Pinecone Research is a subdivision of The Nielson Company and a legitimate research company. However, there are a few things you should know if you are thinking of completing surveys for PineCone Research. Pinecone Research has some creative ways of paying their members. Also, they are highly selective and rather secretive about how to sign up.
Name of Product: Pinecone Research
Website: PineconeResearch.com
Price: Free
Owner: The Nielsen Co.
Opinion: Legitimate, but not recommended.
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What is Pinecone Research?
Pinecone Research is one of the better survey sites on the internet. Some might say it’s the best, but as you’ll soon see, this isn’t saying much.
The first line of the Pinecone Research member’s agreement states,
“PineCone Research is a new products panel. As such, we ask for your opinions on product ideas for items that are not generally available to the public.”
The surveys you will be invited to complete are real, but you won’t get very many of them and the ones you do get won’t pay much.
In addition to paid surveys, you will receive administrative surveys. Allegedly, the admin surveys are used to determine which of the paid surveys you qualify for.
Just to be clear, you are not paid for the admin surveys.
The good news, at least in theory, is that when you are invited to complete a paid survey you are truly qualified for that survey and will not be rejected after you complete it.
If you’ve completed surveys for other survey companies online, you’ll know that a tactic they use to rip off people is to disqualify them after they have completed a survey. I don’t think Pinecone Research does that.
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How to Join Pinecone Research.
It’s free to join Pinecone Research. However, unlike other survey sites, Pinecone Research restricts the times people can join. This is probably to ensure that the existing members have enough surveys to complete to make it worth their time. Also, you can’t join at the Pinecone Research website.
When Pinecone Research is looking for new panelists, aka members, it advertises in specific areas of the internet to attract targeted applicants.
In the process of writing this review, I contacted Pinecone Research support and ask where I could direct my readers if they wanted to sign up. This is the email response I received.
Thank you for your interest in PineCone Research!
Currently we are not accepting new members through our website nor taking unsolicited referrals. We are offering membership opportunities via banner ads on various websites, this is so we may better target more specific groups needed to meet the needs of our clients. Once you click on our banner ad you will be directed to the membership registration form.
Thanks,
Karen Scott
How much does Pinecone Research Pay?
Pinecone Research pays 300 points, or rewards, per survey. This translates to $3 US for each survey. Rewards are processed the next day.
Expect a survey to take 20 to 30 minutes to complete. So you’re basically making $6 an hour, only you’re not, because you will probably only get a couple of surveys a month.
Also, instead of a cash payment, some of the surveys pay by entering your name in a contest, or as Pinecone Research likes to call it, sweepstakes. In other words, instead of getting paid for completing a survey, you are given a chance to win a pot of money or a prize.
According to Pinecone Research, these sweepstakes can pay up to $4,500. Most appear to pay $500. Unfortunately, I could not find any information about the odds of winning the sweepstakes. As far as I can tell, there is no way to know if your chances of winning are 1 in 10 or 1 in a million.
‘m sure the sweepstakes twist is a way for Pinecone Research to minimize the expense of getting surveys completed. It’s cheaper to have a thousand people compete for a $500 prize than to pay a thousand people $3.
It’s doubtful you will make more than $10 a month with Pinecone Research unless you win one of the sweepstakes. This is why I don’t recommend it.
Unless you enjoy filling out mind-numbing surveys, it comes down to what your time is worth.
Pinecone Research Better Business Bureau Rating.
Pinecone Research is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. However, the BBB still rates Pinecone Research and gives them a D+. Not very encouraging. The complaints against Pinecone Research at the BBB are about not getting paid.
You can read the BBB complaints here
.
Pinecone Research Complaints.
Pinecone Research has far fewer complaints than other online survey companies. Most of the complaints are about not getting credit for completing a survey or getting kicked out of Pinecone Research without explanation and not allowed back in. Getting kicked out may be a tactic Pinecone Research uses to avoid paying
Below are some of the complaints I found online about Pinecone Research.
“Its ok. Payouts are great, surveys can be boring..the downfall is is that they can drop you at anytime and won’t let you back in.”
Crista (Source: GetPaidSurvey.com) (https://www.getpaidsurveys.com/survey/pineconeresearch
“Can’t Recommend. I was with Pine Cone Research for about a year. The surveys take too long to complete for the $3. Then I was sent several surveys for which I wasn’t compensated. When I asked about it, they said the compensation was entry into some sweepstakes. Rip off.” Sonya (Source: GetPaidSurvey.com)
Pinecone Research Scams
Apparently, several online scammers are using the Pinecone Research name and logo to run various scams. An example of one of the scams is a “Mystery Shopping” job.
The victim is given a fake check and told to cash it and then use a portion of the money to “test shop” a service such as the Western Union wire transfer service. The victim is allowed to keep the remaining balance of the money. However, the check later bounces leaving the victim to deal with the mess while the scammer gets off after receiving real money at the other end of the Western Union wire transfer.
Participating in Pinecone Research is free. They never ask for money or to test a service.
The Last Word on Pinecone Research.
My advice is if you want to get involved with Pinecone Research, don’t do it for the money. You simply will not earn enough to justify the time spent.
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If you found this article helpful or have experience with Pinecone Research, please leave a comment below.
Pinecone Research is a legitimate survey company that is part of Nielsen. The only problem that I have with them is that they stopped caring about the participant. For one, they don’t read your emails anymore (technical issues, etc.). No matter what the topic of your email might be, the first email will be a generic reply followed by a try this or try that email. And if you still have questions, their reply will be the same generic email they sent you the first time (you’ll be going in circles).
Besides this problem, they do pay on time for the surveys completed. The only thing that you won’t get a chance to do is to try the products. Ever since they expanded, it’s a lot harder to get product testing.
Hi, Nick!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience with Pinecone Research.
Gary
I answered surveys for 6 months or more and never collected my money, then they wanted me to get a new password which I could never get right so I could never get back on the surveys and I never got paid I wanted to be back on it so please let me know about this,Sue
Hi, Sue!
I suspect the reason you were locked out of your account is that Pine Research does not want to pay you. That’s the problem with survey sites. They want to get your information for free. It’s not worth the hassle.
I’m regret we can’t help you more,
Gary
Hey there,
I believe when it comes to making money online, the program has to deliver according to how much you pay them.
After reading your review, although Pinecone Research is not a scam, I dont think you’ll be seeing the promised results through the hard work you put it.
Thats why I believe Wealthy Affiliate is the best program as it contains no scams and you can actually achieve something on a new level with it instead of using these programs that promise big but never deliver.
Thanks for sharing
Hi, Ken!
I agree that a program must deliver according to how much you pay for it, but also how much time you invest in it as well. With online surveys, even legitimate ones like Pinecone Research, you are wasting your time.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Hi Gary, This is amazing how many companies out there have programs that just don’t add up. This is truly a very sad thing.
I listened to the video about Pinecone Research. It’s too bad places like this can’t be shut down.
Thanks for providing an alternative. I clicked through to the Wealthy Affiliate program review. Sounds great.
Thanks, Keith
Hi, Keith,
It seems the internet has given more of everything including ways to waste our time and lose our money. Pinecone Research isn’t a scam, but it can be time consuming not result in anything substantial. For the time spent there, a person could built a real online business that paid well.
I’m glad you liked Wealthy Affiliate. It’s the only place I recommend for people to learn how to build an online business. It’s free to join so there’s no risk.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Good website you were being very informative and very thorough about how you would not make enough money doing the pinecone program but rather start an online business which is very honest and correct if a person is really serious about starting their own online business and learn how to do it so keep doing what you’re doing and make great progress
Hi, Marsean Morgan!
I think survey sites like Pinecone Research can be stress relieving mindless activity that feels like you’re accomplishing something when you aren’t. The legendary motivational speaker Zig Ziglar would say it is “stress relieving and not goal achieving.”
It comes down to what does someone hope to achieve from completing online surveys. If they want to make more than chump change it’s not going to happen.
With the right training, like you can find in Wealthy Affiliate, anyone with basic computer skills can build a profitable online business that will earn enough to change their life. Or, they can fill out another survey and hope for the best and stay in their rut.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Thank you for this info on Pinecone Research. At first, it seemed worthwhile because it’s run by Nielsen. It could really be discouraging for people who are in need of a work from home job that’s worth their time, energy and money. It’s a good thing that there are still a few good ones out there that can really show them what they are looking for.
Hi, Cassia!
It is impossible to earn substantial money with surveys, even the legitimate ones like Pinecone Research. If someone is willing to put in the time, building an online business is far more profitable. The trick is finding a safe and affordable place to learn. I recommend Wealthy Affiliate. It’s where I learn.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
I have never been into surveys and although Pinecone seems to pay higher than other survey companies, I still think that it’s not worth it. Just the fact that they place your earnings in a sweepstakes sounds scammy to me. You are right, it’s their way of minimizing their cash out for the surveys. And if it’s going to earn me less than $10 a month I don’t think it will be worth the time and effort to do this.
I agree with you that building a legitimate business online is the way to go if you want to make money online. And it takes having the drive and the willingness to learn to be able to do this. You have to build your online business from the ground up if you want to have a sustainable business that will allow you to earn well and continuously. There is no such thing as overnight success here. Thanks for this very helpful post.
Hi, Kathy!
For newbies, I think making money with surveys is attractive because it is so simple anyone can do it. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t pay off. As you mentioned, surveys even the legitimate ones like Pinecone Research, are a waste of time.
For the same amount of time spent online, someone can build a real money making website. Building an online business does take time and commitment, but it’s easier than most people think, certainly easier than working a dead-end job. And the rewards can be phenomenal. Here’s where I recommend someone learn how to do it.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Thank you for the post. I like your frankness about pinecone research been legit but not recommended. When I started off online I was introduced to survey websites where I was just spending my time after completing the survey I will be told that I didn’t qualify for the survey.
Just as you stated surveys are a rip off. Thank you for this honest review.
Pinecone Research might be legitimate, but I can’t see how anyone can make money with it, or any other survey site. They are a waste of time. If someone was serious about earning money online they need to build a real business. The internet gives everyone with basic computer skills the same opportunity. They just have to take action.
Hey there,
Thanks for this review, I love how you say legitimate but not recommended. I don’t know about others but when I started searching about making money online, I was literally willing to make any sort of money, even the pennies. But in the end, these type of survey taking site is super manual and has no long-term benefits.
Thanks for sharing!
Cheers,
Anh
Such is the nature of survey sites. Sure there’s a number of them that aren’t scams, but the payoff is hardly worth it. This is why I don’t spend a lot of my time on them, to begin with. I feel like I’ll never get anywhere with them, and this doesn’t really look any better to me so I’m going to pass on this one. Thanks for the review. Is there any way to make money that you do recommend?
Hi, Jaylin!
I agree. Survey sites of any stripe are not worth the time. Unless someone simply enjoys wasting time or wants a mindless diversion, survey sites like Pinecone Research are pointless.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
A friend tried Pinecone Research. At first it looked promising, but as time dragged on, it proved to be a waste of time. I agree with you, all the online survey sites are meaningless and a waste of time. Some of the survey companies promise you can earn big money, but this is just a lie.
Hi, Paul!
I agree with you. Completing surveys is a good way to waste a large chunk of your life. If you really want to make money online, learn to build a profitable online business. I recently launched a free video course that teaches how to make money online. You can sign up here.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Been there and done that with surveys…it was torture, the amount of effort to put in for so little in return. There are many better ways to make money out there like WA, people before they do these surveys must know everthing before they sign up and your article has provided that! Well done! Keep up the good work
Hi, Matthew!
You are so right. Nobody makes more than chump change with surveys.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
All the best,
Gary
Thanks for telling me about how Pinecone Research works. It looks like a waste of time.
I’m also grateful you explained how survey companies are a poor way to make money. I will look into your recommendation on how to build a real online business that can pay me a lot more money.
cheers
Jose
Hi, Jose!
Don’t waste your time with Pinecone Research or any survey company. You’ll only make pennies at best.
Wealthy Affiliate will show you how to build an honest to goodness internet business that can earn a full-time income and more. Remember that will take some time to learn the new skills and strategies, but what Wealthy Affiliate teaches works. It’s the only place I know of that teaches how to really have a laptop lifestyle with personal freedom and financial independence.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary
Hello Gary,
I have never heard of Pinecone Research, and from your report, I must say that I am glad that I did not know about this company. There are surveys online that you can get paid from very well. You will help many people, including myself, to be safe online and not be scammed. Thank you! 🙂
Hi, Zoey!
I don’t know of any surveys companies that pay well. I know of plenty of surveys that claim to pay well, but when you look deeper, you’ll see that they are not survey companies at all. They are marketing companies and the amount they claim to pay is really a kickback from the commission they earn when you buy a product through them.
In other words, you aren’t earning anything. You are simply getting a little of your own money back. Even then, typically you are not paid.
My advice is to stay away from survey companies of all stripes. They are a waste of time at best and will probably compromise your privacy.
Thanks for stopping by Zoey,
Gary
Hi Gary,
in the past having joined various survey sites I know just as you stated that trying to spend a good portion of your day in this venture truly is so unrewarding. And Pinecone research is no different from other companies.
You stated how much a person would receive by completing a 20 – 30 minute survey. Which in my opinion are surveys that are completely too long. But I do have one question. If you start any single survey at Pinecone are you allowed to actually complete it and therefore be rewarded? I know of only on such survey company that allows you to complete any survey that you start out in answering the questions.
In 99.9% of all other cases at other sites, for a fact you can start answering questions in a particular survey only after 5 – 10 minutes find out that you are disqualified from completing the survey and therefore being rewarded. Why is that? You did not fit the actual demographic that the survey is designed for – age, gender, ethnicity, what you purchase, how much tv you watch, etc. Time had been wasted that you’d never get back in your life. And the final insult would be you earned nothing! No money, points, gift rewards, etc., flat out nothing!
You stated that the BBB has graded Pinecone research with a grade of D+. Boy that sends up a huge red flag that this company should be avoided by any right thinking individual. The company earned this poor grade based on the complaints of many people who were not paid for their time spent in completing the surveys.
Really some 15 years ago completing surveys might have been a good way to earn extra income, (but not THE main source of income) for people. But because so many of these survey sites are nothing but scams, really there are so many better opportunities to earn income online- such as at Wealthy Affiliate!
Great review Gary and 100% right on!
Jeff
Hi, Jeff!
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your thoughtful comment.
Yes, unfortunately, Pinecone Research plays the same games as most other survey companies. They will disqualify you after you have answered the survey. This is there sneaky way of getting information from you without paying for it.
I warn everyone that surveys are a waste of time. If they want to make money online, it is in their best interest to learn how to build an authority blog and market affiliate products. Here’s a good place to learn how to do that and it’s free to start.
All the best,
Gary
Hi Gary. I never really like surveys as the pay is generally not very good. At $3 a piece, that’s quite a low amount of money. You got to do about 1000 surveys just to make a decent income. Not to mention the surveys can be quite tough too.As a subsidiary of Nielsen, I can only guess that Pinecone’s survey to be a bit challenging as opposed to normal leisurely surveys of other websites.
Hi, Isaac!
Pinecone Research is actually considered one of the legitimate survey companies, although, as you mentioned the pay is pathetic. Also, I suspect all survey companies play games to get information for nothing.
At best, surveys are a waste of time.
If someone really wanted to make money online, I mean enough money to live comfortably, surveys aren’t going to do it. You have to build an online business to make a full-time income. I recommend the free starter membership at Wealthy Affiliate.
Thanks for stopping by,
Gary