My InboxDollars experience started on a high note. After receiving the signup bonus, I earned another 50 cents for completing a short profile survey. I also appreciated that I could see a list of surveys available to me, along with the exact dollar (or cent) amount they’re worth. Most sites we tested use points, and determining a survey’s monetary value can be a hassle. This list also included the estimated time required for each of the surveys and, for some, the topic.
Inbox dollars is a scam. They will pull you in by offering $5 to begin and another $7 for completing some other tasks. It all goes downhill from there. I quickly realized that filling out countless surveys. I really gave them a try, I tried and tried and tried. Finally I snapped and said “No More!” What happens is that once you start a survey and it could be 15-20 minutes of filling questions, they will reject you based on answering a question as “no”. So you could answer “yes, yes, yes” for multiple questions and after 20 minutes of tedious (and yes, boooring!) questioning you are rejected from survey by punching one lousy “No”. Then they offer “sweeps” which is a raffle ticket that will never win you anything, pathetic! So, after seeing what a sham I got myself into I just decided to get my $30 by strictly opening the “paid mail” and using “paid search”. I had opened the account with them 1.5 years ago and finally was able to collect my $30 (actually $27, they even take $3 for “processing fee” – a final slap in the face) after countless hours of filling surveys and opening stupid paid mail. They pay 2 cents per one paid e-mail so yes it will take a while. I will be closing my account with inbox dollars now that I recovered a small fraction of what my time is actually worth, and I recommend staying clear from them and finding another way of making $$$.
How it works: YouGov is one of the world’s largest research companies, with over 5 million members worldwide. The company provides market research and polling for major corporations, as well as political campaigns — particularly in the United Kingdom, where their polls are frequently cited in the media. Most surveys take between 5 to 10 minutes, and earn you 1,000 points. For reference, 1,400 points is worth about $1.
Unfortunately, a lot of people think that because they didn’t qualify for a survey, the company conducting it is somehow scamming them. Remember, companies want to gather data and feedback from their target customers. Remember the Starbucks example above? Well, if you are not a coffee drinker, it makes sense that Starbucks doesn’t want to spend money on giving you a survey on something that doesn’t apply to you!
They claim to also offer paid product testing opportunities. But it’s not really paid product testing, but more of getting cash back. Basically, besides surveys, you can purchase products and services through their portal and earn a certain amount of cash back for every dollar you spend. If you were going to buy something already, it’s a great way to get some of the cash back. But don’t just buy something because of the cashback.
According to the company’s own website, it has millions of active members using the website. Since 2006, it has paid over $25 million to members and counting through its subsidiary SendEarnings (launched in 2005). Profits and expansion have occurred in every year since inception with the company branching out to the UK with its InboxPounds service in 2012. Today it has over 30 employees.
I have to agree with Rebecca. Took a couple months to get up to the $30 payment amount after being disqualified from multiple surveys. Some surveys said I were disqualified when I was 95% complete. The day before the payment is to be issued my account was cancelled. I tried speaking to their online support but all they tell you is that it was cancelled for bot like activity or for violating their terms of service. Funny how my activity wasn’t a problem until I requested a payment. Stay clear of them.
On many forums and review websites, the typical rating awarded to InboxDollars is a meager 2 out of 5 stars. The single biggest problem relating to the website is the incredibly long time taken before the first $30 payment can be attained. Though it is in fact legitimate, the website has been labeled by quite a number of former members as a “scam,” or “spamming” website. We disagree…
I cashed out the 30 thats supposed to be processed on October 2nd then starting working on my next 30$ made it to 26 Dollars and they have TOOK my surveys away no warning no explanation just gone contacted customer service through chat he said he does not have access to that info I do know I completed surveys and did not let anyone use my account or my computer or phone If it seemed I HURRIED THREW SURVEYS THEN THATS NOT TRUE EITHER A Lot are repeats or you dont qualify for or they ask A qustion that you have no choice but to answer to move to the next one WETHER IT PRETAINS 2 YOU OR NOT I would like my serveys back or atleast A explsanation on why they were takin away