Ever Wasted Your Time Like This?
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11833)
February 6, 2011 5:37am CST
I've just spent quite some time reading about and signing up for a writing opportunity where I was hoping to contribute earn a small amount of pocket money. It took quite some effort, reading the 'how to' guide, navigating the site and so on.
Then I noticed the part which said that you can only earn money if you are in the US. So, I can contribute my writing, but I can't get paid for it? Why would I do that?! I really didn't notice anything about this previously, even though there was information about payment scales etc which I read thoroughly and the site asked me for my PayPal address and country. Perhaps it was there, but it certainly wasn't made clear.
I'm most frustrated and cross that I've wasted so much time and effort. Has this ever happened to you when registering for a new opportunity?
4 people like this
12 responses
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
6 Feb 11
It has happened to me more than once, usually it's one of the first things I check in the TOS or in the reviews of the respective site - if they pay international members. The reviews also tell me if the site has any actual work for international members - very often they let you sign up, and they'll pay, if you can find something to do, but most of their tasks are for the US (and UK sometimes, by the way 
) - and it's even a bigger waste of time, checking back often to see if they have new assignments, and there are none.
It's weird though that this site asked you for your country and your PayPal address, you'd say they'd at least give a warning that you won't be paid.
) - and it's even a bigger waste of time, checking back often to see if they have new assignments, and there are none.
It's weird though that this site asked you for your country and your PayPal address, you'd say they'd at least give a warning that you won't be paid. 1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
6 Feb 11
It was one of the more reputable names, so I was really surprised! Perhaps I just missed it, but it certainly wasn't clear.
I've learned my lesson now though, and I've been researching others on forums etc this morning before I make the same mistake again!
Is there a particular site you find useful for reviews?
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
6 Feb 11
I have never written specifically for a site - paid or otherwise. I have had a couple of blogs and my "payment" is the comments of others. As I said to the Boss earlier - "we are not money rich. But we have the love and friendship of so many" and that ind of makes up for the lack of £sd.
@GreenMoo (11833)
•
6 Feb 11
If I said something like that to my dearly beloved with a straight face he'd put me out to sleep with the chickens, however true the sentiment might be!
Seriously though, the comments and fun are really why I stick around at myLot. I certainly can't claim to be very successful here from a cash point of view.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
7 Feb 11
Yes, I too have wasted my time like this before in survey sites. Like you, I too went over all the guidelines and whatever they bother to put up and then the surveys started coming in my email. And the worst part was that after completing nearly half of the survey questions, I am told that I’m (people from my part of the globe) are not eligible for this particular survey and that the site will inform me when suitable surveys come for me. I’ve never had a single suitable survey for me and I just gave up the site for good.
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
6 Feb 11
*sigh* Yep! It happened to me too. I'm in Canada and there are many opportunities that are not available to Canadians. Now, instead of reading about how sites work, their promise of pay, etc., I head straight to the terms and conditions, the guidelines, the legal links, etc. and look for any indication of geographical restrictions. Otherwise, it's really frustrating, as you said, to read about all the good things (or promises of good things, anyway) and THEN find out that you can't have a key to the door :(
@thinkingoutloud (6127)
• Canada
6 Feb 11
I know exactly what you mean, GreenMoo... here at myLot, I see discussions all the time where people rave about certain of the most popular, well-known, recognizable writing sites or freelance/task sites. I think "wow, so many people are using that one so it must be reliable"... over I go, all set to give it a try. Then, somewhere in the small print, no Canadians. Bleh! 
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
14 Feb 11
No I have not really personally had to deal with something like this. However, I can only imagine how frustrating something like that. They should really spell out something like that clearly when you register. Otherwise it just seems like they are just trying to fool you into doing something. It does seem very agitating to say the very least. Thankfully I never have had to deal with this but I do think that this would be annoying. They should really spell these things out a lot better.
@jennyze (7028)
• Indonesia
7 Feb 11
I am sorry for your wasted time but I could not help not laughing.
I worked in a chain hotel before in the Marketing Dept. Yes, we would put the 'unattractive conditions' in an unlikely page with a very small letter so people could not read it right away or if possible people would miss-look it. I guess it happens with websites, too.
I wasted times too several ties with reading FAQs, guide lines, etc.
I worked in a chain hotel before in the Marketing Dept. Yes, we would put the 'unattractive conditions' in an unlikely page with a very small letter so people could not read it right away or if possible people would miss-look it. I guess it happens with websites, too.
I wasted times too several ties with reading FAQs, guide lines, etc.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
7 Feb 11
Its irritating. I feel like every time I earn a few cents online until I recieve the payment its all up in the air. I cant count how many sites I have built up a chunk of change and then they go away all together. Its a little bit like gambling.
I am a stay at home mom and so I dont really make any money to contribute to the family. These sites are fun for me to bring in a little bit here and there.
@sergeantrom (5721)
• United States
6 Feb 11
It most certainly has happened to me and a lesson well learned. Now I scan a website first for all that small print or things not made clear. I dont think it should be this difficult for them to make things clear; its a warning sign to me. I applaud you though for taking the time to read thru things. It really does help us in many ways. Maybe not this time but you will know the next time it happens exactly where to look. Count it as experience which is never wasted.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
6 Feb 11
That has not happened to me since I live in the US but I sympathize with you! There are so many sites out there that waste our time. We look for ways to make money and it would be nice if they would just list the pros and cons and the requirements on the first page!!
I write articles and make a couple hundred a month. Now, it takes some time and it's not a matter of spending a couple minutes and collecting money. But if you are interested in writing a few articles a month for some money I'll send you the address of my "boss" if you like.
@GreenMoo (11833)
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6 Feb 11
I think you already did and I do! I knew it was someone on myLot who recommended the guy I used to do some work for but I'd forgotten who.
He'd been emailing me pretty regularly since I stopped accepting work regularly, but now that I'm actually available he's taking an awful long time to respond to my emails!
@GreenMoo (11833)
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6 Feb 11
Nice to see you around again BlueCat. It's been ages since I've seen you. Perhaps I'll catch you on Skype sometime?!
I've spent hours this morning researching other writing opportunities. I guess I should use my time more profitably here on myLot and just keeping in touch with my friends :-)
@byteeraser (7)
• Romania
6 Feb 11
yes it happened to me a few times. Sometimes just like you after wasting some time on it i discovered this terms and other times reading about such opportunities on forums and deciding to join but when i tried the same terms... I don`t think such conditions should be required and specially if the payment method is by PayPal which is available in many countries not just US. Although when it comes to surveys the regional settings might be needed.
