Get paid to walk with Bounts - via a fitness tracker or your phone

BountsUser

I joined Bounts in Jan 2016 after reading the MSE article. At first I was sceptical as it seemed too good to be true, but after a few weeks of successfully earning points and getting a voucher I decided to upgrade to Premium Plus. Overall I suppose I can’t complain - I’ve more than covered my membership costs and, until the last couple of months, have had no problems obtaining ‘cash’ vouchers, although the number of points required to obtain vouchers has increased dramatically! However I’m now totally disillusioned. I find the general tone used by the John Stuart, founder of Bounts, in his recent newsletters very unpleasant and the manner in which the changes have suddenly been introduced quite unacceptable (e.g. suddenly no extra points for posting to Twitter or Facebook - but no mention of this - it just disappeared overnight!). The scheme was presented initially as one where points received by exercising could be exchanged in a ‘shop’ for cash vouchers, but Mr Stuart now claims that people doing this are not entering into the ‘spirit’ of what was intended. The new model appears to be that points earned can be used to enter “challenges” with goods or vouchers on offer as prizes. So the ‘shop’ seems to be empty now (apart from being able to get Garmin products at a discount) and I’m wondering if the last voucher I bought with points will ever materialise, so the only things I can do with the remaining points that I’ve already accrued is either to enter one of the challenges or donate them to Cancer Research. I’d happily do this if the Bounts site explained how my ‘points’ are translated into money to help the charity, but it doesn’t seem to explain that. I could enter to win a £5 Amazon voucher which will cost me points and I have to complete the exercise requirements, and I MIGHT get a voucher - but since only 100 are available it’s pretty unlikely. This is gambling!!! The Founder claims that this is a ‘fairer system’ but I disagree since it has just turned the scheme into a raffle where there are a few lucky winners. If people are happy to exercise and their motivation is that they might win a prize that’s fine, but this IS NOT the scheme that was originally launched as ‘get paid to exercise’. So, I’m saying goodbye to Bounts.

Scozzieloz

I can't say I'm very happy about the changes at Bounts, after accumulating almost £100 worth of points -- not that I set out to reach that amount without claiming. Initially I held off to claim Amazon vouchers, but as I reached the level required they became hard to get; then as I approached the level for £25 Currys vouchers they became scarce; after which I targeted the hotel vouchers -- now everything is gone! Apart from my 26,000 odd points, and my subscription! I now feel like I've been ripped off, especially as vouchers had become as scarce as hens teeth over the past two months or more!!!

spikyone

The new Bounts system is a bit weird, but no more weird than their original business model of, effectively, giving you something for nothing. It always looked like being unsustainable, so it's little surprise that they've had a change of heart. Dropping their social media channels, when this has become one of the most common ways to communicate, shows that the company isn't even confident in its product. Want to avoid being overrun by "trolls" complaining about your product? Then work on making your product better.

As others have pointed out, the rewards were hard to come by anyway - and their recent policy of making "high-demand" vouchers more costly won't have won them many friends either. I anticipate that the entry cost of the new challenges will be much higher than the cost of vouchers, and giving you more points for each workout looks like a smoke and mirrors trick to distract from that. It would be nice if Bounts had converted people's 'banked' points so that they carried the same value as the new system.

I'll stick with it as it's linked to my Strava account - I will run and cycle whether I get points or not - and use my points only when the challenge has a guaranteed (and achievable) payout. I suspect I won't be the only one.

beelzebomb

What a shame, but I could see it coming a mile off - bad company future realistic expectations and forecasting basically. It was always obvious that there was a big question mark over how the company could supply vouchers (essentially given for free) as popularity rose - it's a shame the company isn't run by people with a bit more business savvy.
The only reason I use(d) Bounts was for the rewards - even the vague description of the changes doesn't explain fully what is going to happen, making the changes sound more like a knee-jerk reaction (panic) to not being able to get enough vouchers to meet demand.
As for shutting down social media, well, another ludicrous bit of behaviour from a supposedly reputable business - we've seen the danger signs for a while now, but closing off contact is plain laughable. Ostrich behaviour.
There ARE alternatives out there, but I believe these are USA based. Let's hope a UK based alternative appears that is managed more professionally - with the ability to forecast accurate growth.

Magicmilo

I cannot log in to iPhone app at all now
It just starts to load then goes back to home screen. Have tried deleting & re-installing app. Anyone else having this issue ?

edinburgher

I have deleted the app from my phone, £15 wasted, but life is too short to fight it. My main concern now is that they have no more access to data about me!

Disappointed, they have not held up their end of the deal and the founder's communications to newer members were inflammatory and uncalled for.

Do they have a generic support email where I can request account closure?

Mrs_B

Magicmilo wrote: »

I cannot log in to iPhone app at all now
It just starts to load then goes back to home screen. Have tried deleting & re-installing app. Anyone else having this issue ?

Just what I came on here to check. You have described exactly what is happening to me - which is weirdly reassuring.


I assume the site can't cope with folks checking what is happening to their account, or are using it as a block system.


I used the free one - it's cost me nothing, I haven't actually claimed anything from it yet, so I will leave the App sitting there and see what happens.

Feeder16

With the push from MSE and the spurt of £15 payments. I wonder what cut John Stuart took from these payments?

skyeblue

Feral_Moon wrote: »

All memberships have now been cancelled so no refunds available and all cash reward vouchers removed from the shop. The reward wheel has gone too.

From now on people will have to complete challenges to earn any rewards.

The reward wheel has not gone yet - not going till the end of the month to allow time to use up credits

LizzieBG

It's time you stopped giving Bounts any airspace. They are simply thieves. I paid for a Plus membership just three months ago off the back of the MSE recommendation. Bounts must have known they were going to withdraw paid membership, but they said nothing. I'm unsurprised that they have closed their social media accounts. People are justifiably furious at the shabby treatment. Even if you have many thousands of points there is absolutely no way of redeeming them for vouchers since there are never any available - nor have been for ages.