FAQs

We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of common questions and answers about Datassential FoodSurveys. Browse the section, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, get in touch at customerservice@datassential.com and we’ll be happy to help.

REWARDS

What are reward points?
Reward points are a form of virtual currency awarded to Datassential FoodSurveys members for various actions, including participation in surveys, and inviting foodservice colleagues to join our community. Each reward point is equivalent to $1. You can use the reward points you accumulate to redeem Amazon eGift Card Codes.

How many reward points will I earn for my participation?
You receive reward points for each survey you successfully complete/qualify for. 1 reward point is equal to $1. The incentive can range from $15 to $250 reward points depending on the length and the type of survey. A typical survey is 10-15 minutes, and the incentive is $15 -$20 reward points, which you can use for $15-$20 Amazon eGift Card Code. On occasion, an operator could be offered the chance to participate in a phone or a webcam interview that can last up to an hour, and the incentive for these is typically between $150 and $250.

When will I be paid?
You can redeem your reward points for Amazon eGift Card Codes after you successfully complete/qualify on a survey, or you can choose to accumulate reward points to redeem an Amazon eGift Card Code of a higher value. Please Note: As always, you can redeem your reward points for an Amazon eGift Card Code, but once you redeem a code, it will take 1-2 business days before you receive an email with the code. This time allows us to verify that each reward goes to the correct person and will ensure you always get the rewards you earned.

If you redeem an Amazon eGift Card Code and we manually approve it, you will receive an email with your gift card e-code at the email address you have registered with us. To use the gift card code, you will be required to register the e-code on Amazon’s website. This is your sole responsibility, and we shall have no liability for any failure to do so (full instructions will be in the email).

How will I be paid?
To redeem an Amazon eGift Card simply login to Members App and go to the Rewards section. Once you redeem an Amazon eGift Card, we will manually approve it and send you an email with an Amazon e-code (full instructions will be in the email).

You have the following options you can redeem if you have enough reward points accumulated:
$10 Amazon Gift Card Code for 10 reward points
$15 Amazon Gift Card Code for 15 reward points
$50 Amazon Gift Card Code for 50 reward points
$100 Amazon Gift Card Code for 100 reward points

Why did I not receive a reward confirmation email?
If there is a delay in receiving your Amazon eGift Card code by email, a few things may have happened. It could be in your "junk" or "spam" folder, so check these first. If you are still having trouble, you can reach out to our support team by sending us an email, and we will investigate.

Can I dispute an incentive?
If you wish to dispute an incentive, you should contact us by email and describe the exact nature of the alleged discrepancy. We will notify you of the results of any investigation. Any determination we make, in our sole discretion, is final.

Can you debit my Datassential FoodSurveys account?
We may debit or credit your Datassential FoodSurveys account balance at any time and without notice, in our sole discretion, to rectify any payments made to, or debits from, your account balance that were caused by human error, technological error, or any other mistake or systems failure.

What happens to my reward points if I have not participated in any surveys for one year?
If you have not participated in any surveys for one year, any rewards in your account balance may be forfeited.

SURVEYS

Do I have to do all the surveys?

Participation in our surveys is entirely voluntary. We invite you to all surveys that you may qualify for, and you can complete as many or as few of them as you want. The more surveys you take, the more rewards you earn.

How many surveys can I do?

You can participate in as many of the surveys we send you as you like (though each survey can only be completed once), whenever you like, provided you qualify to complete the survey. However, different surveys run for different lengths of time, so it's best to participate early to avoid disappointment: once a survey is closed or enough panelists with a certain profile have completed a survey, you may miss the chance to complete it. There is no set number of surveys you receive in any given period. Suitable panelists are selected at random for a survey, so you may receive many in quick succession or similarly, you may go a while without receiving one.

Do your surveys have quality control checks?

To ensure that you consider each question carefully before answering, we have added quality control checks to all of our surveys. Reward points are not accredited to your account if your answers are illogical or if a minimum amount of time has not been spent taking part in a survey. These built-in quality control questions appear on every survey and are administered to everyone equally.

What are the topics of the surveys?

The topics of the surveys and interviews could be evaluating concepts for new products, prices for new or current products, satisfaction with currently used services or products, ideas for products you would want to see in the future in your operation, safety protocols, and opinions about the current business climate. Anything related to the foodservice industry and how you operate your business.

How do I qualify for surveys?

Datassential FoodSurveys will match you to survey opportunities based on the information you provide in your profile. We are continuously refreshing your survey queue with new surveys. Be sure your answers are consistent with your Datassential FoodSurveys profile. If you need to make changes to your profile information, send us an email and we can update your profile for you.

What is the information used for?

Your answers will be pooled with all the other responses to the survey and analyzed as average scores. We use the information you provide us to publish and deliver insights that help support and drive innovation in the foodservice industry. Our insights serve a wide range of businesses including some of the largest distributors and manufacturers, such as Sysco and Tyson, as well as local small businesses like yours.

Most of the research we do is commissioned by our clients, but we also do pro bono research that we share with the foodservice community. We deeply care about every foodservice business trying to survive and succeed in these difficult times and we try to help with what we do best – turning data into actionable insights. Our free research related to COVID-19 is located here - https://datassential.com/coronavirus/.

Why do you keep asking the same questions in almost every survey?

Datassential FoodSurveys screening process is continuous, the objective being to have broad and current attributes on each member. Our clients make marketing decisions based on responses from our members in the surveys so we must implement strict quality controls to make sure you are part of the target the client is looking for. The questions we ask at the beginning of each survey may seem repetitive but are necessary to ensure the integrity of the survey sample.

Where can I find the results of the surveys?

You can find some of the results from our operator and consumer research on our corporate website Datassential.com.

Can I do something else other than completing online surveys?

On occasion an operator could be offered the chance to participate in a phone or a webcam interview that can last up to an hour and the incentive for these is typically between $150 and $250.

What happens to my answers when I don’t qualify for a survey?

When you do not qualify for a survey, your responses cannot be used in the final research findings, and therefore are never transferred to our clients. Likewise, Datassential FoodSurveys will never use or transfer these responses for internal use. As the information you entered is incomplete and cannot be used for our client’s research, you will not receive reward points.

REGISTERING

How do I register?

After you receive an invitation to join our community and pass our screening process, we will provide you with a link to the Registration page. You must register and confirm a personal account by entering a valid email address and creating a password in the registration section of our website. You will also be asked to accept our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions as part of the process.

To accept your membership, we will verify that the foodservice location you provided during the registration process exists and give them a call. Once we confirm your job title at that location, we will approve your membership. This process should take between 5 and 10 business days.

When do I start participating in surveys?

Finish the full registration process and get verified by us. Once you have access to our Members App, log in using the username and password you created. If a survey matches your profile, you will receive an invitation by email or see the surveys available in your “Surveys” tab on our Members App.

Do I need to register?

Yes, completing and confirming the registration process tells us that you have "opted-in" to receive emails regarding upcoming surveys.

How much does it cost to register?

Registration is free! Datassential FoodSurveys does not charge for joining, and there are NO annual membership or administration fees. Not only will you never be asked to pay, but just by successfully completing our surveys and engaging in our community, you will earn reward points that can be exchanged for Amazon eGift Card Codes.

Why does Datassential FoodSurveys ask for personal information such as name and email address?

We ask for personal information such as your name, email address, and employment details to better match you with the appropriate surveys. This information is also used for incentive fulfillment so that we may send your reward to the appropriate recipient email address. Other personal information that you may be asked to provide to us is solely for building and operating a proprietary database of panelists. We provide your responses to our surveys to our clients in anonymized and aggregated form. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.

I completed the Registration Survey, but why can’t I log in to the FoodSurveys Members App?

In order for you to have access to login to the FoodSurveys Members App, you will need to continue the process by completing the following:

Click on the link sent to your email to verify your email address and confirm your registration.
Be verified by us that the foodservice location you provided during the registration process exists.
Once we confirm your job title at that location, we will approve your membership.

REFERRALS

Who should you refer?

You can refer any colleagues that works in the foodservice industry and are responsible for the food and beverage purchases in their operation.

How does it work?

Refer a colleague by filling out the form located in the "Refer a Colleague" section in the Members App.
Your colleague will receive an email with a link to our registration form which includes a few brief questions.
We will verify the information your colleague provides in the registration form and approve them.
As soon as they are approved, your colleague will receive their first survey which is worth 10 reward points.
When your colleague is approved and complete their first survey, you will receive 10 reward points.

How long does it take?

It usually takes between 5 to 10 business days to verify if your referral was accepted to our FoodSurveys exclusive community.

How many reward points will I earn for inviting a colleague?

Each time you invite a colleague, your account will be credited with 10 reward points once your colleague is verified by us and completes their first survey.

Why did I not receive reward points for my referral after 10 days?

If you never receive the reward points for your referral, this means that your colleague didn't get approved, or they never fully verified/confirmed their email. To check the status of your referral send us an email.

How do I check the status of my referrals?

To check the status of your referrals, you can reach out to our support team by sending us an email, and we will investigate.

ACCOUNT

Can I have more than one account?

You may only register one Datassential FoodSurveys account. If you attempt to register multiple accounts, we have the right, in our sole discretion, to suspend or close any and all of the accounts without notice and to prohibit you from further or future use of the site or Datassential FoodSurveys. In the event that we close your account(s), you shall forfeit any rewards that you have accrued.

How can I update my employment information?

If you start a new job at a new foodservice operation, or your role changes, for example, you need to update your employment information by simply sending us an email with the new information and we will make sure to update your profile. It is important that you keep your employment information up to date, as this helps us send you surveys you are more likely to qualify for.

How do I change my email address/password?

To change your email address, send us an email requesting such a change and we will update it for you. A new confirmation email will be sent to your new email to verify and confirm. To change your password, simply head on over to the Members App, enter your email, and click on the Reset Password button. A Password reset email will then be sent out allowing you to set a new password! If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to send us an email.

Your email address is where we will send your email notifications to alert you of surveys for which you may qualify. Your email and password are your login credentials to our Datassential FoodSurveys Members App.

How do I close my account?

To close your account, simply log in to the Members App and go to the My Account section and click “Close Account.”

Warning! Closing your account cannot be undone and will result in forfeiting your reward points.

You are solely responsible for redeeming any rewards that you have earned before you close your account. You may only redeem rewards per our redemption rules. If you do not have a sufficient redemption amount in your account, you will not be able to redeem any existing rewards.

Alternatively, you can click "You can opt-out or adjust your communication preferences at any time by clicking here" from the bottom of our survey emails. This will redirect you to the My Account section from the Members App.

Please Note: If a personal account is closed, all profile information provided by you through Datassential FoodSurveys will be deleted from our records.

I am unable to log in to my account

If you are unable to log into your account, please use the "Reset Password" from the login page. You will receive an email to reset your password, please follow the steps to reset. If you continue to have issues logging in, send us an email.

How can I see the recent activity I have done in my account?

To check your account's recent activity, simply login to the Members App and go to the Activity History to find activity details, dates, and any reward points awarded.

PARTICIPATION

How do I find out about new surveys?

All new surveys that match your profile will be emailed to the email address on record. They will also appear on the Members App in the Surveys section. There, you will be able to see the project information of each survey opportunity (Estimated duration, Reward, Device type friendly, etc).

Keep in mind, you are matched with surveys that you are most likely to successfully complete, so be sure to always keep your profile up to date. If your employment details change, send us an email and we can help you update them.

The surveys may only remain available for a limited time until the survey quota is met. Our research partners have specific quotas that state how many completed surveys they need. Once we reach that quota, you might get disqualified after answering a few questions even if the survey is still available to you.

How long does it take to fill out a survey?

Survey length is strictly dependent on the study. A typical survey is 10-15 minutes. We'll always tell you the approximate amount of time it will take to complete a survey before you begin. We track the average completion time and ensure that the estimations are as accurate as possible.

Why did I get screened out of a survey?

This is because some surveys are looking for a very specific group who meet a very narrow set of demographic criteria. Sometimes, determining whether someone qualifies for a survey takes just a few questions, other times it may take more questions. Please know we appreciate your participation and that when you don’t qualify, your responses are not used in the final research findings.

We are constantly working to improve our profile-matching algorithm to select only the surveys for which you are best qualified. Sadly, we cannot guarantee that you will qualify for all surveys. For example, even if our profile matching algorithm has found a survey that you are perfectly matched for, it is still possible that demographic quotas for that survey might be reached (and the survey closed) while you are actually in the process of completing it.

We are absolutely focused on delivering high-quality surveys and searching for new ways to improve our software every day.

Why didn’t I get reward points for trying to do a survey?

You have been screened out from the survey. Sometimes surveys are looking for respondents with a specific profile.
The survey was closed. Surveys close once they reach the required number of responses.

We aim to screen out our panelists in the first questions of the surveys to avoid spending too much time on a survey that will end up terminating you.

How long do I have to complete a survey?

You should try to complete a survey as soon as possible after receiving the invite and starting it.

Different surveys run for different lengths of time, so it's best to participate early to avoid disappointment: once a survey is closed or enough panelists with a certain profile have completed a survey, it can no longer be completed.

Why can’t I restart a survey?

In accordance with best practice research guidelines, you may take part in a survey only once, and the answers you provide cannot be changed once they have been submitted.

Why is the survey full when I just received the invitation a short time ago?

Sometimes this happens if a survey is generating greater than expected responses. Please know that more survey opportunities will become available.

What should I do if I can’t access a survey or need to report a survey issue?

If you encounter a technical problem with a survey, please report it to us by sending us an email and providing the survey Reference Number found at the bottom of each email invite, along with any screenshots, if possible. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by technical errors and will do our best to get them resolved.

We ask that you provide as much detail about the survey as possible, such as:

The reference number on each of the survey email invite
Date/time taken
Screenshots (if possible)
Forward the original survey invite to customerservice@datassential.com noting the issue you are having

How can I send feedback about a survey?

We are constantly working to improve the quality of the surveys that we provide and value the feedback of our community. If you would like to provide any type of feedback, please send us an email.

How often are new surveys available?

There is no set number of surveys you receive in any given period. Suitable panelists are selected at random for a survey, so you may receive many in quick succession or similarly, you may go a while without receiving one.

Will Datassential FoodSurveys try to sell me something?

No, under no circumstances will surveys be used to sell or promote a product, nor will you receive any advertising or promotional material as a result of joining our community.

ABOUT US

How does Datassential FoodSurveys work?

It's simple: We send you surveys, and you provide your opinion on them. As a token of appreciation for your time, for every survey you successfully complete, you will receive reward points. You can redeem your reward points for Amazon eGift Card Codes as soon as you successfully complete a survey, or you can choose to accumulate reward points to redeem an Amazon eGift Card Code of a higher value. To redeem an Amazon eGift Card Code, simply log in to the Members App and go to the Rewards section. Once you redeem an Amazon eGift Card Code, we will send you an email with an Amazon e-code.

Who are we?

Datassential is a market research company to supports the foodservice industry and helps drive innovation. We work with a wide range of businesses, including some of the largest distributors and manufacturers. The opinions you share in our surveys will help them develop better products and offer better services. To learn more about Datassential, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

Who can be part of FoodSurveys?

Datassential FoodSurveys is an invitation-only community.

If you are a decision maker for food, beverage, and equipment purchases for foodservice operations, we will reach out to you via phone call or email. Or if you have a friend or colleague who is part of our community, they can invite you.

What is the benefit of joining?

Participating in our surveys is an opportunity to change the future of the foodservice industry and get paid in the process.

Why should you take our surveys?

Datassential works with a wide range of businesses, including some of the largest distributors and manufacturers. The opinions you share in our surveys can directly influence decisions about the products and services they offer your business. With us, you will provide feedback on new product concepts, prices, different services, and much more. Your participation shapes the landscape and future of the foodservice industry!