Knowledge Panel Frequently Asked Questions
I’ve gotten a lot of traffic lately from people who want to find out more information about the Knowledge Networks Panel, who sends out snail mail invitations to lucky households that are invited to join their panel. Even better, the invitations always include $2 in cash.
I’ve been a member of the Knowledge Panel for two years now and I still love it. I’ve made hundreds of dollars from them and I really think they’re one of the best panels out there. Unfortunately they are invitation only, so you have to be one of the lucky households to receive their mailed invitation.
Since this panel is so popular and mysterious, I get a lot of readers coming by the site and asking questions about the panel. Unfortunately I am so busy now that I don’t have the time to answer each and every question, especially since I’m asked the same questions over and over. I decided to compile this post of the most frequently asked questions I get in the comments and my email inbox into one place so everyone can find the information easily.
Disclaimer: I do not work for Knowledge Panel and I am not affiliated with them in any way. These answers are based off of my experiences and the information on their website. If you have any further questions or problems with your account, please contact the Knowledge Panel directly.
Is Knowledge Panel real or is it a scam to get my information?
Knowledge Panel is a real opinion research company started by two Stanford University professors in 1998. They will be collecting information from you in the surveys, but it’s all for research purposes and you will be compensated. I’ve even post proof of receiving checks from the panel. If you want to learn more about the panel, visit their website. You can also read my review of the panel.
How do I sign up?
Unfortunately your household must be selected by the panel and receive a special invitation in the mail. There is no other way to sign up for the panel.
How will I get paid?
From the Knowledge Panel site:
If you have Internet access at home, you will be given 1,000 points for every survey you complete. Every time you get to 25,000 points you are sent a check for $25.
You can still join even if you do not have Internet access at home. We will provide you with a computer and give you free telephone dial-up Internet access for as long as you remain a member. We do this because we need to represent all households in our surveys.
See proof of my payment.
Are you sure the checks are real? Is it just a scam to get my bank information?
Yes, the checks are real. You can cash or deposit them like any other check. I’ve been depositing their checks for two years with out any problems, none of them have bounced. You can even check out some pictures of a few checks.
I don’t have internet and they’re sending me a computer. Do I get to keep the computer? What can I do with the computer? What if I stop answering the surveys? Is this mine to keep?
I have my own internet access and computer, so I do not participate in this part of the program and I don’t have anymore information about it. Please contact the panel directly with your questions.
I am having problems with my account. Can you fix it?
No, I don’t work for Knowledge Panel. Please contact their very helpful customer service team via email or phone.
If you have any questions other about Knowledge Panel, please check their FAQ.
Make Money Online: Earn ECBs on the CVS Advisor Panel
This panel is a bit different from the other ones I’ve reviewed so far, but if you shop at CVS, it’s totally worth it to join.
The CVS Advisor Panel is run by CVS to get feedback from shoppers about the store, products, and services. In return for your opinions–which shape future programs and services at the store–you will receive ECBS that can be used like cash at any CVS store.
The unfortunate thing about this panel is they don’t send out many surveys and there’s no regular schedule either. There could be months with no surveys and then you’ll get a few surveys in a row. That’s just how it goes.
The great thing is, even if you don’t qualify for the survey, you’ll still be rewarded with $2 ECBs for trying. I once completed a 20 minute survey that rewarded me with $15 ECBs, which was fantastic. You receive the reward as soon as you finish the survey–just print it out and take it to the store.
In order to sign up and earn rewards you need to be an ExtraCare Card member (free to sign up, plus it earns you all those great savings at the store).
The panel is great for CVS shoppers and I recommend giving it a try. You never know when one of those $15 ECB surveys shows up in your inbox.
Here’s the stats:
CVS Advisor Panel Stats:
Info Required to Sign Up: ExtraCare card number, plus the typical info.
Member eligibility requirements: Must have a CVS ExtraCare card to earn rewards and be 18 years of age or older.
How money is earned: Filling out surveys about CVS.
Value of survey: Depends on the survey, somewhere between $2 and $15 ECBs.
Earnings for disqualified survey: $2 ECBs.
Referral Program: No.
Redemption options: You earn ECBs as soon as you finish the survey, which you can print and use at any CVS store right away.
Time redemption takes: Instant.
Cash value of points: $1 ECB = $1
3 Sites to Earn Money Back While Shopping Online
With Black Friday tomorrow and Cyber Monday coming up, I figure a lot of people are getting ready to scoop up some great deals online for the holidays and for themselves. I prefer online shopping to store shopping just because things get a little crazy out there.
On of the great things about shopping online is there are a bunch of sites that will give you cash back just for shopping through them. Here are some of the ones that I use. I usually check to see which one will give the highest percentage back and then shop through that one.
(Note, these are just the ones that give you cash back from shopping online. There are many other programs that will give you points [or Swagbucks] when you shop through them and then they can be redeemed for gift cards or cash. They’re listed here.)
Upromise
Upromise markets itself as a way to pay for college, by giving the option to transfer your earnings to pay off your Sallie Mae student loan or a college savings account. In addition to that you can request a check and get your earnings in cash.
Read my full review of Upromise.
Shopathome
Shopathome gives you access to coupons and money back from online shopping at select stores (and usually has a slightly better percentage back that the other sites). You receive a check when you reach $20.
A full review of Shopathome is coming shortly…
Ebates
Ebates is the site I see bloggers talking about the most. They also have coupons and they give you cash back via Paypal when you’ve earn $5.01.
These are just the ones that I use. What other rebate type shopping programs are out there?
Enter Upromise’s $500 Holiday Giveaway
Just as I start getting into sweeping one of my favorite money earning sites has their own sweepstakes.
Upromise is having a $500 Holiday where they’re giving away a $500 MasterCard gift card every day through October 31st. Only Upromise members can enter, so sign up first.
Upromise is a website that gives you money back on every day purchases (grocery, gas, dining out) and shopping online. The money you earn can be transferred to a college savings, pay off a Sallie Mae loan, transferred to a savings account, or paid via check.
After you join Upromise, there are six ways to enter this sweepstakes:
- Register for extra holiday savings
- Sign up for deal alerts
- Join the Upromise Community
- Download the new TurboSaver Toolbar
- Share your Guest Shopping Link
- Bookmark the Online Shopping Page
You just have to do each of those things once and then you’re entered for the drawing every day. Easy as pie.
If you’re new to Upromise, take some time to read my review.
My New Hobby: Entering Sweepstakes & Instant Win Games
I have a lot of free time since I’m not working regularly right now. I try to keep busy and be productive, but after 6 months it can become a little difficult to find new ways to fill up the day.
Over the past month or so I started seriously considering sweeping as a hobby. I read a few blogs and other articles online and decided this could be something fun I could do and maybe win some free stuff.
Recently the boyfriend and I decided we want to start saving money for the purpose of traveling. One of the goals of my sweeping is to try and win free trips or money that we could spend on trips. Do I expect to win any of this? Not necessarily, but if I do, it will be a great surprise and help us reach our travel goals faster.
How do I do all this? Well, I only spend 10-30 minutes a day entering sweepstakes, usually while watching TV. I keep a spreadsheet of sweepstakes and instant win games I want to enter every day and I work through those. If I have more time I may look for other sweepstakes to enter. It’s not a fancy system, but I’m new at this and it seems to be working.
I don’t necessarily do it every day either. This is a “when I have some free time” kind of hobby. Luckily right now I have lots of free time.
I’ve been doing this for about two and a half weeks now. In my first week I won two free movie tickets from an instant win game and a bag of cough drops. Sure, they’re not big fancy prizes, but I got the thrill of the win. Plus, my boyfriend and I will enjoy a free night at the movies and those cough drops will definitely come in handy over the winter months.
Since I’m no expert, I recommend reading Sweetie’s Sweeps and Contests & Sweepstakes at About.com to learn about sweeping and find some legit sweepstakes to enter.
What do you think of sweepstakes and other contests? Ever win anything?
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About Tiffany
I'm a 20-something living in the big expensive city of Chicago. I'm post-college and bouncing between underemployment and unemployment, while trying my best to be thrifty, save money, pay off my 6 digit student loan debt, and still have fun and enjoy life. I live with my boyfriend, a rabbit, and a chinchilla. Read more.
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