Frequently Asked Questions:

If you have any other questions, please go to our support page and email us your questions.

AMT = Amazon's Mechanical Turk
AWS = Amazon Web Services
 
FAQ
Q.What is HIT-Builder and how does it relate to Amazon's Mechantical Turk (AMT)?
A.HIT-Builder is web site that provides a Requester-friendly, non-programming interface to the AMT. The purpose of the HIT-Builder web site is to enable Requesters to post advanced data set HITs onto the AMT and prototype their AMT systems before implememting them in AWS code. Requesters have posted over 130,000 HITs onto the AMT from the HIT-Builder web site.
Q.Amazon has a Requester interface, why is HIT-Builder.com better?
A.The following features are available exclusively to HIT-Builder.com users (no programming!):
- Qualifications
- HIT and Qualification Templates
- Spreadsheet data sets import, export, SQL queries and editing
- HIT Performance and Occurrence Graphs
- Provider Ratings
- Provider Team management
- Form Filters that run form data through the AMT
- Managed InBox / OutBox for Provider to Requester sharing of files
- Private HITs so only qualified Providers can view HITs
- Locale HITs to direct HITs to a selected country
- External Questions that window your web site screen into the AMT
- Text formatting for added emphasis to HIT instructions
- Bonus payments for Providers that perform extra work

See our Home page for more info.
Q.Do I have to know anything about programming, XML or scripting to post HITs to the AMT using HIT-Builder?
A.HIT-Builder requires NO programming, XML or scripting skills, HIT-Builder supports word-processor-like HIT editor and allows you to preview your HITs before you post them to the AMT.
Q.I have a Spreadsheet of information I would like AMT provider to process, does HIT-Builder support this?
A.Yes, HIT-Builder enables you to import Spreadsheet or a database file as a Data Set and include your data in a series of HITs for Providers to process in various ways. You can then export the results aligned with the input data for a complete result. You can also edit your data sets, feed the results of HIT processing into other HITs and filter your data sets with SQL queries.
Q.Must I have an Amazon Web Services Account to build HITs for the Mechanical Turk?
A.Typically, you must have an AWS account to submit HITs to the AMT. You can setup an AMT AWS account here. To setup an AWS account you must have a US billing address. It takes about 3-5 days to sign up a an AWS account.

If you don't have a US billing address or don't want to setup a AWS account, we can enable you to use our AMT Requester account. See FAQs below for more info.
Q.Is there a charge to use your HIT Builder service?
A.HIT-Builder Account creation is free and Requesters with an Amazon account can submit up to fifty dollars worth of HITs for no additional HIT-Builder charges under our demo plan when using your AWS Account.

If you would like to post more HITs, we have two subscription plans: Basic and Power User. See subscription plan FAQs below. The HIT-Builder fees are in addition to the fees paid to Providers and the Amazon AMT usage fees. These funds will help us add new features to the HIT-Builder.com web site.
Q.I reside outside the US, can I post HITs on the AMT using Hit-Builder?
A.Yes, HIT-Builder now supports AMT access for non-US and US based Requesters that do not have an AWS account. DPA Software will allow you to use their AMT Amazon account. This account sharing costs $25 to setup. You can fund the account via a PayPal or wire transfer to DPA Software. These funds will be used to pay AMT Providers and Amazon usage fees (funds are non-refundable). 5% of the deposted funds are deducted for wire transfer or PayPal fees. A separate HIT-Builder subscription plan (Demo, Basic or Power User) is required as well. See subscription plan FAQs below for more info.
Q.What are the terms of the Hit-Builder DEMO Subscription Plan
A.Requesters can submit up to 50 dollars worth of HITs for no additional HIT-Builder charges under our demo plan. You must still pay for the AMT providers and Amazon fees using your own AWS account or you can use our account for a small setup and a transfer fee. This is a great way of trying out the AMT and HIT-Builder web site.
- Free
- 50 HITs Per HIT Group Limit
- $50 Per HIT Group Limit

A credit card is NOT required for this subscription plan.
Q.What are the terms of the BASIC Hit-Builder Subscription Plan
A.The Basic Plan costs $9.95/mo and add the following charges on top of the amount you pay the AMT Provider and 10% Amazon Fees:
- $9.95 / month
- $1 HIT Group Fee
- 10% Per HIT
- $0.01 Minimum Per HIT
- 200 HITs Per HIT Group Limit
- $2000 Per HIT Group Limit
- $2000 Monthly Amount Limit

A credit card is required to pay for the HIT-Builder fees. This is a good plan for the occasional requester.
Q.What are the terms of the POWER USER Hit-Builder Subscription Plan
A.The Power User Plan costs $24.95/mo and add the following charges on top of the AMT Provider and the 10% Amazon Fees:
- $24.95 / month
- $0 HIT Group Fee
- 5% Per HIT
- $0.005 Minimum Per HIT
- 1000 HITs Per HIT Group Limit
- $5000 Per HIT Group Limit
- $10000 Monthly Amount Limit.

A credit card is required to pay for the HIT-Builder fees. If you plan on submitting alot of HITs to the AMT, this is the plan for you.
Q.I tried using my Requester login info from my Amazon on the HIT-Builder web site and it does not let me in, what am I doing wrong?
A.The Amazon and HIT-Builder web sites do not share account login credentials between the sites. Please setup a HIT-Builder.com account by clicking on the Requester Sign up link above.

Once you have an account on the HIT-Builder web site, you will be able enter your AWS Key and Secret Key on the Manage Account->Payment Info->Amazon Requester Account Info panel so that you can post HITs on the AMT using your AWS account to pay for Provider and Amazon usage fees. If you are a non-US requester, this panel will not be available to you.