AG Forum???

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So can only people who have daughters join the AG forum? And sometimes in the process of asking your opinions on things they show you items that eventually make it to the market?
Joy

[acorniv]

Whew, Julia, you scared me! I just went and read (I think) every word on the forum website. Nowhere that I could find does it say I cannot do other surveys. Where did you read this? I would find that unusual since most people who respond to surveys do a number of them (there are internet lists just for survey takers where people talk about belonging to 300 survey companies). Occasionally I get a survey that asks if I have done a survey on that subject in the past month or year, etc.

I have never seen a contract I was to sign, though others have said they did. Because I have a great respect for the work study groups do I try hard to honor their wishes, and would not knowingly break the rules, wiht or without an official contract. I recently missed out on a survey I really wanted to do because I answered truthfully about my dh's line of work, which could have constituted a conflict of interest.

I have no idea why there is a difference between people's stories or perspectives of how the forum is run. It might be differetn interpretations or it might be that I was supposed to recieve a contract I never even heard of ( untill I met other members) or, it might be that when I signed up they were not requiring them.

You are required to have a parent sign you up if you are under age ( usually defined as under 14 with surveys). Also, both parent and child get a survey ( not always identical, but always covering some common ground), so it's designed to be doen with a child. Some might have a neice or some such and that might be okay - just write and ask. The staff are prompt and helpful.

The survey asks for kids ages 7-12 because that is the target group of this product. That is the age group the company *wants* to sell to. I thnk this fact is really hard for some people to understand, but it makes sense from a business POV as well as it being the company's mission. Pleasant Rowland did have a stated mission (to keep girls from growing up too fast). From how Mattel has proceeded I would suspect they had to sign a contract agreeing to uphold this. Keeping the survey respondent age between 7-12 would be in keeping with this, however they do sometimes ask our opinion about products for other ages.

Having said that, I think it is unfortunate that some of their most devoted fans ( we adults) get shut out of the loop in the process. However, I understand why and support it.

Happy news - I read that we stay members for 1-2 years, or may be asked to continue beyond that. OTOH we can also be dropped with no explanation at any time.

More happy news - the website says that we can speak amongst ourselves if we are members taking the same surveys.

Popsie