NOW CLOSED: Insight Annual Round-up 2012: Join our panel or let us know what you’ve enjoyed this year and what you’d like us to do next year. FAB prizes up for grabs (again)

[AnnMumsnet]

The time has come for the insight team at MNHQ to do our annual round up of the year, to plead for those of you not yet on our panel to sign up and to thank you all for taking part in some amazing projects this year!

(In case you don't know insight covers surveys, product tests and sponsored threads on MN, as well as bloggers reviews, and reviewers recruitment)

Let us know what you think on this thread and you could win another prize!
We've got:

A Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 worth c£180 courtesy of the team at TalkTalk more details here

A whole years' supply of Aldi nappies from the folks at Aldi - worth c.£500

And thanks to the Royal Academy we have two x 4 adult tickets to their new exhibition showcasing Manet early next year. There are two prizes each of 4 tickets (if children under 12 they will go in free so the winner can invite another 2 adults) - worth £120. More info here

In 2012 we have given away over £25,000 worth of prizes in the form of vouchers, books, beauty products, hampers and technology.
You have tested nearly £70,000 worth of products - including having your DCs put My Little Pony, Chicco toys and Wonderbook Book of Spells to the test.

We've surely made (some of you) look younger or slimmer with product tests for Garnier UltraLift, Origins Plantscription and M&S shapewear.

We've helped feed the family by trying out the HomeCooker from Jamie and Philips, scoffing Kingsmill Fruit and Fibre bread and helped make dishes tasty by introducing Bisto Stock Melts.

We've got you talking about a range of topics - from baking for the Big Fair Bake, visiting National Trust properties with the family and cleaning with Ecover.

What have you enjoyed taking part in this year? Or appreciated reading about? What would you like us to product test next year?

Most of the product tests are on site but we also do a lot of projects with our lovely research panel. If you are not yet on our panel please see this link for more info or to sign up. You can select how often you get emailed and you can leave at any time if it?s not for you.

So to win one of the lovely prizes please do one of the following:
~ Post on this thread about what you've enjoyed doing insight-wise this year or what you've appreciated reading about
~ Post on the thread any suggestions for product tests etc you'd like to see next year (no promises but we can try!)
~ Post on the thread to say you have joined the panel

Thanks as ever for your time and feedback - all very much welcome
AnnMumsnet, TheOtherHelenMumsnet and KatieBMumsnet
x

I have just done the M&S fuller longer testing and I did really enjoy it. It made me realise that healthy ready meals can be nice and I have bought them since.

I think a good thing to test (personally) would be brands that I wouldn't otherwise switch from - laundry detergent, washing up liquid etc. where I am fairly fixed in my ways

I'm also keen to test anything that would mean that my DD (aged 4) improves her range of foods. At the moment she eats no fruit or veg and little dairy and it is very difficult.

We had a childrens book (which they all love) and cheese to review. I don't know what it is about the Bosgrove Family and cheese as we were sent a different brand to review the previous year.

I have really enjoyed my year of product testing. I tried two different types of cleaner and the Bisto stock melts. The leaky Tesco spray bottles were a low point, but I didn't learn and bought one anyway. You guess it - it had leaked over my shopping by the time I'd got home. Sigh.

Next year I'd like to test some non-domestic things. Something fun perhaps!

I think I'm on the panel and entered for the product tests etc but I've had nothing this year :( I did get to test the dettol no touch hand wash thingies about 18 mths ago but since then nada.

What I would like to see this year is me doing more product tests .

I was going to suggest a mama mio product test but I see I've missed that boat too. Maybe I should stray from Aibu/chat occasionally...

Liked: Trialling the Innocent recipes, plus getting the book.
Feeling like my opinion matters!
Disliked: questionnaires with too many 'on a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is not at all and 5 is always?' type of questions. Needlessly complicated and tedious.
Also not winning anything

Would it be possible to email to tell us that we haven't been picked for stuff? Otherwise you sign up to maybe try something and then just never hear.

I have loved testing the method laundry liquid, aldi baby products and pods spring to mind, really looking forward to hopefully testing more things in the future, I love to be able to have my say on products!

I've signed up just now

Would look forward to reviews and product tests about ride-ons and the best outdoor toys for little ones.

Thank you

I signed up late on in the year, I like how opportunities are emailed as well as posted so no-one misses out.
I love the varied mix I'd opportunities and having such a wide community means a good mix of opinions too.

So far I've only been selected for the tesco eco cleaning product. I enjoyed as I would probably not have bought it but now I've tried it I think I would particularly if it is on offer.

I would love to product test the customer service of BA, Virgin or any other airline that will whisk us away to an exotic location that I could also product test the customer service of a 5* all inclusive resort.

Thanks in anticipation.

Thank

I have only recently signed up to join the panel so haven't yet had any products to test. I do enjoy reading the product reviews though and have found them most useful and informative.

In the year ahead I would like to be much more involved - especially if that could involve testing chocolates.

I'm not supposed to be here :o but...

I tested the Tesco eco spray, the Asda Facebook group and kelo cote in 2012. The spray was my first product test so I took it very seriously! Palm oil in an 'environmentally friendly' product? It's quite fun to actually consider a product rather than just use it without thinking too much about it. I'd love to know what the sponsors make of the feedback!

I was a bit disappointed as the note at the top of the Pregnancy discussion board says that there's lots for pregnant women and new mums to do but I haven't found that to be the case. Maybe I missed those ones! I really wanted to test the Avent pump.

I do wonder how important the 'why I want to test xyz' bit is. I'm usually here on my phone so typing is quite arduous and if most of us were honest the answer most of the time would be 'because I want to try freebies!' I shall put more effort into my 'pick Meeee!' blurbs this year...

I'd like to see more home gadgets put to the test, baby carriers, car seat protectors and child safety products. It's sometimes difficult to know what's a good product and what is a waste of money when there are so many variations of the same thing.

Off to post about kelo cote...

Thanks for some fun things in 2012, roll on 2013!

Been lucky enough to take part in a selection of product tests this year. Metanium cream, Barclays Pingit app, mu cheese, Primula Pods, Hoover Globe and a few I've probably forgotten

Our family always enjoy discussing the products pros & cons and my feedback is the families view not just my own

Asking the dc what they would like to test in 2013 answers range from tissues(?) more cleaning products, scooters and garden products

I am happy to test everything but please put cleaning products my way if the dc want to try them

Like the suggestion from a previous poster suggesting splitting the voucher prizes to more testers

I filled out lots of surveys this last year, but not tested anything. Should like to have the opportunity to do so.

Sounds really boring, but I'd quite like to test-drive household gadgety stuff - steamers, fridges, pans, nutcrackers, vacuums, ice-cream makers, that sort of thing.

I'd also like to test (or see tested) fragrance-free products.

And another thing, most of those surveys are really difficult to read on a mobile. If, for questions wuth a table of options to select, the header fields stayed still and the table scrolled, that would make it easier to select the correct option.

my first year on the panel, really nice to be able to contribute to them. I have been lucky and won a pizza express voucher, which would be great only I'm gluten intolerant - but was able to very generously take my family out for a lovely meal on me, to celebrate my brother's engagement! Also about to test my first product, very exciting! Would like to test more chemical (paraben/SLES) free products, especially shampoos as other makes make me itch, but chemical free are such a gamble and expensive.

HI. I write about lovely things I tested before and now just wanted add more things which would be lovely to test this year.
I love kitchen gadgets, they are life and time saver.
I bought myself(oh more for my son to enjoy) cake pop maker and today we made our first cake pops, my son was so excited,to decorate and eating those lovely cake pops afterwards, it was so easy and quick. Also I have waffle maker which makes so delicious waffles without nasty ingredients.
that's why we would love to test different makers brownie, cake, cupcake,yogurt maker.To know which are worth to buy and which will end in back of cupboard.
some home fitness equipment or DVD's for mums who are busy , tired but want to look great, with minimum effort and maximum effectiveness.
It would be great that there would be organic fruit, or veg boxes to test, organic veg and fruit boxes are becoming more popular but which to choose.which one will worth money and have enough fruits to last family for week. it is nice to have 4 or 5 small side potatoes for a week for family of 3 :)))Isn't it???

I too have filled out quite a lot of surveys but haven't been chosen as yet to test anything. :( I did however win a £20 amazon voucher ages ago! :)

Still happy to fill in surveys though as it is nice to feel that my opinion matters!

Meant to add that I really wish we had been chosen to test out the apples as my ds2 is such a fruit bat! Would welcome the chance to test/sample any other fruit/veg boxes.

Loved doing product tests - I now buy Aldi nappies, and the box the rice pudding came in is still being fought over!

More food tests - my kids will try most things, I like getting freebies to feed them ;)
More household stuff - cleaning products, gadgets, white goods we get to keep (I need a new freezer )

From memory, I've tested Walkers crisps (or was that the year before?), Method laundry liquid, soap dispenser.

Would love to test more new food products, holidays , kitchen gadgets and household items.

Am on the panel and have loved winning amazon vouchers this year for my thoughts!

I really enjoy being on the panel. I always quite like seeing an email arrive and seeing what is on offer or what you'd like my opinion on - makes me feel quite important sometimes in an otherwise unexciting day!
I've tested a few things and it's lovely to get the parcels. I've also done several surveys and like being able to contribute.
I have to say the emails are always well worded and always have a 'thank you' which is nice and not always the case with other places!

I've not been signed up for long and haven't been selected to test anything yet, maybe this year? Would like to test anything kitchen gadgety, or that makes the minimal amount of cleaning I do even easier.

i will be honest and say that short of the odd questionnaire i have had very little from the insight panel. Ive not been selected to test anything . [thinks of moving to another part of the country or suddenly acquiring three more kids]

Last year I tested an amazing fridge freezer, this year it was merely washing powder :D

I'm always interested in trying out food - and clothes - and technology for children.