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                                                                       EXHIBIT A


         THIS NOTE AND THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR UNDER ANY
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED OR PLEDGED, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR IF THE
PROPOSED TRANSFER MAY BE EFFECTED WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OR REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS
NOTE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE NOTE AND WARRANT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT AMONG GREENFIELD ONLINE, INC. AND GREENFIELD HOLDINGS, LLC, DATED AS
OF MARCH 3, 2000, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, AND IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS
THEREOF.

                             GREENFIELD ONLINE, INC.

                        PROMISSORY NOTE DUE JUNE 30, 2000

                                                         New York, New York
$2,500,000                                                   March 3, 2000

         Section 1. General.

         For value received, GREENFIELD ONLINE, INC., a Delaware corporation
(including any successor thereto, the "Payor"), hereby promises to pay to the
order of GREENFIELD HOLDINGS, LLC or assigns (the "Payee"), the principal amount
of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,500,000) or such greater or
lesser principal amount which may be outstanding hereunder, on the date (the
"Maturity Date") which is the earlier to occur of: (a) the occurrence of a
Fundamental Change, Change of Control, or Liquidity Event; and (b) June 30,
2000. All payments hereunder shall be made in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender therein
for the payment of public and private debts. The Payor shall pay interest in
arrears on the Maturity Date, payable in cash, on the unpaid balance of the
principal amount of this Note from time to time at the rate of ten percent (10%)
(computed in either event on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number
of days elapsed) (the "Interest Rate"). The principal of, and interest on, this
Note shall be payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
account of the Payee or by certified or official bank check payable to the Payee
mailed to the Payee at the address of the Payee as set forth on the records of
the Payor or such other address as shall be designated in writing by the Payee
to the Payor. This Note is being issued pursuant to the Note and Warrant
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the "Purchase Agreement"),
among the Payor and Greenfield Holdings, LLC, as amended from time to time.
Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement.

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         Section 2. Subordination.

         The Payee agrees not to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive payment
of, or discharge the Payor from the all or any part of this Note unless and
until the Senior Debt (as defined below) shall have been fully paid and
discharged, and all commitments by the Senior Creditor (as defined below) to
extend credit to the Payor shall have been terminated. So long as no "Default"
or "Event of Default" has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Senior
Debt, Payor shall be permitted to make scheduled payments of principal and
interest as set forth in the Note (the "Permitted Payments"). Permitted Payments
do not include mandatory payments due upon a Change of Control, Liquidity Event
or Fundamental Change, or prepayment by the Payor.

         Notwithstanding the terms or provisions of any agreement or arrangement
which the Senior Creditor or Payee may now or hereafter have with the Payor, any
rule of law and irrespective of the time, order or method of perfection of any
security interest or the recordation or other filing in any public record of any
financing statement, any security interest in the assets of Payor (the "Senior
Creditor Collateral") granted to the Senior Creditor by the Payor, whether or
not perfected, are and shall remain senior to any security interest therein now
or hereafter granted by the Payor to the Payee.

         The Payee shall have no right to take any action with respect to the
Senior Creditor Collateral, whether by judicial or non-judicial foreclosure,
notification to the Payor's account debtors or otherwise, unless and until all
Senior Debt has been fully and indefeasibly paid, and the Senior Creditor shall
have no commitment to extend any further credit to Payor.

         Any proceeds of the Senior Creditor Collateral, or proceeds thereof
(whether or not identifiable), received by the Payee shall be paid to the Senior
Creditor on demand.

         This terms of this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect
notwithstanding the filing of a petition for relief by or against the Payor
under the Bankruptcy Code and shall apply with full force and effect with
respect to all Senior Creditor Collateral acquired by the Payor, or obligations
incurred by the Payor to the Payee, subsequent to the date of said petition.

         Upon the distribution of any assets of Payor (whether by reason of
sale, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution, arrangement, bankruptcy,
receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors, foreclosure or otherwise)
the Senior Creditor shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the Senior
Debt (including, without limitation, interest arising subsequent to the date of
the filing by or against Payor of any petition for relief under the Bankruptcy
Code or the making of any assignment for the benefit of creditors, whether or
not such interest is recoverable from or provable against Payor) prior to the
payment of all of any part of this Note, other than Permitted Payments, and the
Senior Creditor is hereby irrevocably appointed attorney-in-fact for the Payee
with full power to act in the place and stead of the Payee in all matters
relating to or affecting this Note, including the right to make, present, file
and vote such proofs of claim against Payor on account of all or any part of
this Note as the Senior Creditor may deem advisable and to receive and collect
any and all dividends or other payments ("Dividends") made thereon and to apply
the same on account of the Senior Debt. The Payee will execute and deliver to
the Senior Creditor such instruments as may be required by the Senior Creditor
to enforce any and all of this Note, to effectuate the aforesaid power of
attorney and to effect collection of any and all

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Dividends which may be made at any time on account thereof. The Senior Creditor
agrees to exercise the power of attorney provided for in this paragraph only so
long as a "Default" or "Event of Default" has occurred and is continuing with
respect to the Senior Debt.

         The Payee will not, without the Senior Creditor's prior written
consent, assign to or subordinate in favor of any other entity any right, claim
or interest in any part of this Note or commence or join with any other creditor
in commencing any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency proceeding against
Payor; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Payee may assign this
Note so long as the assignee accepts such an assignment subject to and with
notice of, and agrees in writing to be bound by, the terms and conditions
hereof.

         The Senior Creditor may at any time, in its discretion, renew or extend
the time of payment of any portion of the Senior Debt, or waive or release any
collateral which may be held therefor, and the Senior Creditor may enter into
such agreements with Payor as it may deem desirable without notice to or further
assent from the Payee and without in any way affecting the rights of the Senior
Creditor hereunder.

         This Note is and shall be deemed to be a continuing subordination and
shall be irrevocable. The Payor acknowledges that attempted or purported
termination of this Note by the Payee shall constitute a default in the terms
and conditions of the Senior Debt.

         "Senior Debt" means principal and interest (including interest accruing
after the date on which the Payor becomes subject to the jurisdiction of any
federal or state debtor relief statute, whether or not recoverable against the
Payor) of any and all present and future debts and obligations of Payor to
Greyrock Capital as Senior Creditor, not to exceed $7,000,000 in the aggregate
with respect to principal (exclusive of interest, fees, expenses, and costs
owing by the Payor to the Senior Creditor), whether absolute or contingent, due
or to become due, and whether direct or acquired by the Senior Creditor by
transfer, assignment or otherwise whether or not such debts are contemplated by
the Payor, the Senior Creditor, or the Payee and to Youthstream Media Networks,
Inc., as Senior Creditor not to exceed $5,000,000 (pursuant to a contemplated
Loan Agreement to close on or about March 24, 2000), in the aggregate with
respect to principal (exclusive of interest, fees, expenses, and costs owing by
the Payor to the Senior Creditor), whether absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, and whether direct or acquired by the Senior Creditor by transfer,
assignment or otherwise whether or not such debts are contemplated by the Payor,
the Senior Creditor, or the Payee.

         "Senior Creditor" means Greyrock Capital, a division of Banc of America
Commercial Finance Corporation and Youthstream Media Networks, Inc.

         Section 3. Events of Default.

         (a) Definitions.

         In each case of the happening of the following events (each of which is
an "Event of Default"):

             (i) if any representation or warranty made by the Corporation or
         any of its subsidiaries in any Financing Document, or in any report,
         certificate, financial statement

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         or other instrument furnished in connection with the Financing
         Documents shall prove to have been false or misleading in any material
         respect when made;

             (ii) if a default occurs in the payment of any premium, installment
         of principal of, interest on, or other obligation with respect to, this
         Note, whether at the due date hereof or upon acceleration hereof, and
         such default shall continue for more than five (5) days after notice
         thereof from the Payee;

             (iii) if a default occurs in the due observance or performance of
         any covenant or agreement on the part of the Payor to be observed or
         performed pursuant to the terms of any Financing Document and such
         default remains uncured for thirty (30) days;

             (iv) if the Payor shall (1) discontinue its business, (2) apply for
         or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or
         liquidator of it or any of its property, (3) admit in writing its
         inability to pay its debts as they mature, (4) make a general
         assignment for the benefit of creditors, or (5) file a voluntary
         petition in bankruptcy, or a petition or an answer seeking
         reorganization or an arrangement with creditors, or to take advantage
         of any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, readjustment of debt,
         dissolution or liquidation laws or statutes, or an answer admitting the
         material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding
         under any such law;

             (v) there shall be filed against the Payor an involuntary petition
         seeking reorganization of the Payor or the appointment of a receiver,
         trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Payor or a substantial part of
         its assets, or an involuntary petition under any bankruptcy,
         reorganization or insolvency law of any jurisdiction, whether now or
         hereafter in effect (any of the foregoing petitions being hereinafter
         referred to as an "Involuntary Petition") and such Involuntary Petition
         shall not have been dismissed within sixty (60) days after it was
         filed;

             (vi) if final judgment(s) for the payment of money in excess of an
         aggregate of $100,000 shall be rendered against the Payor and the same
         shall remain undischarged for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days,
         during which time execution shall not be effectively stayed;

             (vii) if a default occurs in the due observance or performance of
         any material covenant, condition or agreement on the part of the Payor
         under any debt instrument having a value of more than $100,000, and
         such default shall permit the holder thereof to accelerate such
         indebtedness;

then, upon each and every such Event of Default and at any time thereafter
during the continuance of such Event of Default, at the election of the holders
of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of all 10% Notes, the 10%
Notes and any and all indebtedness of the Payor to the holders of the 10% Notes
shall immediately become due and payable (subject to Section 2 hereof), both as
to principal and interest (including any deferred interest and any accrued and
unpaid interest), without presentment, demand, or protest, all of which are
hereby

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expressly waived, anything contained herein or in any other Financing Document
or other evidence of such indebtedness to the contrary notwithstanding (except
in the case of an Event of Default under paragraphs (iv) or (v) of this Section
3(a), in which event such indebtedness shall automatically become due and
payable).

            (b) Remedies on Default, Etc.

         In case any one or more Events of Default shall occur and be continuing
and acceleration of the 10% Notes or any other indebtedness of the Payor to the
Payee shall have occurred, the Payee may (subject to Section 2 hereof), among
other things, proceed to protect and enforce its rights by an action at law,
suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific
performance of any agreement contained herein or in any other Financing
Document, or for an injunction against a violation of any of the terms hereof or
thereof or in and of the exercise of any power granted hereby or thereby or by
law. No right conferred upon the Payee hereby or by any other Financing Document
shall be exclusive of any other right referred to herein or therein or now or
hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

         Section 4. Prepayment.

         Subject to Section 2 hereof, this Note, together with interest accrued
thereon, may be prepaid in whole or in part without penalty.

         Section 5. Defenses.

         The obligations of the Payor under this Note shall not be subject to
reduction, limitation, impairment, termination, defense, set-off, counterclaim
or recoupment for any reason.

         Section 6. Exchange or Replacement of Notes.

         (a) The Payee may, at its option, in person or by duly authorized
attorney, surrender this Note for exchange, at the principal business office of
the Payor, and receive in exchange therefor, a new Note in the same principal
amount as the unpaid principal amount of this Note and bearing interest at the
same annual rate as this Note, each such new Note to be dated as of the date of
this Note and to be in such principal amount as remains unpaid and payable to
such person or persons, or order, as the Payee may designate in writing.

         (b) Upon receipt by the Payor of evidence satisfactory to it of the
loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of this Note, and (in case of loss,
theft or destruction) of an indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and upon
surrender and cancellation of this Note, if mutilated, the Payor will deliver a
new Note of like tenor in lieu of this Note. Any Note delivered in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6 shall be dated as of the date of this
Note.

         Section 7. Extension of Maturity. Should the principal of or interest
on this Note become due and payable on other than a business day, the maturity
date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding business day, and, in the
case of principal, interest shall be payable thereon at the rate per annum
herein specified during such extension. For the purposes of the preceding
sentence, a business day shall be any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or
legal holiday in the State of New York.


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         Section 8. Attorneys' and Collection Fees. Should the indebtedness
evidenced by this Note or any part hereof be collected at law or in equity or in
bankruptcy, receivership or other court proceedings, or this Note be placed in
the hands of attorneys for collection, the Payor agrees to pay, in addition to
principal and interest due and payable hereon, all costs of collection,
including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, incurred by the Payee in
collecting or enforcing this Note.

         Section 9. Waivers. The Payor hereby waives presentment, demand for
payment, notice of dishonor, notice of protest and all other notices or demands
in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance or default of this
Note.

         No delay by the Payee in exercising any power or right hereunder shall
operate as a waiver of any power or right, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any power or right preclude other or further exercise thereof, or
the exercise of any other power or right hereunder or otherwise; and no waiver
whatsoever or modification of the terms hereof shall be valid unless set forth
in writing by the Payee and then only to the extent set forth therein.

         Section 10. Amendments and Waivers. No provision of this Note may be
amended or waived except as provided in the Purchase Agreement. In Addition, any
proposed amendment or modification of the subordination provisions set forth in
Section 2 of this Note must be consented to in writing by the Senior Creditor.
The Senior Creditor is a direct and intended beneficiary of the terms and
covenants of the subordination provisions of Section 2.

         Section 11. Governing Law. This Note is made and delivered in, and
shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of, the State of
New York (without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).

         Section 12. Notices. The terms and provisions of Section 11 of the
Purchase Agreement are expressly incorporated into this Note.

                                    * * * * *

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Payor has duly executed and delivered this Note
as of the date first written above.

                                     GREENFIELD ONLINE, INC.

                                     By:  /s/ Rudy Nadilo
                                         ------------------------------
                                            Name: Rudy Nadilo
                                            Title: President & CEO