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Business Profile

Market Research

Sago

Headquarters

This business is NOT BBB Accredited.

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Complaints

This profile includes complaints for Sago's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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    Customer Complaints Summary

    • 1,205 total complaints in the last 3 years.
    • 413 complaints closed in the last 12 months.

    If you've experienced an issue

    Submit a Complaint

    The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

    Sort by

    Complaint status

    Complaint type

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/23/2023

      Type:Sales and Advertising Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      The week of May 22nd, I was approved to participate in study TIG23800729 - Medical Costs as a weeklong Qualboard Q&A about my experiences. I was promised $125.00 that was promised to be paid out between 2-3 weeks to the Focus Group Wallet. Here is the direct quote from the confirmation page: "Your incentive will be a Virtual Gift Card from Focus Group Wallet. You will receive an email from ******************************************************** within 2-3 weeks after the conclusion of the study with your incentive information.For incentive questions, please reach out to *****************************************************".I sent an inquiry email to the helpdesk on the 15th of June, and of today, June 23rd, there has been no response. I had also previously reached out about updating my last name as it has changed, but there doesn't seem to be anyone even minimally handling these helpdesk tickets. While I would love to continue working with this company on future studies and surveys, unless this payment issue changes(as I can see that I am not the only one who hasn't received their payments on time) I don't believe it would work out well in the long run.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/23/2023

      Our records show this has been resolved, please review your helpdesk ticket. Your incentive has been processed and will be available within the next 4 business days. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/24/2023

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. I hope that this company applies a good long-term solution to this recurring problem so me and others like me can interact with this business without worry. 

      Regards,

      Orion Saiph

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/22/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I participated in an hour long research session. I was told that i would be contacted and compensated two weeks form the date. Well over a month later i have not been contacted or paid for my participation. I have left multiple email requests, a phone call, a ******** message, and even contacted the group facilitator. Not a single response.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/23/2023

      Our records show this issue has been resolved, for your participation in study number UIG23801303 we processed ****** ($225.00) points on June 4th which are reflecting in your account at this time. You have not logged into the member portal since January. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/16/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On 3/21/2023 I requested a physical **** card from this company as incentive for market research they sent me to do with Meta. The request was for ****** USD which was approved, and later showed as paid. I never received this card. I later requested a virtual card with an amount of ***** USD and was able to redeem that. Trying to contact them about the missing money has been fruitless

      Business Response

      Date: 06/21/2023

      Our records show this issue has been resolve, please review your helpdesk ticket. Your incentive has been reissued to the correct address and should arrive within the next **** business days. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/21/2023

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]

      Better Business Bureau:

      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.

      Regards,

      ***************************

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/15/2023

      Type:Service or Repair Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I was scheduled to participate in a focus group for Schlesinger(now known as Sago).However I was unable to find the exact location of the focus group. Regardless of this, when I eventually found the location of the focus group it was too late to participate. But **** agreed to pay me the full amount($250). The told me to check my text messages for a link where I can select an option for debit card payment for $250. However, I was unable to obtain to do this because the link created a problem on my I-phone. I contacted my carrier and was told to delete the link from my phone. I tried contacting **** on several occasions to let them know about this problem. They never responded to my numerous inquiries.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/16/2023

      Please contact our helpdesk so we can investigate further, we can be reached at ******************************************************** note: all confirmation emails state the following:

      "Late arrival may result in you losing your seat.  If you arrive late and are not seated, you will not be paid." 

      However, if you have documentation stating you would be compensated, please contact our helpdesk directly. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/20/2023


      Complaint: 20188810

      I am rejecting this response because: I just sent a response to Schlesinger regarding the 5/9/23 focus group non-payment.



      Regards,

      *********************

      Business Response

      Date: 06/21/2023

      We cannot compensate you for a study you arrived late to, you could not attend because the study already started. Please refer to your confirmation which states the following:

      "Late arrival may result in you losing your seat.  If you arrive late and are not seated, you will not be paid."

      If you have documentation stating you would be paid, please provide that.  

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/14/2023

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I completed about 3 studies with my 8 year old son. The study in question was for $215 dollars which was issued on a gift card. The gift card was lost and recently found. I reached out to the Schlesinger Group to get the card reissued because no funds were used from the card. Apparently theres no recourse for this issue which seems ridiculous because we were not able to use the funds. We had 3 cards that were in question but I only attempted to get one card replaced. None of the representatives that I reached out to were of any assistance. I was told by **** of America that once funds arent used within a slotted time, they are returned to Scheslinger Group. We completed the assignment and they get to keep the funds? That doesnt seem fair at all. I am only asking for the $215 gift card to be reissued to my son who earned the funds.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/14/2023

      Please refer back your helpdesk ticket, we cannot reissue an expired gift card that was received in 2021.  The cards are available to use for 14 months and must be used before the visible expiration date. These are prepaid **** gift cards, once the funds have expired, they have expired! 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/14/2023


      Complaint: 20184373

      I am rejecting this response because:

      I believe that the card can be reissued per the discussion I had with a **** of America representative when I learned that the card was expired. I was told that it was at the companys discretion to reissue. 

      Regards,

      *********************

      Business Response

      Date: 06/21/2023

      As advised, that is not correct! We cannot reissue an expired card, as we cannot issue 2 incentives for the same study. Your incentive was issued back in 2021. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/21/2023


      Complaint: 20184373

      I am rejecting this response because:



      Regards,

      *********************

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/21/2023


      Complaint: 20184373

      I am rejecting this response because:



      Regards,

      *********************

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/23/2023


      Complaint: 20184373

      I am rejecting this response because:



      Regards,

      *********************

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/13/2023

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I had.done a survey on 6/5 and was told by project manager ******************* that the study ended on Friday 6/10 and that payment woukd be emailed Minday 6/12. I dis not recieve and have tried several.times.and left several.mssgs and .help ticket with no reply

      Business Response

      Date: 06/14/2023

      Our records show this issue has been resolved, we received your helpdesk ticket yesterday! Please review your ticket as your incentive was processed and should show in your account within the next 4 business days. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/19/2023


      Complaint: 20180535

      I am rejecting this response because:the issue has.bkt been resolved, you sent .e a .ssg saying there was a code on my wallet to redeem, I do so and redeemed for a virtual **** card and it said I would recieve in 24 hours .It has now been 72 hours and I still have not recieved the virtual ****, and when I check.my wallet is still says processing. Please send the virtual **** I requested ASAP to resolve issue



      Regards,

      *******************

      Business Response

      Date: 06/21/2023

      Please review your helpdesk ticket: Redemptions are processed everyday at 9AM EST. If you make a redemption on a weekend, it will be processed on the next business day. Monday, June 19th was a Holiday, your redemption was processed the following day. You have confirmed receiving. 
       

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/13/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On May 25, 2023, I participated in a 9-hour focus group conducted by Sago, which used to do business as Schlesinger. This was in Chicago. When the focus group ended, we were told to check our email in the next 24-48 hours for a link that would take us to a page where we would provide the information necessary for the payment ($300) to be disbursed. It is now almost three weeks later and I have received no such email. I have checked my junk/spam folder in case it was directed there. It wasn't. I have made numerous calls to the phone number we were given. A recorded message instructs callers to leave a message, followed by a promise of a quick response. I have left several messages with my name, phone number and email address. I have received no response. I am seeking my $300 payment for the day I spent participating in the focus group. Please help.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/14/2023

      This issue has been resolved. We processed 30,000 points  ($300.00) on May 25th for study number ************ All you need to do is login to the member portal to access your funds and make a redemption of your choice. Our records show you did not contact our ******** ** *******************. An email has been sent advising how to access these funds. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/14/2023

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]



      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. This appears to be an instance of poor communication on the part of the company. Participants in the focus group were told to check their email for instructions on how to receive their payment. We should have been told to sign in to our focus group accounts for the instructions. I would suggest that the company be more responsive to phone calls and messages. I made multiple calls and left multiple messages, and received zero response. If someone had responded, I could have been given the proper instructions and would not have had to get the BBB involved.

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/12/2023

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I participated in a focus group around February or March 2023. I don't remember the specific topic of the group, but it involved watching videos containing advertisements and then writing what I remembered about the advertisement.

      The compensation was somewhere between $150 and $250 USD (I don't remember the exact amount). Schlesinger group makes it very difficult for participants to view past focus groups they have participated in, which is why I don't have specific details - though I'm sure they have it in their records.

      Payment is supposed to be mailed within 6-8 weeks after completing the study, but I never received payment.

      I have reached out three times over the phone and three times via email to both Schlesinger and Sago (their rebranded name) and have not heard back once. I am frustrated because I spent a lot of time on this focus group and they are ignoring my messages and refusing to compensate me as promised.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/14/2023

      Please refer to your helpdesk ticket requesting more information. Our records show the last study you completed was in October of 2022. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/24/2023



      Complaint: ********



      I am rejecting this response because:



      Thank you very much. I am only rejecting this response because I have not received a helpdesk ticket confirming this in my email. Could you please email me this confirmation, along with confirmation of the address that the card is being shipped to?

      Thank you!


      Regards,



      ****** ********* 

      Business Response

      Date: 06/26/2023

      I sent you on email on June 16th @ 04:26 pm and again today, June 26th @8:01 PM which included your email confirmation link! 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/12/2023

      Type:Product Issues
      Status:
      Answered
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      I was selected for a focus group on COPD which is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and it was going to be two sessions one was March 8th and the second one was going to be March 20th so I attended both and completed both and each one was $250 so $500 total. At first I was promised I could get a check then all I was able to get was a gift card so I selected the **** gift card I had ****** points in my virtual wallet with Schlesinger focus group so I picked the actual physical **** card for $500 and it shows that it was paid on March 26th 2023 but I never received it I have emailed several times left messages several times left phone messages several times and not one time has anyone ever gotten back to me. I feel this is extremely unprofessional and I put a lot of my information personal information medical information into this study and I expected to get paid for it and I still haven't gotten paid and it's going on 3 months now. I don't know what's going on I don't know whether I got scammed from reading the reviews it's like some people get paid some people don't I just don't know what the deal is but I need some help in collecting my money please and thank you

      Business Response

      Date: 06/13/2023

      Our records show this issue has been resolved, please refer to your helpdesk ticket. Your incentive has been reissued to the correct address and should arrive within the next **** days. 

    • Initial Complaint

      Date:06/09/2023

      Type:Order Issues
      Status:
      Resolved
      Resolved:
      The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
      Unresolved:
      The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
      Answered:
      The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
      Unanswered:
      The business failed to respond to the dispute.
      Unpursuable:
      BBB is unable to locate the business.
      On 3/6/2023 I completed study UIG23800200 for Schlesinger Focus Group successfully and was to be awarded $150. This award was moved to my FocusGroup Wallet on 3/17/23. I completed my redemption request for a physical visa card for $211 on 3/17/23 emptying my wallet balance (other smaller awards in the wallet). I've never received this Visa Card to date (6/9/2023). I've written Focus Group by Schlesinger on 5/17/2023 and 5/26/2023 receiving their auto reply that they would look into it.

      I've completed many of these surveys with Schlesinger Group for years and have not had this problem before. Documentation is attached.

      Business Response

      Date: 06/13/2023

      Our records show this issue has been resolved, please review your helpdesk ticket if you have any questions. Your gift card has been reissued to the correct address and should arrive in 7-10 days. 

      Customer Answer

      Date: 06/13/2023

      [A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]



      Better Business Bureau:



      I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********* and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.




      Regards,


      ***** *****

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