Getting scammed is one of those things that would make you question every purchase and investment you’ve ever made. Almost everyone who made a purchase online has been duped in some manner, and their experience made them more vigilant and more inquisitive than those who have yet to go through the same ordeal. It’s one of those experiences that change your understanding of certain products, and this includes buying supplements.
Let’s be real – the supplement industry isn’t exactly the most trusted industry online. On our part as a supplement review site, we know for a fact that many supplement products have their way of tricking their customers into buying products that don’t work as advertised. That’s why many are skeptical about supplements, and many do not trust brands that promise outlandish results.
Buying supplements has a lot more to do with the trust and confidence that consumers have in the brand. People who buy supplements understand that supplements take time to work, and this makes every supplement purchase more like a leap of faith. Unfortunately, this is also the reason why many consumers fall victim to supplement scams online.
The honest truth is, there are plenty of supplement brands you can trust, and your negative experience with other brands shouldn’t dissuade you into buying supplements that can help you improve your health and performance. Avoiding scams online is easier than you think. Here’s how to avoid getting scammed by supplements:
Never buy in bulk
Almost every supplement product sold online offers ways to save on your purchase, but not every offer is designed to lower the cost. Some supplement products offer bulk purchases on 3-month, 6-month, or even 12-month supplement packages. The idea is, the bigger your purchase, the more you save per unit – but what you don’t realize is that you’re paying a huge sum upfront for a supplement you haven’t tried.
The only reason why supplement companies try to get you to buy in bulk isn’t because of the reduced operating and manufacturing cost when you buy in bulk; it’s because they don’t expect you to buy their product again, and they are trying to get the largest amount they can get from you before you realize that you don’t want their product. On top of that, you’re likely to have a cabinet full of supplements that you won’t touch for months, and supplements always have a risk of spoiling over time.
Of course, we’re not implying that bulk discounts are all scams, but if you want to save on supplements, you need to try supplements first before you decide to buy in bulk. Never keep supplements for more than three months, because the risk of spoiling exponentially increases after the third month. If you can, get a membership deal that would give you a discounted rate. That would allow you to evaluate the product on a monthly basis.
Don’t sign up for free trials
We’ve all heard the saying – there’s no such thing as a free lunch. That’s why you need to approach free trial offers with vigilance and skepticism. What company would just give out supplements without getting something in return?
Free trial scams work by enticing customers to get their product for free and only pay for shipping. You may notice that not one of these free trial offers also offer free shipping – and that’s because they need to get your credit card information. By charging you for the initial shipping, they get your credit card information on file, and most of these free trials include a fine print that authorizes the company to charge you for a monthly fee if you don’t cancel your subscription.
Many of the people who get free trials are not aware of the fine print, and they get surprised when they see a charge on their credit card for the full price of the supplement. The whole process just reeks of malice, and that’s why you should stay away from free trial offers.
Always do your research
If a supplement is as good as they say it is, there’s probably some other guy on the internet who would say the same thing. Supplement reviews are one of the most reliable markers of a good supplement. You get to learn about another person’s experiences with the product, and this gives you a better understanding of what you should expect with such products.
Unfortunately, some supplement reviews have been tainted by shills or people that are paid by the company to artificially boost their credibility. Some products have exaggerated reviews that make it seem like the supplement is too good to be true, and you know what they say – when something is too good to be true, it probably is.
That’s why it’s extremely important to do your research. Shills won’t matter if you look for reviews from actual people who have tried the product. If a product is as good as they say it is, there would be an overwhelming number of positive reviews posted on legitimate websites.
There you have it! Supplements are great when they work as you expect them to. Don’t let your bad experience with a few products prevent you from getting the benefits of supplements. There are plenty of scams online that you should be aware of, but with ample research, you should be able to weed out scams with ease.
