5/5

posted Jan-20-2012

After reading the reviews on here I shied away from using SupplementWarehouse, but kept them in mind. When I came back to see if their ratings had improved, I found the exact opposite. However, I decided to give them a try because they offered better prices and a more diverse selection. I was also prepared to wait the 2 weeks that everyone else reported.

Although they offered price matching, I found they already had the best price, in fact, there weren't many other companies offering the same brand, potency and size I wanted. I placed my order on a Sunday and received it on the following Friday. I am well pleased.

From my experience and reading the experiences of others, I think it is safe to say that you can't rely on their price matching. The fact that they let you know that your price match was rejected after shipping and charging your account without your authorization is really a poor business model which borders on fraudulent. While they do offer lots of freebies, I didn't elect to get any. I am not surprised that they charge shipping on these items, so that wasn't a point of contention for me. As for the exorbitant shipping prices others have reported, that was not the case for me.

An additional bit of unsavoriness was the fact that immediately upon completion of my order I was invited to review my purchase on another ratings site (not a US site either) with the added incentive of being entered into a monthly drawing. How can I review the site without having received my order? As a result, I saw they had a tremendous rating on that site, with just a few of the negatives which were from the same customers who had posted here. Obviously they are using that site to bolster their reputation disingenuously while not addressing unhappy customers.

I will say this for them, the site seems geared primarily towards fitness supplements. Nothing in my order could be classified in that respect. The items aren't that commonly available, so I would think my experience would be a bit more typical. But, I should mention that all the items were from the same manufacturer, so that may have been a factor.

So, if you don't mind playing a bit of roulette, I say give them a try, just don't expect that price matching gambit to pay off.

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5/5

posted Sep-21-2010

In this age of faceless dealings over the internet, it's often difficult to know the true character of a company. That is, until you run into a problem. I finally ran into such a problem in dealing with J.Crow's.

I placed an order and contacted the company even though it had been less than two weeks. I spoke with Jeff who informed me that they guaranteed their shipments and to give it an additional day, if it still hadn't arrived they would ship me another. Had I of done that, they could have shipped prior to the weekend, but I decided to give it an additional day. When I contacted them late Saturday that it hadn't arrived, I received notice that a replacement would be shipped Monday via Priority mail. And so it was.

One thing I neglected to factor in was that my order had been placed prior to a postal holiday, thus adding at least a day for transit, not considering the increase in volume. I was never put off by the company due to this, or how short of a time period had passed.

In dealing with Jeff at J.Crow's I am happy to say I have a new respect for the company and consider them one of those rare gems of integrity that still survive today. I highly recommend this company.

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5/5

posted Jul-26-2010

I've been ordering from Swanson's for years. Their prices are excellent and the service outstanding. Their privately labeled products receive high marks from Consumer Labs testing and are a bargain.

One thing to keep in mind is that if you order something on backorder, they will hold your order for a period if it is scheduled to be back in stock shortly. I have experienced them both shipping immediately, as well as them holding the order for 4 days. This is clearly stated on their website and when ordering. I've never ran into this when the website said the item was in stock. It makes sense, as they pay for your shipping on backordered items.

Some items are restricted in the amount you can order. Sometimes because they are on sale, others, like crystalline vitamin C, are always limited. I have no idea why, but the amount is adequate to last between orders.

Speaking of which, lately I've ran into problems with their crystalline vitamin C products. The lids are being screwed on too tightly and the foil covering is being deformed. Once, it even resulted in a small hole. Hopefully they'll clear this up, but returning the product is easy.

Each order comes with a return label. Just tape it to the box and mail it. I've made several returns over the years without a single problem. Each has been credited to my account in a reasonable amount of time. The really impressive thing about their return policy is that it is good for up to a year after your purchase. This is important if you like to stock up. Other than the vitamin C, reasons for my returns have ranged from changing my mind, to a product which interrupted my sleep. Again, never a problem.

I've never tried to unsubscribe from their mailings, but they aren't cumbersome. They're helpful if you are a regular buyer.

One thing that irks me about them is that their pricing on the website differs from those submitted to Google Shopping. On some items I have to look the product up on Google Shopping and click over from there to get the reduced price.

Customer service has always been pleasant. On my last order I neglected to add an item. Unfortunately, Swanson's doesn't offer the ability to cancel an order. So, I wrote their customer service and they sent me a reply that it had been added. Simple!

Swanson's is a good company. There is cheaper pricing to be found on some of the name brand items, but always through companies which drop ship and that can, and often does, result in headaches. I'd highly recommend the company and they are my main source for supplements.

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