Mexico: Random Surveys
The next time I am asked if I would like to participate in a survey, I will make sure to ask the interviewer if it will really only take five minutes of my time, or if by five minutes he means one hour.
So there I was, sitting on a park bench, reading a book, and listening to the calming sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. Tranquility. Along comes a professionally-dressed man who asks me if I would be willing to help him out with a survey. He was doing marketing research for various department stores in Mexico City. I agreed to the survey since I was under the impression that it would only be a few questions and I could be on my way in less than ten minutes. I was mistaken.
After asking me questions about where I like to go shopping, the last place I went shopping, what I bought, how much it cost, why I go to certain stores and not others, what advertisements I see, the methods in which I see them, which stores offer the best prices, discounts, and sales, the quality of the clothing at the stores I like, and apparently there is a correlation between all of these questions and the number of light fixtures in my apartment because that was also a question included in his survey. Close to an hour later, there we remained on the park bench. The survey concluded, the man continued on his way, and I was left a bit annoyed.
Then I reminded myself that at the time I was under no obligations other than to rest for a while in between working and going to the gym. Time was not money. I really had nothing else to do. I realized that I helped the guy out and was presented with another opportunity to practice my Spanish...an all-around win-win situation.
So there I was, sitting on a park bench, reading a book, and listening to the calming sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. Tranquility. Along comes a professionally-dressed man who asks me if I would be willing to help him out with a survey. He was doing marketing research for various department stores in Mexico City. I agreed to the survey since I was under the impression that it would only be a few questions and I could be on my way in less than ten minutes. I was mistaken.
After asking me questions about where I like to go shopping, the last place I went shopping, what I bought, how much it cost, why I go to certain stores and not others, what advertisements I see, the methods in which I see them, which stores offer the best prices, discounts, and sales, the quality of the clothing at the stores I like, and apparently there is a correlation between all of these questions and the number of light fixtures in my apartment because that was also a question included in his survey. Close to an hour later, there we remained on the park bench. The survey concluded, the man continued on his way, and I was left a bit annoyed.
Then I reminded myself that at the time I was under no obligations other than to rest for a while in between working and going to the gym. Time was not money. I really had nothing else to do. I realized that I helped the guy out and was presented with another opportunity to practice my Spanish...an all-around win-win situation.
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