Pollsters ask you about who you support for president, about what kind of toothpaste you use, about whether you plan to buy a new car in the next six months, about whether you think Barry Bonds is guilty, etc. In turn, they profit by selling these results to corporations, candidates, and PR firms who need such information to shape their messages and products. Why should only the pollsters benefit from your valuable insight as a consumer? When I am polled on, A) my level of satisfaction with a particular service or B) my consumer or political preferences, I reply that, as a leading consumer, I am happy to share with you valuable insight that will greatly benefit your sponsor. My consulting rates begin at $500/hour with a $200 downpayment. By God, my opinion is worth something and I should get paid for it! Does anyone else share this feeling like pollsters are actually making tons of money and not giving you your fair share?
If you answer a poll, shouldn’t you receive some form of payment from the pollsters?
Pollsters ask you about who you support for president, about what kind of toothpaste you use, about whether you plan to buy a new car in the next six months, about whether you think Barry Bonds is guilty, etc. In turn, they profit by selling these results to corporations, candidates, and PR firms who need such information to shape their messages and products. Why should only the pollsters benefit from your valuable insight as a consumer? When I am polled on, A) my level of satisfaction with a particular service or B) my consumer or political preferences, I reply that, as a leading consumer, I am happy to share with you valuable insight that will greatly benefit your sponsor. My consulting rates begin at $500/hour with a $200 downpayment. By God, my opinion is worth something and I should get paid for it! Does anyone else share this feeling like pollsters are actually making tons of money and not giving you your fair share?
2 Responses
May 1st, 2009 at 7:51 am
Opinions that are paid for are tainted.
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 pm
If your opinion is worth buying, they don’t WANT it. The last 3 times I was contacted for a political poll, they hung up on ME. Apparently their computer only accepts Yes/No for answers. All the questions required significantly longer answers to be meaningful.