Running a small business in Vancouver takes grit, patience, and a good sense of humor. Between coaching clients at Tsquared Personal Training and managing marketing, I’ve learned one truth the hard way: Yelp sucks for your business and pocket book.
How I Got Burned by Yelp Twice
In 2013, I invested about $1,000 into Yelp advertising after being promised “high-quality, ready-to-book leads.” Instead, I got spammy clicks, useless inquiries, and zero paying clients. I told myself I’d never do it again.
Then, in October 2025, a Yelp rep reached out claiming the system had improved. They offered a $400 advertising credit and swore I’d get “valuable local leads.” Against my better judgment, I gave them another chance.
That $400 vanished faster than motivation on leg day. The “leads” were not even in my geographic area, and none responded when I tried to contact them. Once the credit ran out, I was billed $306, and two days later Yelp tried to take another $250. When I questioned the charges, my rep vanished faster than a bad date after the bill arrives.
If I could rate Yelp, it would get zero stars or five 💩 icons.
The Review Filter Disaster
My first Yelp review wasn’t even real, but Yelp left it up. Every review after that came from legitimate, paying clients who trained with me in person at my private studio inside the Sandman Hotel.
Despite that, Yelp filtered several of my real client reviews, claiming they “weren’t recommended.” That means honest feedback from genuine clients disappeared while a fake review stayed visible.
I’m not the only one dealing with this nonsense. Search Reddit and you’ll find hundreds of small business owners saying the same thing: real reviews hidden, fake reviews kept, and businesses punished for not paying Yelp more money. It’s a pattern, not a coincidence.
So if you’re wondering why Yelp doesn’t work, there’s your answer.
Why Yelp Sucks for Your Business and Pocket Book
- Fake reviews stay up, real ones vanish.
Yelp’s algorithm buries legitimate feedback while promoting noise. - Their ad credits are bait.
That “free” money burns out fast, leaving you paying real cash for fake results. - Sales reps disappear after the first complaint.
Customer support vanishes the moment you stop nodding along. - The math never adds up.
You spend hundreds for “visibility” that rarely leads to actual clients.
Yelp doesn’t help small businesses grow; it helps Yelp grow.
The Tsquared Difference
At Tsquared Personal Training, I run things differently.
No gimmicks. No ghosting. No hidden fine print.
When clients work with me, they know exactly what they’re getting, strength, posture improvement, mobility, and measurable progress. I don’t sell fake promises; I deliver results you can see and feel.
The trust I expect from marketing platforms is the same trust I give my clients: transparency, accountability, and follow-through.
💬 Client Testimonial
“I was skeptical about personal training until I met Troy. Within weeks, my strength improved, my back pain disappeared, and I finally felt confident again.”
– Michael R., Downtown Vancouver
💪 Success Story: From Frustrated to Fit
When Sarah joined Tsquared, she had tried every online program and app that promised transformation. Within three months of customized training focused on posture and strength, she lost 12 pounds of fat, gained muscle, and said, “This is the first time a trainer actually followed through on what was promised.”
That’s what real accountability looks like.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a small business owner or local entrepreneur, take it from me, Yelp sucks for your business and pocket book. Their system is broken, their leads are weak, and their “review filter” punishes honest businesses.
If you want real results, not algorithms or excuses, come experience Tsquared Personal Training in Downtown Vancouver.
We do things differently: real people, real accountability, and real transformation.
👉 Book your free session today.
