RALEIGH (WTVD) -- If you toss your purchase receipts, it might pay to take a closer look.
On many receipts, businesses place a survey code at the bottom. Some offer a cash sweepstakes that you have a chance of winning upon completion, but many are offering discounts and freebies.
Eyewitness News sat down with a stack of receipts to see if the surveys were a waste of time or if the incentives were actually worth the time.
Each receipt took only a couple minutes, and we never spent more than four on any survey. The incentives ranged from a free sandwich at Chic Fil A to 25 percent off our next car wash.
Keep in mind that many receipts have a deadline date on them that lets you know when you need to complete the survey.
Once you complete the survey, either online or over the phone, you'll receive a code to write on the receipt. Then the cashier will use that code to give you a discount. Many of the codes can expire anywhere from 3 to 30 days after completion of the survey.
The surveys can vary from location to location, and may change throughout the year. These are the offers we received:
Chick-fil-A - Free original chicken sandwich
Dunkin Donuts - Free donut with the purchase of a medium or larger beverage
Einstein Bros Bagels - Free regular coffee/medium fountain drink
IHOP - Free short stack
McDonald's - BOGO free Quarter Pounder with Cheese
Michael's - $5 off purchase of $25 or more
Mister Car Wash - 25 percent off next car wash
Outback - Free blooming onion
Panda Express - Free entree
Petsmart - $3 off next purchase
Popeye's - Free 2 piece chicken and biscuit
Schlotzky's - 3 free cookies with entree purchase
Smoothie King - $1 off next purchase within 5 days
Sonic - Free drink
Subway - Free cookie
Wendy's - $2 discount off a large sandwich or full-size salad