VitaCost.com

Full review
Having read the other negative reviews here, I'm convinced that the positives are plants. I spend an average of $200. per month on the Vitacost site, due to their good pricing and wide range of items. Like so many others who have posted here, I have had nightmare experiences with customer service, mostly due to their idiotic backorder policy, by which they hold an entire order if any item is not in stock. I've complained about this numerous times, only to be told that I have an option during the checkout process to request the available items ship minus the backordered items. I've scoured through every page during checkout and have found no such option. A customer service rep promised to locate it and call me back, but that was 4 days ago, and I'm still waiting. Don't hold your breath on that "same day shipping".

The other problem is billing. I just discovered that I was double billed twice in a row when using Paypal. Now I'm going to have to go back through all my credit card statements to see if everything is in order with those charges.

I am also suddenly receiving two magazines which I would never order in a million years, so evidently I accidentally hit the magic button and now I'm the proud recipient of a nice Vitacost billing scam. More scanning of more credit card statements, oh joy.

The absolute worst problem with Vitacost so far is the customer service. Today I thought I'd reached the Customer Hit Line. The images that the customer "service" reps evoked in me could be the subject of yet another hit web flick on the topic. I'm sorry, but when the person you're speaking to sounds like they are on crack and asks one idiotic question in slurred speech after another, then you request to speak to the supervisor, and you get some young guy with one of those incomprehensible rapper names who seems to be there for the purpose of added intimidation, it's really time to move on.

Today I spoke to 5 or 6 reps, I lost count, I was hung up on twice after being on hold for extreme periods of time, and I still have no clue whether the double billing will be addressed or not. I'm meant to receive a call from the supervisor, but I'm not holding my breath.

I could go on forever about the insufficiencies in customer service, but I think I'll shoot for a Webby for my video version of the nightmare instead.

Now to the big problem. Who really knows what we're buying if we order the proprietary NSI brand? I have no clue! If anyone comes up with an idea about how to have the supplements tested, I'd love to follow up and find out if all the money I've spent at Vitacost on NSI products has been a total wash.

I have been biting the bullet due to the good pricing and my understanding that I have to call in if anything on my order is on backorder if I'm to receive it in any semblance of a timely manner, but considering all these other complaints about the billing issues and scams, I'm really wondering what the deal is with their supplements. I'm going to research this issue and will get back here with any findings.

Buyer Beware!