[paulsutter]

DO tell them you are doing /market research/ and really appreciate their experience and insight. Generally I have offered an "honorarium" of say $200 for a 30 minute interview (for doctors you might want to offer $500). 90% of people never collect the money, just that somehow offering an "honorarium" makes the whole thing seem more legit and organized. A high honorarium (like $500 for doctors) will also demonstrate respect (and they really won't collect the money).

DONT include the question in your request. That will Heisenberg results.

DO ask then about /frustrations/, rather than /problems/. Frustrations are externally caused. Many people proudly believe that they are already handling any /problems/

[yr1337]

From a practical standpoint, do you just wait until they hit you up later asking for their money?

[paulsutter]

At the end of the call, you ask them for payment details, and usually they say "oh dont bother"

[yr1337]

LOL I love it, they will think you're a scammer trying to get their bank info and you get a free call out of it. The hustle is real.

[paulsutter]

What hustle? People just dont care about a $200 fee. Of course it's well worth paying them.

Offering the honorarium makes the request seem more like a legit market research project. Which of course it is