Swanson - The best supplements and the best prices ... so why only 3 stars?
Written: Jul 20 '07 (Updated Jul 10 '09)
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Though I have never sent Swanson a request for one of their product catalogues, they have been sending me their latest publication for as long as I can remember. I normally treat these catalogues as junk mail and just toss them out, however the most recent catalogue headlined CoQ10 and Fish Oil, so I had to investigate. I have been a loyal customer to the VitaminShoppe, however I couldn’t pass up Swanson’s excellent deal on CoQ10 and their MultiOmegea complex.
About Swanson:
Swanson is a huge vitamin/supplement online store (you can also order form their catalogue) who pride themselves on the purity and bioavilability of their products. Swanson features a variety of oral and topical non-prescription health related products. Products at Swansonvitamins.com range from oral supplements & vitamins to all-natural face soaps and shampoos. Swanson also features pet health products, health foods, natural juices, and a variety of products geared for the health conscious.
Ease of use:
Swanson's web site (swansonvitamins.com) is easy enough to navigate around. Swanson allows you to browse their inventory by either clicking on any of their 40+ main categories, searching by brand, the type of medical condition you are trying to prevent/treat, or you can just use their excellent search engine. When a product is found, Swanson offers tons of literature about the product, i.e. what it does, where it's made, etc. Also, prices at this store are clearly labeled, and since standard UPS/USPS shipping is $4.95 no matter what you buy or how much of it you buy (shipping is free for orders over $65), so there are no unpleasant surprises regarding shipping charges at checkout.
The only rant I have with this store's usability is the systems refusal to allow me to become a registered member. I'm not sure if there is a problem with their site, but I have ordered from this store twice and each time it has denied my registration. However, the site allows you to bypass the registration process by simply entering in your personal info/ credit information, which takes all but 3 minutes to complete. To finalize a purchase you will need a credit card; Swanson’s web site accepts most major credit cards (Visa, American Express, MasterCard, Diners Club, and Discover). If you don't have a credit card, you'll need to call Swanson's toll free number or use their catalogue to place your order: personal checks and money orders will be accepted using those methods.
Selection:
Swanson offers a huge selection of vitamin/supplements for just about any type of health concern. Whether you are looking to boost you immune system, fight aging, treat liver problems, etc, etc. this store will most likely carry something geared for your health condition/concern.
Swanson features an equally huge selection of name brands. In addition to featuring hundreds of vitamins and supplements by their own brand, Swanson also features thousands of products by just about every major vitamin/supplement brand on the market. As I have mentioned, Swanson also features a good selection of non-vitamins and supplements, i.e. cook books, natural juices, herbal creams, etc.
If I have any small rants with this store's selection, it's that Swanson puts a buying limit on many of their products. When I ordered their MultiOmega I was only able to order three 120-ct. bottles per order.
Prices:
Swanson's prices range from good to downright amazing. Although you'll save the most money by going with the home brand, just about every product at this store, whether it be by Natrol or Nature's Way is usually a good 30-70% less than retail. I have purchased 3 bottles of Swanson’s Fish/Flax/Borage softgels (120ct) for only 4 dollars each and 1 bottle of their CoQ10 (100mg/50ct) for only 7 bucks. I don't think I have ever got out of any vitamin store paying less than $20 for CoQ10, so it was refreshing to pay just 7 bucks for a 50-ct bottle.
Shipping:
Swanson offers very affordable shipping rates. No matter how much is in your shopping cart, Swanson charges a flat rate of $4.99 for standard USPS or UPS Ground shipping. If your order is over $65, Swanson offers totally free ground shipping. If you need your supplements quicker than the standard 1-7 day ground shipping, there are also the options of Next-Day Air and Second-Day Air at an added cost. Note: Swanson does ship internationally, however shipping rates vary.
Arrival:
Swanson claims that it should take around 7 days to receive an order. Since the Swanson Company is located in Fargo ND, I was expecting a long wait time, beings I am all the way down in NC. However, I received my supplements just three days after placing my order: very impressive. When my supplements arrived they were nicely packed in a well-insulated box: not a wimpy padded envelope like some companies use, i.e. The VitaminShoppe.
Customer Service:
Customer service is amazing! The wait times to talk with a live representative are minimal and the staff is eager to help. It's obvious that the staff at Swanson go through some rigorous customer service training before they are put in front of a phone. There are also multiple ways to contact the customer service department. If you have a question, you can use the "live help" feature (connects you to a live rep via the Internet), e-mail, fax, snail mail, or you can call their too free number.
Return Policy:
The return policy at Swanson is probably one of most generous return policies I have seen a company offer. If you are not happy with a product you can simply return it within 12 months (yes, I said 12 months!) for a full refund, including return shipping! It doesn't get much better than that.
Final Verdict:
Swanson's online store turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The prices are very affordable, the selection is huge, the products are of high quality (including their home brand), shipping rates are very reasonable, and the customer service department is excellent. If you are looking for a great deal on any supplement/vitamin, I highly suggest checking out Swansonvitamins.com before making any final buying decisions. This store is recommended 100%: I will definitely be shopping here again.
Update: The last 2 orders that I placed with Swanson were shipped in a paper-thin bubble mailer resulting in a damaged product. A company as well known as Swanson should know better than this. Thus, I have reduced my overall rating to 3 stars.
-Thanks for reading!
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? CoQ10, MultiOmega, ALA, ALCAR, Astragalus, Vitaminc C,
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