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HerEmpire: An Abandoned Giveaway, an Unfinished Affiliate Partnership, and a Lack of Professional Accountability
Lechery Review October 19, 2026
An account of my experience with a Canadian intimate wellness retailer, and why following through matters.
As a Canadian sexual wellness reviewer, I believe in being honest about the products I test, the companies I work with, and the experiences I have along the way. Most of the time, that means talking about product performance, quality, and value. Occasionally, it means talking about the businesses behind those products.
I don't make a habit of publicly calling out companies. I'd much rather build professional relationships, help improve products, and give my audience honest, detailed reviews. But accountability matters, and companies should be held to the same standards of communication and professionalism that they expect from the people they work with.
Today, I'm discussing my experience with HerEmpire, a Canadian intimate wellness retailer.
This isn't about trying to claim a gift card I no longer want. It's about a giveaway that appears to have been abandoned, an affiliate partnership that never got off the ground, and a series of unanswered questions that have now gone on for weeks.
I've retained screenshots and screen recordings documenting the events described in this article, including the original giveaway announcement, its publicly visible engagement, and my communications with HerEmpire. The dates, messages, and engagement figures below reflect the records available to me as of October 18, 2026.
The Giveaway That Started This
On August 12, 2026, HerEmpire announced a giveaway on Twitter/X, offering five winners a $100 HerEmpire gift card each.
The entry requirements were straightforward: follow the account, repost the announcement, and comment with #herempire. I entered that same day, completing the required actions.
The following day, I noticed something missing from the announcement: an end date. I commented to point it out, writing:
"Just noticed there is no end date on this so I thought I'd mention it"
HerEmpire responded:
"72 hours"
That established a stated duration for the giveaway, which would have ended around August 15 or 16.
As of October 18, more than two months after the announcement, I could find no public announcement identifying the winners or confirming that the prizes had been distributed.
The numbers tell their own story
At the time I recorded the information on October 18, the original giveaway post had received:
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459 views
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3 likes
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1 repost
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3 comments
I was responsible for the sole repost, one of the three likes, and all the comments.
The entry requirements were clearly established in the original announcement: follow the account, repost the announcement, and comment with #herempire. Based on the publicly visible activity and those stated requirements, I was the only person who entered the giveaway.
HerEmpire advertised five prizes. I completed the entry requirements, yet more than two months after the promotion was announced, there was still no public announcement explaining its outcome.
I received no communication informing me that I had won, lost, or that the giveaway had been cancelled.
At this point, the giveaway appeared to have been abandoned without an explanation.
I cannot tell you what happened internally at HerEmpire, and I won't pretend to know the company's motives. What I can tell you is what the records show, what the company told me, and what happened afterward.
If the giveaway was completed, where is the announcement? why have the promised prizes not been awarded? or why has nothing been posted publicly about the delay?
These are reasonable questions for a company to answer after publicly advertising a promotion.
An Affiliate Opportunity Enters the Picture
On September 19, HerEmpire contacted me through Instagram to invite me to join their affiliate program.
Their message introduced HerEmpire as a Canadian intimate wellness retailer looking to partner with creators, bloggers, and affiliates who aligned with their audiences.
The offer included:
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15% commission on HerEmpire product sales through my affiliate link or discount code.
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10% commission on selected partner-brand products.
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Monthly payouts.
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A personalized discount code for my audience.
As a Canadian sexual wellness reviewer with seven years of experience in in-depth reviews and product testing, I'm always willing to consider professional opportunities that make sense for my work and my audience.
However, there was already an unresolved issue involving HerEmpire: the August giveaway.
On September 26, I brought up the giveaway and asked for an update. HerEmpire responded:
"Different marketing guys are there I will get the information for you. Will fulfil that also Once I get the information"
I took this as an indication that someone would look into the matter and get back to me.
I continued with the affiliate onboarding process while waiting for that information.
Unfortunately, the outstanding giveaway was not the only issue that followed.
An Affiliate Account I Couldn't Access
On October 5, HerEmpire sent me a discount code offering my audience 12% off purchases from its store. They also told me that an email containing my affiliate login information had been sent.
The email arrived, but it contained no login credentials.
The link provided took me to the affiliate registration page, where there was no option to sign in to an existing account. I explained the problem.
HerEmpire replied:
"okay I will send you the link to sign up"
I clarified that I wasn't asking for another registration link. I needed working login credentials for the account I had already been told was set up.
Without dashboard access, I had no way to manage my affiliate links, monitor my sales, or independently check my performance.
These are basic functions of an affiliate program. If a company expects a partner to promote its products, that partner needs the tools required to do the job.
On October 8, I sent HerEmpire a preview of a promotional video I had been developing for the partnership. My message also asked for an update on the giveaway.
The response was simply:
"okey"
On October 11, I sent a brief check-in:
"Hello just checking In"
On October 14, I asked specifically:
"Has there been any updates from the twitter team?"
I followed up again on October 16:
"hello how's it going"
As of October 18, all of those follow-up messages remained unseen. Meanwhile, HerEmpire continued posting on its social media accounts. I cannot speak to what is happening internally at the company. I can document the communications I received, the problems I encountered, and the lack of follow-up. From my perspective, this is not how a professional partnership should begin.
An Affiliate Partnership That Doesn't Add Up
Even if the technical problems and communication issues were resolved tomorrow, I would still have to ask whether this affiliate arrangement makes sense for my work.
HerEmpire offered 15% commission on its own product sales and 10% on selected partner-brand products. The problem is that no product was offered for review, meaning I would have to purchase anything I wanted to cover myself.
I want to be clear about something: I have no problem investing my own money in products when the investment makes sense. I regularly purchase products for testing because I believe detailed, honest reviews are valuable to consumers.
The problem is being expected to fund a review, create the content, promote the retailer, and accept a smaller commission than I could earn by sending my readers directly to the manufacturer.
Let's use a practical example.
After looking through HerEmpire's catalogue, the only product I could currently see myself considering for a review was the Lovense Lush Anal, listed at $180.
With no review unit being offered, purchasing it would mean spending $180 of my own money before I could even begin testing.
But if I'm going to purchase a Lovense product, why would I direct my readers to HerEmpire to buy it?
My direct Lovense affiliate arrangement offers commissions in the 15% to 20% range. HerEmpire's proposed commission on selected partner-brand products was 10%.
That means I would be doing the work of purchasing, testing, photographing, reviewing, and promoting the product, only to earn a smaller percentage by sending potential customers through a retailer instead of directly to Lovense.
The same issue applies to my direct affiliate arrangements with We-Vibe and Womanizer, which offer commissions of up to 22%.
Those differences matter when affiliate income helps fund an independent review site. Every commission contributes towards future purchases, testing supplies, website expenses, and the time required to produce detailed reviews.
What exactly would I be gaining from that arrangement?
A retailer can absolutely make an affiliate partnership worthwhile. Competitive pricing, exclusive products, useful bundles, access to review units, or another tangible benefit could give me a reason to work through a retailer rather than a manufacturer. But those benefits need to exist.
In this case, I would be paying for the product myself, taking on the full workload of reviewing it, and accepting a lower commission for directing readers to HerEmpire. The company would receive promotional content and the potential for sales without providing a review product or offering a financial advantage over the manufacturer programs I already have. That isn't a compelling business arrangement for me.
I'm not looking for a discount code to add to a list and call it a partnership. I produce detailed reviews intended to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. That work takes time, money, and equipment, and any professional arrangement needs to account for the resources involved.
HerEmpire's proposed arrangement does not offer enough in return for me to justify directing my readers away from the manufacturers themselves.
And that brings us back to an important point: I am not pursuing the giveaway because I need the gift card. Even if the giveaway were resolved tomorrow, that would not automatically make the affiliate partnership worthwhile.
Seven Years of Experience, Not Seven Years of aimless posting
I want to establish some context for the work I do, because this is not a case of someone signing up for an affiliate program without understanding the industry.
I have seven years of experience conducting in-depth product reviews and testing. My work has included beta testing, product-design feedback, brand collaborations, giveaway hosting, and community management.
My work is not limited to unboxing a product, sharing a discount code, and moving on to the next promotion.
I test products, document their strengths and weaknesses, consider how they perform in practical use, and provide my audience with information they can use to make informed decisions.
Here are some examples of that work.
Beta testing
My testing experience includes:
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Passion Pal Homie, October 13, 2024.
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Passion Pal Challenger, October 18, 2024.
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Real Touch Labs Velvet-Shield technology, January 28, 2026.
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Real Touch Labs Tyrannosaurus Rex, February 21, 2026.
Beta testing involves more than receiving a product. It means evaluating how something works, identifying problems, and providing feedback that can help a manufacturer improve its design.
Direct influence on product design
On August 27, 2025, I published my review of the Hismith Automatic Lube Launcher.
My feedback identified several areas where the product could improve:
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Shot size: The 70 ml capacity divided across 48 shots worked out to approximately 1.5 ml per shot.
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User-guided control: The product could benefit from allowing users to determine shot intensity and duration.
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Tank placement: The tank's positioning could be improved.
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Tank capacity: The 2.4 oz tank offered limited capacity.
On September 26, 2025, Hismith announced the HSG021-F, featuring a larger 200 ml tank, improved control functionality, and a better connection method.
The timing and changes are documented. I mention this example because it demonstrates the type of detailed feedback I provide and the practical value that experienced reviewers can bring to product development.
Full-brand product reviews
I have also undertaken broader review projects, including my work with Cliterature from November 13 to November 30, 2024. and soon Frisky Fox Toys will be added to this list with their launch already underway.
Full-brand review work requires time, research, and consistency. It is a different undertaking from promoting a single product through an affiliate link.
Giveaways and brand collaborations
I have experience on the other side of promotional campaigns as well.
On March 2, 2026, I hosted a giveaway with Real Touch Labs that ran through March 15. The announcement is available here on Twitter/X.
My professional history also includes brand recognition and collaborations, such as:
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Swisok linking to my Mechknot review on August 31, 2025: Mechknot product page.
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Swisok sharing my Mechknot review on Twitter/X on August 31, 2025: Original post.
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Swisok sharing my Fenrir review on October 29, 2025: Original post.
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GreedyCluster sharing Christmas wishes on December 24, 2025: Original post.
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Swisok sharing my Abysmal Dragon dildo review on January 17, 2026: Original post.
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Greedy Cluster recognizing Lechery Review as its Telegram group MVP on May 7, 2026: Original announcement.
I have worked closely with brands and companies including Wildolo, Sinloli, Swisok, and Toychats. I also help manage communities for sexual wellness enthusiasts, including the ToyChats Telegram group, (the company is no longer around) the SwiSok Telegram group, and The Sex Shed Discord community.
These examples are not included to suggest that I am beyond criticism or that my experience makes my account automatically correct. They establish the context of my work and the professional standards I expect from the companies I deal with.
I invest time in this industry because I want to provide useful information, support better products, and help consumers make informed decisions.
That work deserves professional communication and a partnership that functions as promised.
Documentation and Transparency
The screenshots included throughout this article document the original giveaway announcement, its entry requirements and end date clarification, the affiliate invitation, the account access issue, my attempts to get answers from HerEmpire along with some supporting evidence of my credentials.
I keep records of professional communications, collaborations, and giveaways as a standard practice and part of how I protect myself, and I have included the relevant material in the sections where it applies so readers can review the timeline and draw their own conclusions.
I believe it is important to distinguish between documenting a concern and making an unsupported accusation. I am not claiming that a regulator has already determined HerEmpire acted unlawfully. I am documenting what happened and asking for accountability.
The Competition Bureau of Canada encourages people to report potential deceptive marketing practices, including concerns involving promotional contests. Its official information is available through the Competition Bureau's promotional contests guidance.
Whether the circumstances warrant further action is for the appropriate authority to determine.
What I Would Like HerEmpire to Address
I would still welcome a straightforward response from HerEmpire.
There are three outstanding issues.
1. The Giveaway
Based on the publicly visible activity, I was the only person who entered the giveaway according to its stated requirements. Nearly two months later, I had not been contacted about winning, and no public announcement identified any winners. The available evidence strongly suggests that the giveaway was never completed as announced. HerEmpire has not explained what happened.
2. The Affiliate Account
I was told my affiliate login information had been sent, but the email contained a registration link rather than credentials for an existing account. I suspect an affiliate account was never actually created and that HerEmpire considered providing me with a discount code sufficient to complete the arrangement. I cannot confirm what happened internally, but I was never given working access to an affiliate account.
3. The Lack of Follow-up
Why did my subsequent messages asking for updates receive no response, despite having already been invited into the affiliate program and having prepared promotional material?
These questions do not require a public argument. They require communication.
I would also encourage HerEmpire to review how it manages promotional contests and affiliate onboarding so that other entrants and prospective partners do not encounter the same uncertainty.
If HerEmpire has information that materially changes the account presented here, I am open to reviewing it.
Final Thoughts
I did not begin this process intending to write a public criticism of HerEmpire.
I entered a giveaway. I noticed a missing end date and pointed it out. The company responded that the promotion would run for 72 hours. Weeks later, the company approached me about an affiliate partnership. When I asked about the giveaway, I was told someone would obtain the information and follow up.
I then encountered problems accessing the affiliate account, explained those problems, and made repeated attempts to obtain answers.
As of October 18, those questions remain unanswered.
I no longer have any particular interest in claiming the gift card. Given the products I would consider reviewing and the direct affiliate relationships already available to me, the proposed arrangement does not offer enough value to justify the time, expense, and effort required.
But that does not make the original giveaway irrelevant, nor does it erase the expectation of professional communication.
I believe in supporting Canadian businesses. I also believe that supporting Canadian businesses does not mean giving them a free pass when something goes wrong.
Reviewers are expected to deliver honest work, communicate with their partners, and respect the commitments they make. Companies should be held to the same standard.
A giveaway does not stop mattering because it attracted little attention. An affiliate relationship does not become professional simply because a discount code has been issued. And a business cannot build trust with prospective partners if basic questions go unanswered.
HerEmpire made a public promotional offer. I entered according to its stated requirements. The announced period passed, and the public record still contains no explanation of the giveaway's outcome.
That is the issue I want addressed.
I hope HerEmpire takes the opportunity to clarify what happened, respond to the outstanding questions, and demonstrate the level of accountability that customers, entrants, and professional partners should be able to expect.
Until then, this is my account of what happened, supported by the records I have retained.
This article reflects my personal experience and the records available to me as of October 18, 2026. HerEmpire had not responded to my most recent follow-up messages as of that date. If the company provides a substantive response, I am open to considering it and updating this article where appropriate.
