Make sure you check out my list of FREE, legit paid survey sites. I only list companies that I have experience with and I give you the low-down on each one. And if that’s not enough, you can check out surveypolice.com for ratings and reviews.
Make sure to visit our updated post about Big Spot Surveys for additional information.
I have been seeing commercials lately, mostly on the channels that Jake watches, for a website called BigSpot.com.
I have taken notice because I am a big online survey taker and am usually “in the know” when a new one pops up and I had never heard of this one. They advertise it as a paid survey company, meaning they imply that you get surveys directly from them and receive compensation through them. I’m not going to go into great detail about how paid surveys work, you can read more about that here: free paid survey info; I have all kinds of posts about them.
So I finally got around to checking out BigSpot.com and I want to issue a warning to anyone else who may sign up there. BigSpot.com is NOT a free paid survey company in the sense that they do not appear to administer the surveys or pay you for participation. They collect your information and claim to send you information about other free paid survey companies but in the meantime they have your personal information. You do not need to sign up for any site that claims to collect your demographics in order to match you with paid survey or market research companies. I have links to many of the big survey companies and I don’t collect your information. There are also plenty of other online sources that have EXTENSIVE lists who also don’t collect your personal info. Free Paid Surveys.net is my all time favorite.
Now, I have no proof that BigSpot.com does anything with your personal info other than what they claim, in fact they do have a privacy policy, but why sign up for something that you don’t have to and risk handing out your name, email address and zip code to a third party company for NO REASON?
For more information on taking paid surveys:
About Kim
How do you get paid then if these companies do not have some of your personal info? Do they not need a name to put on a check or an address to mail it to? I have not seen any on bigspot ask for any more than that.
The individual survey companies, the ones who administer the surveys. The ones who send email invitations and tell you a survey is ready for your participation (from a legit company you already signed up for such as GlobalTestMarket) are the ones who will need your personal info to pay you and for survey demographics.
Websites that that provide you with a list of survey companies that you sign up for individually – separately, do not need your personal info. That is where you need to be careful.
I am Glad of Kim’s in put. I resently startted taking surveys. I know when I start with a Company they usualy warn you that some sites are bogus. They will you a list of sites that they deal with. None has said any about Big Spot. That why I started researching them. I looke at freepaidsruveys.net I noticed That there was not much listed about Big Spot. Again Thanks Kim.
Taimi,
Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences!
I too saw the advertising on T.V. about “Big Spot”. Thank God I read your review on it. I am 71 and am trying to make a little bit of extra money. My insurance and prescriptions are so expensive. Thank you so much for your hard work and thank you for sharing it.God Bless You Darling, and keep up the good work!
Glad I could help!
Hi Kim,
The reason why I am writing to you is because I have been doing surveys with send earnings and now all of a sudden I have not been recieving them.Can you explain what is going on with this site. I have money built up on this site and I do not want to have to start all over again.
Thank You
Rose
I would email them directly, Rose. Maybe they are going to spam or maybe something is weird with your account.
I hope you get it worked out.
Thanks for the Heads Up! It is irritating when your surfing various websites and using them for what you think they are legititmately advertising and you find out 1. it will cost you, 2. they are using your personnel info in some other way. 3. faced with a sales pitch at the end of it all. I dont know what the Big Spot is about but saw the commerical and thought whats the catch!
I have signed up with bigspot but have not started to do any surveys yet. Thanks for the headsup. Basically, what you are saying is none of the companies actually pay money for the surveys, Right?
Teena,
Some do pay. Legitimate ones do. If you visit this page: http://accidentalmommies.com/free-paid-surveys/ I have listed ones that actually pay. You just have to be careful.
Good luck!
So many people these days are so quick to try their hardest to get rid of legitimate companies so that their website might reach the top of the “food chain”. What I mean is I respect that you are trying to chase after that dollar and make your living, but come on… what you are really doing is just trying to promote your own websites and eliminate the competition. I just get so sick of affiliates saying one program doesn’t work, so here “try mine”. I know times are hard and we all want to “get in” on the internet hype cash system but can’t we show a little moral and ethical standard when promoting our affiliate websites and quit trying to fool these people into thinking they joined the “wrong” opportunity. Wishing you success.
Dawn,
You are very wrong here.
Big Spot is not my competition. I do not run an affiliate website like Big Spot, I have a personal blog that I share advice on and happen to have a few affiliate banners up.
If you actually read my posts you will see that I encourage people to check THIRD-PARTY (meaning not my own) sites to verify that survey companies are legitimate before signing up.
I’ve done the research, I’ve signed up for all the scams, I have experience.
I told people openly that my links are affiliate links but I also tell them to type the names of the companies into a search engine and sign up that way if they don’t want to use my links. I don’t care. My main goal it to help people protect themselves while still being able to take advantage of the opportunities out there.
You come here and question my morals and ethics but you obviously didn’t bother to go beyond this one comment on this one post and check out my other resources available regarding this issue, nor did you read my follow-up.
I hate these commercials all it is doing is pointing the people in the wrong direction never pay for a online survey site list there are way to many free sites out there that will show you honest companies that pay you for doing surveys. Great article thanks for posting.
G d almighty, I have been on this stupid survey program for about a mo. They advertise on TV & on their own web site you will get paid for doing survey’s for these Co’s. Bull, I don’t want points, sweepstakes, ha! or food & samples. I want to be paid real money for what I’ve done, I will buy my own food & stuff & if I want to inter into a Swp stks I will on something else. You would think after a mo. of answering a mill. Q’s you would get paid. I don’t want no measly 10.00 either. I think it should be worth it to pay between 3-5 dollars per survey. That’s just it I have never heard of any Co. telling about any certain amount you get paid on BSp. This isn’t my fav. to answer a mill. Q’s, but If I get paid for it, then fine. Thanks for nothing.
I went to this website and have signed up for these surveys.They are legitimate. I have received at least 3 checks for doing the surveys. It is real and they do give real money. I dont where you went but this is true. I was sketchy at first, but i have received checks, food to try and even perfume to sample for my opinions.
Celina,
The website itself does not issue the surveys nor do they provide payment. You had to have signed up for the companies they list in order to do that. They companies they list ARE legitimate survey companies that you will receive surveys and payments from. Big Spot does not issue surveys or payment for surveys.
Celina, What planet are you from. This is earth. Anyway don’t be so naive. How much money did you earn fro the survey’s? 2 maybe 5 or even 10 dollars? If these are legitimate Co’s. they won’t just pay you in samples & food, they will give you at least 3-5 dollars per survey & you’ve been on a yr.??? You seem to very vague about how much you got paid. Don’t you think a person would get paid after being a survey taker for a mo. I haven’t seen one red cent since I started. I want big money that’s why I started this. If not I go somewhere else to be paid.
Hello Kim,
Thank you for posting this great blog about Big Spot Surveys. My cousin saw the advertisement and insisted that this would be a great way to earn money. I told her
I would do some scam research and I came across this blog.
Thank you for putting yourself out there to warn everyone about another SCAM.
It is amazing how many of them are out there. Take good care.
Laurie
Internet Consultant
Hi Kim,
Thanks for the heads up on that company. I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction. I have been trying to make some money by taking surveys, but to no evail. I have earned a total of $10 from one site that I have been signed up with for over a year now. All the many emails I get for surveys, I usually “don’t qualify” for. Could you send me a list of legitimate survey co. that pay $$, not just sweepstake entries? I would be most appreciative.
Thank you,
Andrea
Andrea,
The ones I have listed here: http://accidentalmommies.com/2009/02/big-spot-surveys-revisited/ don’t pay in sweepstakes entries and if you check out freepaidsurveys.net and Survvey Police they have a great list with reviews and ratings and stuff.
The trick is to sign up with as many legit ones as you can and be persistent. Global Test Market and Synovate award you points even if you don’t qualify and they can add up fairly quickly.
Good luck!