In our fake supermarket,
you don’t pay.
You get paid.
Make ordinary shopping choices in a simulated supermarket and get paid for taking part in research.
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Participate when it suits you.
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See the incentive before you begin.
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No purchase required.
Shop online... without spending anything
Your shopping choices form part of commercial research. We're not looking for your most interesting choices. We're looking for your real ones... the unremarkable, everyday choices you already make.
Browse products, compare prices and specials, and add the products and quantities that would suit your household. At Checkout, you submit your choices instead of placing a real order.
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Buy what you'd actually buy.
Same brands, same pack sizes, same quantities your household gets through.
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Choosing nothing counts.
If none of the options suit your household, that's a valid and useful response.
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There's no “best” answer.
Nothing you pick is more helpful to us than the choice you'd genuinely make.
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Novelty isn't the goal.
You won't be marked down for ignoring something new, and you won't score points for trying it either.
While Fake Supermarket looks like an ordinary online supermarket... Nothing you put in your cart is really purchased, and no groceries will be delivered. We will never ask you to pay for anything. When we ask for your payment details, it’s so we can pay you.
Earn a little extra, when it suits you
Fake Supermarket fits around your day.
You might take part from the couch after dinner, during your afternoon commute, or whenever an available task fits your schedule. There is no appointment to attend and no need to travel anywhere.
Choose the tasks that suit you, skip the ones that do not, and earn a little extra money in your own time.
How Fake Supermarket works
1. Create your shopper profile
Tell us a little about yourself, your household and the kinds of products you usually buy.
Your profile helps us show you research opportunities that may be relevant to you. It generally takes only a few minutes to complete, and you can update it when your circumstances change.
2. Check your Shopping List
Your Shopping List shows the research tasks currently available to you.
Choose the opportunities that make sense for your household and skip the ones that do not. You are not expected to complete everything you see.
3. Complete a shop
Browse what's on offer and pick the products and quantities your household would genuinely use. You can compare brands, pack sizes, prices and specials just as you would during an ordinary shop.
If nothing suits you, leaving it on the shelf is a complete answer.
Look over your cart and confirm your shop is finished. It's a simulation from start to finish — no charge, no card, no delivery address.
4. Tell us about your choices
After Checkout, you will complete a short survey about your shopping session.
You do not need specialist knowledge or polished answers. We simply want to understand what influenced the choices you made.
5. Receive your payment
When a task includes a payment, we will arrange it after you complete both the shopping session and the accompanying interview.
The payment amount, method and expected timing will be shown before you begin.
Just shop like you normally would
You do not need research experience to take part. The everyday judgement you already use when grocery shopping is exactly what we are looking for.
Choose products with your real household in mind:
- The brands and flavours you prefer.
- Dietary needs or restrictions.
- The prices and specials you would normally respond to.
- The quantities your household would use.
- Your usual budget.
You do not need to buy something from every category. When none of the available products would suit your household, you can leave them behind.
Transparency... before you begin
A store called "Fake Supermarket" which pays you? It understandably raises an eyebrow. Here's the plain version, with nothing left for you to work out.
Am I buying real groceries?
No. Fake Supermarket is a simulated ecommerce shopping environment.
Any products you add to your cart are not purchased or delivered.
Will I need to enter my payment details?
Yes, so we can pay you any incentive payments that you earn. We will explain what is required and how they are handled before you provide those details. You will be able to change those details later on, too.
Will I ever need to enter payment details during a simulated shopping task?
No, never. We will not ask for a credit or debit card, bank card details, or another form of payment at Checkout.
How much will I be paid?
The amount may differ between tasks. When a task includes an incentive payment, you will see the amount before deciding whether to take part.
We are still working on the details of how payments will be made.
When will I receive my payment?
The expected payment timing and method will be shown before you begin a paid task.
Insert confirmed payment timeframe and method.
Do I have to complete every task on my Shopping List?
No. Your Shopping List shows the opportunities currently available to you. You can choose the tasks that suit your household and your available time.
Will I qualify for every task?
Probably not. Each research study needs a particular mix of shoppers and households.
Your profile helps us show you opportunities that may be suitable, but availability will depend on the needs of each study and the number of places remaining.
What happens after I finish shopping?
After Checkout, you will complete a short follow-up survey.
The survey is part of the research task. Your participation is complete once you have submitted it.
What happens if none of the products suit me?
You do not have to choose a product. Leaving a category without adding anything to your cart can be a perfectly ordinary shopping decision.
What information will you ask me for?
Your shopper profile includes information that helps us identify relevant studies and understand the results. This may include your age range, general location, household composition, and shopping habits.
We will explain why information is requested and whether answering is required or optional.
Fake Supermarket uses your information to manage your account, match you with research, and conduct the studies you join.
Our privacy information explains what research clients may receive and how your personal details are protected.
Can I stop participating?
Yes. You decide whether to accept each opportunity, and you can stop receiving invitations or close your shopper account.
Do fake shopping. Earn money for real.
Create your shopper profile and see which shopping opportunities are available to you.
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Incentive amounts are shown upfront, before you start shopping.
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You're paid for 'buying' what you'd normally buy. There are no 'right' products to choose.
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Our Checkout submits your choices and starts a follow-up interview. You never pay. Ever.