Neilsen Homescan is currently accepting applications for their National Consumer Panel. Panel members are sent a small hand-held scanner. You scan the bar codes of the items you purchase every week and electronically send them the information from your scanner.
Why participate? You earn points for which you can redeem for cash and prizes. Plus, you can make your opinions count in this consumer research.
I used to be a member. I was rolled into their membership after the shoppers’ hotline program combined with them. I did not like it as much as the shoppers’ hotline, because of a few things:
1. Not only did you scan each item, but you had to answer a couple questions for each item: Did you use a sale/clearance? A coupon? Then I had to enter the price for each item and the total purchase.
2. They didn’t offer the option of choosing to receive cash like the shoppers’ hotline. I really liked that. Here you could choose from their line of prizes–I really prefer to do my own shopping, thanks. 😉
3. The information no longer transmitted automatically, but I had connect it to the computer and transmit on a specific day each week. I would often forget.
In the end, it was too much time spent for too little reward, in my particular situation. But everyone has different schedules, so it may be just the thing for you. 🙂