedback surveys in a timely manner,
are placed in a Super Panel. The Super Panel consists of participants
with a proven track record of reliability. Quite often, Super Panelists
are the first to know about new product evaluations.
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Q: What happens to the personal information I share
with PTS?
A: Confidentiality is a vital component of our process here. We never
share the information you share with us in your original registration,
project screeners, or project surveys with anyone without your permission.
Sometimes, with project evaluations, we will share some of your information
with a client, but only for the purposes of participant selection or
follow up questions. And again, in this situation we always ask for
your permission ahead of time.
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Q: How often will I be asked to participate?
A: It is impossible to predict. It depends on the amount of client needs
plus your demographics. When we send out email invitations, we first
select by various criteria such as age, gender, geographic location,
etc., for people who best match the client profile. Hence, if you do
not match the preliminary demographic profile, you will not be sent
an invitation for that particular project.
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Q: Do I have to participate in every project?
A: Absolutely not. When you are a PTS Panel Member, it simply means
you will be sent invitations to participate in various projects. You
decide whether or not any particular product evaluation is of interest
to you. There is no problem whatsoever for not registering. However,
once you do register for a specific project and are selected, we expect
you to fulfill your obligation. If you don't, and fail to have a good
reason (computer crash, illness, vacation, for example), you will be
removed from the Panel. On the other hand, for those who do complete
a project in a timely manner, they will be placed in a Super Panel.
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Q: How do I update my email address or other information?
A: Go to the Members section and fill out the appropriate form. Also,
whenever we send you email, there will be a link at the bottom for changing
your information.
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Q: How do I unsubscribe or leave the panel?
A: Go to the Members section and fill out the appropriate form. Also,
whenever we send you email, there will be a link at the bottom for unsubscribing.
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Q: I don't live in the United States, can I still
join?
A: Yes! However, at this point in time we only do projects in English.
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Q: Can other people in my household register?
A: Yes! However, only if they have their own unique email address.
SURVEYS AND PARTICIPATION
Q: What kind of products will I be testing?
A: Historically, the majority of PTS projects have been for computer
type products. However, as more and more "non-computer-product-type"
companies are discovering the advantages of web-based surveys, we may
also be having you evaluate anything from cake mixes to pet food. Well,
actually, your pet would test the pet food; but, since it is unlikely
your pet can do web surveys, we would ask that you do that for your
pet. We do, however, request that you pat your pet on the head and say
"nice job!"
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Q: Will I be asked to purchase anything?
A: No.
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Q: Will this cost me anything?
A: No. Sometimes we request that you mail things back to us after a
test, but we most often send along a postage-paid container for it.
In any rare case where we wouldn't, we would always reimburse you.
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Q: How will I know when there is a product test?
A: You will be informed by email.
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Q: How much time will be involved?
A: When sending out email invitations calling for participants, we will
always give estimates of the time needed to evaluate a product and fill
out the feedback questionnaire. The times can vary from 30 minutes to
several hours. The value of incentives usually reflect time required.
Again, if you don't feel you have the time, you don't need to register.
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Q: How long do I have to do a product evaluation?
A: When sending out email invitations calling for participants, we always
give an estimated time frame, i.e., a begin and end date. Generally,
an average time frame is one to two weeks; but again, that can vary
greatly depending on what is involved.
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Q: What happens if I can't complete a survey because
my computer crashes, I am ill, or some other reason?
A: We fully realize that life is ever changing and things happen that
can't be controlled. All we really ask is that you let us know. If something
unpredictable does occur and you can't complete an evaluation, you will
remain a member in good standing.
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Q: I signed up several weeks ago and I haven't heard
anything. When will I be selected?
A: It is impossible to predict how often you may be invited to participate.
It depends a lot on client volume and needs. In addition, we sort by
demographic information prior to sending out invitations and it is possible
you are just not matching up with client requests.
In addition, to try to keep you active and happy, we sometimes add
links to selected sister survey companies we trust and invite you to
also register with them. This increases your chances, of course. You
can find such links on our Join Page.
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Q: Can people under 18 years of age participate?
A: Absolutely. We encourage young people to register. We do sometimes
have projects for them, especially in the computer games area. However,
people under 18 must have a parental consent to participate. This is
something we obtain at the time of selections for specific projects.
INCENTIVES/REWARDS
Q: What's in it for me? What kinds of incentives
or rewards will I receive?
A: We recognize that your time is as valuable as ours or anyone else's,
and that you shouldn't be asked to do something for nothing. Some type
of remuneration is always offered. Depending on the actual value of
the product tested, it may be in keeping the product itself. It may
be cash, coupon or gift certificate. We also sometimes have a drawing
in which one or several respondents have a chance at winning a substantial
prize.
The exact incentive for each project is presented in the letter of invitation
for a particular project.
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Q: When will I receive my rewards?
A: Other than a product which you just keep, cash or equivalent rewards
are usually distributed within two weeks from the end of a project.
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Q: How will I know if I won a bonus prize?
A: You will be informed by email.
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
Q: What should I do if I encounter technical
problems with a product I am evaluating?
A: Usually, we will give you specific email addresses along with your
product evaluation package. Generally, though, you can contact us at
info@product-testing.com.
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Q: Do I need any particular computer hardware/software
to participate?
A: Generally, no, other that whatever is needed to access the Internet.
In the case of specific projects, sometimes, yes. These specifications
will be presented in the invitation letter.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: What is Product Testing Services?
A: Product Testing Services (PTS) is a company which specializes in
marketplace feedback via the Internet. Mostly, we do product placements;
that is, placing a client's products in your home or business for you
to use for a time, then report your feedback into a web survey at our
site, or sometimes at a client's site. We also do other types of projects
as well, such as opinion surveys in which no actual product is evaluated.
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Q: How long have you been in business?
A: We have been in the on-line survey business since 1985. We began
before the days of the Internet. At the time we were experimenting with
the use of a local bulletin board system (or "message board,"
as they were also called) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, for the purpose
of more efficiently obtaining audience feedback for a radio program.
The benefits of immediate, electronic, audience feedback to the radio
program producers were quite impressive. The program became highly successful.
This eventually lead to projects with a large manufacturer (one of the
radio show sponsors), who utilized this on-line process to obtain market
reaction to their computer products. Today, several years later, we
are still doing projects for that same client along with a growing list
of new clients.
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Q: Do you have an affiliate program?
A: Presently, no. Our panel has grown to be so large that it is a challenge
to assure that everyone gets opportunities. However, our business is
growing and that could change. If being an affiliate would be of interest
to you, please state your intentions to us via email at info@product-testing.com
and we will be sure to save your information for future contact.
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Q: What if I have a question which isn't answered
in FAQ?
A: Contact us at info@product-testing.com
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