Probe Market Research

Wow. I’m reading these reviews and thinking that maybe the West Coast branch has been poorly run or else people are just unrealistic? I’ve done studies for Probe Market/​Lynette for several years. They’re in NY, I’m in NY; they’re always in a hurry fielding a ton of gigs from a bunch of different clients; I understand. No recruiter can be held completely responsible for their clients’ texting behavior, whatnot. Payment in 4 – 6 weeks seems reasonable, since there’s a lot of paperwork to be done, and payments transferred from the client before checks cut to us participants. I’ve never not been paid. Why all the fuss?
This week I showed up for a health study and the client, a big NY digital firm, wanted me to sign away the marketing/​promotional rights to my voice/​image/​interview forever, with no control. They also flat-​out lied and said the form doesn’t matter, but then ushered me out without pay when I asked them to amend it so it wouldn’t violate HIPAA, which is federal law governing health privacy. I informed Lynette and she asked me if I’d been paid (no). She then said she would ask the client to pay me, and by the end of the next day, she emailed me to say I would get full payment and the check would be sent out in two days. Appreciate that.
I wrote Lynette a thank you note for standing up for me; she said statistically they send out over 1000 checks a month so sometimes they get a bad rap, which is why I looked up the Unilocal reviews. All I can say is, I have had no problems with Probe Market at all. It’s a fast-​moving business doing a ton of projects simultaneously. Like most of NY, can be brusque at times but efficient as hell. I have no problem with that.

If I could give them a negative rating I would!
I have participated in many market research studies over the years and have NEVER experienced such inefficiency and rudeness. Shanique, who was my contact was curt and unable to provide me any answers-Isn’t it your client/​study? Also, «the client,» Piper, needed to speak with me but kept texting me and not following through with our set times. And instead called me demanding we speak while I was in a work meeting. I maintained professionalism throughout our correspondences but had to express my disgust with the way this company functions-​which led me to Unilocal!
The study that I signed up for was paying $ 200 but it’s not worth the run around and trouble. And based on the other reviews and the ‘F’ rating on BBB I may not receive my compensation at the end of the study. So, I decided to remove myself altogether. And if you’re smart, you too will save yourself the trouble. There are a ton of other market research companies out there who are professional, respectful and serious about their participants.

I would just like to write that I consider Lynette Ebersole and the 100’s of emails she’s sent out per year to be spammers. I’ve only been called once and they led me through answer after answer until I told them that no, I would not be able to grow a well maintained mustache in 4 days. I guess that’s in their notes because although I’ve signed up, I’ve never gotten another call.
Today I wrote to Ms. Ebersole, stating «you keep sending me these emails, I keep signing up, you’d think that I’d be invited for a focus group. I’ve filled out Survey Monkey after Survey Monkey, it’s quite frustrating. May I please be included in the focus group you just sent out?»
Her response:
«Do you want to be taken off the list?»
After a moment’s thought:
«Yes, you know what, I do.»
I’ve had very positive experiences with focus group companies, but I have not had a single good experience with them. Were I the company that paid them for the study relating to shaving products, I’d have been very annoyed if they’d had me walk in, having not shaved for 3 days, talking about how I enjoyed sculpting my mustache. That’s just dishonest and from what I understand, they charge their clients a LOT of money per person they produce.

Really awful experience. This company is very disorganized. I confirmed an appointment for a research study a couple days in advance, received a confirmation email, and then the day before received perseverative voicemails and an email saying that I needed to confirm or they would cancel and replace me. I replied that I had already confirmed and got a rude email back stating, «we replaced you hours ago» and nothing else. I work during the day and I responded same day before 3:30pm…remember that I also had already confirmed and we had just set up the appointment a couple days before. I would not recommend this company.

This company has been nothing but one confusing conversation after another. 5 – 7 days became 2 – 3 weeks and on and on. It is very unprofessional to keep people waiting indefinitely for payment. I too have done many online studies and have always received payment promptly. Probe is by far the longest I’ve waited and causes me to not recommend them

I rarely write reviews but I was googling market research firms and came across Probe Market’s.
Since I had just the opposite experience as Cecilia, I wanted to balance things out by noting my experience.
I have done about 5 market research studies in the past 3 years with Probe, both in person and on the phone.
For the in-​person studies I got paid by check immediately after the group discussion. For the phone studies I, too, waited about a month to be paid, but I was told during my initial interview (when they see if you qualify for the study) that I should expect a check 4 — 6 weeks after the study concludes. I was honestly expecting it in 8 weeks, so when i received it in 4 weeks, I was actually pleased. One check, to be honest, did take a bit longer. Just like Cecilia, i was told the payment data had been lost. (I wonder if we were on the same study). The gal who picked up the phone said she was glad that I phoned and will get a check out in the next 2 weeks, which is when I received it.
As I said above, I’ve participated in studies with Probe Market for 3 years and each experience has been fun (super interesting topics discussed) and informative (learning about some new investment tools).
I cannot recommend Probe Market enough and if they read this I hope they will call me again for future research!

This company has an F rating on the BBB, and people need to know they are NOT a reputable company! On September 9, 2014 I participated in an over the phone interview for market research. I was told I would receive a check for $ 100 via mail after the study was complete. I followed up with Lynette on 9/​14, and she said they were still completing interviews until ⁹⁄₂₃ and they didn’t send checks out until after the study was complete. I waited to email again until September 29^th, and Lynette responded that they had lost some of their data, and wanted me to provide my mailing address again. I provided my address, and followed up a third time on October 4^th, and Lynette responded saying the check was mailed on October 3^rd, and please wait five full business days before following up again. I am submitting my complaint now, because I am tired of waiting! I have participated in many legitimate market research studies, and the payment is always very timely! I will NEVER participate in a study with them again, and will post complaints about the company in as many places as possible online, so no one else has to go through the trouble of dealing with them! This type of business practice is not acceptable!
Update: I received my check via mail today; however, I want the complaint to remain on the website, because it should not have taken this long to receive my incentive for participating in their research study. Had I not been persistent in following up with this company, I would have never received the check! After my second follow up, Lynette emailed me back saying they had lost my information, and wanted me to provide my address again. This type of practice is very unprofessional, and it’s a wonder these people are still in business after having an F rating on the BBB, and so many complaints against them!