Why You Should NEVER Buy Supplements from Amazon
I know, I know… “Amazon is so quick”, “It’s cheaper on Amazon”…
I’m going to be blunt here: a lot of the supplements sold on Amazon, Walmart, and other big-box or online marketplaces are complete garbage—and FAKE!
Yes, even if the listing says “sold by a verified retailer”. Yes, even if the bottle looks identical to the one you’ve seen from the manufacturer. And yes, sometimes they’re even more expensive than buying directly from the source.
The Dirty Truth
In the supplement industry, third-party sellers are a huge problem. Counterfeit products often contain:
Cheap fillers like rice powder or sawdust.
Ground-up house plants to mimic herbal blends.
Undisclosed allergens like wheat or soy, even if the label says gluten-free or soy-free.
Expired or degraded ingredients that have lost their potency.
Completely different substances that do nothing for your health and may even harm it.
Some fake products are so convincing that even trained eyes can’t tell the difference until they’re tested in a lab. But your body will notice. Taking a contaminated, expired, or mislabeled supplement isn’t just a waste of money, it’s a health risk.
The Co-Mingling Problem
Amazon warehouses (and similar fulfillment centers) use a process called co-mingling. They store identical-looking products from multiple sellers in the same bin.
That means:
You might click “buy” from a trusted seller…
But your bottle could come from a completely different source (like a shady reseller pushing counterfeit goods).
There’s no guarantee the bottle you receive is the same one you intended to buy.
Why They’re Cheaper (and Sometimes More Expensive)
If you’ve ever noticed a price that’s too good to be true, that’s because it probably is. Fake products use cheap fillers, low-quality ingredients, and no quality control. That’s why they can undercut the real thing.
But here’s the kicker, some counterfeit sellers mark up their prices to look legitimate, so you might be paying more for a bottle that’s actually garbage. Either way, you’re wasting your money and potentially damaging your health.
The Only Safe Sources
The safest way to ensure you’re getting pure, potent, and correctly stored supplements is to:
Order directly from the manufacturer’s website
Order through a trusted healthcare practitioner (like me) who sources straight from the manufacturer
When you buy from me, I know exactly where your supplements came from. They’ve been properly stored, verified for quality, and shipped directly from the source. No co-mingling, no counterfeits.
Here’s some research I did for you…
Be sure to look at what I’ve circled and read the caption below each picture.
At the top, you can see it looks legit because it has the Standard Process logo and says “visit the store”. They are selling this product (330 tablets) for $80.33 (keep that price in mind). At the bottom it says ships from Amazon (potential for co-mingling) and is sold by a third party retailer. You have no idea of knowing if that retailer purchased a legit product and if it has been stored properly or tampered with.
Here you can see in my personal Standard Process online dispensary, this product should actually retail online for $65.45—and comes straight from the manufacturer.
This one is a hot mess. First of all, Marco Pharma ONLY sells to practitioners. They would NEVER sell their products on Amazon or other online retailers. The brand is labeled as “generic”, the description just says “Marco” not “Marco Pharma”, and it’s shipped and sold by a third party seller.
Now with that being said, there are some shady practitioners out there who do have legit accounts with supplement companies, buy mass quantities at wholesale price, and then sell online or to these third party sellers—which is illegal per the wholesale agreement. Again, there is no way of knowing if this product is actually legit and up to safety standards.
OK, so this time they got the brand right and the whole name in the description, but… I have not seen this product label in YEARS… like… 5 years minimum. If this is the product they are selling, this is OLD AF! Not to mention this photo is super blurry. Kind of sketchy if you ask me. (Sold by the same seller as above)
Now, if we continue down into the product features, apparently Allernest has a “scent name” of “Relaxing Mist”? This seller is obviously confused and thinks Allernest is an essential oil?? As for the directions—all wrong. That is not the proper dosage and you DO NOT put Allernest in a diffuser.
This one shows the correct brand but no logo or store link, blurry image, lower price than what it should retail for, and sold by another random third party seller. It’s hard to say if you’d be getting the actual product.
Now, this one looks legit. You have the brand logo and store link, nice clear picture, and sold by Biotics—BUT—it ships from Amazon, which means there is a potential for co-mingling. So even though you think you’re buying a legit product, there is no guarantee that the one that ships will be. Also note that it retails for $71.88.
Here you can see in my Fullscript online dispensary, this product retails for $60.99. Fullscript is an online dispensary service only for qualified practitioners. They have a direct relationship with manufacturers and only purchase directly through them. They ensure all products are stored properly and adhere to the manufacturer’s safety, storage, and shipping guidelines.
These are only a few examples. Remember, the health and wellness industry is worth trillions of dollars—and not everyone is in it for the right reasons.
Your health is too important to gamble on a mystery bottle from Amazon, Walmart, or other online retailer. The risk isn’t worth it. And this doesn’t just go for supplements. We’re talking food products, protein powders, and more.
This is why I tell all my clients to never, ever buy your supplements from Amazon or big-box retailers. If you want to get well, support your body, and protect your investment, always order directly from the manufacturer or through a practitioner you trust.
*Marco Pharma products can be purchased directly through me as they do not currently have an online option.