I must highly disagree with the comments that IQ research, focus groups, and leadership (ie Rich Ng) are professionals. A more accurate description is dead beat non paying unorganized time wasters. In sept 2025 I was screened for a paid focus group and had to drive to the client's office (TicTok). They did not reimburse for parking, which was $20. Additionally, Mr. Ng made the mistake of sending me there when the client wanted individuals who had never purchased anything on the client's site. So I wasted my time, gas, and paid parking. And Mr. Ng had the nerve to blame me for the " incident ". And claimed it was up to the client (TikTok) to compensate me for focus group. I do these paid focus groups for extra spending money to go shopping. The money is not life or death for me. However, I will decline to participate in any of this agencies groups because it was a horrible and unprofessional experience overall. Shame on Richard Ng, IQ, Intact qualitative research, and shame on the client for non-payment for their own mistakes. So be careful with these people, thanks. There are many other legitimate marketing and focus groups but the ones with IQ are not one of them. I kept the communication w/ this incidence, in case, I ever need to escalate for whatever reason. read more

I have participated in a few focus groups at their facility. I have always had positive experiences. The people working there are professional and friendly. The office setting is welcoming, clean, and always stocked up with food and drinks. I had nothing but positive experiences there. They almost always pay right after the focus group. Highly recommended! read more

IQR is great. First, IQR pays A LOT. You will be well compensated. I went there yesterday and everything was very professional. They email you the location and directions to the building in a very clear way, including advice on parking and how much time to expect etc. They also call you with reminders ahead of time to confirm, which is a plus because everything is organized! The building itself is clean and modern. Everything runs on time, and there are snacks, sandwiches, and drinks in the room to keep everybody's energy up. All the folks who work there are very courteous and friendly. Definitely sign up for focus groups with IQR! read more

I was super surprised when I spoke to Richard Ngo about a study he advertised on craigslist in the Los Angeles area (Santa Monica). I was surprised because he got offended and decided I wasn't fit for a study when I brought it to his attention that he posted wrong dates and in a different city (San Fransico vs LA). He said something to the effect of, "...yeah, I probably should have edited that..." I said to him that it made both him and the client look unprofessional. That's when he decided I wasn't a good fit. Honestly, in this day and age, you'd think some transparency is in order for everyone's safety. ESPECIALLY when you're talking about a FIANCE STUDY. Good luck and beware! read more

Woohoo! As good as it gets! And let me tell you people, it gets no better. From the moment you set foot into the office, you're already overwhelmed by how clean and cozy the place feels, despite the *really* high ceiling. Everything has been remodeled for a minimalistic, modern style, with comfortable couches, chairs, and even a free soda dispenser to make you feel right at home. If you need to hold a focus group, or are contacted to participate in one, like I said, it really gets no better. The entire office staff is friendly and professional, and they always make me feel at ease in their presence. Highly recommended. read more

I've been to a couple focus groups here and everyone is super professional and nice! It's always a downer when you go into an office and you can tell people hate their job, but not here! I've always been provided with a smile! The office is very modern and super clean with water or soda. Usually the have candy or sandwiches before it starts. LIke I mentioned before, this company is professional without being stuffy. They send you all the information needed to get to the correct office/site well in advance and send a couple reminders before so you don't forget. There's always someone at the office in case there are questions, which is a big plus! read more

I have participated in focus groups at Intact Qualitative Research in the past. They have all been interesting. They pay as promised after the research study. They provide sandwiches at some focus groups or snacks. They always provide drinks. Highly recommended and professional company! read more

I had the pleasure of participating in a focus group here a while ago. the people were very professional and the interior decorating is lovely. Compared to other places I've done focus groups, this place was the classiest. read more

I went into this experience with a highly positive attitude and the project director I have been emailing back and forth with is amazing. That being said, after this interaction described below with the person answering phones, I am not motivated to do business with them again. He hurt my feelings by being apathetic. Email to Intact Director: Hi [ ], First of all, I want to thank you personally for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this focus group. It meant a lot to me as I have been using WPS Office for a week of PPT presentations in the office and have been pleasantly surprised at the ease of use and personalized, predictable-to-individual-professionals'-needs presentation sharing options. It has served me very well during 1 important meeting last week and whilst preparing for another important and lucrative meeting that I was just in this afternoon that I facilitated to potential business clients from Beijing relocating to San Francisco in two months time. In short, I am loving this app and look forward to the possibilities of relaying pertinent information to potential and VIP clients. I do not intend to waste your time. I apologize from the sincerest part of my heart about this, but I am just kind of heartbroken over the way events unfolded over the past 35 minutes. I work in the FiDi; that is where my preforementioned meeting was occuring this afternoon. Because of an extremely difficult language barrier between my clients, their interpreter and I, my meeting ended up running until 4:40pm; it was scheduled to end at 4pm. I could not leave this meeting I was facilitating as you can surely understand. I had to remain there to try my best to translate into Mandarin, given the difference in symantics of the Mandarin language and the English language. It ran late. My driver and I were en route from Samsome & California Streets in the FiDi to the Intact Qualitative Research office at 4:49pm. This is when I phone your office to inform that I will be arriving near 5pm. A male employee answered the phone, exuding a pronounced, unwelcoming and stern intonation of vocal communication telling me that "if you cannot get here before 5:00pm, not a second later, exactly, don't bother wasting your time, okay. Okay, bye." He then dismissed me. I totally understand: It's Monday, it has been a very long day for your employee and all of us, in fact. Mondays are so difficult to deal with sometimes. Today in particular. I am empathetic towards his personal needs today. But I am so heartbroken over the fact that I have this gut-wrenching feeling that his problems were directed at me. So I am in the car being driven over to your offices, flipping out that I cannot be one second late, after this trying day of meetings, and making a concerted effort to respect all parties I have made a firm commitment to meet today. My stress still has not subsided. Mostly because I arrived at your door at 599 3rd ST just 23 seconds late and stepped out of the car, but then heard the male employees voice in my mind again directing me " "if you cannot get here before 5:00pm, not a second later, exactly, don't bother wasting your time, okay. Okay, bye.". To be completely frank, I have never treated somebody with such a personally hurtful and professionally inappropriate and unacceptable demeanor via phone conversation, who has made an honest and concerted effort to appease me given the daily circumstances that unfolded. I did my very best to honour my promise to your company and arrived only 23 seconds late due to my professional circumstance and rush hour double-parked delivery vans, trucks and heavy traffic flow and stand-still stop lights. Normally, I would proceed to enter a business meeting, albeit with an uncomfortable and sincere apologetic attitude, but because of the manner in which I was addressed and spoken to, I felt utterly horrible for not fulfilling my end of this professional agreement by arriving 23 seconds late, so I re-entered the car and asked my driver if he could please drive me back to my office here in the financial district because I was no longer allowed to partake in this meeting anymore. This feels so bad inside, I am personally and professionally hurt by this. In addition, I felt so embarrassed and like an imbecile for having to honestly explain this all to my very confused driver. I want to personally and professionally apologize to you for failing to fulfill my commitment to you to be there not one second after 5:00pm. This entire situation has definitely cast a very dark gray cloud over my already, out-of-control professional workday and I hope to soon find an understanding somewhere inside to justify the treatment by your company that I have just endured because this is really an unfortunate situation that has unfolded. Regards, Blythe read more

IQR is a very professional company. They started and finished on time for my focus group with a highly reputable tech company. I was very appreciate of the sandwiches and snacks they provided as well! Thank you to the team! read more

Their recruiter took my response to one ad and added me to a bulk list. They then began reaching out to me for a study I had no interest in, without my permission, and without my consent. I emailed their partner 'Richard' to let him know this had happened and how perterbed I was that they'd done this, and he send me an email back thinking I was the recruiter I'd complained about stating "What happened here? Did you send out a email blast?". By Email blast he was indicating I'd been added to a bulk list which they would use to reach out to people in bulk...,unfortunately at no time and nowhere within the original ad did they ask my permission or state their intent to add me to a list. I've worked with User study groups all around the Bay Area, in different states, and on different continents. I've also run studies for other companies. I've never encountered such an unprofessional and haphazard way of dealing with people as I did in this instance. If their 'partner' is cutting corners and knows they are keeping information without letting respondee's know, one can only assume their respect of your privacy is slim to none. Hope the free sandwiches and candy are worth it, apparently any and all information you provide them are fair game, whether you approve of (or are compensated for) it ,or not. read more

Very professional company. The inside is very nicely decorated and the staff is accommodating and welcoming. They also offer goodies while you wait. I highly recommend working with IQR! read more