consumerpulse.co.uk > Reviews (16)

I am determined to became a millionaire through online market research companies or at least make enough so that I can retire quite happily…So here I am once again with another new and innovative site where you can make a few pounds for a few minutes of your time.

The idea of joining Consumer Pulse was sent to me in an email from a friend of mine who has the same hopes and aspirations of making lots of money for little or no effort and time. As she is such a good judge of what is good and what is bad, when something is recommended to me, I usually join up without a second thought.

So who are they? Well Consumer Pulse is part of the TNS group. TNS are the largest market information group in the UK who provide information, analysis and an insight into consumer’s thoughts on products in many different ways. For those of you who are a member of numerous consumer websites you will have heard of TNS in one way or another – sites such as Shopandscan.

Consumer Pulse want people to record any purchased items in a range of different categories, which are collated into four categories such as phones and accessories, entertainment, clothes and health & beauty. Your task as a panellist is to record the products that you purchase to earn points which can be exchanged for vouchers in the following categories: Arcadia Group, American Golf, House of Fraser, Kingfisher, Homebase, JJB, WHSmiths, Argos, Debenhams, Ticketmaster, UCI/Odeon Cinemas, Virgin Megastore, Cinema Tickets, Leisure vouchers, Red Letter Days or Thomas Cook vouchers. Or there is another option and that is giving your points to charity of which there are three to choose from - NSPCC, UNICEF or Caner Research.

The rewards system is very similar to that of Shopandscan. Upon registration you will be given 5000 points and you can only cash out when you have reached 10000, which is £10. However, like Shopandscan they can send you surveys to complete at home for extra points (I did one this weekend for 20000 points which is £20) you get bonus points for your birthday and Consumer Pulse anniversary dates and they also award you points for the completion of purchases which you should do at least weekly and for me these points have changed. For some I was given 50 points and for others ive been given between 100-500 points, there isn’t really any logic that I have found to their point system (YET!!) but they are adding up quite nicely. It does however say on their website “You can enter your purchases on either a daily or weekly basis for which you will be awarded points. It is also important for us to know if you have bought nothing last week and again 500 points will be added to your account”.

So in one week you are not likely to earn more than 500 points which is 50p unless you are sent surveys to fill in at home or earn extra points through a birthday, anniversary or just because they feel like it but don’t let that put you off. I have now been a member for 6 months and have cashed out £20 in total with another £20 to be added to my account through a survey I filled in at home over the weekend.

So Consumer Pulse is run in line with all of the other TNS consumer sites in that you are simply requested to record your bought items on their website using a diary system which denotes the day and date, nothing more, nothing less. An idea, which I do quite like and this time there is no bleeping scanner, involved to scan barcodes.

So you like the sound of Consumer Pulse and want to sign up? Sadly this site has now become invitation only which means you cannot just go along to their website and sign up. They have decided to put banners on other reward sites, in emails and nominal invitations. One of the best ways to become a member of a TNS site is to simply to along to this website http://www.volunteer4panels.com/ and volunteer to join their panels by filling in a simple application form. Then once something becomes available you will be sent an invitation.

However the Consumer Pulse website is one of the easiest websites to navigate around. They can be found at www.consumerpulse

.co.uk and upon their homepage you will see the Consumer Pulse Logo with a little white rainbow looking thing over the words and a screen of brown paper bags. Following that there are 5 different links to click on which offer information and they are:

** Homepage = Everytime you click on this link you will be taken back the homepage which gives you information on the task, how often and rewards.
** About TNS= A quick guide as to who TNS are and what they do and what they are looking for information on.
** The Task= This is perhaps the most important link because here you will find the listed categories of phones and accessories, entertainment, clothes and health & beauty and below them in each category is a sub-section of more detailed items in which you can record information about.
** Rewards = Details can be found here of the reward system and how it works.
** Contact us= Called the Consumer Pulse helpdesk. Here you would write down what your problem with the site was i.e. something technical that isn’t working complete your name and email address and submit it to TNS and you will get an answer very quickly as to how to fix your problem or telling you that said problem has been fixed.

So how does Consumer Pulse really fare against everything else? I really like this site because I can register the products I have bough weekly or everyday if I really feel like it and I am never having to wait for surveys to appear in my inbox everything you do on this site is down to your own participation levels and you can choose how active you want to be. However, the more active you are the points you will potentially earn and the sooner you can cash out and start spending your points.

Overall I think this is one of the best consumer sites around for those people like me who love being a member of online market research panels the only downside is that you now have to wait for an invitation to become a member or find the banner on another reward site. So get looking for that elusive banner.

**Extra Information**

TNS,
Westgate,
London,
W5 1UA

Free phone: 0500 560 152
Website: www.consumerpulse.co.uk