WTH GNC

[Kirby]

I decided a while back that I was going to start working out and lifting somewhat seriously. So with the guidance of SVTCobra's protein thread I went to GNC to pick up some protein and Cellmass. I get to the counter and the guy working there says I can save some money on my purchases if I get the gold card. I think I'll be back to pick up more stuff when I needed, so I go ahead and get it, thinking that I'll be saving some money each time.

Wrong. I had to work Monday, so I got my dad to get me some supplements, along with my card so that he could get the discount. The guy at the counter told my dad that the discount only applied the first week of each month. WTF :|. I can't time my consumption with a certain week of the month.

Did I/my dad just get screwed, or is GNC that fcked up? Either way, I'm getting all my supplements online now.

 

[gwrober]

I stopped shopping at GNC a long time ago for that reason. Every now and then I'll get a coupon in the mail and use it, but that's it.

 

[krunchykrome]

For future reference, don't ever buy supplements from GNC. They prey on noobs, their supplements are overpriced, their gold card is crap, they dont have a wide selection of supplements, and the staff at GNC stores are d@uchebags.

Buy your supplements online.

 

[j00fek]

bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

 

[Jeraden]

Yeah, its always been that way. You get the discount on your first purchase (when you get the card), so its good to stock up then. I got a card too because they had some sale and I bought a bunch of stuff which made the card basically free after the discount. But since then I've never been back - you can pretty much always find better deals online even after the discount.

 

[jman19]

1) Get all of the details before you agree to anything.
2) Buy more than a months worth at a time, and buy before you run out. This is what I used to do with my roommates. Problem solved.

 

[Kirby]

It would have nice for the asshat to at least mention it. The guy deliberately made it sound like I would get a discount everytime I came.

And that Cellmass isn't cheap, to top it off.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
It would have nice for the asshat to at least mention it. The guy deliberately made it sound like I would get a discount everytime I came.

And that Cellmass isn't cheap, to top it off.

Yeah he should have said that. Sounds like an asshat to me. FWIW I just buy whey online these days, usually ends up being cheaper.

 

[TallBill]

Instead of complaining on Anandtech, talk to the store manager. Tell him that you felt decieved. Anyways, I use bodybuilding.com.. its incredibly cheap and you can always find coupons for $10 or more off which negates shipping.

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

DPS Nutrition has a larger selection, cheaper prices and shipping than bb.com.

For the BSN cellmass it's $33.95+$4.90 S/H vs. $36.95+$5.95 S/H at bb.com. The moral of the story is don't go to GNC if you're looking to save money.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: jiggahertz

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

DPS Nutrition has a larger selection, cheaper prices and shipping than bb.com.

For the BSN cellmass it's $33.95+$4.90 S/H vs. $36.95+$5.95 S/H at bb.com. The moral of the story is don't go to GNC if you're looking to save money.

Does dps nutrition have coupons/free sht? BB.com has $10 off $100 which nukes shipping and brings down equal to DPS, plus you get a $7-10 magazine subscription that you decline and get a rebate, plus the t-shirt/drink bottle/towel.

 

[purbeast0]

If they didn't tell you that its only for the fist week of each month, they screwed up. That was made clear to me when I got it.

However I only buy stuff online now. It's 10x cheaper. The only time I will buy stuff in the store is when I need protein for like 3-4 days (the shipping time) and I"ll get a little $14 tub of designer whey.

It's funny though because where I order it,it's like $12 for the 2lb tub of designer whey, where as the $14 at GNC is not even like 1Lb.

This is where I order from.

 

[amicold]

nutraplanet is very good as well as bodybuilding.com

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: TallBill

Originally posted by: jiggahertz

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

DPS Nutrition has a larger selection, cheaper prices and shipping than bb.com.

For the BSN cellmass it's $33.95+$4.90 S/H vs. $36.95+$5.95 S/H at bb.com. The moral of the story is don't go to GNC if you're looking to save money.

Does dps nutrition have coupons/free sht? BB.com has $10 off $100 which nukes shipping and brings down equal to DPS, plus you get a $7-10 magazine subscription that you decline and get a rebate, plus the t-shirt/drink bottle/towel.

They have similar coupons... $5 off $125 and rolling $20 off $125 for given brands along with the free t-shirt/shaker/hat/etc crap and random e-mail promotions but their prices are better.

 

[Wonderful Pork]

I have a Gold Card (first 7 days of the month only, NOT first week!) and i use it to buy ON Whey. With the 20% off Gold Card Price and 5% tax it works out cheaper than going to BB.com. I think the total is $36 all included for a 5lb tub.

I usually check out what I need to buy and buy it at the beginning of the month, so i have a new container of whey when I need it. Most other supplements are bought online, but for some reason the ON Whey works out cheaper to buy from GNC.

 

[CPA]

Vitamin World is the best place I have found. They have alot of great deals, including BOGO. Also, they periodically have clearance sales where you can get crap for $1 or two.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

Not even close. BB.com is great for ordering everything at once since they carry a lot, but their shipping is slow and their prices are somewhat high by online standards. A dollars difference might not seem like a lot, but when you are making a 700$ order and you can save 150$ by ordering from dpsnutrition or bulknutrition it is worth it.

That and they stop sending you free subscriptions after the first order.


Also all websites have coupon codes if you know the right people.



Also OP you did not read my thread carefully enough, as I said never buy things at GNC.

 

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
Also OP you did not read my thread carefully enough, as I said never buy things at GNC.

Well, GNC is the only thing around, and I do remember reading that their prices were somewhat competitive with the gold card.

Also, I wanted to try some Sytrantrax Nectar instead of ON, but GNC didn't have it.

 

[ISAslot]

I've been happy with bulknutrition. Fast shipping, except if you pay through google check out, it took a long time when I tried that, for whatever reason.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

Not even close. BB.com is great for ordering everything at once since they carry a lot, but their shipping is slow and their prices are somewhat high by online standards. A dollars difference might not seem like a lot, but when you are making a 700$ order and you can save 150$ by ordering from dpsnutrition or bulknutrition it is worth it.

That and they stop sending you free subscriptions after the first order.


Also all websites have coupon codes if you know the right people.



Also OP you did not read my thread carefully enough, as I said never buy things at GNC.

I've been ordering from bb.com for almost two years now and shipping usually takes 3 days. Im not sure if warehouse location has anything to do with that or not.

And most people don't order $700 worth of supplements at once. Besides, bb.com gives me free t-shirts and other goodies with my orders.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra

Originally posted by: j00fek
bodybuilding.com store >* best prices 5.95 shipping

Not even close. BB.com is great for ordering everything at once since they carry a lot, but their shipping is slow and their prices are somewhat high by online standards. A dollars difference might not seem like a lot, but when you are making a 700$ order and you can save 150$ by ordering from dpsnutrition or bulknutrition it is worth it.

That and they stop sending you free subscriptions after the first order.


Also all websites have coupon codes if you know the right people.



Also OP you did not read my thread carefully enough, as I said never buy things at GNC.

I've been ordering from bb.com for almost two years now and shipping usually takes 3 days. Im not sure if warehouse location has anything to do with that or not.

And most people don't order $700 worth of supplements at once. Besides, bb.com gives me free t-shirts and other goodies with my orders.

It takes 3 days here also (they have a warehouse in FL and Idaho) but what pisses me off is I'll make an order Sunday night at 2AM and I'll get an email an hour later saying "Great your order shipped within 24 hours!" except I know no one is there, and the order does not get filled until Monday afternoon. Stupid automated system if you ask me. That and I still have yet to get free straps they keep promising me with every order.

Don't get me wrong I like bbing.com I just have gripes about some things.

 

[S Freud]

GNC sucks plain and simple. When I first started lifting I went in there not knowing any better, the people behind the counter new nothing about the products they were selling. In fact one of the girls how to be in the obese category of BMI. Nothing against obese people, I just don't think it looks good to have them running a store about health and fitness.

Like everyone else has said OP, go online. I know it sucks to hear that now but just chalk it up as experience and look elsewhere. Much better deals to be had online and better products, GNC price gouges so obviously. I get my Whey online, 5lb tub shipped to my door for around $26, where GNC charges double of that. I'm surprised that company is even in business anymore.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Shopping at GNC for supplements is like shopping at CompUSA for computer parts.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Shopping at GNC for supplements is like shopping at CompUSA for computer parts.

Haha...that's about the best analogy for us tech geeks!

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Shopping at GNC for supplements is like shopping at CompUSA for computer parts.

Haha...that's about the best analogy for us tech geeks!

Hey, I shop at compusa all the time. Im in that store every sunday!