Yesoul Bike Review - How Yesoul is Scamming People
Welcome back to MrYouWho! Andy here, and today I'm bringing you an important and cautionary tale about my experience with Yesoul.
You can also see my YouTube Review video about it here:
Initial Enthusiasm and Partnership
Yesoul, a brand known for its fitness equipment, has been reaching out to creators like me to promote their products in exchange for a free bike and a promise of 10% commissions on sales generated through our links. The opportunity seemed promising at first. They sent me one of their spin bikes and invited me to join their affiliate program. Excited by the opportunity, I accepted and began promoting their product.
Here is a copy of their initial email for a Yesoul review:
"Hi,
This is August from YESOUL FITNESS INC, a brand which focuses on at-home fitness equipment, https://yesoulfitness.com/
I just saw some videos on your YouTube and after getting to know you guys in depth, we were fascinated by your previous releases and your personal style.
As you have a very positive image, you make us feel that you love life. We invite you to have a new product collaboration with us! Yesoul G1 Elephant 32" HD Bike is our newest product, it has a bigger screen than ever before, you can use the big screen to watch class videos for multiple exercises, such as yoga, muscle building, etc. The bike screen is equipped with WiFi connectivity, you can play apps on your phone on the screen by connecting to WiFi, you can even watch YouTube series on the screen!
What we can deliver to you:
- Free new upgraded Yesoul Elephant 32" HD Bike (Pre-sale price: $699/Original Price: $999).
- We will provide your followers with a special discount code to buy our bikes. They will get a 10% discount.
- An extra 10% commission for your every referral.
Please reconfirm whether you are in the United States or Australia! We can only ship to the US region and Australia now.
Here are some details of cooperation:
- We hope you can complete the video on YouTube and post it within 2 weeks of receiving your bike. Please let us know in advance when you have your own release schedule.
- You need to include the discount code and your short link.
- We need to sign a simple online contract via docusign - https://account.docusign.com/.
- We need you to place an order on our website in order to track it. We will send you a free order link before you place an order.
Here's what the video needs to include:
- Full display of brand logo
- Video clips of real people riding
- Contains footage taken from the side of the bike.
Finally, let us know if you have any thoughts or questions. We would love to communicate with you. If you think it would be a good fit, mind sharing it?
Best regards,
YESOUL team"
Deceptive and Manipulative Marketing Practices
Yesoul sent me the bike to review and as you can see below they were never going to pay.
Despite their promises of 10% commissions, Yesoul has consistently failed to honor their agreements. After receiving the Yesoul bike and promoting it on my channel, I was supposed to receive 10% commission on sales generated through my affiliate links. Initially, I generated around $800 USD in affiliate commissions, but Yesoul only wanted to pay me $80. After much back and forth, they finally paid the full amount. However, this was just the beginning of my troubles.
By April, I had generated 54 orders and over $22,000 USD in sales, expecting $2,524 USD in commissions. Despite multiple follow-ups, Yesoul claimed they only owed me $280 USD, a stark contrast to my records and their affiliate dashboard. Here is a statement showing where Yesoul only paid $319 USD of $2,525 USD owing.
Here is the actual screenshot of the commission owed as sent by Yesoul:
Customer Complaints and Poor Service
In addition to my own issues, numerous customers have reported problems with Yesoul, including receiving defective products, delayed or unfulfilled shipments, unresponsive customer service, and difficulties obtaining refunds or exchanges. These issues highlight Yesoul's unethical business practices, impacting both affiliates and customers.
Customers have reported issues such as:
- Receiving defective products
- Delayed or unfulfilled shipments
- Unresponsive customer service
- Difficulty obtaining refunds or exchanges
If you search Yesoul on social media you can see 100s of complaints.
Other Complaints and Scamming Tactics
Unfortunately, my experience is not unique. Many other creators have faced similar issues with Yesoul. They reach out to influencers with attractive offers of free products and high commissions, but fail to deliver on their promises. This pattern of behavior is a clear indication of their deceptive and manipulative marketing practices.
Yesoul uses these tactics to get free advertising and positive reviews from influencers, while spending large amounts on social media advertising to attract more customers. However, their failure to honor agreements and poor customer service are clear signs that they are not a trustworthy company.
You can also see my other articles here:
- Should I buy Yesoul Bike - A cautionary tale
- Yesoul Scam - How Yesoul Scammed me through the Affiliate Program
Comparing Yesoul to Other Brands
My experience with Yesoul is in stark contrast to my work with other brands. For instance, I've had positive experiences with companies like SoundPEATS and JBL, where the affiliate programs were transparent, and payments were made promptly. Check out my reviews of their products:
Yesoul Review: My Honest Experience
I did a full review of the Yesoul bike, which you can see here: Watch my Yesoul Bike Review. While the bike itself is okay, it is certainly not worth the money for what it puts people through. My honest review is available in the video, and I strongly advise you to watch it before making any decisions.
Lessons Learned and Advice for Creators
This experience has taught me valuable lessons about choosing affiliate programs and partnerships. Here are some tips for fellow creators:
- Thoroughly research the company before entering into a partnership.
- Look for reviews and feedback from other creators.
- Ensure the terms and conditions of the affiliate program are clear and fair.
- Keep detailed records of your performance and communications.
- Don't hesitate to walk away from a partnership if it seems shady or unprofessional.
- Make sure you get payment before too much accrues!
Conclusion
Based on my experience, I strongly advise against working with Yesoul. Their affiliate program is a scam, and they have consistently failed to pay the commissions owed to me. If you're considering partnering with Yesoul or purchasing their products, think twice.
For those interested in more reliable products and honest reviews, be sure to check out my other reviews on MrYouWho. Your support helps us continue to create valuable content and warn others about unethical companies like Yesoul.