I received a letter from Research Design Specialists. Legit?

I don't know about this one...but I got one back in September and participated. I think is was $200 for a 4 hour session. It involved 100's of questions, a mock show room of 8 EVs & PHEVs, and 15-20 min test drives of each one. 7 of the cars were on the market. The unannounced car was a VW BEV. Since every car maker has to have some EV or other zero emission car for sale in CA there are likely a lot of market research programs going on.

Mike

 

^^^
Was it from RDS or someone else?

Since the the VW BEV was there, I suspect it was being paid for by VW.

 

I got several surveys after getting my PIP and tossed them all. The surveys were 100s of questions long (Wth) and I just don't care to participate in something that exhausting unless my time is properly compensated.

 

I don't recall the company name...but there were at least 3 companies involved. One was the company doing the recruiting and screening of candidates, another one ran the research, plus VW.

Mike

 

Got a survey and $5 from JD Powers for the PIP, but that's about it.

 

Based on the surveys I received, I did not see any questions that would have produced better cars... I had one of the first plug-ins delivered and I remember them being more about demographics and family size than anything else. The surveys literally showed up a week after I took delivery of the car, so if they're looking for feedback, those surveys were pointless attempts to get an idea of who's buying the cars versus how to improve them.

 

I responded. The questions were for prescreening. I suspect if I pass prescreening, I will get a call with more detailed questions.

 

I was approached by a telemarketer representing the same firm and they offer me an interview in NY City, obviously prior 40 minutes phone screening questioner.
Two weeks passed and they contact me to set-up the appointment in a big name Hotel in the "BIG Apple" along with another 25 people for a promotional TV recording and some perks.
The day of the appointment I couldn't show up due to being sick.

 

I received one of these for the survey plus test drives in Livermore, CA right after I purchased my PIP in June 2012. It sounded like fun and a nice diversion, so I tried to check up on them on the web and then talked with them. They offered $200, but was actually paid $250 at the end of the day. We got to drive 7 cars I think, including the VW and it was really a nice way to compare the cars on a fixed course one after the other. I thought the PIP was the least fun to drive, but still the most practical.

So yes they are legit, and if you have the time and inclination you might enjoy it. I'm pretty sure it was RDS too. I used the money to buy gas and take my wife to a nice dinner.

Mike B

 

I finished the JD Powers survey. It was about 15% car and 85% advertising questions.

 

Got one to. It is RDS and it ounds exactly like what you guys described. only 125$ though... 250, heck yeah... 125... mehhh

 

Got the same one from RDS, but the website link they provided didn't work so I didn't bother faxing my info.

 

I received a letter from them this weekend and will likely participate. I've done these sort of surveys in the past and I find them to be quite fun. Hopefully, the location will be near where I live. If it's in LA then I'll probably pass.

 

I also got JD Powers survey and the $5 bill. With 85% advertising questions, I am not sure I am willing to fill all out for five bucks.

 

i love the questions about which newspapers/magazines i look at. i guess this survey was designed 20 years ago.

 

I am also in SoCal and got the same letter a few days ago. It's probably legit. I did one of these things several years ago and pocketed $200 for about 4 hours of work. It was kind of weird though. Like an encounter group part of it you lay down on the floor mat like a kinder gardener and meditate on your test drive or whatever... And then fill out surveys.