GNC

Location is small, but the women working there seemed friendly and knowledgeable about products. Found everything I was looking for and they gave recommendations for a replacement when my original product wasn’t available.

I do not recommend this GNC. I have used GNC vitamins and their natural protein powder for quite awhile but every time I go to into the store I am bombarded with offers for the membership club and constant up-​selling.
The last trip in I attempted to purchase 500mg of Vitamin C. I was quickly told that I should buy the 1000mg instead. After a brief back and forth, and in utter frustration, I asked why I should buy the 1000mg and the response was «this is better.» Very frustrating, no such thing as a quick purchase. No need to make your customers feel like they are making a nuclear winter-​sized mistake by not consenting to the up-​sell.
I’m done. Giant/​CVS it is and online purchases for the natural protein.

This is a really awful GNC. The staff don’t know their own product line, or how they work. Shelves are half empty, and the staff can barely speak English. Highly suggest buying online or from a different store

On multiple occasions, I have come here at 9am sharp only to find the sign «Be back in 15 minutes». I could understand running late once or having to step out, but this seems to happen frequently — and noted in another review here. I waited 15 minutes and still no one. Its particularly annoying because I have to be in the office at 9am, so for me to plan on being at this location at 9am, I’m assuming I can be in and out quickly. Not only do I get no breakfast, I’m late. Won’t be coming here again.

I’m a bit frustrated with this place at the moment… I like a protein bar for breakfast, yet my past two pre-​work visits, after the store should be open, the door is locked and there’s a sign that says «I will be back in 15 minutes». Could you maybe take your break at some other time? I imagine things are pretty slow between 10 – 11. UGH!

Friendly staff, but the store is under-​supplied. I had trouble getting the flavor I wanted for two different protein supplements that are pretty common.

In my opinion, this GNC has poor selection. The customer service team at this location is way below par. Also, their gold card rewards seem to never work here. Every time I come in, the staff buffers my loss by saying things will be the same price. WRONG.
In addition, I have been a longtime GNC customer and know the ways to save money here. I always buy GNC Wheybolic in large quantities of the small bags in place of a few large jars. By doing this I get BOGO 50% off along with the sale price and gold card price (20% off). The manager at this location told me I could not buy the bags in a box or get the box and place the bags in it. Furthermore, she also explained to me that it will be cheaper to purchase the large containers. I’ve done it both ways, I do what is more cost efficient.
I ended up going to Pentagon City GNC and they were able to provide me with the customer service that I deserved.

This store has a better selection than some of the other GNC’s nearby. However, you get two problems with any GNC: pressure sales and overpriced items.
I usually only go to GNC when I need something immediately. If i’m not being lazy and plan in advance, I order online for half the price.

They are well-​stocked but something about the customer service here weirds me out. The staff are nice and all, and maybe this is typical of ALL GNCs, but I found it irritating as they were constantly trying to sign me up for deals, wanted my address and email, etc. Also they were misleading about a deal they were offering me. I know they probably work on commission but I wish they would tone down their hard sell, otherwise shopping here would be a more pleasant experience.

At least they carried what I came in for, turmeric curcumin, the anti-​inflammatory. I only visit GNC for specific supplements that I’ve found out about through medical professionals, including other nutritionists, or b/​c I’ve read something good about one of their products. In this case, I was in search for one of their Herbals Plus products. Probably 95% of what they carry I won’t touch, as they consist of synthetic ingredients & fillers. Not to mention the false advertising that comes w/​. This particular shop’s walls are lined w/​protein powders & other bulk-​me-​up or you-​can-​get-​abs-​that-​look-​like-​mine, if only you take this stuff. It’s a bunch of baloney, & I prefer all natural and pure ingredients.
Thus I find myself at Whole Foods, Yes, Eastern Market for much of my supplement shopping. But I had been told by my nutritionist to take turmeric for joint health (it is a general anti-​inflammatory, but is esp. good for arthritis prevention), and I had read a favorable review of GNC’s herbal line. The fact that GNC even has an herbal line is great news! So, there I was at the Dupont GNC. The woman cashier greeted me w/​out looking at me as I walked in the shop (she was tending to another customer, so that’s fine). I paused briefly at the joint health section. The only other employee in the shop appeared to be a manager of sorts. He was friendly, but he didn’t know where to look for the turmeric. «It’s an herb», I said. Shouldn’t he know this basic fact?! & also that there is an herb section in the shop? perhaps he was from another branch… He asked the cashier for help & she steered us to the turmeric.
My issues w/​this place besides the fact that they push junk supplements (obviously this is my term for something as far from its purest form as possible. I mean, something that is supposed to be make you healthier shouldn’t have an ingredient list as long as 3 paragraphs plus be full of terms you can’t even pronounce), is the pushy pushy sales pitch that comes along w/​your visit. The cashier repeatedly asked me if I needed this & that. «Buy 2, get 1 free» she said. Don’t I want to try collagen? Now, I told her that I was a nutritionist and like to test a supplement out one bottle at a time, to see how it goes for me. She blanked when I said this. ANd continued on: «
have a calcium chew!»
Um, are they allowed to do this?! Serve calcium chews in a little bowl up front by the register. As if it’s candy. Should I call the FDA? I am not sure. But this is medicine, really. I prefer my calcium not as candy, thank you very much. That’s just really disturbing to me. What are we going to do, grab a handful of chews on the way outt he door to munch on throughout the afternoon.
Anyway, I was impressed that GNC carried what I was looking for & this was an easy stop. I don’t approve of most of their products & marketing. Overly pushy approach to making the sale. Appreciate the convenience however, and will visit again should I need something specific to GNC.

This branch of GNC always has amazing customer service. Also they are usually have whatever I am looking for in stock. :)

My friend Jenkins can now dunk two-​handed, and he credits it all to GNC. He has been taking a three-​part cocktail of testosterone, nitric oxide, and creatine, for about six months now, and he is starting to look like a genetic freak. It is incredible what you can do to your body with hard work and scientifically engineered supplements.
When I am in the habit of lifting weights, I drink the GNC protein powder. They are always having «buy one get one half off» deals. Vanilla is the best flavor. But aside from protein powder and maybe fish oil, I wouldn’t get carried away with the substances available here — most of them are unproven (those «hangover cure» pills, for example), and many of them will make you balloon into a muscle-​bound douchebag.