Epoll.com--An Easy Survey for Points Program That Really pays!
Written: Jul 21 '02 (Updated Jul 21 '02)
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| Full Review |
The premise behind epoll.com is pretty simple—you take surveys in exchange for points that you can redeem for prizes. These programs are generally a dime a dozen and I am therefore wary of them not paying, expecting you to refer everyone you know, or never having any surveys available. This has not been the case with epoll.com and my experience with this site has topped the list of survey for points programs.
Signing up for epoll.com is as straightforward as filling out some information about yourself, including your address so you can redeem your points. The questionnaire is rather short and to the point, and I didn’t feel as though epoll.com was asking for my life story. You get receive 500 points just for signing up and there are two account types to choose from—basic and premiere accounts. The only differences between the two is that signing up for a premiere account requires you to provide more demographic information about yourself and it means epoll.com will periodically send you surveys through email. If you want to rack up points as quick as possible, the premiere account is the way to go.
Ways to Accrue Points
Signing up=500 pts.
Referring friends=100 pts. each
Surveys on the site=100 pts.
Email surveys=anywhere between 100 and 3,000 pts.
Updating your profile=200 pts. (valid once every three months)
Epoll.com also offers a one-question daily poll that does not pay any points. Premiere members are apparently given the option to participate in product testing and/or focus groups, but I have not been involved in any of these. The site sometimes offers cash drawings or related items as well, just for being a member.
The Good
The surveys are easy to take and do not require a lot of your time. You can check the website periodically for new surveys and take whatever ones you want. Polls are often about entertainment, politics, current events or the internet. You really don’t need any prior knowledge of the survey topics and there is no penalty for choosing not to participate in a particular poll. If you take as many surveys as possible it is quick and easy to accrue points, unlike a lot of survey for points programs that would take years before you were able to redeem.
The Bad
There is nothing truly bad about epoll.com. I’ve found the site tends to load a bit slowly on my 56k dial-up, but it isn’t painfully slow. In addition, it would be nice if new surveys were available more often. Sometimes it could be 2 weeks or more between new surveys and sometimes there will be a new one every few days. This is why I would suggest signing up for a premiere account so you can maximize the number of potential surveys you could do. Also, email surveys tend to be worth more points. Still, I have not had a problem gaining enough points to redeem.
The Rewards
Epoll.com recently raised the minimum number of points needed to redeem to 2,500. They offer different prize levels from 2,500 to 19,000 with increasingly better prizes at each level. The prizes are mostly gift certificates to stores like Blockbuster, Target, Starbucks and more, but they also offer CD’s, airline miles, phone cards and movies. You can hold onto your points as long as you like and choosing a reward only takes clicking through the ordering section until you find what you want.
The best part about epoll.com rewards is that they actually pay! I have redeemed my points before for a Toys R Us gift card and did receive it. My prize took longer than expected to arrive, so I emailed epoll.com’s customer service and received an apology and told that the rewards department was backed up. My gift card arrived about 2 weeks after this email. It’s also important to note that your points cover any shipping charges for prizes.
Other Things to Consider
Epoll.com is available internationally, although the site mentions non-U.S. residents will be charged a shipping fee or need more points before redeeming.
Epoll.com does not sell your profile information to other companies, but you do need to accept the site’s cookie to participate.
You have the option of donating your points to the Red Cross.
Your points total is displayed on the main page as long as you are logged in for easy reference.
Final Thoughts
Epoll.com is not a site I frequent every day, but when I have a few minutes and think of it I always check to see if new surveys are available. I’m impressed with the site because you don’t have to jump through hoops or sign up for all sorts of SPAM to accrue points. Plus, the fact that I know from experience that the site does pay out rewards is incentive enough to spend a few minutes a week answering a few questions.
Recommended:
Yes
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