For all the poor college students out there.
 

Have you had your eye on that really nice set of Bogu that you just can't afford? Well it seems like Google wants to hook you up.

All you need to do is be 18, have a SSN, a digital camera, a computer with internet and some time.

http://www.google.com/services/local...ls/repfaq.html

Basically you go around take pics, gather info, and a review?

All google accepted reviews will get you $2. If the business verifies this information, google will then give you another $8. If I were a poor college kid with a lazy weekend, I'd stroll on down to the nearest mall and try to earn a couple of hundred bucks.

That Chiba/KanagawaA1 bogu doesn't seem so out of reach anymore...

I live in the wrong country...

At least you got good beer, the autobahn and universal health care!

..... I'll take the $8 from google. Thanks.

Seriously, though, folks.... if you live in a small community, this would be difficult to do. Note in the terms of the Google Contract that you have to have a minimum of $25 earned in any given month to get a check. That is a lot of leg work, at $2 a shot.

May I suggest that, if you like this type of thing and want to earn more $$, that you check in your local community for businesses offering 'secret shoppers'. Almost every business area has such a group servicing it - the idea is you go into a store as a 'regular customer' and report on the store's Customer Service Practices. Were the employees courteous? Knowledgeable? Goofing off and talking on their cell phones? Business owners value such feedback, and it generally pays better than Google. Most groups also give you a small budget to spend at the stores, and most let you keep whatever you buy, as well.

Give me a BMW K-1200 or almost anything with Dr. Porsche's name on it, a full tank of gas and bless the concept of "drive right". Later, a I'll have a pint (or three?) of Julius Echter Hefeweiss Dunkel and a plate of spaetzel and bratwurst.

Uh-oh...I'm feeling the need for Wagner again.http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/smoker.gif

On the topic at hand, within three weeks small business owners are going to get fed up with the Google Street Team.

Just make sure you're first.

I can imagine someone trying this, going to a business, opening one's mouth, saying "Hello, there is a free offer from google to collect your business information --". The Guy behind the desk replies, "no solicitations, kid." Struggling, the google independent contractor hopeful stammers, "b-b-b-but this is a free offer for what is essentially free advertising --" but the guy just ornerily keeps pointing to his "No Solicitations" sign.

I think it can be anonymous where you just take a picture, find out the hours of operation, phone number and things like that.

I would hope that in this day and age, people would see the value of having their establishments information available online. Just imagine how great Google Earth will be soon.

I dunno, I thought it was a pretty sweet deal to make some extra cash for people. I think most people in Seattle would be receptive to that sort of thing. Sites like yelp.com are pretty big here on the west coast. Are people and stores in NY really like that?

I agree, it does sound like a great deal; I didn't mean to completely downplay it, I just wanted to portray my own misgivings about going out there. I wouldn't say New York is literally like that 100%, but in a lot of places, they will either assume you're deviously trying to sell them something and cut you off mid-sentence , or you'll get some young middle management mallrat drawling "uhh, I dunno if I should talk to you, I have to talk to our corporate offices first, and I uh don't feel like it today".

What can I say -- I'm not much of a salesman :P However, I do realize that the internet has great offers like this. Back when epinions.com was a brand new service, they'd give reviewers 10 cents per hit, and I used to make 100 dollars a month writing entertaining anecdotes about movies and products (now you're lucky if you make 10 dollars a year).

Please let me know if you can indeed do this anonymously. I read the description, and it sounds like the job involves some kind of solicitation.