posted
I have used this company for a long time to purchase Pure Encapsulations Probiotics and other supplements. I had always been pleased with their service. I am only writing this as my opinion and please take it as such.
These probiotics are heat sensitive and should be shipped with cooling packs. You pay extra for the refrigeration but it ensures the product is viable.
I recently received a shipment that was not shipped with the cooling packs as I requested. Considering we were having 88 degree days (+ whatever temperature the shipping truck was and sitting on my porch for hours) this made the product unusable.
I called the company and was told I could return them and would be shipped new product. I was suspicious of comments made by the rep when I called to express my concern and to return the products and so I marked the bottles with ink only visible with a black light.
I received my replacement shipment a few days later. When I checked the "new" bottles with the black light, they were the same ones I had marked and returned to the company as damaged. The company will not accept them back or give a refund.
I have not had any other problems with this company (other than normal out of stock items). I was quite shocked at this outright deception. I will no longer use them to purchase my supplements.
If you purchase probiotics from them that require refrigeration please proceed with caution. So many of us are at risk for C-Diff and buying out supplements should not be one more thing we have to worry about. Please make sure your supply of probiotics are handled correctly.
Again, this is one person's opinion, use your own judgement. I am simply relating my experience with this supplier.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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sparkle7
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10397
posted
That was clever - using the black light ink!
Good for you that you caught this. I'm sure it's pretty common with all kinds of things. Like selling non-organic produce as organic,using cheap fillers in supplements, counterfeit drugs, etc.
Just because something says "healthy" "organic" "natural", etc. doesn't mean that the company does not make a cheap product that will make a handsome profit for them. Not everyone is ethical... especially these days with the recession & all of that.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
I have also used Organic Pharmacy off and on for several years now.
When purchasing probiotics (check out Natren Healthy Trinity for example) they do warn you that the product is heat sensitive. This warning is in blue, directly under the product description. They recommend expedited shipping with a styrofoam box with ice packs. This will run you an extra $10.80
Their prices on Natren probiotics cannot be beat. If you order a few bottles at the same time and qualify for free shipping you will still save a good deal of money even with the additional $10.80 for the ice box.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
motownlyme, it is wrong that they sent you the same potentially heat damaged probiotics.
They should have at least told you that next time you need to buy the ice box then gone ahead and sent you some properly packed new probiotics.
By the way, you don't have to pay extra for iherb to pack their probiotics in ice.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
That was pretty ingenious of you! You don't have to pay for this. IF they won't let you return it or don't give you credit, tell them you will issue a chargeback on your credit card.
If they still won't take it back, you put it in dispute on your credit card (call the credit card company & tell them the situation, and don't pay it) on your credit card).
Did you pay t have it sent on ice?
Posts: 3792 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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posted
Yes - I know to order them with ice and I have done so for almost two years. They said they misunderstood and would take them back. I just didn't feel right after some of the comments the rep made - that made me use the special ink.
I did pay for the special containers and gel/ice pack shipping on the replacement order - of course it was for the same damaged goods.
I asked for a refund and said I would send the bottles back marked damaged. They refused the refund because if I mark the bottles as damaged then they can't resell them.
That frankly scared me. The same bottles that I have that I know are worthless could be resold and shipped out to one of you if I send them back to them.
Thanks to all for the info!
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
I have bad news .... when the probiotics are shipped to any of these companies they are not refrigerated anyway. I was upset when I heard this.
I have a family friend who works for a vitamin shop and she said although they refrigerate the probiotics upon arrival, they all come in semi-truck loads unrefrigerated and in the summer down right hot.
Some probiotic manufacturers will tell you that they survive in a body at 98.6 degrees therefore they can survive these temps during shipping.
So even if you do ask for ice packs (like I do) they were likely compromised before they ever reached their stores. I don't like it anymore than you do.
posted
So, where can we purchase Probiotics that are insured to be refrigerated from the time their manufactured to our doorsteps?
Posts: 829 | From MD | Registered: Dec 2009
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gwb
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7273
posted
I get mine from Klaire Labs but you need to have your ND give you their authorization code to do it. They ship with ice packs and are top quality probiotics. They also sell excellent enzyme products too.
You can get Theralac (which many people here swear by) shipped to you but they don't include an ice pack because they say the way they ship it is safe:
* Packaging and Shelf Life
- Probiotics are living products that require refrigeration for optimum stability and shelf-life. Theralac is quite stable due to ``TIP'' or Totally Inert Packaging: Theralac capsules are packaged in double-sealed, amber glass bottles containing both moisture and oxygen absorption packets.
They can be held at temperatures up to 75� F for up to one month (while traveling) but must be kept refrigerated beyond that to assure potency through the expiration date.-
Your health store carries probiotics in the refrigerated department. Ultra Flora and Jarrow are two good brands and there's many others as well.
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
motown - thanks so much for letting us know! I'm sorry you got ripped off! I've considered buying other supplements from them but will not based on your info.
Wolfed out asked: So, where can we purchase Probiotics that are insured to be refrigerated from the time their manufactured to our doorsteps
Recommended by many LLMD's. I see Gary already mentioned them. When I asked the question about how they are stored before we get them they stated: "We store Theralac at -10 degrees until the day we ship it to you."
They state: water is what harms freeze dried bacteria
Here is other info they gave me. We use glass bottles nitrogen flush, moisture absorption Oxygen absorption packets inert wadding double neck seals for totally inert packaging. Oh by the way, there is less than 3% humidity inside the bottle (the Sahara Desert has never been as dry by a factor of two) . . .no water no biological activity
We ship priority mail to you so you get it in 2-3 days.
We have shipped the product at 100 degrees, let it sit in a mailbox in the sun, and sent to a lab in AZ in the summer and we do not lose 5%. We guarantee 30 billion at expiration, we formulate at double that. ___________________________________________________
They do not ship with an ice pack. Their product is acid proof so it can make it to where it needs to go in the intestine still alive. http://www.theralac.com/LymeDisease.aspx
They are expensive but worth it.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
You can order also VSL#3 directly from the company and they will ship it to you in "temperature controlled packaging".
quote:Originally posted by Wolfed Out: So, where can we purchase Probiotics that are insured to be refrigerated from the time their manufactured to our doorsteps? [/QB]
Buy Theralac or Body Biotics. They are not heat sensitive.
I have a family friend who works for a vitamin shop and she said although they refrigerate the probiotics upon arrival, they all come in semi-truck loads unrefrigerated and in the summer down right hot.
I didn't know for sure.... but that is what I always thought!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
I rely on Sedona Labs "professional grade" iflora, which is also shelf-stable and doesn't need refrigeration.
Since this probiotic comes in different formulas, it's important to use the professional grade formula.. That's the strongest (and, natch, the most expensive one they offer)
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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pamoisondelune
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11846
posted
Do people HAVE to have the ice-pack kind and all that rigamarole? Sounds like too much trouble to me! I just buy shelf-stable kinds--- are they not powerful enough for some people?
---Polly Polygonum -----or Nilufar Knotweed
Posts: 1226 | From USA | Registered: May 2007
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posted
Thanks for all the info guys. I do take Theralac as well but I really do see the difference when I take the Pure Encapsulation kind. I don't know what the mix is but it works really well for me with Theralac.
Posts: 237 | From WV | Registered: Mar 2007
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SForsgren
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7686
posted
I have used this company for years and always had good service. This is disappointing to read.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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sutherngrl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 16270
posted
I take the ones on the shelf, but I am sure to also add kefir or yogurt as backup.
Posts: 4035 | From Mississippi | Registered: Jul 2008
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