Thinking I might turn this into a new job

My shopping receipts usually get shoved into a pocket of my purse or pushed into the back pocket of my pants. Lately, in this cold weather, they've come to reside in my coat pocket. From these pockets, they eventually are removed and lay on my kitchen window sill for a few days. From there, they get moved to my desk, where they are ultimately tallied and/or moved into a box. Each month I remain steadfast about keeping those receipts and making sure to computerize them into an excel spreadsheet so that I can keep track of my spending. Most months, the box ends up in the trash before making it on to the computer.

About two weeks ago, while shoving a receipt into my purse pocket, I saw that the receipt offered me an online survey to share my shopping experience, offering cash or gift cards if I followed through. I checked other receipts and found the same thing. They all want my opinion!

This reminded me of an article I had read several months ago about a man who turned in old lottery tickets because the lottery offered gifts and prizes for returned used tickets. He was cashing in on all sorts of goodies, and so I thought I'd try to do the same with these receipt surveys.

The first was for Panera Bread, and I was offered to be entered into a drawing. For what I don't remember. I didn't write this down, and I think I shredded the receipt. Hey, it was the first one.

I filled out seven more surveys after the Panera Bread and found the questions very similar. How did I find the cleanliness of the restaurant/business? The bathrooms? My Target scored low on this one, and that led to another question asking me for suggestions on improvements. I gave them a few.

How did I find the pharmacy department? At Walgreens, where I had a prescription filled, it took forty-five minutes, and when they encountered a problem with my insurance card, the single clerk working the counter AND the drive-thru window had to deal with it while both areas backed up with customers. My suggestion for improvement there was to hire two clerks on weekends.

The vast majority of the questions concern the food I purchased, or the product, or the cashiers, or the employees. Did an employee help me? Did an employee approach me offering help? Was I able to find all of my items? Were the aisles clean, neat, and products easily visible? Would I recommend this business to others? How likely was I to return? Only Walmart and Sam's Club seemed interested in the other companies I frequented.

Each survey ended with a promise to enter my name into a drawing, and each business offered different rewards. Radio Shack gave me a $10.00 printable coupon off of $40.00 or more. Marshall's offered a $500 gift card. Walmart and Sam's Club entered me in a $1,000 gift card drawing. Walgreens was giving away $3,000 in cash, and Target was the most with a $5,000 in a Target gift card.

I'll keep you posted on what I win! Or how much spam mail I think I'm now going to receive.