Paid Shop Along for Families and Adults
Panelpolls members are invited to participate in paid shop alongs. Share your real-time thoughts and reactions while shopping to help shape real products, services, and experiences. Earn e-gift card rewards for your time.
What Is a Paid Shop Along?
A paid shop along is a research activity where a trained research professional accompanies you while you shop, either in-store or online, to better understand your decision-making process in real time.
Instead of talking about your shopping habits after the fact, shop alongs allow researchers to observe how you browse, compare products, evaluate options, and make purchasing decisions as they naturally happen.
These studies help organizations understand what influences choices at the moment of purchase.
Shop alongs are commonly used to explore:
- How shoppers navigate stores or websites
- What catches attention on shelves or screens
- How decisions are made between brands or products
- Reactions to packaging, pricing, promotions, or displays
- The overall shopping experience
Sessions typically last between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the project.
What to Expect
If you’re selected for a shop along, here’s what the experience usually looks like:
- A scheduled shopping session at a specific store or online platform
- A trained research professional accompanying you (in person or virtually)
- A guided but natural conversation during your shopping trip
- Questions about what you’re noticing, considering, or comparing
- Opportunities to explain your decisions in real time
- Clear instructions provided in advance
Researchers are there to observe and learn, not to influence your purchases. You’ll shop as you normally would while sharing your thoughts along the way.
All expectations, location details, and timing are shared beforehand so you know exactly what to expect.
Incentives for a Shop Along
Participants who complete a shop along typically earn $100–$250+ per project as a thank-you for their time and insights.
Incentives vary and are typically based on:
- Length of the session
- Location (in-store or virtual)
- Topic and level of engagement
After completing the session, you’ll receive a reward link that can be redeemed for an eGift card.
In some cases, purchases made during the shop along may be reimbursed up to a specified amount. Details will always be shared in advance.
Who Can Participate in a Paid Shop Along?
A shop along may include:
- Adults of all ages
- Parents and caregivers
- Teens (with parental consent when required)
- Professionals shopping for work-related items
Each study has specific eligibility requirements, so not every Panelpolls member will qualify for every shop along opportunity.
Why Participate in a Paid Shop Along?
Many participants enjoy shop alongs because they offer:
- A natural, real-world research experience
- The opportunity to share honest decision-making in the moment
- A conversational format rather than a formal interview setting
- The chance to influence how products and stores improve
Shop alongs allow researchers to understand what truly drives choices — and your perspective helps shape better shopping experiences.
How a Shop Along Works
A quick and easy process from sign-up to reward:
- Join Panelpolls for free and create a profile
- Tell us about yourself and your household
- Get invited by email and opt in when a study is a good fit
- If selected, schedule your shop along session
- Participate in the guided shopping experience
- Receive your reward after completing the session
UX Research Company FAQs
Your Privacy & Safety Come First
Panelpolls is committed to protecting participant privacy and conducting research responsibly. We follow strict data privacy practices and work with trusted research partners to ensure all information is handled securely and ethically.
For research involving children and teens, Panelpolls is kidSAFE Certified and fully compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Parental consent is always required, and youth participation is designed to be age-appropriate, transparent, and safe.
- kidSAFE Certified & COPPA Compliant
- Transparent research practices and clear participant communication
- Parental consent required for all youth participation
- Compliance with U.S. data privacy regulations, including CCPA
- Dedicated support team available to answer participant questions
