Fidelity wants YOU!

[Nords]

... to join their 2007 Customer Advisory Research Panel.

Got a letter today:

"Dear Valued Fidelity Customer,
As part of our ongoing efforts, blah blah blah... Synovate - a national market research organization... blah blah... panel members, ranging from experienced to newer investors, will be asked to share their thoughts on various topics by responding to research surveys. Blah, blah,... over the next 12 months.
The majority of studies will be conducted online but may occasionally be through the mail or over the phone or in an online focus group. For participating, you will be entered into a drawing for cash prizes. To join please go to the link below and enter this ID and password... blah blah... Please respond by February 28th. If you have any questions... please e-mail or phone. Thank you for your interest and cooperation. Sincerely, Joanne Brewda, Vice President, Market Research"

My last focus group I paid me $100 for three hours and fed me a yummy box lunch. Fidelity wants me to work for an entire year without offering free trades or a financial consultation or even TurboTax. They threw a nice investor appreciation reception last December, but do these pikers expect me to volunteer for a door prize?!?

I have a nagging feeling that this is just a subtly-disguised "happiness letter" that could be used against me should I ever go up against Fidelity in arbitration.

Maybe I should tell Fidelity that I want all questions provided to me five working days in advance. Then I could post them here, collate the poll results, and give them some REAL feedback.

Maybe we should direct Synovate to this discussion board.

Or maybe I could give out Synovate's e-mail address & phone number to anyone who wants it.

On the chance that I'm picking up the wrong impression, has anyone else participated in these studies with Fidelity or Synovate?

[bssc]

I doubt that the marketing side of the house talks with compliance. I suspect that they just want to pick your brain for ideas. I got a free solar calculator from them for answering questions about the 1987 Crash. I still have it and it works pretty well.

[Caroline]

Quote:

They threw a nice investor appreciation reception last December, but do these pikers expect me to volunteer for a door prize?!?

Sure they do! Hold out until they cough up something worthwhile! Otherwise, they'll never be trained! ;-)