Grancey

I went to the Tivo website to find info on the update for Vista users. As I was leaving the site a survey appeared inviting me to participate. Usually I pass on surveys, but because I really enjoy my Tivo I decided to give it a go. The first question was my birth year. I told the truth. The second question concerned my reason for visiting the site. There were about 10 different options, and I chose one and clicked continue. Then, much to my surprise, a window appeared with this statement....

We're sorry
You do not meet the requirements for this survey.
Thank you for your interest

Excuse me??? Am I too old? That was my first reaction. Then I got mad. The second question listed specific choices. I did not choose "other". The first question was about age, so that was the only demographic that Tivo was displeased with. Of course Red, the statistician, was fuming about the skewed results by eliminating a demographic from their sample.

I'm pissed because I was dismissed and because I really don't know why. How accurate is a survey if everyone of a certain age is "dismissed"? Has this ever happened to you? I usually hang up on survey takers on the phone because a 1 minute survey usually turns into 10. What would you do? Would you have been insulted?

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analog

Seems like you're dismissing the test as being biased towards age, completely ignoring the fact that you had a second option to choose before it kicked you out.

I bet the option you chose was something akin to "tech support" and the people who visited just for tech support aren't the ones whose opinions they care about, whereas others who went to the site for some other functional reasons are the people they wish to solicit for feedback on site design, etc.- if that's what they're going for.

At another time, they may redo something with the "tech support" portion, and then you'd be the perfect candidate.

I'd bet that's what it is.

Nisses

How would a survey be skewed by "eliminating an age group".

Isn't a survey usually meant to target a specific group? So you didn't fall in the parameters... Be glad it was over fast?

Personally, I wouldn't have been insulted, no.

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xepherys

I'd be surprised if it was age related. If the company wanted to 'appear' to have an unbiased survey, they'd still except the data and parse it out on their end, thus giving them the opportunity to still use that data later. I'd be curious what you chose as the second option. I think analog may be correct.

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Destrox

You said it your self you answered the first, then after the second it kicked you out.

So........... it was the answer to the second question that dropped you.

And its a survey, sole purpose to look for specific groups and get their answers.

Even if it didn't like your age, why waste its data pool with useless data and make it easier and more efficient and just drop you completely.

I'd wager you're over reacting a bit.

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Lasereth

If they're looking for results from a specific age group and you didn't fall into it the of course you'd not meet the requirements. That's just a variable taken out of the equation which results in better...results.

That does sort of remind me of when I was job hunting though. Some of the applications you fill out take 45 minutes or more. Then I'd get to the end and click submit and it'd say I don't meet the requirements for the job (based on something I entered 20 pages ago). Couldn't it tell me 20 pages ago??

The_Jazz

Grancey, I agree with everyone else. If they are looking for answers from the 18-34 agegroup, they don't need your answers. It's also possible that they already had enough answers from your age group.

And there's the distinct possibility that it was the second answer, or possibly the combination of the two, that made your answers unnecessary. I've had folks call me for surveys but eliminate me because of age or sex before. If you're looking for something specific, answers outside that bracket are just noise.

Don't take it personally. They saved you the time of filling out a survey that they would have trashed anyway.

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ratbastid

Touchy about your age much?

Notice it didn't cross your mind that maybe you're too young for the survey....

ShaniFaye

Oh I get this all the time (I love to fill out surveys) usually when I pick my income bracket lol

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Grancey

I understand completely that it may have been the second question that booted me from the survey. If that was the reason, then why was that answer one of the choices?

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The_Jazz

Because it was still relevant. They didn't need any more information if you answered that one.

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"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

MSD

If they didn't give the choice, what would people pick?

ratbastid

To exclude people who chose it. They only wanted feedback from people who visited the site for specific reasons. Probably the questions they had to ask were specific to those areas or uses of the site, and would have made no sense for the kind of visitor you are.

(Seriously, hon: touchy, touchy! They didn't need your feedback. What's the federal case? You must have really really wanted to take a survey right then!)

ItWasMe

I get this often from surveys from various places. It stops sometimes after I enter age group, where I live, how many children I have, what sex I am. But most often, if it is going to exclude me, it will do it when I answer that I work in retail. Especially if the survey is going to be about items that my company sells. I don't take it personally. They are just looking for specific groups of people.

By the way, if it were to exclude you based on age alone, it might not have asked you the second question.

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analog

Yeah... maybe they're targeting retirees or something.

But seriously... you went to the site for purpose A, and they needed guidance from people who visit it for reasons B, C, and D. I really don't think they meant it as a personal affront.

shakran

Well how old are you? You're talking about Tivo, so it might have something to do with ratings (I really don't know, without seeing the survey). It's not at all uncommon for television stations to toss out ratings data from people who aren't in "their" age demographic (often 18-24, 18-29 -- the younger crowd) for the dual purposes of targeting the demo that advertisers like the most, and so they can claim to be #1 without actually being #1

Toaster126

I would pick things that I knew more about and mattered a little bit more to make a thread about. But that's just me.

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