Linn's Survey

Just got another survey from Linn's in my email. Started off innocuously enough, but then started asking how much I spend on stamps, income, net worth and my email address. The last thing I need is to have such information blasted out to all their advertisers and other folks unknown to me and to be bombarded with sales solicitations. What do they hope to accomplish except to alienate their subscribers like me and who in their right mind would actually complete a survey like this?

Family,

I no longer participate in any "surveys". Anything broadcast over the Net is public and they already know too much. Perhaps I've grown too skeptical in my later years. Then again, maybe not.

Jack Kelley

If they had a clue (which Amos does not), they would have had a "Prefer not to disclose" option for each of those questions.

Seriously, it's like they've never done any kind of public outreach at all before...

It makes me wonder if the fellow from StampFinder who posted a few weeks ago with a survey (thread has since been deleted) paid Linn's to do some market research.

certainly nowdays with phishing you dont want to disclose any info about yourself at any time.

I opened the email and then decided that I can't be bothered with it, so I deleted it.

Regards,
Stampalotapus

I filled out the survey ... but left the e-mail address blank and it accepted it.

I just left some questions blank and it still accepted my response.

I took it and have no issues. The information about income and stamp spending is critically important to publishers trying to sell advertising and other services to businesses who want to reach a demographic that spends money at a certain level on stamps. Same with the StampFinder fellow.

I usually oblige organizations sending out surveys if it looks like they are genuinely interested in feedback concerning a recent purchase or travel experience, for example, or if I can provide information that will help them develop products or make improvements in products or delivery. I recently responded to another Linn's survey concerning content and delivery of that content and had no issues with (hopefully) trying to help them improve their service and continue to be a viable company.

However, if it gets to the level of requesting personal information or confidential financial information, even with a typical disclaimer about using the data only on an aggregate level, I will never comply, no matter what benefit it make provide to the publisher or their advertisers. Ultimately, one never knows what use the data is actually put to or to whom it is disseminated for whatever purpose, legitimate or not.

I responded to the questions in this survey, again with the intent of being cooperative and helpful to Linn's, up to the point when they started requesting financial data. When the objectionable (in my opinion) questions starting popping up, with no disclaimer as to their use as far as I could see nor even an option to click "Prefer not to disclose", as revenuecollector notes, then I x'd out of the survey. If my prior answers were recorded and are of some help to Linn's, then so be it. However, I will be sending a note to Linn's outlining my concerns with this survey; maybe it will help them frame their next survey in such a manner and with such safeguards as to encourage more participation with less negative reaction, maybe not.

If someone is comfortable with sharing their personal or financial information in an online survey with no idea as how it will be used and by whom, then that is one's choice. My own personal view is that doing so creates potential risks with little if any reward.

I received a similar survey from Linn's (and some other non-stamp-related entities as well) and as soon as they start asking for personal information (i.e. financial data) and do not allow for a "prefer not to disclose" selection, I trash the questionnaire. It's of no interest to me to disclose such information in a survey -- especially an online survey where you have no control over the security of the information you are providing. If these people (Linn's or others) want my opinion, they'll have to either change their survey form or look elsewhere for opinions.

I didn't bother to open the email up, just deleted it

I only answered the questions I wanted to answer and it accepted my response.

I have a fondness for Linn's, the newspaper, not Amos. So I filled out the survey and, like others, skipped the personal info questions.

I kinda wish now that I did do the survey but only ask the questions I wanted to. Sometimes I'm too quick on the trigger to hit delete

Here's the link to the survey:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/23251...rship-Survey