Is Your Supplement Store Chain Ripping You Off?
3 Reasons Why You Big Supplement Chains May Ripping You Off!
I might rattle a few feathers with this blog post but I don’t care. It is not my intention to stir the pot as they say, but it is my intention to educate YOU about what goes in when you want into a big Supplement Chain and ask them for “Help”.
So lets take a step back and look at the bigger picture of what REALLY goes on (most times, not all, but most), when you walk into a large Supplement Chain and ask the person working there to recommend you supplements.
Luckily for me I haven’t had to walk into a Supplement Chain and ask for advice in a long long time! I LOVE helping my customers and telling them what I feel is best for them. I have always been honest and ALWAYS WILL! However, the same can’t be said for a lot of the stores you visit and here is why.
Want to know the #1 ISSUE I have with most Supplement Chain Stores?
#1 Issue – They aren’t selling you what is BEST for YOU, they are SELLING What is best for THEM!
Let me explain. You ask the nice person working at ABC Supplement Chain for a good protein powder. Now what do you think they will recommend?
The Best Product?
The Best Deal?
Their Favorite?
Guess Again!
More than likely they will sell you whatever product THEY get the most COMMISION or KICKBACK From! They aren’t selling you what they think is best for you, they are selling you what is BEST FOR THEM! And this is WRONG!
Here are the 3 main reasons why they “Push” Certain Brands
1. Incentives to sell Brand/Product X
2. Kickbacks for Brand/Product X
3. Higher Commissions for Brand/Product X
Another example is there is a Gym with Supplements where I live that every 3 months they would have a different Brand they had in stock. The only reason they did this is because of MARGINS. They sold whatever was the cheapest for them to get that THEY can make the most profit off.
So do me a favor, before you buy at your local Huge Sports Supplement Chain Retailer ask yourself one question “Who is getting what they want out of this transaction? Me or them?” My guess is them and you don’t even realize it!
To me selling someone something that is good for me and not them is like having a personal trainer train you and the trainer having them do the trainers favorite exercises! They aren’t good for the client, but they are fun for the trainer! Are you following me?
If I had someone with rotator issues in their shoulder I’d never have them doing bench press! Well what if you went into Supplement Chain X and wanted a good creatine & bcaa product and the product you walked out with was the one that the SALES REP made the MOST COMMISION OFF! Would you feel satisfied with your purchase?
You got the best product for THEM, NOT YOU!
So I am making it my goal via this blog to Educate YOU. I am going to tell you Supplments that I like, & Supplements I don’t like, but more so I am going to educate YOU on how to find out for YOURSELF what products you should be buying based on using your JUDGEMENT & INFORMATION not what some part time sales clerk thinks is best for his commission check!
Let me be clear first. Not all supplement chains are evil, not all people working in supplement stores are working on commissions, not everyone is full of Sh*t. But I want to try to help you know what to look for.
Most of today’s supplements are sold because of the MARKETING behind the Supplements. Ya know the ultra flashy cool labels & boxes, the 250lb bodybuilder saying he takes Supplement X. That is what is driving the Supplement Industry, and its slowly starting to backfire.
It’s a big reason why Supplements get a bad rap in many ways. There are some great quality supplements out there, but it has become a “throwing away the baby with the bath water” type deal.
So I am going to make it my goal to educate you as much as possible! Stay tuned more info to come!
If you care to share of your Supplement Shop Stories Feel Free To Post Em Up!
If I get 20 replies Ill tell you why I started my Sports Supplement Business (It’s a damn funny story!)




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22 Responses to “Is Your Supplement Store Chain Ripping You Off?”
Bottom line, Costco sells better protein powder for much less money than you do. As for service, I can research myself online for free, why pay extra?
IF you read 1/2 the costco labels they are not nearly as good as others. Also they are shady as they use the same size containers and sell for less even though there is less protein Ie 1.5 lb and not 2lb.
Im glad your smart enough getting service on your own David. You dont have to pay extra, i never asked you to order from me.
You talk about not needing service yet your reading my blog and info. Glad to see you make sense.
Great article, Rob. Most places just try and make you buy anything they can. I still remember the first time I went to your store to get some weight loss stuff… putting hundreds of dollars worth of anything I could think of on the counter… and you talking me into walking out with a bottle of ephedrine and a bottle of caffeine.
When does Jamie Eason usually drop by?
ok then that’s makes sense now that you have said that when I do go in their they are always pushing there product. So I’m I able to buy my supplements from you .also once you have a protein how many times a day do you take it two to three. I try to read about supplements almost every day . And still trying to perfect my workout plan .i try to do chest tryciecps then next day back biciecps then aday off .then shoulders last legs .so that’s my workout let know if it ok .if you got any pointers that would be good to.
Great post rob. I got to say when you go into robs store (heavyweights) and buy a product you know your getting the best thing out there and or for you and your training. The only thing that piss me off was not getting a call when Jamie was there, next time make a call, LOL.
Thanks Jamie
Next time Jamie Eason shows up ill text ya…..not lol
Raymond
Protein has no set # of times. IE it can be 1, 2 3 or more depending on your Nutrition. Find out how much your getting from food and fill the rest from the Supplement.
I go 3 a day. With breakfast, post workout and before bed.
so if I don’t buy from gnc how about your store I live in balt md .if that is possible like you or any body else would like to buy my stoff from some who really cares and knows what they are selling . Also who someone who I can ask questions if I need to. Because money is hard to come buy these days and what I get is good
Hey Ray
We are pretty far from Baltimore! Id love to help ya anyway I can. Get your protein there just get a good brand (Myofusion, Opt Gold, EAS etc.).
Ask any questions here ill do my best to help
rob, you’re the man.
i’ve talked to you a few times about supps and you’ve never pushed something on me.
when it comes to supplements, i really don’t know a whole lot. i know much about nutrition and that’s pretty much it. so when asking you about supplementation and how to cut body fat you kicked my ass with some pretty smart suggestions – which lead me to NOT purchase at your shop.
lol pretty strange from a guy who sells supplements to tell me i don’t need to buy things from your store to get what i want.
in short, you’re the man. ya helped me out a couple of times and i’ve still not made a purchase at your store. i hope you stay in business man LOL!
you’re a good guy, Rob.. and good on you for writing this article. i gotta remember to check my email more often!
cheers,
_M
Thanks man appreciate it!
Don’t get me wrong, price is important in this day and age, in any industry, but it should not be the deciding factor. If a customer is only concerned about price and nothing else, most of the time you do not want that customer anyway. If they do not see the value they are getting in the service and help at Heavyweights, the next customer will. Keep it up Rob, good job.
“Most of today’s supplements are sold because of the MARKETING behind the Supplements.”
Too true. And how do the big brand companies pay for their advertising? By making products with HIGH margins – meaning the products are inexpensive to make yet they charge top dollar. Don’t get duped by a flashy ad campaign. Research your products before you buy – RK Fitness is a good place to start.
Costco, Walmart, Dominion, etc all have employees that know absolutely nothing about the supps they’re selling…and they don’t give a rat’s ass about service. I don’t get a chance to get to Heavyweights too often, but the selection is great, the staff is awesome, they know their s#!t…what more can I say?
HI MR KING I AM LOOKING FOR SOME GOOD CREATINE CAN YOU RECCOMEND A GOOD CREATINE I LIVE IN TORONTO I AM FROM ST GEORGES JUST WEST OF STEPHSVILLE CAME UP WHEN I WAS 12 I AM 57 NOW TIME FLYES HEY BYE,HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON..IM GLAD I FOUND SOME ONE LIKE YOU CAN SAVE MYSELF SOME TIME CAUSE ALL THERE THINKING ABOUT IS COMMISSION,
THE HECK WITH WHAT WE WANT,ANYWAYS MY SON HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN…GARY
Hey Gary
Nice hearing from you.
Good creatines :
Purple K
Encharge
Con-Crete
All good creatines. take care!
Hey Rob i have a question. I have a real high metabolism and i eat real well. Also i have been taking protein powders, creatine and testosterone boosters at least 2 to 3 times daily. And i work out usually 4-5 times a week and take the weekends off. But it seems like i gain a little in muscle but not much and also i weigh myself monthly but still i weigh the same. Do you have any advice of how to pack on muscle and weight? But i love the site and any advice you can give would be much appreciated. Thanks so much!!
Hey Steve
I understand your pain. I never had problem gaining weight (except fat lol) but there are ways around it
Simple you need a LOT of quality calories. You need more calorie dense foods. Clean food is great but its hard to get the calories
You need to eat more
-Mixed Nuts
-Xlean Ground Beef
-PEanut butter (make this your best friend…really)
-Cottage cheese
-Ice cream
-Brown Rice
-Wholegrain pasta
-whole eggs
Foods like this are more calorie dense and far better for putting on size.
give it a go and let me know
im not gonna bash on this store but by saying its name but i walked in and saw the prices and walked right out here are some examples of what i buy and what they were selling it for ..i am a fan of fruit punch n.o.xplode and jack3d they were selling them for $64 and $36 i pay $18 and $27 ..even if you have the (gold card) haha it dont come close you do have to tack on $6 for shipping but well worth it to me ..and Rob your site and advice ive seen so far is great i will be trying some new things for sure ..if i could impose on asking a question ..is it ok to do a full body workout say on friday then rest sat and sun??? i am a hard gainer and want to add muscle any other advice is greatly appreciated also THANKS!
Nice hearing from you Kaz.
pls can i get ur review on BAD ASS MASS and SUPERPUMP250, what are side effect. thx
Hey Abdul
yes i will., I am making it a point next week to get back at the Supplement Reviews, i have been busy with other things, but thats no excuse, starting tomorrow I will be doing a review a week from now on.
Also both those products are great!