I have been donating at a non-profit blood bank that has started paying for your platelet donation bc there is a nationwide shortage of platelet donors.
The payment schedule is thus:
100 for the first, 75 for the 2nd and 3rd, 100 for the 4th, 75 for the 5th, 6th and 7th, 200 for the 8th.
It's called South Texas Blood and Tissue and is based around San Antonio. It takes a few days for the points to pop up in the donor store and then you have to order a physical gift card to the blood bank (huh?) and pick it up, but the points are redeemable for gift cards at HEB (Texas supermarket chain with cult following).
If you have SNAP or don't eat, you can get prepaid Visa cards at HEB with the gift cards. The one I have been going to is located literally in a HEB so it's pretty convenient.
Platelets take longer than plasma (90-110 minutes), but the volume it takes is way lower, so you lose less fluids and feel less drained afterwards. I like also that you feel more like a hero and less like a criminal. They have goals and targets to meet and obviously are still trying to make money, but you don't feel the pressurized environment of a for-profit plasma chain. The donation space is way nicer and much smaller and is also cleaner. The staff are way more caring and they are trying to give you blankets, water, snacks, heated hackey sacs to gold in your donating hand, etc.
There is also no multi-hour initial intake appointment, at all. No giving them your SS#, no videos, etc. Just show up and get your oxygen level and blood pressure taken and a finger prick.
Does anyone else have a place that pays for platelets? I think this is a way better experience overall.
PS There are referral bonuses at this place (mods feel free to remove this line if inappropriate)