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Original poster

Accosted in a car park. Is this a con?

27 replies

Tinker · 14/07/2004 18:19

Was accosted by a man in a car park this pm saying he was doing market reseach for a large multi national - showed me letterheads tc. If I test their new product for 16 weeks I'll get paid £100. To good to be true? It's something I use anyway. Not signed anything and he is ringing to make an appointment to discuss with me.

Is all this normal practice?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 18:24

Contact the multi-national company and ask them?

gloworm · 14/07/2004 18:25

sound a bit dubious...but who knows? i guess it should be ok to talk to him as long as you dont give him your credit card details or address etc

gloworm · 14/07/2004 18:25

thats makes sense soupD

Twiglett · 14/07/2004 18:33

message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 18:37

I think it's a little odd to have been accosted in a car park rather than the high street - isn't it more usual for researchers to be lurking outside shops? Unless the product is carpark related!

Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 18:37

Yep, was thinking I'll ring the company. It glamourous...anti-perspirant

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 18:39

Well it was the car park of a big supermarket so suppose that's not so unreasonable.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 14/07/2004 18:41

message withdrawn

SoupDragon · 14/07/2004 18:41

I was imagining a large multistory carpark and some shifty man going "'ere! Do you want to earn some dosh for trying this new stuff for sweaty armpits?"

Janstar · 14/07/2004 18:44

It would have been normal practice to ask the supermarket for permission to canvass in their car park. So you should be able to find out if they are genuine from the supermarket.

bran · 14/07/2004 18:57

When he phones for an appointment ask him for the reasearch company's name, and his MRS (Market Research Society) membership number. If he doesn't have a membership number then don't make an appointment - if he does then phone the MRS before the appointment and check that the company is genuine and that his name and number are registered (I can look the number up for you if you like).

I work at the other end of market research, so I don't know much about recruitment practices, but that kind of usage and attitude project sounds normal - especially if it's for one of the big companies like Gillette, they often try out new formulations in blind tests.

Janh · 14/07/2004 19:01

I got £4 doing an email survey of chewing gum the other day.

Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 19:21

Well, he's been and I've got £1 already Trial doesn't start til Sept. He did leave details of the MRS and his name but, gulp, I didn't ask for his membership number. Oh, he seemed nice!

OP posts:
cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:02

Tink, do you mean he came round and gave you a pound?

lou33 · 14/07/2004 20:04

Cuppy that sounds rude!

codswallop · 14/07/2004 20:06

they always are lurking in town trying to get you to do it fro a shitty pen

cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:08

Lol Lou

lou33 · 14/07/2004 20:11

I do have a particularly dirty mind though, probably only me who read it that way

Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 20:17

He did come round and give me pound

OP posts:
cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:17

Lou, Judging by the silence I'd say thats a yes!!

cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:18

What just one pound? ( as in a pound coin Lou) What did he give it to you for?

Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 20:20

Just one pound - that's for saying I won't disclose the details of the trial to a competitor

OP posts:
cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:23

How stange to give just one pound. Im intruiged! When do you get the rest.

Original poster
Tinker · 14/07/2004 20:25

Trial is at the end of the year and will get £100 if I complete it - not sure what, if anything, I'd get if I don't - except free deodorant

OP posts:
cuppy · 14/07/2004 20:28

How cool.