SURVEY MONKEY Survey Monkey - Not for Serious Research - Beware San Mateo California

I have been a customer of Survey Monkey for many years.  Their surveys started out being completely free, and then they started to charge for them. That is perfectly fine.  WIth some fees, one expects more services, better customer care, etc.  However, that is not what happened. With time, the only way to access higher performing surveys was to pay for an annual subscription.

Over time, the services have become non existent.  There is no way to speak to anyone for assistance with designing surveys.  I have been working on a research project which used Survey Monkey as the questionnaire tool. This was a mistake that I should not have made, and that is why I am warning all serious researchers. Survey Monkey is not a tool that can be used for serious research of the type that would be publishable in a peer reviewed journal.  I did not know this. I thought the Survey Monkey database would allow for data analysis. This is not the case.

The "database" is incredibly limited. One has to search for other tools that will link up with Survey Monkey. However, when you try to pull the data out of Survey Monkey, Survey Monkey will then hold you to ransom and require you to purchase their integrations. 

Survey Monkey staff never call, but I heard from three people in a day when they thought they could sell me a tool. Today, they have revealed that the integration tool will cost me $5000, and  that I will need to upgrade to the Enterprise version and pay for 3 seats. This is what is known as being held to ransom. Please do not make the mistake that I made.  Only use Survey Monkey for research on what flavors of ice cream people like, and for customer opinions. If you use it for more serious research, you will be in serious trouble.

It is important that other companies to develop better research tools that have a questionnaire sitting on top. This one is not suitable. Their business practices are less than above board.  That is why I have posted this RIP OFF ALERT.