07 Apr 09 Coolessential.com – update 7 April 2009
What a bloody stupid mistake I made when I signed up at coolessential.com
I’ve been contemplating starting an affiliate program for my Scottish Gifts web site and, because I also promote affiliate products elsewhere, I more or less had decided that I would use one particular company for this program. That company is Shareasale – I will publish a case study about my experience later on. However, from an affiliate point of view, they pay promptly, they run a tight ship – and they have some great tools which make it easy for people to promote products. Additionally, although I don’t know how many people work as affiliate marketers through them, my guess is that the number is substantial.
So, when the opportunity to put my products on coolessential.com came knocking at my door, I guess I was in a more receptive mood than I should have been. I have had no receipt for my payment to them; I have had no notification of their VAT number; no products have been listed on their web site; I have no contract from them – or letter of any description. The last contact I had from Mr H was on 30 March 2009.
Enough is enough. It’s charge-back time.
I’ll keep you posted.
Tags: affiliate marketing, promote products, shareasale
Reader's Comments
People need to know about the dishonest John Harris and http://www.coolessential.com without delay! Has anyone got any ideas as to how we can spread the word and put a stop to this outrageous behaviour?
My experience is that JH simply says “go on then; take me to court”. He knows darn well that people aren’t going to bother for the sake of £200 – £300 here and there. The problem is I suspect that he’s taking £200 off numerous people on a daily basis & becoming a very rich man by taking advantage of other’s trusting nature. This man needs to be brought to account, and fast!!!!!
Hi – thanks for your comment and your opinion about JH. This is a small beginning to stop others falling into the trap I fell into.
Within the UK there are various legitimate ways to have companies investigated by the authorities. There are also options such as the Small Claims court, Customs & Excise (I haven’t had an invoice of any kind – and my cc statement shows that Mr H charged my card for more money than he quoted me – implying that he also charged VAT), and probably others about which I am not aware.
Admin
I was contacted by Coolessentials, and they offered me this great deal to be on their website for only £250 + VAT and they would promote and sell our products for us for 12 months. Their website looks good, but looking a bit further into it, it has a lot of gaps. We also googled the company and thanks to you guys and the comments that you have left, I found this warning about the company. The guy called again, and I told him that we would be happy to put our products out if they don’t charge the admin fee and rather take a higher percentage of the sales on our products, (that is how they anyhow claim that they earn their money), but that was not interesting to them.
Thank you guys for leaving comments and warning people against this company. It is highly appreciated. I just saved £250 + VAT, but more importantly it feels good not to have fallen into this trap!
G.
Hi, G – how recently were you contacted by Coolessential?
Thanks
Mar
I have been contacted this afternoon by a representative of Coolessential with regard to my site http://www.hersey.co.uk , I found the offer interesting and asked them to call back tommorrow. Thought I would Google “Coolessential review” and came up with this site.
Thanks very much for the information, I will not be signing up!
I’ve been stung too – signed up last July, heard nothing from them, they did some technical stuff trying to upload my products in January, then nada…
Re Coolessential.. Don’t touch this opperation with a barge pole.They take your money and nothing happens.
Quick update on the scam coolessential. They “left” their office at Southbank House in London “on bad terms” on June 6th 2008. Tel: 020 7735 8171 to get the reception desk for more info. To date 14th August 2009 thats where they say they are still trading from.
Thanks for the update, Leo. I am sorry to hear that this company is still causing people grief.