Schlesinger Group Reviews 

34
•
TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

1.6

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Schlesinger Group now going by the name SAGO is not a reputable group and should be avoided at all costs! While they make you believe that their focus groups are easy to use the absolute... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This site is a total scam. Completed a really long survey yesterday was shown completion and even asked if I wanted to be considered for further activities (I said yes and gave my email.) Only then t... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This company is getting away without paying participants for their time and valuable insight. I've been waiting more than 3 months to receive my insensitive and emails and calls are left unanswered.... See more

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Did an online focus group twice. The subject was interesting, informative, and fun. The moderator was professional and encouraging more on one than the other. We will never know if our answers were ta... See more

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1.6

Bad

TrustScore 1.5 out of 5

34 reviews

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1.6

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(34)

6 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Schlesinger Group now going by the name…

Schlesinger Group now going by the name SAGO is not a reputable group and should be avoided at all costs!

While they make you believe that their focus groups are easy to use the absolute truth is that they use you and don't pay toy for your services!

They simply Ignore their own help line and are completely unresponsive in emails requesting help or assistance!

I went so far as to email every corporate officer having retrieved their emails from Linked-IN and they are still completely unresponsive to emails simply ignoring my requests for payment for the services I rendered as a focus group Participant for over an hour of my time!

This group is not in the business of paying its Bills and should be shunned by any who expect to be actually paid for services rendered!

Schlesinger Group AKA SAGO should be ashamed of the way they conduct business!

But the truth is they simply don't care! Their silence speaks louder than words!

August 13, 2026
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This site is a total scam

This site is a total scam. Completed a really long survey yesterday was shown completion and even asked if I wanted to be considered for further activities (I said yes and gave my email.) Only then to return to site and be told not qualified! clearly that's not possible. Contacted them to be told the same, tried to query that to be given some nonsense stock reply, tried to query that and hey mystery now being told their email is full?! great timing! I will continue to chase them, wonder if the firms that use them know they do this?

August 12, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not sure what happened...

This company is getting away without paying participants for their time and valuable insight. I've been waiting more than 3 months to receive my insensitive and emails and calls are left unanswered. I've done several studies in the past with them and had no issue. Something very shady is going on.

March 9, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid

Avoid.
Any company that thinks 4-6 weeks to deliver a virtual gift card to an email address is acceptable should be investigated. I didn’t even get paid for a full project I completed previously. Do not engage with them.

This was my response.
Thank you for reaching out.

GiftCard Passes are typically delivered within four to six weeks of redemption and are sent to the email address associated with your account. This timeframe allows us to complete all necessary review and processing steps to ensure accuracy and security.

Since we are still within that standard window, your pass is currently being processed. We truly appreciate your patience while this is completed.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to let us know.

How would you rate my reply?
Great Okay Not Good

--
Inspired Opinions Team
 inspiredopinions.co.uk

April 6, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Do these focus groups at your own risk

Do these focus groups at your own risk. Spent four hours out of my day and over 8 weeks later, still no reward. They tell you it takes two weeks to load the reward to your wallet, then 4-6 weeks to get a virtual reward. When it doesn’t show up, they tell you to contact someone else who won’t contact you back. They want your honest opinions, but refuse to be honest in return.

December 10, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 3 out of 5 stars

Did an online focus group twice

Did an online focus group twice. The subject was interesting, informative, and fun. The moderator was professional and encouraging more on one than the other. We will never know if our answers were taken seriously or even considered. The main downside of these focus groups is being paid in a timely fashion. If the participants do there part by doing pre tech checks and showing up on time we should not have to wait two months to get paid. The subject of payment is avoided and downplayed. In this day of technological advancement, payment to participants should be quick and efficient with full transparency. This company fails the participants when payment time becomes a mystery. We can only hope this company gets better in the future.

December 3, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

ITS A SCAM!!

ITS A SCAM!!! They will tell you a certain amount, then deduct for processing and state it will take 6 weeeks to process!!!!

April 2, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Not worth the hassle

When this company was Scheslinger group I was compensated appropriately. It’s been almost two months and I still have not received my $600 stipend. I won’t be working with them in the future.

October 28, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

For close to a year now

For close to a year now, I have been trying to get these people to pay me for a $60 survey that they have not paid me. There was an additional $150 survey that I had to fight to the nail to get paid to. Clearly they had a glitch and that glitch caused them to not pay me. Every single solitary time they email me, I write them back and tell them that I am not filling out another survey until they pay me my $60. I have left a multitude of voicemails, call countless people, been given incorrect emails and phone numbers where I can't reach people back. I genuinely hope this company loses every dime it has.

September 21, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Their new Wallet system does not work

Their new Wallet system does not work. It is obscene to ask people to wait a full MONTH after doing a focus group to get their payment. It switched from “10 business days” to “20 business days”. This is nuts, and I will no longer support it by participating. In any business, two weeks for services rendered is the standard. In the focus group world, it’s usually same DAY for payment. Why are they holding our money for so long?!? It’s shady.

May 18, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

They gave me a prepaid visa that doesn’t work

I got a prepaid Visa card from them that is supposed to have $125 on it but it doesn’t work at all. I called Bank of America and they said the card doesn’t exist and to call the Schlesinger group. I’ve called a bunch but it goes directly to voicemail and no one has ever called back. It’s been over a year.

June 5, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

This is SUPER frustrating!

This is SUPER frustrating, reading all of the complaints and concerns regarding Schlesinger/Sago! I feel the same way as others do at this moment. I have done quite a few studies with them over the years, and typically they say your incentive will be sent in 4-6 weeks which is already too long of an amount of time, but for this recent study I completed I still have not received my incentive for much more than the typical time frame. I cannot reach ANYONE to ask questions or voice my concerns! The phone number listed for Sago goes straight to voicemail with no return calls. Emails go unanswered and if someone does respond back it takes days. The last email I sent about a week ago asking where my incentive may be received this response:

Amanda (The Virtual Reward Center)
Feb 16, 2024, 11:14 AM EST
Hello,

Thank you for contacting the Virtual Reward Center.

Below is information directly from your Program Sponsor, SAGO:

“SAGO is currently facing significant delays in the incentive processing workflow and we appreciate your patience and understanding during this challenging time.
Despite our best efforts, there is a possibility that SAGO may not be able to meet our standard commitment of processing your redeemed points within the usual 10 business days.
We understand the frustration that these delays may cause, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.
Once again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused, and we appreciate your continued support and understanding. SAGO will keep you updated on the progress and sincerely hope to return to our standard processing times soon."

This is UNACCEPTABLE. I have an awful feeling about this response. Is anyone else experiencing this? A GOOD contact number should be provided for us to be able to speak to an actual live person. Many of us who take part in the studies take off work, sacrifice our free time or rearrange our schedules to fit the studies in, so this is completely UNFAIR.

February 2, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Schlesinger wallet is worthless

This company has recently changed over to Sago yet they retain their virtual wallet as their method of payment. They're virtual wallet is flawed in every sense of the word. They will supposedly deposit a payment into your account and then tell you you have to wait 4 to 6 weeks at least to receive your payment. You're told that you'll receive your payment within 24 to 48 hours after you request redemption. Basically this company is full of lies and does not follow through on any of their promises. The entire company both Schlesinger and Sago are scams. They may eventually pay but they will lie and cheat and do whatever they can to get out of paying you if possible. Avoid these companies like the plague.

February 13, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Complete bunch of frauds!

Complete bunch of frauds!

Did enough for £20 of Amazon vouchers by October 30th. Still waiting to see it after three months.

Have emailed repeatedly and they never come back to you.

Absolute bunch of lying, cheating, no goods.

DO NOT DO any surveys for Inspired Opinions or its other brand names. They will waste your time

January 30, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

I don’t know what these people are talking about that they weren’t paid. People need to chill…mistakes happen and these people aren’t out to get you. I just did a focus group with them and was paid out the same day. They’re legitimate.

January 26, 2024
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I participated in 2 video interviews…

I participated in 2 video interviews within 3 weeks of each other. I was promised I would be paid $400 for one of the interviews and $300 for the other. Both wee supposed to be paid within 7-10 business days. It's now 6 weeks later and no payment. When I tried to reach out to them I could not reach anyone. Phone messages state they will call back and they are busy. No return call. Emails also go unanswered other than to state they are experiencing high volume and will respond within 48 hours which does not happen

September 19, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Sago Focus Group a Scam & Frauds

These people just blow up your email with junk & spam to get free information from you while promising a payout....but once you give them ghe information they need in the survey & questionaire,they never pick you for the paid survey lol!! They have all the information tbey need from that lil short survey!! I would spam mail these dirtbags once & for all.Several people i kno been getting same emails for several years & nvr picked for paid focus group! FRAUDS & SCAMS

August 1, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

These guys didn’t pay me twice for two…

These guys didn’t pay me twice for two separate groups I did for them. I called and emailed them a bunch of times and they never responded. I never got paid. Don’t go to their groups they do not pay

April 12, 2023
Unprompted review

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