How does GNC get away with its prices?

[cmurder3612]

I was just thinking the other day when i walked into GNC and saw some of their prices and hor crazy high they are. Sure Ill go there for a couple dollar item but never for something like protein powder or anything over 20 bucks. For example they sell NO-Xplode for like 65 dollars, and you can get it just about anywhere online for 38. Do any of you guys shop there, and if so why? Not that your stupid just wondering.

 

[Clint07]

There are a combination of things that allow GNC to charge more.

* If you catch things on sael/use the gold card you can get things for about the same price as online (especially once shipping is factored in)

* Convenience - You can get a product and don't have to wait/You can easily compare products

* People are dumb. Most people will just walk in and buy things at full price because they don't know that they can get the same thing cheaper elsewhere.

 

[Messiah_UK]

In defence of GNC stores, you can walk in and get really good advice from people that really seem to know what they're talking about...they may not always practice what they preach judging by the size of the lady who was in there last time but I can spot bullsh*t a mile away, and my alarm bells were not ringing!

And yeah, the gold card knocks loads off of the price, don't know about the US but in the UK at the moment, the gold card gets you 50% off selected products.

However, my needs have changed recently so I have to find out what supplements are right for me...time for a new thread.

 

[HellIsForHeroes]

And yeah, the gold card knocks loads off of the price, don't know about the US but in the UK at the moment, the gold card gets you 50% off selected products.

I want that!

 

[flashNsmash]

I have no complaints with GNC, but yeah, you definitely don't want to buy everything there. As stated above, convenience is its major advantage.

 

[Sinister]

I was just thinking the other day when i walked into GNC and saw some of their prices and hor crazy high they are. Sure Ill go there for a couple dollar item but never for something like protein powder or anything over 20 bucks. For example they sell NO-Xplode for like 65 dollars, and you can get it just about anywhere online for 38. Do any of you guys shop there, and if so why? Not that your stupid just wondering.

Right now No-Xplode is on sale for $46.99. Gold Card discount is 20%. Do the math. It's not DRASTICALLY Higher. The GNC I work at as my day-job ALWAYS keeps the No-Xplode at that price as well (instead of just calling it a sale).

But since this subject comes up about every month I should probably do a sticky on it eventually.

- GNC has overhead cost. That's part of running a STORE. Online purchasing doesn't use stores, thus, they don't pay overhead.

- GNC doesn't get a lot of "deals" with companies because companies know we have to stock certain things. But they will give deals to smaller stores to get their products out to more locations and thus, more people. So the other locations can then sell things a bit cheaper.

- If GNC DID match those location prices, everyone would go out of business and they'd monopolize the Industry. That would be bad.

- Service.

- You don't ever really have to check expiration dates or even consider it. Typically (depending on how efficient the staff is there). Whereas I've seen a trend of online stores selling shit for dirt cheap because it's 2 months away from expiration. But here's a newsflash, when we see something is that close to expiration we'll sell it for 70% off.

- Big companies like EAS and MuscleTech specifically DO NOT want GNC competing with online stores in-terms of pricing of their supplements. Because they wouldn't make the money back. It has to do with how the deal is structured between GNC and those Companies. Xyience is a company who is regretting going through this right now (among a plethora of other things).

- Right now there's strife between Corporate GNC and Franchise owners. One of the reasons is pricing trends. But that has to do with Corporate tomfoolery. I've said it here before, I'll say it again. If you can avoid it, DO NOT shop at Corporate stores. Franchise only, they'll do more for you.

 

[STWACOACH**]

How can you tell which ones are corporate, and which ones are franchised?

 

[Sinister]

How can you tell which ones are corporate, and which ones are franchised?

You have to ask homie. There's also bad Franchises. If you notice they employ stupid people, or generally employ people who don't LOOK like they should be telling anyone anything, they're not good Operators. As superficial as that sounds it's true. 5 years in the Industry and I notice athletes don't take advice from overweight middle-aged women, or slightly overweight/underweight young males.

That reminds me, I have another GNC Vegas story to post.

 

[JoeyG777]

GNC is definetly pricey. Its at its cheapest on the first week of every month with the gold card. But personaly i get my stuff at underdog nutrition centers, or online now that i dont get an employee discount no more. Now as far as GNC's employees giving good advise and being knowledgable. That is not so much, the GNC i worked at made commission and employees will want you to buy crap like the Muscletech crap, and alot of the new unknown Hype stuff, it cost more and makes them more. This stuff online works in the long long run when using it stacked with MT other supplements, and even then its nothing great for the amount of cash you need to stash monthly.

 

[Sinister]

Now as far as GNC's employees giving good advise and being knowledgable. That is not so much, the GNC i worked at made commission and employees will want you to buy crap like the Muscletech crap, and alot of the new unknown Hype stuff, it cost more and makes them more. This stuff online works in the long long run when using it stacked with MT other supplements, and even then its nothing great for the amount of cash you need to stash monthly.

This is totally subjective to which store a person is at, and is only a standard in Corporate stores.

I know I may sound redundant but people REALLY need to get certain things through their head instead of generalizing things that perhaps ought not be generalized.

 

[bayboy4life]

what something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it so odviously people pay those outrages prices. but I feel your frustration

 

[JoeyG777]

This is totally subjective to which store a person is at, and is only a standard in Corporate stores.

I know I may sound redundant but people REALLY need to get certain things through their head instead of generalizing things that perhaps ought not be generalized.

Yea i forgot to state that this normaly happens almost always in the mall outlets, and is different from the family/privatly owned ones like the ones in plazas ect, here people do business based on experience and love from fitness.

 

[Sinister]

what something is worth is what someone is willing to pay for it so odviously people pay those outrages prices. but I feel your frustration

lol@"outrageous"

 

[Rail City Kid]

I like my local GNC......... and the gold card ahs more than paid for itself.............

 

[Messiah_UK]

I've just got back from the GNC store, really happy! That gold card has just paid for itself 4 times over! Picked up 2 different tins of protein powder as well as some really good multivitamins!

 

[Happnin' Mojo]

How would someone compare GNC to Vitamin Shoppe or other chains?

There is one of each across the street from each other where I live and wanted other people's opinions.

 

[amphibious]

Same way Apple gets away with charging twice as much for a computer, same way Armani gets away with charging ten times as much for a tshirt... it's all about the label. People pay a premium for it. Partially because of what it represents and partially because they are ignorant to alternatives.

 

[Sinister]

it's all about the label. People pay a premium for it. Partially because of what it represents and partially because they are ignorant to alternatives.

Not really.

 

[PT Sandman]

How come all these magazines say pick up a free sample at GNC, then at GNC all the samples are $1.99?

 

[Sinister]

Sample items are usually price-tagged because of inventory control. Show them the magazine add (so they have justification to give it away) and they can easily override it. But they won't if they don't see the ad. Because a lot of times they don't know ahead of time who is giving what away, and Companies charge money for even the sample sizes of things.