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The good, the bad, and the ugly - discover what customers are saying about GNC

Welcome to our customer reviews and complaints page for GNC. We understand that making informed decisions about where to invest your time and money can be challenging, which is why we've created this platform for our community to share their honest feedback about their experiences with GNC.

On this page, you'll find a comprehensive collection of reviews and complaints from real customers who have used GNC's products or services. Our reviews are authentic and unbiased, providing you with a complete picture of the company, its products or services, and their customer service.

Whether you're considering doing business with GNC, or you've already had an experience with them, our community's reviews and complaints will give you a valuable perspective on what to expect. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about where to invest your time and money, and we hope that our platform will be a valuable resource for you.

Please feel free to browse our reviews and complaints and share your own experience with GNC. Your feedback is an important part of our community and will help others make informed decisions.

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3:07 pm EDT
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GNC the company itself

The company itself hires unethical individuals who slander and abuse one another and the company is completely okay with that . Worst company I've EVER worked for. Not only that but they've threatened my job before by wrongfully telling me not to discuss my pay which is also illegal . But I'll leave it up to equal employment to follow through with .

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8:26 am EST
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GNC online ordering and poor customer service

Up until now I have always had a good experience with GNC but a recent online order (which was the first time I ever ordered online) has left me not wanting to ever come back! I was bombarded every day prior to Christmas with e-mails from GNC about specials and deals since I am a rewards member. My husband wanted a Whey Protein product for Christmas and I have a 20% off coupon as well as free shipping, guaranteed before Christmas, if ordered by 12/15/17. I placed the order, received a confirmation email and sat back waiting for the shipping details. By 12/19 I was worried because I had not received a Tracking number so I checked the order status on my account and found that the order had been cancelled! No explanation or anything. I called customer service and after waiting 20+ minutes I am told that the order was cancelled the day before but there was no explanation as to why?! The customer service person said they must be out of stock but wasn't sure. So I look at my checking account and I still have a pending $53.24 debit for days after the order was cancelled. I never received an e-mail or any communication as to the order being cancelled and now I have lost out on the coupon 20% off, free shipping and guarantee of item being received before Christmas. I submit a complaint to their "Contact us" site and get an email back two days later that yes, the order was cancelled and they will resend the cancellation to me (Which I also never got) in spam or junk or anything. I called a local store which is what I would have done had I known it would be this difficult online... the store manager confirmed they had plenty of the item in stock and offered to give me the same price/discount as long as I showed the confirmation email from the cancelled online order. Thanks to him I was able to get the item before Christmas but I will NOT be placing anymore online orders with GNC and furthermore I removed myself from their email list since they solicit things they cannot follow through with.

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6:45 am EDT

GNC management

I am complaining b/c the GM, Ashley at Short Pump in Richmond VA fired my son. He has been with the company for almost 2 1/2 years, part time, never called in sick, never came in late, made his numbers. Yet when the new manager of his store forgets to take down the sales sign and never tells my son the sale has ended, my son sells items at the sale price, he gets fired. A week prior to his firing, his new manager told him everyone in the store needed to stop selling items at the sales price and my son understood. He sold items at sales price 1.5 months ago and no one ever told him to stop doing it. Plus Ashley didn't have the balls to question my son when the incidents occurred or fire him. In my work experience most boss' as least let the employee know when they made a mistake and talk to them about it before just firing them. I will never purchase anything ever again from GNC and will make sure I spread the word on how this company treats their employees.

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11:15 am EDT
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GNC won't stand behind lousy product

I purchased a bottle of GNC Hip and Joint health dreamy peanut butter flavor for dogs. I have 7 and NOT ONE (1) will eat this. So I took it back to the store, they said they couldn't return them so I called the toll free number and although the person was nice they did nothing to replace or refund the product. They wanted to blame the store but it is GNC who made the product and they won't stand behind it. I paid $50.00 for this bottle of what has to be really bad product as I have said I have 7 dogs and not one will eat this crap.

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George
, US
Mar 16, 2009 5:28 pm EDT

Broken CD from the GNC.

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10:28 pm EDT
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GNC employee made me feel uncomfortable

This review is based on the employee... I love the product at GNC... I have shopped at the GNC store in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, located right beside Kmart, 3 times.. Every time I go into the store, there is a creepy old guy who works there. He makes everyone feel uncomfortable. I've had numerous people have the same experience as me.

My first experience at this store, I went into the store with my friend and we were looking to buy whey protein... This guy kept suggesting that we buy horny goat weed, and telling us about his sexual life at home. He continued to follow us around the store.. We told him "thank you for your help, and we'll just look by ourselves." He continued to follow us and talk and tell us stories.. It made us both feel uncomfortable.

The second time I came back, all he did was complain about his manager. He said the store manager does not like him. A few minutes later, the store manager left for the day, and he was like "Oh good, she left.. I don't like her. Now I can finally go out front and smoke a cigarette.. She doesn't like me, and she doesn't like when I smoke out front". He followed me around the store again. I told him over and over again "thank you for your help and i'll continue to look by myself".. He didn't listen and continued to follow me around.. It was very uncomfortable to shop like this.

If GNC continues to have this guy work at their store, I am going to start shopping at a new store. I don't normally complain, but this guy made me feel so uncomfortable.. and seeing him complain about his management was just horrible and unprofessional.

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D Laskey
Oshawa, CA
Mar 08, 2014 5:52 pm EST

Charged $102 following upon paying $6 for a free-sample of product.

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8:58 pm EDT
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GNC employee

A couple works together at the GNC in the mall in Durango, CO. They constantly engage in PDA and it is extremely unprofessional.
They do not pay attention to customers, let alone stop when one is present. This unprofessional behavior has caused me to take my business elsewhere where I can get real customer service.

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3:59 am EDT
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GNC false advertising

On October 4, 2011 I received an email stating "Web Only 20% off our entire site for shoppers we miss the most" - The email stated that the "discount was applied when you shop through this email" - so I clicked on the email for the "20% entire site." I ordered three items - GNC Joint Vitamins, Gaspari Phenorex and Gaspari Spirodex. The check out didn't give me the 20% off as promised so I called customer support before pressing "submit order." The customer service rep so "go ahead and press sumbit and I'll run up to management to get the discount." They called a few days later and said they would not apply the 20% because I already had 20% off on the vitamins and the Gaspari products were "hot items" so no discount.
Bottom line is they're sending misleading emails with false statements. I could have gone into gnc.com normally and gotten the same discount! To state "20% entire site" is misleading - Entire means ENTIRE you idiots! and the email said nothing about a normal discount using the card - it said 20% across the entire order. I'll be shopping at Complete Nutrition, MuscleTech and Gaspari from NOW ON!
Then I received an email from GNC with a survey stating "We want to hear from you" and "Please take a moment to tell us about your experience. You can be assured that your responses will be used only for research purposes, and will be held in strict confidence. This survey offer will expire in 7 days. We value your input, and thank you in advance for your participation. To participate in the survey, simply click here." I clicked on the link within 7 days to tell them what I thought and I received "Invalid link Please contact the sender of this invitation" - REALLY! REALLY!

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6:02 pm EDT
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I went into my local gnc about a month ago;. While in there I was told by one of the employees about how great the gold card was?. I was told that I could save 30-50% off and if I used the protein that I was purchasing on a regular basis that it would pay for itself the next month.. Since I am all about saving money I purchased the gold card,. I went into...

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5:02 pm EDT

GNC bad service

So tired of the consistant desparate routine the corporate stores bother us. Its so embarrasing for those pathetic soles!. You will only be directed toward gnc products only! Amp brand protein! Over priced multis etc! And they sell drug masking drinks and inositol powder! Great for cutting coke! But ask cause they keep it hidden! Its all about making there numbers, or they will let u go! They set weekly goals how many gold cards, multi vitamins and they call it p3, these are gnc high profit supplements. So next time you go to gnc spit out that chewable they force at you. Oms (One more sale) job turnover big, they pay sales crew a wopping 8 bucks an hour! Its not about customer caring, so sad about making weekly numbers! So sorry I was one of those sales people, over selling you with that fake smile! To make my numbers!

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Bill William
, US
Apr 29, 2017 1:12 pm EDT

I bought some Nugenix Ultimate and it did not help at all. So I try to return it but the mgr. would not give me a refund saying I did not return it with in the 30 day time limited . Store # is 3502 in Sylva NC . You have lost a customer for life.

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10:01 pm EDT

GNC crook manager

I purchased vitamins from GNC store in my area and the sales person didn't give me a receipt for my purchase. I find that out when I got home so I went the following day to return the product after I read bad reviews and horror stories here but to my surprise the same salesperson who happened to be the manager said their return policy is to have the receipt or I can get store credit!

I am so upset and angry because he simply made his $$ and made sure to keep my receipt so I can't return the product. I will call GNC headquarters and I hope I get somewhere with them to refund my money!

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10:23 am EST
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Over a month ago I tried to purchase some items at my local GNC store. The employee helping me at the time told me that my card didn't go through and I paid with cash. later that week I saw that my card was indeed charged I went to the store and they informed me that I would have to go through the Corporate customer service department. I was told by the...

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1:15 pm EST
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I only wish I had read this blog prior to walking in to a store! What a scam. They offer a membership for discount purchases but ONLY for the 1st seven days of the month. I ordered online, they received my order then after the 7 day period, they notified me they were out of stock and I was not able to purchase the product with the discount as too much time...

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9:43 am EDT
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GNC awful company

I normally have purchased products from this GNC, over the last couple of months and recently I purchased these protein shakes, that had gone off, although were still within their expiry date but could not be consumed.

I returned to the store and was saw the same person who had served me a couple of days ago and informed them that although I didn't have the initial receipt anymore, I wished to exchange them. I was then informed by the same sales person who recognized me, that she could not do so because I did not have receipt and that because there was one missing from the pack I couldn't do so anyway.

I am horrified to say the least that if you buy bad products you have to be stuck with them purely because as I believe the staff, including the manager have no customer service common sense. I as a customer have every right according to the consumer law to return a purchased item from the store for an exchange if dissatisfied with it and expect to get edible products fit for human consumption. I will however let all my friends and coworkers know about this situation and do intend whatsoever to buy another product from any GNC store.

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vivalabutler5
Bloomington, US
May 10, 2011 5:58 pm EDT

Regarding returns without a receipt:
If you paid with a credit or debit card, you can ask the associate to look up the purchase info, using your card, on the item(s) you want to return. If the purchase was made within 30 days, you are entitled to a full refund of the purchase price.

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denny
West Bloomfield, US
May 02, 2009 4:55 pm EDT

by the way on the above comment, it is for food products to which tax doesnt apply in michigan

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denny
West Bloomfield, US
May 02, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

at GNC they seem to have no customer service even at the headquarters. i have been charged tax on an online order and it doesnt apply in michigan. even though its now been 4 days, they still dont have an answer as to why this has happened. it didnt take them much time to charge my credit card, but they cant seem to give me any customer service. its their error, theres not any tax charged on any of 5 previous orders from them on the same items, and while they can see this in my profile, still they are rude and not helpful. almost anything they sell can be bought on another website and my advice is to go elsewhere. they are stupid and unwilling to correct their own errors even when its blatently obvious.

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6:18 am EDT
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GNC rip-off!

I brought the GNC GOLD Card membership earlier this year (which I thought was a good deal) because I could get 20% off for the first seven days of the month for the entire year. But for past 2-3 months I have noticed that the prices of products are invariably high during the first seven days of the months and after the first week the price of the product reduces. This totally negates the advantage of having the GOLD CARD. I am not making this up I have facts.

On June 30th 2008

sale Price of (2.07L bs) — Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standardâ�¢ Double Rich Chocolate was $25.99 (and 20 % off with gold card which makes $20.79). I was waiting for july 1st to buy the product but the sale price on july 1 st for the same product was $29.99 ($23.99 with gold card). What is the point of having the gold card and paying almost the same price. This is not the first time this has happened. It happened for the month of june as well. They should stop this gimmick of having 20% off for first 7 days of the month. People beware of this cheap trick which lures you into thinking that you get 20% off.

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dadtech
Montague, US
Feb 17, 2015 9:29 pm EST

I agree with the ripoff policies at GNC. Our local store in Montague, NJ rips everyone off that doesn't know any better. Many of their so called member prices are marked up 100% over everyone elses. I've been in their many times in the past, pointing out to them that Isopure is $45-$50 everywhere else, why is their member price over $80? Animal pack multivitamins member price almost $50? That's commonly priced at under $30! Those were just 2 common store purchases for me at the time which is why they stick out.
On top of that, they expect you to pay for a Gold Card that doesn't provide any real benefit.
Their main sales staff are very much like stereotypical used car salesman, especially the chubby manager.
I haven't shopped their in over a year, tired of haggling with them and disgusted on how they must rip off people that don't know any better. All my business has been going to Vitamin Shoppe, and if they don't sell it, bodybuilding.com. I refuse to purchase from GNC, even if they ever have a good deal.

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Peppie CAT
Whippany, US
Sep 28, 2012 7:51 am EDT

i purchased Mega Ultra Vitamins for women (with cash) and this product made me very sick. I was told when i purchased them that if i didn't like them i could return them, so i brought them back to the gnc store where i purchased them and (first box of 30ct was $39.95 and the second was $19.95 total of $59.90) when the sales person looked at the receipt he said he didn't have enough cash in his drawl. He told me to come back. I asked when and the sales person said for me to call first and ask if they have money in there drawl. Ican't beleave the store didn't have $60.00 dollars do you? I was furious and went home to call the corporate office to make a complaint. Only to find out that 2 other stores in my area didn't have enough cash to refund my $60.00. Finally customer service found a store that had $60.00. I think they just didn't want to refund me my money. Beware never buy at GNC and never pay cash. Chris T.

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aaaahhhhhhh
denver, US
Nov 28, 2011 9:35 pm EST

I unfortunately worked at GNC for almost five years and was in management for most of it. I completely agree that GNC rips their customers off. Yes, it is very true that there are virtually no savings during GC week. Basically, we as GNC employees had to put up the red sales signs for promos and flip them a few days after GC week ended to reflect considerably lower sales (basically 20%+ lower than GC week) . The sales during GC week were just hiked up to the point where the company would not lose any money/ hiked up about 20% or more during GC week. The GC is just a marketing plow. Managers are put under so much pressure to only sell GNC products and certain GNC products with ever increasing quotas. As a manager, I had to be the bad guy and pressure my employees to not sell third party products that they could make commission on. I had good numbers while working there, but felt guilty much of the time for pressuring customers into buying GNC products they didn't need and knowing that my employees couldn't make commission because I had to pressure them to only sell the GNC products that didn't come with commission. If you want to buy supplements, I would advise that you go elsewhere. For the most part, it isn't the GNC employees who are bad, it's the corporation itself that pressures the employees to sell you things you don't need and rip you off. The GNC employees are just afraid of being fired. I also felt pressured to not take returns or exchanges on GNC products because it would hurt our numbers. I knew many managers and employees who would think of excuses or simply refuse to not return such GNC items. The pressures that corporate puts on their employees is definitely not conducive to good customer service and retention. The only reason why GNC makes profits and manages to stay in business is because this company has found more and more ways to rip off/scam customers, lower the quality of ingredients, and has increasingly found ways to lower what they pay employees with programs such as the P3 program and lowered commissions overall. I also suspect that GNC has fired many managers who have worked there for a while in order to hire managers at a lower wage.

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Aysel Kavraz
, TR
Jul 27, 2011 11:30 am EDT

I am going to have the products I buy from GNC Store in Turkey, Samsun, tested by a laboratory, only then will I consider continuing taking them, if there is anything derogatory then they will have a problem on their hands, , , , , , ,

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GNCcoWorker
San Francisco, US
May 17, 2011 12:43 pm EDT

I used to work at GNC and I must admit, it is a RIP OFF, the only people that actually buy things at GNC are rich people who don't care about getting ripped off because they have money to piss away, people that are new to the health supplement world, or 3 you are just stupid and don't realize how much money you are wasting getting ripped off here. Do not shop here you can get 5x more protein at costco for the same price I mean common thats pretty bad 5 times more, makes me sick, they sell muslce milk at target, all kinds of supplents online for half the price of GNC. GNC I hope you go out of business you rotten rip off ### hole deceiver!

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tthetruth
St. Augustine, US
May 03, 2011 1:46 pm EDT

To test MSM at home take a glass of luke warm water and empty a MSM capsule or 1 tbsp. of powder into the water. If it is really MSM it will sink to the bottom within 3 to 4 minutes and disolve. The fillers will float on the top of the water. Hope this helps. Check all your GNC and other health store products and ensure that they are what they say they are because many of these rip off joints are using fillers to make money. Plus don't put anything into your body unless you know for sure what it is. Don't trust GNC.

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tthetruth
St. Augustine, US
May 03, 2011 1:40 pm EDT

I bought MSM at GNC and when I tested it I found that there was no MSM in it! GNC is a RIP OFF! Buyer Beware..

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sarahsilverman
Omaha, US
Apr 05, 2011 9:06 pm EDT

I currently work for GNC. At first, I was ecstatic to have the job. I enjoy truly helping people improve their lives. But alot of times, what would actually be of help to a customer is not what the company wants me to sell.
As far as product quality, I would say that about half of the products are of average or better quality. Their multivitamins are filled with nasty chemicals (titanium dioxide, sucralose to name a few) the protein is overpriced, and I wouldn't touch their fish oil with a 50ft pole. In 2010 they were sued for selling contaminated fish oil, even though their product labels claimed that there were no detectable contaminants.
And yes, prices do go up a couple of days before GC week, and stay that way until midway through the 2nd week of the month. GC week is a complete rip off.
The pay for associates is minimum wage, with barely any commission. I could probably make more money working at McDonalds.

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disheartenedgnc
Airway Heights, US
Feb 09, 2011 6:58 am EST
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GNC doesnt care one bit about its employees or customers. I was given awards as a manager for beating sales goal by 116% and also beating prior years numbers by 25% and at the same time given a final warning for not selling enough multi vitamins and P3 items. Get a grip Corporate... in this economy you should be thankful you are profitable. I hope comsumers will get wise ... your not being sold a vitamin to help you be healthy its to hit a stupid margin and to save that sales persons job ! Any manager that disagrees with this is either too new to get it or a crackhead !

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Disgruntledgurl
Slc, US
Feb 07, 2011 1:55 am EST

Also a manager, and I hate it. I do love Wheybolic, and think it's the only P3 worth selling, but irt's ridiculously over priced. GNC is extremely cheap (as in how they pay, how they run a business, NOT their products, those are all so over priced it's ridiculous) The gold card is a good deal on SOME ITEMS, but they DO mark up the sale prices for gold card week. They expect WAY TOO MUCH with way too little pay and too little time to accomplish it. I can't wait to get the ef out of here...

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