I came to Plaza Research at 8am this morning to do an 8-hour focus group. Parking was easy in the structure next to the building, and they validated so it was free. I momentarily got super excited to see a food truck between the parking garage and the building - with a Kogi logo!? Sadly, it was indeed a Kogi logo...that had been removed and replaced by a generic one. Sigh - Kogi as a reward for being up this early woulda been awesome : /. When I arrived, I was asked to complete a form, reiterating the info I was asked when they screened me for the group. The start time was 9am, but to incentivize people to get here early, they held a drawing for two people to win an extra $75 - this to reward those physically present at 8:30am. Nice! They provided "breakfast" - coffee (powdered creamer and pump French Vanilla Coffeemate liquid), canned sodas, giant assorted Costco muffins. One of the researchers announced that since the group was so long, they would be giving us breaks to use the bathroom, check mail and vm, have a snack, etc. - every hour to hour and a half. The group was a fascinating mix of ages, ethnicities and, as made obvious thru the day - intelligence levels.....which I guess is appropriate for this mock jury-type focus group. After taking headshots of everybody, 26 of us waited til 9am to be showed into a conference room. 3 of the group was paid to go home ($75, way less than to stay) as they always overbook to allow for absences/latecomers. True to their word, we had frequent 10-ish minute breaks, and a longer (40-ish min) lunch. They provided boxed Togo's sammiches (turkey, ham or vegetarian w/avocado) with fruit (an apple or banana), bagged chips, sodas, wrapped hard candies and sad-looking dry mini chocolate chip cookies for lunch. At around 3pm, they also offered hot microwave popcorn, Chex-type mix, and the same sad, dry chocolate chip cookies with sodas as snacks. Coffee, water, sodas and the hard candies were available for us all day. That's right - don't come here for the food, foodies! Now you see why Kogi in the morning would have impressed me so - this is not my first time here! I'm not complaining though - at 6pm sharp, I was paid for giving my opinion - which (hello, I AM a Yelper!) I enjoyed doing. I went home $160 richer, and with a day's worth of fascinating legal info safely (I signed a confidentiality form) locked in my brain. And yes, I'd do it again in a heartbeat! read more

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Came yesterday for a 2 HR focus group that paid 150.00. I've been doing focus groups for years, it's fun and easy money. The place was easy to find near the airport, and they validate in the sky view parking area. It was beautiful out yesterday, not hot like the valley where I live. The people who work here were nice. They had sandwiches and sodas out for us, although I didn't have any. One guy had two, and said he wasn't even hungry, and how great they were! Lol. The focus group finished in 1 HR 15 mins. Easiest 150 I ever made! I would recommend doing focus groups here. Great experience. read more

I have been coming here for several years now for surveys & I am never disappointed with the experience and the compensation. This place is a bit far for me, but the pay is always worth it! I have gotten to do some really cool surveys on different topics and some well known-brands. Sometimes I would get called in to do a survey, but I would end up being an extra just in case someone didn't show; however most of the times when that happened I got sent home, but still compensated the full amount promised! But the surveys that I did get to experience were so much fun & I always look forward to upcoming ones. Sometimes they send you to different locations or some may even be from home done online, which is cool and convenient. The employees are so nice and welcoming every time I come for a survey. The waiting area is very spacious and they usually have some drinks & snacks for you while you wait. The parking is validated if you park in the lot across from them. I recommend coming early sometimes they have raffles to win extra money. Also, it is near LAX so traffic can be difficult at times! read more

Plaza Research - Parking Entrance & Plaza Research Entrance - Marketing Near Me - Los Angeles, California

In need of some extra dough? Aren't we all? Start going to paid focus groups! Well, I'm not a starving college student anymore, but every now and then it's nice to make an extra hundred dollars or so for fun things like clothes and vacations. I've been here twice for focus groups and I will definitely be back, if they'll have me. The key is to get on their mailing list and just take every pre-qualifying survey you can. The first one I went to paid out $150 and the most recent one was $125. Both were only 90 minutes, not bad for an hour and half of answering questions! They give you snacks and drinks, although don't expect anything more than some grocery store sandwiches and cookies. They also validate your parking. Not my favorite thing to do because the focus groups are definitely boring, but I can't turn down cold hard cash. All in all, a smart way to supplement your income. read more

Tonight I attended a focus group at the Plaza Research. Plaza Research engaged in a deceptive business practice by short paying me and several others $10.00. On Sept. 26th, 2012 I received a call from a female representing Plaza Research. She qualified me for the focus group and clearly stated I would be compensated $100.00 for my time. I was paid $90.00 upon completion of the focus group. This was in violation of our agreement. When I approached the gentleman who issued the checks and calmly asked about this discrepancy he became enraged and threatened to call security. I then asked for a supervisor. She was indifferent and could care less. All of the employees I encountered at this facility were completely unprofessional. In fact, several other participants overheard my discussions and stated they were also told the compensation would be $100. The supervisor dismissed their claims, as well. Furthermore, Plaza Research is not Accredited with the Better Business Bureau. If you are personally interested in doing focus groups I highly recommend you get the amount of compensation promised in writing before you attend such groups. read more

This company constantly sends emails that are starting to feel like click-bait. Nobody replies, it takes at least 10 minutes to get through their questions, they end up with a ton of personal information, and you end up getting: NOTHING. Aside from being a waste of time, it's probably not a good idea to give your personal information for their pretense. I'll never try to participate in any of their BS again. read more

The employees set you up for there advantages do not work for them. They pick the early bird based on how nice you are. Me too at its best when nothing criminal happened. Lazy employees do not care for the clients they hate most of the clients that pay. Beware read more

Pretty unprofessional, outdated facilities and screeners who are impersonable. Compared to Adler, Trotta, Jackson, Adelpt...this place takes the cake for lousiest user experience. read more

Decent but when you sign up at their website for upcoming studies they never call you and they spam your email l.

In order to get into a study, you first have to take a 10 minute online survey to see if you qualify. I've done so many of their medical surveys & they are NEVER in my area. Waste of time!!! These market research studies used to be some easy & decent money & now, it's just not worth it :( read more

I've participated in numerous focus groups and this place is pretty nice compared to other facilities I've been in. Easy to find, next to the Sheraton hotel, parking is slim pickings but there are other parking options, parking is validated, and their office is directly to the right on the first floor. The waiting area is big, they provided water and soft drinks, salty snacks, and cookies. They had an early bird drawing, they started on time, and they were very friendly. The focus group ran longer than expected but the employees were quick to cut us our checks and validate our parking so we could be on our way ASAP. Hope to get called in for another group at this location in the future. read more

Kind front office staff. They are very helpful and very polite. The facility itself is very clean and not outdated. The study I completed lasted for the scheduled amount of time. We were paid accurately and promptly afterward, as promised. Would definitely recommend this place. Parking was also easy and validated. read more

Show up, have fun, get paid! That's what I'm talking about. Only advice to plaza is to have better dinner food then those stale ass chips and subway. read more

I came in for a focus group study that paid $100. They had sandwiches and sodas for us while we waited. The group was small (only 8 of us, plus the facilitator) and very interactive. We also were able to bring our food and drinks in with us. I liked that we actually had a table to use for writing our notes and I like the small group because I actually felt like not only was my opinion valued, but that they were listening to what I had to say. Our group was very interactive and we completed a lot of activities. It was not boring--it was fun and went by fast. I liked the check paid out to cash so there was no hassle cashing the check and there was hassle cashing it. read more

I recently attended a Focus Group at Plaza Research. I was impressed with the professional appearance of the building, and the employees were extremely helpful. Refreshments were provided, and since it was around dinner time they even brought me a turkey sub and fresh fruit to enjoy while I waited. Oddly enough, after arriving early for my appointment I sat in the waiting room for about an hour before asking for an update on the status of my appointment. The receptionist made a phone call and they brought me out a check for the full amount we had agreed upon, validated my parking, and I was on my way. I don't know if they forgot about me or what but it wasn't bad getting paid to sit in a waiting room and play on my phone for an hour. I would definitely go back. read more

The screener was so rude when she called. She asked me how many research groups had I been apart of and because I forgot one research group that I had been apart of she asked me why I lied to her. She treated me if as I was a child and scolded me like one. Like really how unprofessional. She also asked me if I had ever done scratchers. I have done scratchers so I told her yes, she then said I just want to confirm you've done them in the past year and I replied no. Then she got really mad again and asked me why I had said I did do scratchers. I told her I though she was asking if I've ever done scratchers before. she continued to say no you lied to me why did you lie. I told her it must have been a misunderstanding, but I hadn't done them in the last year, but I had done them before. She continued to ask me why I lied, which I didn't. When she called to begin with she wasn't that friendly.I've only done two other surveys with the company, but I don't want to do anymore if I have to go through a rude screener like her. read more

Truly, a magnificent level of incompetence from their LA office. Long story short: booked a study with 3 weeks advance notice with verbal confirmation from recruiter. Noticed I got no email confirmation within a few days of call. I called back to speak with recruiter (whose name I am not sharing out of mercy) and asked if anything was wrong. She assured me since the study was a few weeks out, the email confirmation would come closer to the date. Week goes by and no email. I call in again to inquire. Get told it will come closer to the date and everything is fine. I explain that keeping the study date means I have to shift around work schedule, so please be sure. She confirms I'm all good. Monday before the Wednesday study, still nothing. I call in. Confirmed that I'm okay and email is coming. Day of study, still nothing. I call in. Get the vmail, leave a message explaining I don't have an address for the study location. No call back. Hour and a half before study, I reach the recruiter and she goes "omg I don't know what happened. I was out a couple days and somehow you're not on the study anymore . It actually says you never were. I'm so sorry." She assures me she'll rebook another and get back to me same day. Never calls back. I talk to manager, explain. Yada yada the same run around again except somehow they now have inaccurate demographic information in an allegedly centralized system. Da fuq?? I honestly have no idea what anyone gains from wasting employee and potential participants' time this way, but this place is a black hole of your valuable time and energy. I shouldn't have given it any more energy after their first mistake. That's on me. But I hope you are spared; don't even bother with these turkeys. read more

Worst company I have EVER visited for a focus group. Staff is completely unprofessional. I drove an hour and twenty minutes to get there and i was 5 minutes late so they refused to take me even though i KNOW that it's discretionary to take you in. I tried telling them that I left work 4 hours early to get there, that it took me an hour and and twenty minutes to arrive, and that i'm sitting here wasting time with them when I could've been in the focus group already. I had to ask 4 times to speak to the manager, who was useless and even threatened to call security. Not sure why, i'm 5 feet tall and 115 lbs, dealing with a cow of a woman, so why she felt the need to threaten me is beyond me. To top it off, when I told them I was going to file with the BBB, she didnt tell me they're not even accredited. To top That off, the person on the phone asked me to lie about my age to get into the group, which is just shady business. read more