Are you interested in buying supplements but tired of paying astronomical prices for them in the store? Do you need to purchase certain supplements that you can’t seem to find in-store? If so, then you need to buy supplements online.
Doing so will give you access to any supplements that you need and the ability to compare prices, sizes, doses, etc. However, you need to make sure that you’re purchasing from a safe website. Fair or unfair, there are many scammers out there.
See below for an in-depth guide on how to safely buy supplements online and how to know when you’ve come across a proper seller.
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Find a Reliable Website
In terms of searching, buying supplements isn’t any different than purchasing any other product online. You can still use Google as your trusty steed while you roam through different supplement sellers.
It’s vastly important that you find a trusted website. If the site seems sketchy or impractical, then stay as far away as possible. Is that extra $5 off really worth it if the website seems like a scam? We’ll touch more on pricepoints in a moment.
Any time that you come across the supplements you’re looking to buy online, always take a look at the site. When looking for supplements that doctors prescribe, look for a site with a BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating.
You can typically tell the trustworthiness of a supplement site by the information on it. If their site is full of content explaining the supplements and relevant topics, it’s a good sign that they’re leading experts in their field.
On the contrary, if the site is just one page that lists the supplements and then asks for your credit card info, you should stay away. Use your best judgment. If you get a bad feeling about it, look elsewhere!
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Search for the Right Price
Let’s preface this by saying that you shouldn’t just be looking for the cheapest price. There are a few reasons why a significantly lowered price should serve as a red flag.
First, it might be a sign of a scam. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is. We recommend looking for the supplement on a few different sites, then looking to see what the average asking price is. If one is significantly lower than the rest, cross it off your list.
Second, as the old buying proverb tells us “you get what you pay for”. Supplements of a lower price will have a lower effect. In fact, they might not work at all.
Instead of looking solely at the price, look at a collection of things. Take a look at the brand, count, price, and reviews (more on that in a second).
We’re not advocating that you have to pay for the name brand. You can save a lot of money by going with off brands on the supplements you need and get the same results. Just make sure that, if you go that route, the off-brand has a good reputation as well.
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Look Through Online Reviews
When we say “online reviews”, we don’t mean the glowingly-positive customer testimonials on the company’s website. Those could have been planted there by the seller.
Also Read: Dietary Supplements: Pros and Cons
Any time that you come across a new website or supplement, be sure to search it via Google and read through the online reviews that you find. This can help put you in the shoes of people that have purchased from that website before. Ask yourself a few questions while you read the comments:
- Do the clients seem satisfied with their purchase?
- What was the turnaround time when ordering through that website?
- Do the clients recommend this website to others?
- Were there any notable setbacks that the customer reported?
- How long have the customers been using this same service?
- Did any of them purchase the supplement(s) that you’re interested in?
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Don’t Overextend Your Search
When in doubt, it never hurts to purchase your supplements through the brand’s website. This can give you peace of mind that you’re purchasing from a reputable source.
It can also ensure you experience optimal results with the supplements you purchase. Since the supplements they’re selling affect their overall brand, they’ll be sure to give you the finest quality.
We’re all for finding a deal, but don’t get too crazy with the sites you visit. Stick to what you know. Even sites like Amazon have scammers from time to time. Let the customer reviews on those sites point you in the right direction.
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Look for Contact Information
Whenever you come across a new supplement store site, check to see if they have any contact information listed on their page. This can usually be found at the bottom of the website or on the contact us page.
If there isn’t any contact information on there, it’s usually a sign of a scam. Companies of integrity have nothing to hide. Think of their contact info as a way of providing customer support for their site visitors.
Another red flag is if the website asks for your personal information right off the bat. You don’t need to tell them your name or email address to browse around their store.
Buy Supplements Online With These Tips
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide highlighting several tips on how to buy supplements online safely, be sure to use them to your advantage.
As we mentioned, when in doubt, purchase from the brand themselves. It guarantees that you get your hands on the supplements you need!
Be sure to browse our website for more articles on how to buy supplements online, as well as many other helpful topics.
