9 PM - I had been asleep since 6:30 PM. The phone rings and then the message-taking chip records the message as I lay irritated and groggy. A young man's happy-go-lucky sing-songy voice brings visions of a ballerina prancing tiptoed across the floor in pink slippers. "Hello, this is Neilsons. We are not selling anything, we take surveys concerning radio, TV, and the internet. We have been taking these surveys for 90 years." Ok, that last line woke me up wide-eyed but not bushy-tailed. 90 years? We all know that the internet was invented in 1965, but was nothing but a primitive way of a few select computers sharing messages. It wasn't until 1993 that Al Gore reinvented it into the amazing thing it is today. Now while TV was invented around 1927 it wasn't in commercial use until the late 30s and then only on a very limited basis. Now the radio was invented in 1896, but let's discuss the radios in use in 1932 which is 90 years from today, and my last evening landline intrusion by Mr. Happy. I can't imagine Neilson calling on the old rotary phone to thousands of households inquiring about how many and what stations the interrogated were receiving on their homemade crystal set or what radio programs gathered the family around the tube set and gave their children bad dreams. How long did it take their set to warm up and what was their set, cathedral, tombstone, or console? The first bakelite radio was made in 1932 in Australia so any table model would have been wood or metal cabinet or case and probably not a hot survey topic. Chances are the family was gathered around the console, with big William dad wanting to hear "Just Plain Bill," mama Jane wanting to catch the latest broadcast of "Tarzan," young Andrew trying to change the dial to "Amos and Andy" while big sister Ann shoved him aside to tweak the dial and get the premiere of "Little Orphan Annie." So was Neilsen really taking surveys in 1932 about radio broadcast? How did they get through all the party lines? I doubt it and certainly no reason to rudely awake an old lady from her slumber. Was it the legitimate Neilson or a scammer posing as the real original historical nuisance?
Neilsen normally or use to not call, but lure you with crispy $5 bills in the mail. They are legit, but think hard before you become involved with them. They are nightmare to get rid of. 2017 about a week before my death defying CHF we agree participate. Here is what happened to us. They sent us monitors to be worn 24[7. There were also plug in things for 2 rooms that apparently aided them to monitor you and what you were watching. Did i mention your not allowed to tell anyone your a participant. If you do not wear the monitor they know, and will call you repeatedly to find out why your not wearing. Hubby was still working then in the meat market. He refused to wear to work yet they tried numerous way to make him. i was so sick and watch a lot of tv back then, but their hounding us of every move or lack of, became to stressful, i called to cancel. Did not go over well. Short version I told them what they could do and where to go! Not good enough they tried for weeks even sent more $5 bills in mail.I sent them back. Was so frig-gen glad to be rid of them. If you do streaming and you hit those Like and Dislike buttons enough, they will be getting in contact with you. You can make extra money but just not worth it for us.
On another note. Our apartment place has some third party contact via email constantly about our opinion on work orders performed. Totally unnecessary on a regular basis. So for asking to unsubscribe does not work. Go away people !
Would you be willing to take a short survey at the completion of this call? Yes. I couldn’t talk to anyone because the phone site crashed. Hello, this is Humana, would you recommend Humana to someone in your family? No From 1-5, how would you rate the conversation you had with our representative…0 Would you tell us in your own words about your experience with our representative? Yes. I DIDN”T have an experience with your representative!! Click.
Thanks for that 5-star link. That confirms my suspicions that the young man was a lying dog. Neilson started ratings with TV shows in 1950. That would be 72 years ago so the young singsong script reading dude was lying with a capital L!
Thanks for your story. I don't participate in any survey because years ago I did and it was about the same as your story. I was hounded by all kinds of survey takers and scammers after that. I won't even do a survey for my medical clinic and doctor. Now either cable or satellite TV records all activity so Neilson must be becoming history. Google and other internet sites record our every move. I see no reason for phone or internet surveys concerning my TV use.
I don't understand. What is the monitor for? They actually want you to wear a monitor wherever you go??? When was this...the era of GPS??? Depending on how long the survey period was, I could have some fun with that. edit to add: I just did a quick search on Nielsen. Man, people gots horror stories!!!!
I get "surveys" from the Republican party asking me all kinds of obvious anti Democrat / Biden questions, and by the way here's an envelope to make a donation.
@John Brunner - yes all day long. Do not remember about sleep time. They know your every move. What was odd for me was not being able to explain to others what you were doing. Regardless . we want no part of them ever again!
they use to go door to door, up until the "No Solicitor" signs went up. I don't take any surveys because, and they probably wouldn't be fond of my answers anyway because I wouldn't check their box, I'd just write "ask a stupid question" after every one.
I just took a survey from my tax prep website...to say that it was less than stellar would be an understatement. I could not answer any questions because apparently the webdiesinger didn't;'t allow for answers so when at the end of the survey they asked what could they do yo improve, I suggested that theyy might get someone to code it so I cold actually answer their survey. I do survey that come to email...if reputable I'm nice otherwise not.