I'm doing this thread at the same time as the herb thread because they both express a key point in supplement manufacturing. I was going to include this subject in with the information about herbs, but then decided it needs a whole other thread all on it's own. It needs it because a growing trend I see (even around this board) is everyone looking for cheap cheap cheap. What can I get that’s cheap? What’s the cheapest? I need to save money! What’s the best cheapest thing you have? Cheap cheap cheap cheap cheap. People, cheap is EXACTLY that, cheap. Don’t you have parents who explain this shit to you? You want good shit you may just actually have to spend some money. Not only that, but just with people I know in everyday life, the motherfuckers looking for the cheapest shit in such a hurry to save money are usually the most terrible money savers I know. They need cheap because they’re broke and suck at saving money. If you could learn to budget and save effectively the need for cheap shit would become obsolete.
This greed-factor is something that’s actually crippling the supplement Industry right now, and is one of the reasons for so much scrutiny as to what works and what doesn’t, what is reputable and what is not. Brand loyalty has been destroyed. And because of it the ones getting kicked in the ass over it are actually YOU, the consumers. Because now you have a WORLD of options of supplements, only about 10% of which are actually worth your consideration. But you don’t know that, because all you give a fuck about above all else is CHEAP. The overview of the whole herb thread
here is that Companies are tricking you. They’re selling one thing and calling it something SIMILAR to it under the same name, but less costly and thus, less effective. And they’re making money because the profit margins are higher. Like the whole thing with Ephedra mentioned in that thread for instance, supplement retailers are now bringing in supplements that are less costly to them to carry as opposed to ones backed by science, and marketing schemes reflect that, as they’re based on one thing and one thing alone, beating competitor prices. This is smart money though, because these Companies are aware that the ONE thing consumers give a shit about above all else, CHEAP. So it works, you buy the cheap shit, they make more money without spending a lot of money, and all is well correct? Yes, that is, until people begin to understand there are better supplements out there, and a Company goes the way of Xyience. Nothing more than marketing.
I’ve said it before around here and I’ll say it again. There is NO magic, and it’s NO coincidence why cheaper brands of supplements are cheap. You can rest assured the raw materials these companies use in their products are of lesser quality than those used in not just more expensive products, but REPUTABLE products. Because of lack of regulation in the supplement industry, this buying practice by both consumers and retailers opens the door for a lot of these “me too” Companies to manufacture shit they’ve never once done so before, in the cheapest way possible, and sell it at discounted prices, knowing the large percent of dumb consumers will buy it. This is why Everlast, the gear company, has a line of fat-burners and bars.
So, the point here is make sure your “cheaper” shit is either of some kind of reputation, or that you know EXACTLY why it’s so cheap. I recall my mother saying something to me as a kid, what was it? Oh yes, “if it sounds too good to be true, chances are it IS too good to be true.” That has almost never been proven wrong in my experience. And as far as those of you who are buying supplements that ARE reputable for ridiculously low prices understand one thing about that. Again, there is no magic. Either you’re buying this shit from a Company who does not make it’s money selling it (I hate when people hassle me personally for discounts because the first thing cut when a Company accommodates a greedy public is usually payroll, and I gotta eat too you sumbitches), or you’re buying shit that’s about to expire, has been returned, are factory defects (showed up to a retailer in a damaged bottle or something, is re-packaged, and sold at wholesale cost), or the product is part of a loss-leader marketing scheme. Loss-leaders are when Companies (Vitamin Shoppe does this shit all the time), who sell a product with no profit, just to get you in their store to sell you other shit at full retail cost.
No one starts a Company with the idea of buying something for $5 and selling it for $4. That’s just not economically viable. So be wary, brand loyalty is actually the way to go. When you find a supplement that works, suits your every need, buy that supplement. The moment you go on a hunt for an identical supplement that is CHEAPER, you’re feeding the beast of the “me too” Companies whose products usually suck in the long-un and ruin the good names of the initial products you were buying. Take responsibility to effectively budget YOUR OWN money, so you can afford a supplement regimen that is of quality, from reputable brands, and will get you to your goals. Do this, and because of brand loyalty the Company, grateful for your support, might actually end up taking care of you in many ways (promotions, coupons, etc.)