market research

I never answer surveys, whether on the phone or in person (although I am never rude). Why would I give personal information to a total stranger. Whilst I am sure your survey is above board there are those who attempt to get private information in order to steal identities.

Perhaps the organisation you work for could arrange appointments in advance with people who are willing to be interviewed.
I certainly wouldn't have someone in my house to do a survey without prior arrangement I'm afraid, but I did participate in something a few years ago (from the council I think) who had sent a letter about it, and booked a time.
I've also been to focus groups which were quite interesting.

If somebody knocked on my door wanting to fill out a survey, I would never invite them in. Most of the people want to sell me double glazing and even the blind would notice that I have it in abundance.

I have problems getting from chair to front door so I find it doubly irritating if it is a market researcher or somebody trying to flog something, and that includes Jehovah's witnesses.

I try not to be rude because I am aware that some people are trying to earn a crust but if they will not accept no for an answer, they may get the sharp edge of my tongue.

A few of my neighbours have a notice on or by their front door saying 'No cold callers please'.

I would not invite someone in without a prior appointment.

I know how you feel Silver , I used to do that as a part time job many, many years ago , can be a bit disheartening at times , although having said that , times were different then , perhaps people are not quite as trusting now .
Good luck with it though!

I did market research before my children were born I found the best jobs were where you approached people on the High St. and invited them in to a hall or somewhere with free hot drink in order to conduct the survey. I didn't like doing house to house. People then (30 yrs ago) weren't as suspicious but you had to knock on a lot of doors before you filled your numbers of demographics.
It did pay well at the time though.

I would be happy to respond to someone on the street (and have done).
I can understand the reluctance to allow someone you don't know into your house, and many people may be out at work.

Does your firm have alternative marketing strategies you could enquire about eg following up links by phone? I have completed market research surveys on the phone.

It is very personal isn't it, inviting someone into your home.
Do you have to find people who belong to particular demographics?

Silverfish It isn't cruel if someone doesn't want to invite you in and/or doesn't want to take part in your survey – however long you have been walking from one house to another. After all, you chose to do that; they didn't make you. Many people are fed up with phone calls purporting to be marketing surveys – and some of them are, but by no means all – people hijacking them in shopping centres and people people ringing their doorbells. Even if they are rude, that's unpleasant rather than cruel. It's a soul destroying job that you have undertaken and I am sorry to hear that you are having such a bad time but it is the nature of doing something that many members of the public find intrusive. I hope you manage to find something more congenial and kinder to your feet.

I did market research until the day when someone told me to come back the following evening and, when I did, slammed the door in my face saying 'not after the day I've had'. I burst into tears and never did it again. Thought afterwards that I was actually putting myself into dangerouis situations [it was before mobile phones and no one knew where I was]. I did enjoy meeting people though, but ended up driving them to the supermarket and stuff like that. I preferred knocking on doors to approaching people in the street [that terrified me].

That is the other thing - you could be putting yourself in danger. I hope you are able to find another job that you like better.

Teagan, I know how you felt, I often cry in my car, ive done the job for over 10 years and just kept on as I thought it would get better,however, I went to college and trained for a career but no-one wants someone of my age(60), and market research is so hard on my body as I have arthritis. I have applied for lots of jobs but there are no skills I have to fit another job. I have been in dangerous situations and assaulted a few times, shouted at by many, bitten by 3 dogs and had a pervert expose himself once. I have thought about writing my memoirs- might make good reading.lol (cheered me up writing this)

Oh, silverfish, hope you find something else.

About 25 years ago I remember running from the garden to answer the phone one sunny Sunday afternoon - it was a lady doing market research. I was tempted to say no as I wanted to go outside again, however I did the survey and we had a lovely chat; apparently it was on behalf of a big department store that was thinking of opening in our nearest large town. She did not say which one but hinted it began with 'D'.
Not long ago I heard they are going to build there. It only took 25 years. So a result!

Can anyone tell me what it is that people are afraid of if they don't want me in their house, Im always polite, obsessively so, and if they ask me in and say 'excuse the mess' or similar , I just say I don't mind. What is the reason for not wanting a stranger in the house when Ive got all my ID and official stuff with me. I am gentle and kind and it hurts to be rejected this way.

I'm sorry, Silverfish, but I'm not going to invite a stranger into my home to ask me questions I have no wish to answer. It's nothing personal, I just don't do it, ever - not on the phone, either.

Silverfish I am surprised any company puts you in such a vulnerable position. What if someone accused you of theft or, worse, assault? Is it a nationally known MR company/(e.g MORI/IPSA/GALLUP) or is it MR for a pre-sale contact?
We used to do home visits to pre-school children but eventually it was stopped. One reason was because of the risk to an individual entering the home of someone unknown and we could not afford to send two people.

I always politely refuse.

Ana I am with you 100%. I would not know if the person was having a look around my house to see if I had anything worth stealing. It does not matter how polite you are, you would not be invited in to my house, sorry!

It's years since I had any market researchers knock on my door; in fact I don't see them in the street any more, so I actually thought the companies did the research in different ways now. I think one of the problems is that no one has any time these days and, if they do they're fed up of people trying to sell them things but pretending they're not. Another thing that made me give up was when I lost a pair of lovely leather gloves when I was working one week, and they were worth more than I earned. After the market research I did jobs like delivering catalogues, school dinner lady, village lengthsperson and finally ended up as a receptionist. What surprised me with one job was interviewing someone that I would have put quite low down on the social scale, only to find she was in the top bracket; that was quite an eye opener and taught me not to judge people too readily. And it was interesting doing another job and seeing the eventual advertising that came from it [it was for a brand of coffee]. I've always been quite fascinated by advertising/marketing and how it changes over the years.

I don't want to waste my time answering questions put to me by a complete stranger for the benefit of someone else. "It'll only take 20 minutes" is a dire warning not to take part, not reassurance to encourage me to do so. Therefore, I don't invite market researchers into my home and nor do I answer their questions on the doorstep, in the shopping mall, on the station concourse, etc.

Tegan - what's a 'village lengthsperson' ? Or am I just being dim? [confused[

It sounds soul destroying silverfish and maybe it is time to use your determination and people skills in another job, where you can be part of a team and not have to suffer all this rejection. I was sent a questionnaire the other day from the company that serviced the car. I nearly didn't open it but when i did it was just one question (rate us 1-10) and a box to give your reasons if you wanted. Which I thought was perfect. People are jaded with surveys - and if they are not they can join yougov and fill in half a dozen a week.

It is illegal for a company to try to sell through the guise of a survey. You can report them.
At least that's what Mori told us workers.

Didn't cactus complain about how demoralising the jpb was as well as having a zero hours contract?
Anybody else in this line of work?

I was the village litter picker, kitty. When my husband left it paid just enough to feed my daughters old pony but I'd been doing it for years prior to that as my husband [ex] was always going on about the fact that I didn't have a career and didn't bring any money into the house [I'd always wanted to be there for the children and, not having a well paid job meant that childcare would have cost more than I earned]; I thought it would embarrass him but it didn't so I carried on doing it and met some lovely people over the years. However I think that it was doing that job plus being on my feet all morning at my other job that wore my feet and knees out .