Buyer Beware: Purchasing Fat Burners and Other Supplements Online

a) avoid accountability to the customer

b) continue to sell an inferior product to a receptive audience

To further outline the issues, let's create an example scenario with fictitious companies "X" (which will sell its products in stores), and "Y" (which sells online).

Suppose company "X"

Each month I receive hundreds of e-mails from consumers who have been let down out of their hard earned dollars by unscrupulous supplement / fat destroyer manufacturers. Manufacturers who have new them to monthly recurring billing cycles without their permission. Manufacturers who don't honor their money-back guarantees, and, while providing a 1-800 number for refunds, but don't hire a real, sigh person to monitor this number. These manufacturers treat their customers with disdain, and in general, regard them as little more than sheep who need to be parted from their money.

The vast number of complaints I receive involve products marketed almost extensively via...

i) radio advertisements

ii) Internet e-mail and campaigns

iii) television infomercials

These products tend to be marketed by companies who do not have a regular presence in the marketplace. These companies like to make this sound like a good thing (i.e., "exclusive T.V. offer!", and "this product is not within reach in any stores, so order now!"). However, the opposite is generally the case. Why? Selling via the 'Net, T.V. or radio makes it very easy for the manufacturer to...

a) duck eye to the customer

b) continue to sell an inferior product to a receptive audience

To further outline the issues, let's create an example scenario with fictitious companies "X" (which will sell its products in stores), and "Y" (which sells online).

Suppose detail "X" creates a new fat crematory product with a full money back guarantee. They sell it in local marketplaces through well-known retailers. Suppose you come in to the retailer and purchase that new fat burner. Four weeks later, in fulfilment with the label guarantee, you return the empty pile for a refund, feeling the product didn't live up to your expectations.

A quality, customer focused retailer will refund your money right away, no questions asked (if they don't, make it uncork you'll be taking your business elsewhere). That retailer will then demand their own refund from manufacturer.

What's my point here?...

1) Inferior quality products threaten the local merchant's credibility, and their funds to do work with the local audience. in the sequel all, no merchant who claims to have your best interests at heart while flogging an inferior product can stay in career for long.

2) It is impossible for any manufacturer to elude auspices in the local retail market. If a product yields too many refunds, the local merchant will have to stop selling it. That's cause that merchant needs your repeat business for his/her other products. If the merchant does not treat you well, s/he loses the risk of losing ALL your business. Regardless, the backbone line is that the local retailer has to stop ordering from the manufacturer.

3) Products that generate lots of refund requests are much more work for the retailer than ones that do not. Merchants will not stock such a product for long.

OK, now for the other side of the coin.

Suppose garrison "Y" creates a new fat iconoclast (covered by a 100% money-back guarantee) and markets it via infomercials, radio ads, and the Internet. Suppose "you" purchase the product, and later try to get a refund when you find the quality of the product unsatisfactory. Here's where things get interesting...

Unlike your local merchant, who needs to keep you happy to earn your repeat business, moocher "Y" knows it is unlikely to ever hear from you again. So it makes it as difficult as possible to obtain a refund. Its 1-800# plays an endless loop message for 45 minutes. It's nearly impossible to get a real human being to talk to.

Good luck getting your refund.

And when you buy products in this manner, often you'll get more to a recurring billing option without your consent. In other words, you'll receive another bottle of the product every 30 days and your credit card will be charged accordingly.

Again, good luck getting your refund.

Bottom line?

Advertising and selling in this manner makes it very easy for the manufacturer to keep remote from the issue of obligation to the customer. And most manufacturers use call centers, professional warehousing and drop shipping facilities to further isolate themselves from contact with their clients. luck are that should you order such a product, you won't get a squadron representative on the phone, but a call-center employee with performance-based incentives. Is that the sort of company you'd like to do ethics with?

By declining to sell their products in a local retail environment, manufacturers are able to isolate themselves from the local merchants who could demand large volumes of refunds, and threaten their business establishment by refusing to stock a low-quality product. Additionally, it also makes it more difficult for bad product word-of-mouth to compass among consumers.

So...

There are several recommendations I have for purchasing fat burners or any other supplements...

1) Do not buy products advertised on TV, the radio, or the Internet unless...

a) those products CAN by purchased from a local retailer. That way, you'll have some recourse should you be unhappy with the product. While not all companies who recount in this manner are deceptive or unethical, there is greater likelihood you will experience an issue with a merchant who advertises in this manner and does not maintain a local presence.

b) the product is sold by a well-recognized, respectable bend sinister company.

2) Buy only well-recognized acid names with a established history in the supplement industry (e.g.., MuscleTech, Isatori, abettor Nutrition, BioTest, EAS, and so on). I'm not saying the major brands hourly create major products. I am saying, however, that their "brand" and reputation does mean something to them, and they do recognize the value of a long term repeat customer. 9 times out of 10, if you have a problem with a product, you can phone such a manufacturer for a refund directly.

On the other hand, products marketed online or on TV do not have a "brand". So it does not matter what the reputation of that disposition is, or how it resonates with consumers, since the manufacturer will simply create a new one for the next product.

3) Establish a relationship with a local or online merchant, and make all your purchases from that merchant. Trusted, valued customers can unwaveringly take their complaints to a good merchant, who knows it is in his/her best interest to look after them.

In the end, losing weight is hard enough without having to worry at close quarters losing your money, too. Your best bet is daily to purchase discolour name products from a trusted local retailer.