Frequently asked questions by test users

You do not need any specific education or work experience to become a tester. Two things are very important, however:

• The first is honesty. We expect you to answer our questions truthfully and to share your opinion openly during testing.
• The second is reliability. We expect you to show up on time once you have agreed to take part in a study. Should you be unable to attend, we ask you to let us know in advance and cancel as soon as possible.

Unexcused absences and/or false statements can cause great damage. Based on your feedback, the companies whose products and services you are testing take important decisions.

Often, observers travel especially to be present at your test. If you don’t show up for the study, or give wrong information about your profile and therefore don’t match the target group we are looking for, your feedback will be useless and the test result will be invalid. This wastes a lot of time on all sides – for TestingTime, the company conducting the test, as well as for you.

TestingTime reserves the right to block payments, refuse further study participation or completely delete your profile from our database if you intentionally provide false information about your profile. This is independent if you have already participated in the study and what charges have been incurred for this. Thank you for your understanding.

You will be able to earn some money with every test, but it will not be enough to make a living. This is largely due to the fact that you will be invited to tests on an irregular basis. How much exactly you will earn will depend on the type and length of each particular study, as well as on whether you will be able to participate in it from home or have to attend in person:

• You can earn the most by participating in studies in person.
• You earn a little less for user tests/interviews that you can take part in from home via video call.
• You earn a little less than that when taking part in online surveys.

After successful participation in a study, your earnings will automatically be added to your TestingTime-Wallet. It might take a while until your earnings show up in your wallet: Please be patient as we need a few days to verify your participation. Within the wallet, you will have a record of your current balance, the history of previous study participation and payout requests, as well as the option to provide your bank or PayPal details for payouts. From the time you request a payout, it will take approx. 10 business days to receive the money in your bank or PayPal account. Once the money is wired, we will send you a text message.

To request a payout, the following conditions must be met:

• You selected a payment method (IBAN or PayPal) and provided valid payment details.
• In case a threshold limit is given, your minimum balance has to reach the required amount first, in order to request a payout (displayed on the balance screen in your wallet).

Payout requests below the threshold must be made exclusively in writing via help@testingtime.com. The same principle as described before applies regarding the procedure and payment terms.

Unfortunately, not yet – currently, we offer the following two options: PayPal or a bank account.

Yes, because IBAN can only be used to pay money into your account, but not to withdraw it.

From the time you request a payout, it will take approx. 10 business days to receive the money in your bank or PayPal account. Once the money is wired, we will send you a text message.

TestingTime is a Switzerland-based company. Wiring money to a country outside Switzerland may result in additional transfer charges. This depends on your bank and account type. Unfortunately, we don’t have any influence on this. To prevent additional charges, we suggest using PayPal, where we cover all transfer costs. Alternatively, you might want to check potential charges with your bank.

Any credit balance that may still be in your wallet at the time of the deletion of your profile, as well as any payment transactions that have not yet been completed, will be irrevocably lost.

Becoming a test user is easy:

• First, you must register as a test user.
• Depending on your location and how many studies are currently available, you can expect to receive 1–2 emails from us per week on average.
• These emails will either introduce one or several studies. You will have to answer a short questionnaire so that we can make sure that your profile matches the test.
• If you match the required profile, are available and we select you as a suitable candidate, we will send you another email with an invitation.
• You can accept the invitation with just a click—and start looking forward to your first test!

We want to be honest with you: It may take a while until you get to take part in your first study. Please be patient with us! How often you will participate in tests will depend on several factors.

• The most important factor is your geographic location. If you are located in one of our core markets, where we have the most clients and therefore the most studies going on, then you will be receiving more test invitations. Our core countries are Switzerland, Germany, France, Austria, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
• Once you receive a study invitation in your inbox, you will have to have to answer a few questions to make sure that your profile is a right fit for that specific test. The more questions you answer over time, the better we will know your profile. This will help us send you invitations to tests in the future that are more relevant to your profile. It will also increase your chances of getting accepted to take part in studies.
• After all, it is important for us to know that we are able to rely on you. If you show up to your studies on time and answer our questions honestly, we will be more likely to invite you to more studies in the future.

However, study invitations will always be sent out on an irregular basis and it will never be a full source of income.

A moderator will usually guide through the test step by step. You will be shown a product or service that you can then try out. In order to be able to relate to your experience, the moderator will ask you to think out loud throughout the test. Try to answer as openly and spontaneously as possible. The goal is for the moderator to be able to relate to your thought processes so that he or she can learn how to improve the product. There are no wrong answers, provided that you are openly and honestly expressing your opinion.

What you get to test will vary each time: You may be asked to try out websites and apps, give your opinion on product ideas or test physical products (e.g., snacks).

Here you can watch a test user’s experience report, in which she recounts her experience of taking part in a test for the first time.

As a backup tester, you contribute significantly to the success of the study – that’s why we and the clients count on you!

Already during our e-mail communication, you are informed that you are scheduled as a backup test user. Basically, this means that you may have to step in at short notice during the agreed study time, in case another candidate unexpectedly drops out.

As you will only be invited to participate upon request, it’s important to be available during the entire test session (by e-mail and telephone). The client conducting the test will contact you directly to clarify any details. Please be aware that you may have to stand in as a participant at any time during the agreed study time. Therefore, please make sure before participation that all study requirements are met, that your setup is ready, and that you can take part immediately.

What’s in it for you? We double your incentive in case you have to step in and actively participate in the study.

Most studies range from 30 to 90 minutes. Some studies you can participate in from home (e.g., online surveys, phone or video calls), some are held at the customer’s premises.

Some tests will be recorded for the purpose of better evaluation. The recordings will be treated confidentially and will not be published anywhere without your consent.

TestingTime customers include companies from across many different industries: e.g., retail trade, banking and insurance or the travel industry. This includes reputable brands such as Zalando, ifolor, IKEA, UBS and SBB, as well as small businesses.

Once you have accepted your invitation, our customers and partners count on you. They will have organised the study and booked an appointment or even a location. Please only cancel if you have a valid reason.

In such a case, please contact us as soon as possible via the link in your email or here. If you don’t withdraw or don’t withdraw on time, we reserve the right to refuse to let you participate in future studies.

All of your answers and data will be stored in our highly secure data centres. TestingTime strictly adheres to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). You can find more information about this in our privacy policy.

There are many different types of tests and therefore different names for these tests. The following information is relevant for you:

• Remote tests: You don’t have to go anywhere for remote tests. You can take the test from home. In most cases, you simply need your laptop (with a working camera).
• In-house: In-house means that the test takes place at the customer’s premises.
• Focus group: In a focus group, you exchange ideas with other test subjects on a specific topic. These tests usually take place at the customer’s premises.
• Online survey: For an online survey, you can make yourself comfortable on your sofa. All you have to do is answer a questionnaire online.

The company behind the study needs your agreement in the form of your signature in order for you to participate in the study.

The document you are signing has been created by the company that will be conducting the study with you. TestingTime has no influence on its content and scope. Basically, it could be a variety of agreements, e.g. a confidentiality agreement, a permission to record the user test, or something else.

Of course, the decision to reject the contract or refuse to sign it is always up to you – for whatever reason. Please be aware that refusal to sign the contract will automatically lead to exclusion from the study.

You can read and download the document in advance. You can then choose to sign or not. For the capture of your signature in electronic form, we use a third-party provider called Xodo Sign. The use of this provider is device-independent and requires no registration on your side.

If you would like to learn more about the process, please watch a short video of our partner.

After you agree to the terms and conditions with your signature, TestingTime stores your document in the database. We will then send you and the company a copy of the contract via e-mail. No further steps are necessary from your side. The third party provider Xodo Sign is not allowed to access, store or use the document.

It is important that you plan your setup carefully when you take part in a study from home. Please keep the following points in mind:

• Make sure your device’s battery is fully charged before testing.
• If your headphones are also battery-powered, fully charge them as well.
• Prepare your setup in a quiet room where you are undisturbed and have a good internet connection.

Your workstation is set up? Perfect! Then the next step is to download the video tool you will be using in the study and to familiarize yourself with it. To do this, check your confirmation email to see which device and tool your test will be conducted on.

Next, follow the step-by-step instructions below for the tool you’ll be using. They will guide you through downloading it, logging in, and getting to know the user interface.
This may take a few minutes, but isn’t complicated at all. Please take enough time for this.

Some user tests are conducted via Skype. Skype is easy to use and free. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Skype.

Lookback is a free online tool for moderated user tests and works via the Participate app. Here you can find a step-by-step guide on how to use Lookback.

Whereby is a free platform for video meetings and very easy to use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Whereby.

Many user tests are easily conducted via Zoom. Zoom is a free platform for video meetings and is very easy to use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Zoom.

Google Meet is a popular video tool that is free and easy to use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Google Meet.

Microsoft Teams is a simple online conferencing tool that is used in moderated user tests. It is very easy to use. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Microsoft Teams.