SwagBucks is driving me crazy today!
By commonground
@commonground (367)
United States
March 8, 2011 12:21pm CST
I really do love to do SwagBucks but today they have finally made me mad. Not just a little upset, MAD!
I finally decided (I knew I shouldn't have done it) to install the SwagBucks Toolbar. I was thinking it might help me to earn more points because I wouldn't have to stop what I was doing to go to the SwagBucks page everytime I needed to search. Also, I saw something that said you could get codes from TSG through the tool bar. Since I have never found codes anywhere before I wanted to improve my chances. With a feeling of dread I downloaded the tool bar.
Went pretty smoothly. Then I actually clicked on it for something and it shut my computer down! You know, that terrible thing where it says your computer shut down due to a fatal error?!
So I immediately went to uninstall when it came back on line. Then it froze my computer... nothing happening for about ten minutes. It finally starts back up and uninstalls correctly. I have a rule to never install toolbars, I can't believe I did it just hopeing for more points. Lesson learned.
Then I went to do a survey on their Trusted Surveys page and found one for 75 points! I jumped on that because I need more points and hardly ever qualify for their surveys. Long story short. I made it so far through that survey that I got to the page that asks if you agree to hold to the confidentiality of the product... I agree and click to the next page and it tells me I DO NOT QUALIFY!!! I just spent about 15 minutes doing the survey, how can I not qualify? They got all my info and answers for free. That's not much of a trusted survay!
Have you had good experiences with SwagBucks? (I always have till today) Do you get to do the surveys and have you EVER foud Swag Codes?
I'm getting a little frustrated with them. Tell me of your experience with them.
2 people like this
11 responses
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Mar 11
The survey thing wasn't SwagBucks fault though. They get them from other companies. I do a lot of them through Vindale and Opinon Outpost and so on, and boy do I get annoyed when I get DQ'd after answering 10 - 15 minutes worth of questions. To be honest, I really think you should have to answer no more than 3 - 4 pages before they decide whether you qualify or not.
Sucks about the toolbar. I'm leery about installing anybody's toolbar for that very reason.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Sorry you are having such a hard time with it today. I learned this a while ago about most offers on sites, they get to do what they ask of you then not approve for payment.
I am not a member there and have considered a couple of times, but now reading your discussion, I think I will stay away.
@lwelizabeth (288)
• United States
8 Mar 11
I only use Swagbucks for searching, and for the codes when I find them. I gave up on doing any surveys pretty much as soon as they introduced them--way too much time is wasted on trying to qualify!
1 person likes this
@commonground (367)
• United States
8 Mar 11
You're absolutely right about those surveys. I think I see a pattern forming here 
I do my searches there and the daily poll. I always open the page to the surveys even if I don't try to qualify because you get a point just for opening the page. I watch the videos and do some of the offers if I'm in the mood for it.
All in all I enjoy the site except not today... they finally pushed me to my limit with the toolbar fiasco and the blatantly rip off with the survey.
It just felt good to get it out there and tell sombody how I felt about it 
In the future I will try to remember it is a waste of time, like you said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I do my searches there and the daily poll. I always open the page to the surveys even if I don't try to qualify because you get a point just for opening the page. I watch the videos and do some of the offers if I'm in the mood for it.
All in all I enjoy the site except not today... they finally pushed me to my limit with the toolbar fiasco and the blatantly rip off with the survey.
It just felt good to get it out there and tell sombody how I felt about it
In the future I will try to remember it is a waste of time, like you said. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
8 Mar 11
I joined that place but never have had enough time to go and get into it.
I'll bet that survey was from OTX sponsored by Swagbucks. OTX is notorious for gathering 15-30 minutes worth of information than telling you that you don't qualify. I wish there was a law they were breaking, I hate that company. You and I are about the same age and I don't qualify for nearly as many surveys as I did a few years ago. I've stopped doing a lot of them but keep my old standbys that I make money at.
1 person likes this
@commonground (367)
• United States
8 Mar 11
I have been a member there for quite a while and had no problems. Even won a SwagStakes, got a new digital camera 
But it just infuriates me how they do with the surveys. I belong to a few tried and true survey sites that are legit and always pay, real surveys, not mining for info. So it's doubly irritating when I come across these flim-flam surveys. And you're right about OTX, they are just hateful. I run the other way when I see it's them. I didn't see their name this time, but it could have been them.
I have the same problem with the age thing, plus I rent instead of own my home. and I live in a rural area. I usually know when they ask for age and zip code that I'll get knocked out of it.
Oh, well, I do have my good ones, as you say with yours, and I am satisfied with them. I don't know what got into me this morning to do the toolbar and the survey... I'm over it now, but still mad at them 
But it just infuriates me how they do with the surveys. I belong to a few tried and true survey sites that are legit and always pay, real surveys, not mining for info. So it's doubly irritating when I come across these flim-flam surveys. And you're right about OTX, they are just hateful. I run the other way when I see it's them. I didn't see their name this time, but it could have been them.
I have the same problem with the age thing, plus I rent instead of own my home. and I live in a rural area. I usually know when they ask for age and zip code that I'll get knocked out of it.
Oh, well, I do have my good ones, as you say with yours, and I am satisfied with them. I don't know what got into me this morning to do the toolbar and the survey... I'm over it now, but still mad at them 
@gigalord (261)
• Romania
8 Mar 11
I've been using SwagBucks for a considerable time and I run almost all my searches on their search engine. I didn't have any problem with the SwagBucks toolbar this far and I think that this company is running one of the best freebie sites on the web.
My luck, I never qualify for any survey :).
1 person likes this
@commonground (367)
• United States
8 Mar 11
I really like SwagBucks, I just think they could do better with the surveys. And I don't know what happened with the toolbar except that it shut down my computer. That's a big No-No in my books. I can still participate in the site without the toolbar. I agree that they are one of the best sites out there. I just think they could do a better job of the survey company they have chosen to use on there site. I have never qualified once for a survey on there. That's kind of fishy to me.
Thanks for joining in the discussion.
@Dinoman90 (224)
• Denmark
8 Mar 11
That's not so good for you commonground. I know about SwagBucks but I never thought about installing their toolbar, but now that you informed people here on myLot about your problems I don't think that I will install it, ever! Maybe you should look for other ways to earn a little extra cash online than that. Good luck!
@commonground (367)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Right, Dinoman, as you say, now others will know not to do it. I can certainly do without the toolbar and I have other surveys I can do. I will keep using SwagBucks, though. They are a good place to save up points and get some gift cards or even cash in your PayPal.
Thanks for joining the discussion.
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
18 Apr 11
Personally I have not used Swag Bucks much myself. I do belong there, but not very active there. The thing with surveys there, or from survey sites, I have that happen all of time time, so for me that is not worth it. And as for Toolbars, I have had that issue with other sites in the past, so never consider downloading any of them anymore as well. Hope things have gotten better from you since this.
@commonground (367)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I actually did try one more time (a glutton for punishment) because it said everyone had an 80% chance of being accepted. I got all athe way to the end of the survey before it told me I did not qualify! I was so mad I sent an email to SB and really told them how I felt about such practices with the surveys and told them of others that felt the same way. I got a real nice response from them. Basically they said they were aware of the way things were happening with the surveys and they were always looking for ways to improve on things. And they were aware of how the members felt about the surveys. Maybe they will do something to improve the way they do things. I don't know, I hope they do make a change but I still will opt out of future surveys.
@mermaidivy (15394)
• United States
8 Mar 11
I just started using Swagbucks last week and I finalyl have some ideas about it. I haven't seen any codes as well and everybody says the toolbar is really a good thing to download in order to get more points, but my husband strongly disagree me to download it because toolbar is usually bad... you case is an good example so I didn't. I am not crazy about it, I just use it as my search engine now when I have to search, I might accumulate the points slowly but that's okay, I use the points for sweepstake only anyway; if I hit, it's good, if not, it doesn't matter seeing we have to accumulate so many points for only a $5 gift card...
@commonground (367)
• United States
8 Mar 11
Well, it sounds like your husband is a smart man. I knew better but did it anyway. See, even when we have reached a wiser, older age we can still mess up and not use good judgement 
I have won a sweepstake on there before, got a new digital camera. I was really pleased with that. So, there is your proof, real people really do win. Just don't count on the toolbar or the surveys.
I have won a sweepstake on there before, got a new digital camera. I was really pleased with that. So, there is your proof, real people really do win. Just don't count on the toolbar or the surveys. @lileenterprises (96)
• United States
19 Apr 11
I don't like the tool bar..it slowed my computer down..not a good thing.
@veproye31 (75)
• United States
9 Mar 11
You don't have to sit with one survey company that is driving you nutts. There are hundreds of survey companies who are looking for dedicated person the give honest opinions. Do a web search for Search engines that promotes survey companies, and get signed up with as much as you want.
@commonground (367)
• United States
9 Mar 11
I actually am signed up with several good survey companies. It's just this particular one that is used by the SwagBucks website that I am talking about here. There are a lot of survey companies that offer these irritating "surveys" that are really not legitimate surveys. They ask you several pages of questions then tell you that you don't qualify. I always try to avoid these.
There are some very good, paying surveys that I have been doing for years, so, I know they are out there. We just have to choose wisely when we join survey sites.
Thanks for joining the discussion 
and welcome to MyLot!
and welcome to MyLot!
@candybat (56)
• United States
3 Apr 11
I know what you mean about the "trusted" surveys. I hardly ever qualify either and sometimes you go through what feels like the whole survey before they tell you that you don't qualify. I do find Swag Codes in the blog because I don't work and spend all day in front of the computer so I am constantly checking the Swagbucks blog. I like the offers though and the searching, oh and the daily points, of course.
@commonground (367)
• United States
11 Apr 11
I guess I'm going to have to pay more attention to the blog and try to spot some codes. I've never even seen one! I think I do remember getting one for something, maybe from TSG for something I did... I don't know. I have won the camera and have cashed in points for a paypal deposit. That's enough to keep me going back.
I do hate the surveys though and the tool bar. So I guess I just need to stay away from the parts that upset me. I can rack up the points doing searches... I search a lot, legitimate searches, too. Always something I need to find info on.
I'm home all day also and spend way too much time in front of this machine 
