VitacostReviews 415

I am writing about an email I received today from Vitacost.com.

I am on the Vitacost mailing list, and I received a notice that claimed "BOGO 75%" with the remark, "Limited time only. Exclusions may apply. While supplies last."

There was no indication of the time limit (an hour? Til midnight? 24 hours?).

I read the email when it was only 16 hours old.

When I clicked to view the offer, it was already null, with the message, "We're sorry! This sale has ended but you can still buy one get one 50% off".

This email notification seems like a classic bait and switch. It was misleading and dishonest.

I do not want to do business with a company that employs duplicitous practices.

I have sent this same message via the Vitacost service portal.

I also want to cancel my address from the Vitacost mailing list, but this option is not available on the site or within the emails.

This is also a very negative practice - most mailing lists allow a member to directly cancel at any time.

With Vitacost I have to write a personal request!

UPDATE:
Today I received a response from a representative of Vitacost.

First there was an apology for any inconvenience. Regarding my complaint about bait and switch, I received this:

"As disappointed as we were to hear that we didn't exactly hit a home run with you, we really are grateful for your feedback, because it helps us better understand how to meet the needs of the people who matter the most to us—our customers. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your comments."

The representative further explained that there *is* a link to request removal from the mailing list on the promo emails, and said that it had been removed as requested

Well, on *that* point I am satisfied.

Stats: at 90 reviews, almost 1/3 (27) have been rated at 1 star.

I've had this happen with Vitacost twice now, I've received email that says my package has shipped and got a tracking number but the package was never shipped! The first time, I chose to have them ship the package again, no problems with customer service. The 2nd time, I chose refund and customer service wasn't so great. Customer service was very condescending and I received a partial refund. I'm done with Vitacost. There is an issue with Vitacost's shipping department, and the customer service doesn't have customer's interest. There are other online shopping options that provide good deals and selection that I actually get the items without being treated rudely by customer service.

I ordered two 6-packs of Zevia from Vitacost. They arrived right when I was told they would so I was very pleased about that but when I opened the box one of the 6-packs was damaged - one can had even busted open. I logged onto the website and chose the option to chat with a customer service rep. I told them what had happened and they gave me two options: a refund or a brand new 6-pack of the same flavor which had arrived damaged. I chose the brand new 6-pack as I really like Zevia and I also didn't want to take more money from the company because they had done what they promised - to refund me or replace the damaged item. Because of this I'll give Vitacost another try!

BY FAR THE BEST COMPANY TO ORDER FROM! I buy lots online from various websites and my experience with this company has been the best so far! In fact I NEVER write reviews for company websites. Usually I write reviews ONLY for products. I have now ordered 4 times. I live in Canada and usually get my order in one week or a bit over one week... which IS HUGE in itself. NOW the PRICES... WAY CHEAPER than ANY OTHER site for the same products. PROMOTIONS and discounts are fantastic above and beyond cheap prices. Last but not least... cheap shipping to Canada and FREE shipping to USA. AWESOME!

I always check Vitacost before I buy anything these days. They have the best prices on everything. They sell some of the same brands that my ND sells. They also sell brands that have the same active and non active ingredients, of different brands, that my ND sells. They also carry the same organic skin care line that an herb shop here in town carries. Vitacost sells it for a nice percentage less. Plus I always take advantage of the free shipping.

Not only are they daily sending emails to constantly waste your time, they also send junk mail thru the USPS to hound you, waste your time, violate your privacy, despite phone calls and emails telling them to keep their spam emails and junkmail to themselves, They simply will not stop. So unless this is what you want, do not ever go into VITACOST website when searching for something unless you want them hounding you daily forever.

I'm shopping from Canada and Vitacost charges what is supposed to be our HST tax of 13%. However, they charge this on every item in my cart, including all food items, and grocery food is not taxed in Canada. I complained about this twice with regard to my order of March 9,2015. It is May 8 and they still have not resolved this problem. To me, this is a deal breaker. I am searching for a place with the products I want that doesn't take money they have no right to take. I had this problem once with Swanson's and they corrected it right away. Too bad they don't have all the things I'm looking for because their customer service seems to be GREAT!

UPDATE: I finally found a very dedicated customer service woman who sent my complaint to her managers and contacted their courier service, which calculates the taxes. The courier service refunded some of the taxes. Unfortunately, the courier doesn't seem to understand how taxes in Ontario are calculated and on which products. They are always wrong in the amount they charge. With each order I request a review of the taxes charged, and I get a partial refund. Sometimes they refund too little and sometimes too much! Although I usually end up paying a little more tax than I should, VitaCost selection is really great and the total cost of my orders is a little less than at Swansons, who don't have quite as good a selection in the items that I'm looking for. VitaCost rep is doing her best and overall I'm happy. Don't know if I could resolve these errors
Easily if this particular rep leaves her job...

I wrote to Vitacost three times between 3/5 and 3/25/15 to ask about a product (their Noni juice) that tasted MUCH different than usual. Product delivered end of January. Opened it after finishing the last bottle we had left at the end of February. Taste and smell have changed considerably. Used this product for years and years. Know Noni juice isn't supposed to taste great, but the last order/lot # ******* tastes REALLY strange or possibly turned. Also has a different and bad smell. Husband and I noticed we haven't been feeling too well since we started with it. Just a coincidence? Sent in review (and notified that Vitacost would let me know when my review is posted) but never made it to the web-site's product reviews (nor were any for this batch). Hate to throw out since we stocked up on the last BOGO sale. Just waiting to find out if it's safe to drink. Order # *******

I order many things from vitacost as they have good prices. Quit often they run specials... such as buy one and get half off a second. Also if they run a half off special you can also use an online coupon getting an even greater value.

I bought many natural facial products in one order from Vitacost, hoping they were as good as described and as in many reviews. However, I was very disappointed. They smelled a rancid smell when I put them on my face, which indicated that they already expired long time ago. What a waste of money! I switched to other merchants.

I've seen some of the negative reviews and am scratching my head. Kelly's review (3/9/15) is suspect, as I've been buying from Vitacost for around 10 years and never had had any of the problems she mentions. Always use a promo code and it ALWAYS goes through. I've never had anything buy excellent custer service with the company and nothing has ever been misrepresenetd. It makes me wonder if she got the company mixed up with another one or just likes to complaining. Everyone experiences an issue perhaps once in a while, but for everything to go wrong with every interaction and multiple negative interactions with CS? It sounds weird and I don't buy it. In the 10+ years we've been buying from Viatcost (we used iherb before that, but VC prices are consistently better AND we always get a promo code) there was 1 time I can remember a package took longer to be delivered than what we expected.

I buy a TON of supplements from this company.
They're almost always FRESH product (expiration date far into the future).
Some other sites (or even stores) you get product from, will have products
That have sat on the shelf for months or years.
Vitacost must have a high turnover for that they sell, as almost
Everything comes in with a long expiry.
Very fast shipping, good customer service, and usually the best prices
When you qualify for their free shipping deal.

UPDATE 2: They have gotten much better. Started out absolutely horrible with my first several orders but now they are really making an effort to do the right things and I am a customer for now, in spite of all the unethical things which took place in the beginning. I do give credit when someone improves and they have.

UPDATE: I am changing my rating adding one star as after going through hell with them initially I now have access to a person, the director of something, who is able to address my issues as they come up without a hassle. But because of the extremely bad experiences I had in the beginning I am still only staying at 3 stars. I am a regular customer now. But still VERY wary each and every time I order as it was quite bad initially.

I have used this website multiple times because they have great prices. However, their distasteful customer service methods completely changed my support of their website.

For future buyers here is why:

My issue occured when their website was faulty with applying sale prices to my cart. I emailed them asking what to do because I didn't want to make the purchase unless the sale prices would apply.

Their reply was to buy them & the sale prices would be honored -- so I did as they said & also sent them my order number -- the next day I get an email saying that I could get their current sale prices (that changed that day) but they would not apply the previous ones.

I figured there was confusion & I called them, but she was than willing to help me out & said unless I screen shot the prices or had some proof, they wouldn't apply the sale prices from the day before.

I never screenshot the prices because they were so friendly the day before & offered to honor them & I was sure they could easily pull the sale records up anyway. Seeing how it was the previous sales.

Not only that but the woman was disrespectful & rude. I won't be repurchasing from vitacost, strictly how i was talked to on the phone & the fact that they did not 'honor' their word. They have the worst customer service & if a future mistake occurs I already know how it will be handled.

Basically anything but handled.