If you’re looking to improve your health this year, vitamins and supplements are a great way to help you achieve that goal. Luckily it’s never been easier to shop around for vitamins thanks to e-commerce companies like Vitacost that ship quality vitamins and supplement straight to your home or workplace. 

What is Vitacost? 

If you've never heard of it, Vitacost is a Florida-based health and wellness online retailer that was first founded in 1994. They're known for offering health products at discounted prices through their website at vitacost.com. The company has also launched a convenient subscription service, which we’ll talk more about later. 

Just know that Vitacost offers pretty much any type of vitamin or supplement you can think of, and they also carry a selection of organic groceries, beauty products, and pet supplies that are all pretty fun to try. They carry about 40,000 items in total, and many are rare or difficult to find in traditional grocery stores and pharmacies. 

Vitacost also shares tips and recipes on their website for people following specific diets or who have certain health concerns. Their website allows customers to shop based on their dietary needs and preferences, which makes it very easy to find the most suitable products. 

How does Vitacost work?

Vitacost is perhaps the best online vitamin and supplement store because they've been in the business for longer than most of their competitors. That means they’ve built relationships with quality brands and streamlined the purchasing experience for their customers. 

If you want to purchase something from Vitacost you have two main options: A one-time purchase or a recurring subscription. 

A one-time purchase is simple. Just add the products you want to your virtual shopping cart and purchase them as you would from any other online store. Your order will be shipped to your address in a few days. 

If there is a product you know you’ll be purchasing regularly, you can select a subscription option, called “Set & Save.” The “Set & Save” method will give you a little discount per order. You can choose to have your products delivered every 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, or 120 days apart. 

What to know about the Vitacost brand quality

Once Vitacost established itself as a good company in the 1990s, it decided to launch an in-house brand for popular vitamins and supplements in 1999. 

Many people consider Vitacost a good brand because of its simple, straightforward packaging and easy-to-understand product formulas. Vitacost leaders say the vitamins and supplements adhere to the Federal Food and Drug Administration’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices, which means they meet high standards of quality. Vitacost is regarded as a legit brand and considered to be a good alternative to other name-brand vitamins and supplements that are often much more expensive.

Vitacost has received numerous awards for quality and customer support over the years. In 2018, vitacost.com was named the #1 Online Supplement Merchant by ConsumerLab.com, which was the third straight year the company won that honor, according to a press release on the company’s website. 

Where are Vitacost products made?

Vitacost-brand products are made in their manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina, according to reports the company submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other brands with products available for sale on the website manufacture their products elsewhere, so be sure to research the brand you’re specifically ordering to know where it’s made. Vitacost customer service may be able to assist you in finding out this information, or connecting with a representative from the other brand.

Does Vitacost sell fake products?

Products found on vitacost.com are all regulated differently, depending on the brand. You should always research any brand or product before you purchase it to ensure it’s held to strict quality standards. Also, know that all kinds of products are prone to scams, and counterfeit items are not uncommon from online retailers even from reputable brands. 

Vitacost pricing:

Wait, how is Vitacost so cheap? You may notice that Vitacost products are a few dollars cheaper than what you’d find at the store. Part of the reason is Vitacost’s Set & Save deal, which allows customers to receive a discount if they commit to purchasing products regularly. The company will also “lock-in” the purchase price, so it will remain the same price throughout your subscription. Since they know they’ll be selling these products to you regularly in the future, they can lower the price a bit. 

Also, as a major vitamin and supplement distributor, Vitacost can likely negotiate better deals for its customers.

Here’s how a Vitacost membership works:

There’s no membership fee required to purchase products through Vitacost. If you choose to subscribe to a certain product, you’ll be charged each time it’s scheduled to be delivered. 

What to know about Vitacost shipping:

Vitacost is known for its convenient shipping service that brings products right to your home or office through FedEx delivery. 

So, how long does Vitacost take to ship?

It’s hard to say. Shipping will depend on where you live and can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. The company also says that some shipments have been delayed because of COVID-19. 

How does Vitacost ship?

Vitacost shipping is fast and free for all orders of $49 or more within the contiguous United States. You also receive free shipping when you purchase $25 or more of Vitacost brand products only. Other shipping options depend on where you live, and people who live in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada need to pay a $9.99 shipping fee on all orders. 

By the way, what is Vitacost’s return policy? 

Vitacost does not accept returns in the interest of safety for its employees and the health of the environment. For orders placed within the United States, you can request a refund or replacement item within 60 days of your purchase if there was a missing item, damaged item or you just weren’t satisfied with your item. Vitacost customer service employees will review the request and will ship any replacements at no additional cost. Refunds are issued on your original payment method used to purchase the item. 

For International shipping to places like Canada, Israel, Singapore, Mexico, the refund policy is extended to 90 days. However, the company will not issue replacements for items. Vitacost also recommends that customers in other countries check with their local authorities for regulations about international vitamin and food shipments. The company typically ships to more than 160 countries, but restrictions due to COVID-19 are affecting shipping to some areas. There’s more information about that on the company’s website. 

Who owns Vitacost?

Vitacost is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., which is the largest supermarket company in the United States in terms of annual revenue. Its headquarters are located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kroger also owns several popular local grocery chains including City Market, Harris Teeter, and Smith’s. The Kroger Co. also operates convenience stores, jewelry stores, fuel centers, and food processing plants in the U.S. 

Is Vitacost owned by Amazon?

Vitacost is not owned by Amazon, but there are Vitacost brand products available for sale through Amazon, which is another popular online retailer. 

Who bought Vitacost?

The Kroger Co. purchased Vitacost in August 2014 for $280 million when Vitacost had been operating for four years in the red, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal. Kroger has since added some additional products and brands to the Vitacost site, which has flourished and expanded under the major brand.  

Where do Nature Made vitamins come from?

According to Nature Made’s website, their products are manufactured in Southern California and Alabama. There are also some other products manufactured through their partners in the U.S. and overseas. 

What should I buy from Vitacost?

If you’re looking to get started, check out Vitacost brand vitamins. Vitacost vitamin reviews show that buyers enjoy the low prices and wide range of important vitamins and supplements they offer. Vitacost Vitamins are also made in the USA, so they’re guaranteed to meet certain quality standards. 

There are also lots of grocery items available on the site. Check the prices and look for discounts for items you typically buy from the store. Maybe you can find something you know you’ll need at a better price, and it will give you a chance to experience Vitacost’s customer service and shipping.

What to know about Vitacost supplement quality:

The company states that Vitacost brand supplements adhere to the FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs), which have high standards of potency, purity, efficacy, and safety. You should note that the FDA does not have the authority to review any type of dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they’re sold to the public. The FDA does, however, review any new ingredients that may go into vitamins and supplements for safety. 

The FDA recommends that you check with the manufacturer or distributor of your dietary supplements for any questions about the effectiveness and any claims that are made about the products, according to the FDA’s website. 

A note about essential oils:

Essential oils are very popular these days, but are Vitacost essential oils pure? According to the company’s website, Vitacost essential oils are made from high-quality materials and steam distilled to achieve 100% purity. Other essential oil brands use a chemical process to extract natural essences from plant materials, but steam eliminates the need for those extraction chemicals. Vitacost markets their essential oils to be used for aromatherapy.

Here’s how to find deals with Vitacost:

You can check for promo codes on Vitacost products right from their website. Their discount page is updated daily, so check back any time you plan on ordering. (https://www.vitacost.com/coupons-deals-and-discounts)

They also regularly offer general discounts and sales promotions, so be sure to check back every so often to see if you can save some money on your vitamins. There’s also a clearance section on their website that you can find even cheaper products through.

How to contact Vitacost:

You can contact Vitacost in a variety of ways. Here are a few options: 

What is Vitacost’s phone number? The main phone number is 1-800-381-0759

What is Vitacost e-mail: You can email Vitacost by selecting the “Chat with us” option on their website, which will take you to an online form to fill out with your email and message. 

Vitacost Pros And Cons

Here’s what people did not like about Vitacost:

Reviews about Vitacost are kind of a mixed bag. Some customers note that the products they receive are damaged or that the packaging is broken. Others say they waited a long time to receive their orders, particularly with international shipping. These reviews seem to be more recent, and the company has publicly noted some shipping difficulties due to COVID-19. 

What people like about Vitacost:

Other customers say they love Vitacost’s huge variety of products, low prices, and said they had no issues receiving their orders within a few days. These reviews are typically from people within the United States, so they don’t have to worry about international shipping. It’s clear that Vitacost has many longtime, satisfied customers. 

So, is Vitacost legit and worth the money?

Yes, it’s certainly worth trying out, especially if you want to avoid going into crowded stores during the pandemic. Many customers find that Vitacost is a reliable and convenient way to get their vitamins and supplements from good brands that are known to offer safe and effective products. Vitacost has built itself to be an experienced, reputable company so they don’t have to resort to selling off-brand or low-quality products to make money. 

FAQ:

What is Vitacost ShopRunner?

ShopRunner was a service at Vitacost that featured an annual membership and free, 2-day shipping and free returns. However, in May 2020 Vitacost discontinued the ShopRunner service due to repeated shipping delays caused by COVID-19.