Update Aug. 30, 5:00pm: Mothership has clarified with Meggnify, the company behind the surveys, that it has obtained permission from Grab and Uber to conduct the surveys. More details of the survey included below.

How easy is it to persuade people to take surveys? Not at all.

Even if you offered freebies or cash as incentive, you might still have difficulty finding enough people to provide a wide range of responses.

But one company thinks they've got the answer.

Meggnify, a market research company, wants passengers to take Uber and Grab rides and interrogate the drivers during the trip. For each survey completed, the passenger earns a cool S$7.

Oh, and the rides will be compensated too.

What for?

A look on Meggnify's Facebook page turns up this post, with remuneration details that are similar to the ones outlined in the Facebook group.

Looking for experienced interviewers to conduct private commercial transportation study.

Interviewers are expected to travel to a few places each day.

Interviewer Payout:

$7 per survey + Transport Reimbursement (up to $11)

Requirements:

- 18 and above

- at least O level education

- experienced in street survey

- friendly and not shy to interview respondents

Drop an email to [email protected] with your Full Name (as on NRIC), NRIC, Date of Birth, Highest Qualification & past experience.

*This is purely for research purpose, not sales or marketing gimmick. Thanks for respecting our work :)

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Legal? Yes.

Performing such surveys may go against Grab and Uber's legal terms of service.

But Meggnify has confirmed that for its survey, permission has been obtained.

Update:

Jonathan Tear, the Director of Meggnify, said in reponse to queries:

"The surveys are meant for a general study on driver satisfaction. Questions include asking about the driver's ease of using the Grab or Uber application, whether it's stable, easy to navigate and user-friendly.

Meggnify was commissioned by an outside party to conduct the survey. While we can't disclose the name of our client, we have checked with them and confirmed that our client obtained the necessary permission from Uber and Grab to conduct this survey."

Tear also emphasised that drivers could choose whether or not to take the survey, and giving the driver a bad rating for refusing to take the survey is against the company guidelines.

Tear also clarified that the ad posted in GrabShare asking for drivers to answer "10 easy qns" was done by one of the interviewers who had agreed to perform the surveys.

Following their own investigations, the individual was identified and Meggnify clarified that posting such an ad in GrabShare was against their guidelines.

The company has taken the "necessary action" to stop this.

Top image from FanGrio and Uber/Grab SG Partners Facebook Group