I use to go to a GNC located in Lockport NY, and I loved this place. I got the know the employees and they would greet me personally when I walked through the door. I would end up having conversations with them and what should have been a 5 minute visit then turned into 30 minutes! I moved to Syracuse NY I started going to the local GNC here. I noticed the employees were teenagers with their sleeves rolled up. I remember walking in one time and the employee was behind the counter with his face down in a workout magazine. After standing at the counter for a while I said "excuse me, do you carry ....." he looked up and pointed to the left and put his face back down into the magazine. Now I understand customer service and I am huge fan of it. I like to be greeted and asked the simple question of "can I help you find something?" ....but these teens at this location went beyond what I was comfortable with. I would ask for a certain product and they would say "you use that crap?" ....other times I would walk in grab what I need, place it on the counter and they would say that another brand would work better because they tried it. Well, you don't know what works best for someone else and how do you know if I have been having great results with it so far?!? If you want to pose the question as "have you used this before, how have your results been ?" ...then thats fine...I quickly learned what was happening though...I once gave in and asked what brand are you referring to that would work better and of course it was the GNC brand. I understand companies try to push their own product for the better profit. But when I told the associate that GNC protein didn't work well for me because I was lactose interolerant he returned with "is that a disease?" Also seems like the younger associates seem to finish up with describing most of the supplements with ".....and this pro bodybuilder uses it". Supplements are ingested in your body...and the best thing you can tell me about a certain product is that "Jay Cutler" takes this product! I guess that means then I should be too! The only thing I do like about GNC is that most of the locations have a fridge in the back to keep cold protein drinks on hand, which is helpful when you're at the mall for 2 hours. It has been 3-4 years since I have stepped inside a GNC.

just wanted to give a big thank you to the fine people at GNC.com for double charging me and causing me alot of grief with my bank account. they did however have everything I wanted in stock and shipped rather quickly, but i still believe if every other site I order from can get my billing straight then they should as well.

I am a former associate of GNC. I'm aware of the pressure that the employees are under to make sales. And everyone evaluation that they push products that make them money are correct. It's unfortunate, but true. HOWEVER. Associates do undergo a very extensive training. So if you do happen to "buddy up" to one of them and they give you the real information of products it can be very beneficial. The associates have tried and sampled a large majority of the supps in the store. And reps constantly give them products to try out. Once again, if you can find one who will be HONEST with you it's a win. But their prices are horrible unless you go and buy on a closeout item. I've picked up some really good protein that was due to expire in a few months for 1/4th of the price. Try to go at the start of a month, during gold card. Or at the very end. That's when they do the "rotation" or mark down items that will expire soon. Aside from that, you're throwing away some good money, I say get your information there. And buy online. They do have the "GNC Guarantee" however. If you buy ANYTHING from them. Keep the receipt and if it doesn't work within 30 days. Return it and get your money back, even if you're on the end of the cycle. The associate has to honor it even if you bring an empty bottle within 30 days. I'm unsure of the ordering process and guarantee for the online store.

Never ordered form GNC, but I'm very experenced with their local stores. They are a business that is designed to MAKE MONEY!!! The employes are trained to sell what makes the most margins, not the stuff that will help the costumer make gains. I've had to stop sending my clients to our local GNC store because they would get loaded up with stuff that wont help them and then quit working out because they weren't getting any ware. Plus, they spent all their money at GNC so they couldn't afford enough training sessions with me. Another local shop has provided myself and all my clients with better service, better prices, better products, better everything.

Here's the deal with GNC. If you are fresh off a brand new paycheck, and just dying to use it all because you have nothing better to do and you love the feeling of buyer's remorse, then maybe go to GNC. Honestly though, I think the dietary selection of the Olive Garden menu is even a little bit better quality than the rubbish that they have in GNC. Granted, there are some pretty solid employees there, like this guy that is frequently working at the store in the Hulen Mall in Fort Worth, TX. He is kind of a darker guy and is sitting at a solid 8% body fat. Part of me thinks that he isn't taking the things that they sell at GNC, but I could just be under-utilizing their products completely. If I were any normal person that may be reading this review, I'd just take my hard-earned money somewhere else. You may as well just start a paypal account and send your money to some stranger.

I've been reading a lot of reviews on GNC lately, and ironically enough, they all seem to read about the same message, lol. My review on them will prove to be no different than the majority of them I've seen. I first started shopping at GNC over 15 years ago, and I can't really remember if their prices were as high then and their workers as annoying as they are now. Either way, it seems to me almost more trouble than its worth to go in there, which is why I usually do not. Only times I do is when I am at the mall with my girlfriend and have an extra hour or two to kill while she's lolligagging around. I went in there the other day, and actually to my surprise I found a few good deals, even compared to the cheapest online supplement retailers. They had some good RTD's that were a few months away from expiration, so they had them marked down like 75% or something. Anyway I ended up picking up 11 Labrada Lean Body, 12 ABB Pure Pro 50's, and 11 Met-rx OMR, along with a few Syntha-6, Monster Milk, and ABB NOS Pumped (all RTD's) for under $50. Not a bad deal. THat's about all GNC is good for (imo), getting stuff close to expiring when it's severely marked down. If its not near expiration you're gonna end up getting ripped off, since they usually charge Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prtice, which is borderline criminal imo. I don't know who would shop here or any other store that charges so much higher than most every online retailer. Besides the terrible prices, the employees are usually auper obnoxious and always try to influence you toward GNC product. I learned many a year ago to never say anything to them, simply shake your head no, no matter what they say or how nice they seem. (No offense to any GNC employees who may read this). I know they're just trying to do their job but still, whew! Anyway, their selection isn't terrible usually, depending on what store you visit, some have more than others. I do not know if I can recommened GNC or not, but I must warn those who have not shopped there yet to beware of their prices, they're usually astronomical.

i live in utah. i don't know of any independently owned here. so im guessing they're all corporate. over inflated prices. employee's are trained on gnc products only. i told them that i had much better results with ON pro complex whey protein. i was told that it was because i was only taking 2 scoops of amp wheyabolic extreme 90 that i should be taking 3! i told the rep that the body couldn't absorb that much more then 40 post workout. then she argued in the respect that it was dumb then that i was taking 60 grams of pro complex. i tried telling her that it was a casein/whey isolate, she sighed, rolled her eyes, and asked if there was anything else i was looking for.

i learned to just ignore them. when (if) i go in, always greeted promptly and politely, i ask to look at a certain category, i'm always shown to the gnc brand first. i nod and say thank you and then look at the other brands. i'm not saying that the gnc brand supps are bad, i actually enjoy a few of them. however the prices, even with the gold card and the first week sales, i can buy most everything cheaper somewhere else. sorry gnc... examples, $45 for jack3d, $90 for 5 lbs of protein, $8 protein shaker.... ya i think not.

GNC online = not too bad.

GNC in person = HORRIBLE

I'm not the biggest fan of GNC ( based on the fact I used to work there and know that most sales associates are trying to make a few extra bucks and sometimes steer people to a certain product because of it's $$$ )

Prices are almost always expensive when compared to other retailers. They do have a very good selection though and depending on who is helping you if your in the store you might be ok or just getting screwed...

Wish i could put an asterisk next to this rating. I've been to many corporate gnc's that really suck. no selection, high prices, unknowledgeable staff .......you get the picture.This review is for my locally owned gnc (not owned by corporate). The franchised location i shop at is great.

Service-10
The shop owner is very kind and smart. he still pushes items to sell, but the items he pushes are among the highest rated on this site(acg3-9,afterglow-9.4(highest rated item),hydrowhey-9.2) he also gives me workout tips which are helpful.

selection-7
gnc's are small and this particular one is no different. but it is larger then most stores and it has all of my favorite products.

price-8
the owner accepts gold cards all the time, so i got after glow for $48!!!much much cheaper then anywhere else. most of their prices are competitive(except for gnc products which are grossly overpriced). also, the guy gives me freebies all the time which is great.

overall-8
I really like this store(not the corporation itself).i wish every gnc was like mine. if you have the time, check out all of your local gnc's and you might find a good one to.

I live in Nashville and have been shopping at GNC for about a year. An employee at GNC sold a GOLD CARD membership and told me that everything in the store would be 20% on the first week of every month for the next year. I was glad to purchase the card for $15 and recieve the 20% discount the day i bought the GOLD CARD. The crappy thing about buying your products on GOLD CARD week is that GNC marks the products during the first week. I went back to the store after gold card week and the product I bought was on sale for the exact price I bought it for on GOLD CARD week. the next month I went in on the first week to use the GOLD CARD again and the product was marked back up. Can someone tell me if this is a scam. Regardless, I dont shop at GNC stores anymore. The workers say that it sucks to work there because the upper managemnent are always threatening to fire everybody if they dont meet the sales goals. I'll shop at bodybuilding.com for now on.