14 Comments
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knightsaberpriss's avatar

ConsumerLab.com has a useful article about this problem here:

https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/avoid-counterfeit-supplements/counterfeit-supplements/

What's your opinion about Vitacost?

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

Thank you for sharing that link. I still think to be on the safe side, shop elsewhere (other than Amazon)for supplements. Vitacost, iherb or Fullscript are good online choices if you are ordering multiple brands at once. Otherwise, as stated in the article, go directly to the product website.

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End tyranny's avatar

So what about someone like myself who has access to pharmaceutical grade supplements at a very reduced price because of my profession and then I turn around and resell them on Amazon. Isn't that a possibility that others are doing the same?

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

That is exactly what is happening in many instances and its illegal.

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End tyranny's avatar

Okay, but then the products are still legitimate. I don't sell them on Amazon but they do a lot of that secondary selling. I believe it's called drop shipping.

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

I have access at wholesale prices as you do. With every brand there is an agreement form that required my signature agreeing and understanding that I explicitly do not do what is happening on Amazon.

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End tyranny's avatar

That makes sense and I signed a lot of those as well but honestly didn't really read them. I have zero intention of selling them online. I should go back and read through them.

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

Well some yes may be real products but there is the possibility they are buying in bulk, storing in hot places for who knows how long. I wouldn't want to buy a product from this type of person. Additionally, how do I know they have real products selling them illegally, or selling a counterfeit product. Either way I'm not supporting that seller.

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Marie's avatar

What about iHerb?

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

Iherb is a reputable site to use.

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Kimry's avatar

Thank you for letting me know. I did exactly this, and will now probably have to fight them for a refund

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

In the future, if ordering a supplement from an Amazon shop, contact the company first via their own website, not via Amazon and ask if they have an Amazon shop. I am sure a lot of direct to consumer brands do but this shouldn't be the case for brands that you need a practitioner to access.

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Kimry's avatar

I usually buy direct from the company, ie. Life Extension. I don't know what I was thinking.

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Karen Brennan, PhD's avatar

Directly from the supplement company is ideal. I get the ease of Amazon, ordering a bunch of stuff at once is so easy rather than going to a bunch of sites.

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