Hi gflex,
I would be cautious. There is no information on what the "database"
contains. It could quite easily be nothing more than a list of market
research companies gleaned from the Yellow Pages. Although I managed
to find a name behind the company, it wasn't easy. If you weren't
satisfied with the product, it would ordinarily be difficult to track
down the people responsible for the website.
The web address and company are only a few months old. There is no
discussion about them on the web as yet. It is hard to tell how long
the website has been up for, but they haven't been indexed by Google
or the Wayback Machine yet, so the site is certainly very new.
Only someone who signs up can know the full story, but here is my
worst-case scenario meaning behind their claim:
"We have over 100 paid survey, focus group, and market research
companies in our database."
It might mean: we have 100 focus groups and market research companies
in our database that conduct offline studies, where you are required
to visit their office for an hour or two to receive the cash (if you
fit their criteria). We also link to companies that conduct online
surveys, which pay cents for each completed survey and only pay out
when you have earned $50+.
I have personal experience in this area. I regularly participate in
online and offline market research studies. Offline I do quite well,
earning between $20-50 per study, which involves answering hundreds of
questions and/or trying/tasting sample products. Of every 10 times
they ring to see if I qualify for a study, I might qualify once or
twice. Online I have yet to receive any money, and have applied to
every such site I have come across.
----------------
I find their website to be very short on details, and here are some
things I have discovered about them:
Internet Products Group
=======================
"GetPaidForOpinions is a division of the Internet Products Group,
LLC".
This is a very generic name, which has lots of mentions on the web,
but generally as the name of a division within various companies. This
could be a deliberate ploy:
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Internet+Products+Group%22&sa=Search&num=30
The State of California info for this company is:
INTERNET PRODUCTS GROUP, LLC
Number: 200213310115 Date Filed: 5/9/2002 Status: active
Jurisdiction: DELAWARE
Principal Address
9 EAST LOOCKERMAN STREET
DOVER, DE 19901
Agent for Service of Process
NATIONAL REGISTERED AGENTS, INC.
http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowLpllcAllList?QueryLpllcNumber=200213310115
Addresses
=========
The above address is that of their agent, http://www.nrai.com
The other address they give, a "suite" at 2030 Main St., Irvine, CA
92614, is quite likely a mail drop service. A web search finds some
Japanese and Korean companies that also use this address:
://www.google.com/search?q=%222030+Main+St.%2C+Suite+*+Irvine%2C+CA+92614%22
Whois
=====
Their website is owned by:
Products Group, Internet info@internetproductsgroup.com
InternetProductsGroup, LLC
2030 Main Street
Suite 130
Irvine, CA 92614
US
866-400-4401
The phone number belongs to:
Response Base Llc
SANTA MONICA, CA 90401
http://www.anywho.com//qry/wp_rl?npa=866&telephone=4004401&Submit2=Search
ResponseBase actually has a name attached to it:
RESPONSEBASE, LLC
Number: 200113410087 Date Filed: 5/11/2001 Status: active
Jurisdiction: CALIFORNIA
Principal Address
10880 WILSHIRE BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
Agent for Service of Process
CHRISTOPHER DEWOLFE
10880 WILSHIRE BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90024
http://kepler.ss.ca.gov/corpdata/ShowLpllcAllList?QueryLpllcNumber=200113410087
ResponseBase.com
================
An email marketing company. Previously listed as a known spammer at
SPEWS, but subsequently cleared:
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&newwindow=1&safe=off&threadm=3CE1ACFB.763C7C66%40rogers.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522CHRISTOPHER%2BDEWOLFE%2B%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26selm%3D3CE1ACFB.763C7C66%2540rogers.com%26rnum%3D1
Verification of Mr DeWolfe’s connection with the company is in this
press release:
http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:RiWC6DYRiasC:www.responsebase.com/09_24_01.htm+%22CHRISTOPHER+DEWOLFE+%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
He is/was working for XDrive.com:
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,16677,00.asp
Phone
=====
None given on their website.
Email
=====
The address given on their FAQ page, info@getpaid4pinions.com, is a
typo. Perhaps deliberately.
Their other businesses
======================
All Free Cars - subscribe to a database of drive-away companies. This
is also quite an easy database to compile from the Yellow Pages.
http://www.allfreecars.com/
Child Safety Depot - This is mentioned on the website of
getpaid4opinions.com...
"Any data passed to Child Safety Depot is first encrypted"
http://getpaid4opinions.com/faq.cfm?
...in what appears to be a very quick cut and paste of FAQs from this
site:
http://www.childsafetydepot.com/
They sell some fancy pieces of paper for $15
---------------------
I hope this has helped. My suggestion is to bypass this company and
try out some of the sites listed in Google Directory:
http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Marketing_and_Advertising/Market_Research_Suppliers/Online_Surveys/Volunteer_Focus_Groups/
Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga |
