Schlesinger Associates

This place seems to always know when I need some extra cash! I love coming to the surveys, they’re always really interesting and run until the time, nothing after. They always serve food and refreshments while waiting and pay right after with a debit card. Super easy process and everyone I’ve talked to on the phone was great. Thanks!

I went in for a one on one interview, the topic was banking. I wish I would have written down my interviewers name because he was fabulous.

nice people who run this spot !! pay is great. and the groups always run on time

For the most part, an excellent organization. Although once I did reorganize my life for a full-​day panel, which got canceled at the last minute. That was a huge hassle. However, as people commented below, they are now paying in Visa gift cards, so you have to have a life that can accommodate that — I use mine for paying for groceries for the most part.
Also (BIG caveat) if you earn more than $ 600 in one year, they are obligated to issue you a 1099 which makes the $$ taxable. Then you have to file a self-​employment form with your taxes, and the taxes are higher because you also have to pay double social security taxes (your part + the companies part)

Update: I was given $ 20 for my trouble. Not much but it’s the principle. Apparently a different company rented out Schlesinger’s facility next Wednesday night and recruited about sixty participants but mistakingly told a few people on the phone to come this Wednesday. Schlesinger had no record of having contacted me, but they eventually figured out that that other company had. Hopefully next Wednesday goes smoothly.

Horrible. I have done a lot of focus groups over the years but last month Schlesinger was terrible. They double booked me for two different times, it took over 6 calls to clarify the appointment. they never emailed me the confirmation or directions and then shorted me 40% of the agreed amount payment. Then nothing but rude afterwards and still no efforts to correct the payment despite dozens of phone calls. I understand mishaps happen but their rudeness and inability to correct is unforgivable.

Done a no. of focus groups over the years for various companies. Two incidents with Schlesinger. I was given a product to test and had to return a few days later to complete a review. The office was closed when I turned up at the appointed time. On complaining I was told I had to complete the assignment to get paid, and they couldn’t care that I had tried to complete and they were at fault. A few years later (2013) I completed an online survey and over 8 weeks later still have not received my payment. No response to mails and «contact us» requests for payment on their website. This one I’m not ignoring…

Was called to do a study, was told I qualified, told where to go, what time to be there, how much I would be paid etc. Let me wife know I needed her to stay home from work to watch the kids while I went to this study. Then a couple days before the study was told I didn’t qualify, completely unprofessional and will stick to working for the other market research companies that seem to be a little more organized, don’t have time to be jerked around by these guys. Just be careful if you «qualify» that you don’t have to skip work or get a sitter as you might be called at the last hour that you are not needed.

Having done at least 5 studies with them. For the 80% of the time they are prompt and professional.
HOWEVER due to recent changes please keep note.
1)if you sign up and get picked for a group and ur payment is a debit/​visa card. YOU WILL NOT get the full amount to use fully IF you are a cash vendor type of person.
The card DOES NOT WORK if you give it to a teller. And once you put it into ANY banking ATM, you will be charged a fee.
This may seem like its no big deal if your looking for quick spending money at target, IF they aren’t paying you in check,
YOU WILL NOT GET THE FULL AMOUNT PROMISED TO BE USED.
—If you try to negotiate with them you will fail because part of the agreement of even participating means you agree to taking the card as payment without regards to the fee you will be charged for using it./
In short = Spending at target because you need a little extra = Good.
Focus group money to add to your savings in full = Not gonna happen.
Be careful of what you guys agree to when you sign up with some of these opportunities with focus groups.
Check/​Cash payments definitely preferred among us consumers. No fees to deal with.

You get paid for talking — what is there not to like about that!
So far I have participated in one focus group, which lasted 2 hours, then I got asked to come in for a follow up the next day (ca ching — more money).
I am going back next week for a second focus group.
They don’t bombard me with spam emails, just the surveys and they are always short surveys that are quick to complete and the staff who call you are very friendly.
The staff in the office are really nice too.
Sign up and get paid to talk!

I never knew much about marketing research until I got to try Schlesinger Associates, which was recommended to me by another friend. By now I have participated in at least 6 of their marketing research studies. All of which were paid between $ 75-​$ 175. I got to find out about cool ideas that pharmaceutical companies are rolling out and testing, gadgets from banks, and my opinion pays. I always find their staff to be quite charming. The more I go, the more I find out they are huge. There’s always someone being flown from somewhere in the US and the people at the California location are incredibly nice. I would recommend this to anyone who is curious enough.

I participated to one of their focus group yesterday. It was my first time at it and I have to admit that it was the fastest/​easiest $ 200 I ever made.
The meeting lasted 2h. We were 8 people in a room slightly too small to accommodate us all. I would have given a 5 if not for the waiting room that is ridiculously small. I mean, seriously, how can you even expect to fit 10 people in there? The receptionist was kinda rude but the focus group host was awesome and really good at making everybody feel comfortable.

May 17, 2011
In March/​April 2011, I was contacted by Schlesinger Associates [location uncertain] to participate in a customer survey requested by Fidelity Investments, for which I would be paid $ 150. I contacted Fidelity to confirm this association to my satisfaction. After a questionable beginning by being contacted by another company [Inspired Opinions] related to Schlesinger Associates but UNRELATED to this specific survey, I completed the online survey pertaining to Fidelity conducted over 5 days in late April, about 30 – 90 minutes per day. The questions were thought-​provoking and reflected true interest in a customer’s expectations and motives. You can provide as much, or as little, confidential detail as you wish; I felt that the survey was an honest attempt to learn more about its customers. I received the $ 150 payment within weeks upon completion. James F.

I received an email from SA asking me to participate in a focus group concerning Ebay for a $ 400 fee. Sounded too good to be true and I ignored the email. I then received a follow up asking would I participate and I looked in to the offer by calling ebay and checking with the BBB. Ebay said it was legit and BBB lists SA as «F» so a mixed bag. Rolled the dice and arranged to attend. Glad I did. Arrived a few minutes early at the Westin SF and was offered a quality lunch. Did a few focus group activities and was interviewed by Ebay upper mgmt. Went downstairs and received a goodie bag and a $ 400 check. We were treated like royalty and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I dunno much about the whole market research business but when my friend refered me to call this company because they thought I’d qualify for something & even wanna pay me for talking about it, you have to admit — that’s kinda cool!!!
I made over $ 200 +they paid for my parking!!!
Can’t wait till they call me again.
I suggest everyone sign up online at either
or

I’m not sure how a marketing research company expects to get ahead by consistently hiring receptionists who are unable to understand that relay calls by invited participants, who happen to be hearing impaired and use a relay service for phone calls, should be treated with the same courtesy and respect that a normal incoming call would receive.
I’ve been invited to various focus groups and studies by this company over the years; yet, nine times out of ten, I get hung up on by their receptionists whenever I follow up on an invitation before I even have a chance to type, «Hello.»
Here’s hoping their Human Resources department takes note of this and correspondingly updates how they train their front desk staff.

You gotta love market research. Actually, you don’t have to love it. It’s kind of creepy. I’ve done focus groups and products studies at quite a few places in the Bay Area, and although I appreciate getting paid to try things or talk about things, I always feel like kind of a sellout.
One thing I will say about Schlesinger Associates is that once you’re in their database they do call you often about focus groups. That’s pretty useful if you like these things, although if you’re honest you won’t qualify for many of them unless you’re from 20 to 25, have a household income of more than $ 40,000, and basically go to chain restaurants all the time.
I’ve participated in a couple focus groups for them, one at their Financial District location. I don’t remember what it was about, and I’m not allowed to tell you anyway because of the nondisclosure form I signed, but it was pleasant.
Once you’ve done a few of these things, you notice the little things, and Schlesinger does them right. It’s always weird to receive an envelope with fifty-​dollar bills in it, but then it’s weird to live in San Francisco and need two jobs just to scratch by too. I will say that although the person leading the focus group was annoying, as usual, he didn’t seem interested in pushing people’s opinions toward what he wanted his client to believe. In other words, he seemed truly interested in our opinions rather than in aligning our opinions with his client’s million-​dollar plan.

Something to be said for getting paid to sit and rant about your IT problems for an hour with a cup of coffee, and go home with a check for $ 150 when you are finished. I musta signed up for this on some random rec a while ago, and they finally called me to see if I wanted to participate in one of their focus groups. 10 minute phone interview, appointment set up the next week. I show up, bitch a bit, they pay me. I don’t really care about what they do with the information. It was possibly the easiest (legal) $ 150 I’ve made.
I just downgraded these guys because they keep contacting me for things that I don’t qualify for, which is kinda annoying.

Every girl has her secrets. From her hairstylist to her double-​sided-​sticky-​tape-​bra-​strap-​trick. I think it’s time I share one of mine: Schlesinger Associates. These guys fund my ‘Jimmy Choo/​Drinking’ account. They’re my market research group of Sugar Daddies.
Schlesinger Associates provides data collection services for various companies to help them understand their potential influences in the marketplace. Whether it’s quantitative or qualitative services (they even do Jury Research — wtf!), you still win. As a study participant, you get paid to sit and tell someone exactly what you think about their product or service. They never run more than 2 hours and the pay ranges from $ 75 to $ 250 per study. I’ve participated in everything from a take home test on razors to new menu item sampling for Taco Bell.
All in all, it’s a pretty sweet gig to earn a little extra cash without having to grind an old man in a dark back room somewhere.