Today I had an "easiest" twofer of activities. I did a market research survey that took 10 minutes from the time I entered the office until I picked up my check (for $45) on the way out. The survey just involved smelling malodorous cat litter and rating how it smelled.
When the company representative called last week to see if I would be interested in participating, she went into great detail about the preventative measures they would be taking. In addition to the usual masks and social distancing, all participants would have their temperature checked and wear rubber gloves in the study room, and the company would thoroughly clean the room after each group. On Monday I received an email that reiterated all the measures, and a form to virtually sign that I agreed with everything.
Today I entered the office, had my temperature taken, then had a seat until two other people arrived. As a group we each picked up a pair of gloves as we walked down the hall into a large room that had a high top bar table placed along three of the walls. Each table held a laptop computer and two white plastic jars with number stickers. The fourth wall had a large mirror (which I assumed was two way) and a table with more jars.
An associate directed each person to a table and told us we would find all of the directions on the computer screen. He said that the project should only take a couple of minutes, then he stepped out into the hall. Following the directions I opened the first jar. It had a layer of litter with a filled gauze pouch on top. I gave it a good whiff, rated the smell on 10-point scale, then repeated the process with the second jar. Neither of them had an offensive odor. As a matter of fact, they smelled vaguely of citrus.
The other two participants must have finished as quickly as I did, because the associate came back in and directed us to follow the arrows to the pay station. As I walked down the hall I saw other rooms set up in the same way and assumed that was a way to accommodate more participants. At the pay station I gave my name and collected my check, then walked out of the back door of the office. When I reached the lobby door there was already another group of people going in.
Five years ago today: Ah-Choo!
Interesting task so unusual. Even better to get paid quickly.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember right, many years ago this company used to give cash for payments, but cashing a check isn't too inconvenient :-)
DeleteWow, an easy $45. Where did you find such a job? Every now and then, a friend in Corvallis does taste tests, gets like a $5 or $10 gift card for doing it, which she donates to my nonprofit to use for gas (usually they are Fred Meyer). But you got serious money for a couple of minutes! I'd like to find some of those gigs.
ReplyDeleteI've been registered with this market research company for a long time. Every couple of months they contact me to see if I'm a fit for one of their surveys, and I end up completing something once a year or so.
DeleteAnd you're right...this is the easiest money I've made in a long time!
I take it this smell test is because they are making a new kind of perfume? They want to know which one people prefer perhaps?
ReplyDeleteI remember being stopped in the street and they wanted me to taste a new brand of Scottish whisky. It took me so long to decide which one I preferred I was too drunk to go back to the office.
God bless.
I have no idea who the client was, or exactly what they were trying to figure out.
DeleteI can remember being recruited for some "tests" when I was in my 30's. I had signed with a marketing company to do them. That was so long ago, I'd completely forgotten.
ReplyDeleteGlad I was able to help you with the memory!
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