I never thought I would see the day when I would get cash payments or rewards for opinions I have, on such things as products, services, and current events. Fast-forward to today, and here we are - living and breathing proofs that this, in fact, could happen! Surveys can get tedious, but there is no doubt about the earning potential they proffer, especially to us who prefer working from home over participating in the rat race on a daily basis.
Today I discovered the survey panel called Opinion Bureau, and again I marvel at how it flew under the paid survey site radar for me. I aim to investigate if it’s something we can go for because it’s legit, or if I didn’t really hear about it because it’s a scam. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
First things first - what is it?
Opinion Bureau was developed by the Internet Research Bureau Pvt. Ltd. as a platform for consumers to give their opinions and feedback on products, services, advertising, etc. which directly influence and shape market research, and consequently, the market itself. It has a website as well as apps for both iOS and Android users (linked below).
How long has it been around?
It was founded on May 11, 2011, in New Delhi, India. It seems to be open to users worldwide.
Is registration free?
It’s free to join and you won’t have to worry about paying any kind of fee as long as you are a member. You just need to sign up, verify your email, go back to Opinion Bureau login, fill out your profile, and wait to get surveys that fit with your particular demographic.
Does it pay well?
There are several reward options available here. You can opt to get gift cards or redeem your earnings for cash.
Here’s the thing - Opinion Bureau surveys PROMISE to pay well. We’re talking about the possibility of making up to $10 on a survey (depending on length and complexity), with the average survey completion earning of around $3. This is not bad at all...BUT.
Most of the complaints from former users actually center around ALMOST meeting the threshold payment (more below) but somehow getting less and less and next-to-nothing surveys so that they can’t even touch their earnings.
To be fair, though, there are existing positive reviews of the site to underline that it is legitimate enough to pay their members. Even some initial complaints on their Facebook page about not getting page have been resolved, albeit in a belated manner.
How do I start earning extra income from Opinion Bureau?
You can start cashing out your earnings via PayPal once you reach $10. This, however, is subject to quite a long wait for processing and cashing out, because of some strange redemption policy of theirs.
What’s the best option of earning as an Opinion Bureau Member?
My knee-jerk reaction upon learning that this site actually has a referral program was to rejoice because I can at least use it for a passive income once referred friends join and meet the required “probation” period. However, even that seems like an iffy option, given their weird redemption policies (explained below). Plus, it would be good for only 10 cents per referred person who signs up and completes a survey, so never mind.
The verdict?
The reviews and feedback by users of Opinion Bureau is a mixed bag at best. Those that have something against it complain about not getting enough surveys to make it worth their while, and there are issues about not getting paid in a timely manner (one Facebook review left on their page claims to only having gotten paid after four and a half months of complaining!).
So those issues, along with the ludicrous rule that earnings can only be redeemed after 45 days when the survey closes, or even the amount earned from referral becoming available for redemption only after 30 days once the quality check is done, are just some of the things I can’t ignore. Personally, it’s not worth my time and effort.
Opinion Bureau Screenshots
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Your turn!
Having given you my personal take on it, do you think joining Opinion Bureau is worth it, or a complete waste of time? Please share your thoughts and feedback below.
Link: https://www.opinionbureau.com
iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/opinion-bureau/id1350088939?mt=8
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.opinionbureau&hl=en
