GNC

I’ve visited this store a few times now. First to buy vitamins second to buy protein and a pre-​workout mix on both occasions I found the manager to be helpful, knowledgeable and not pushy at all. Overall a good experience and high quality products.

You have to know what you’re getting yourself into when you enter a GNC. You’re going to get a sales pitch and a lecture on why you should purchase the GNC brand product always. Whether it’s whey protein powder (they push the Wheybolic hard), casein protein, the re-​feed line of products, or multivitmans, you are sure to get an ear full on why they are the best. So here’s my honest opinion. GNC products are pretty good when push comes to shove. Hearing it repeatedly from the store clerk doesn’t make me want to buy them anymore though.
People who are spending big money on nutritional supplements usually do their homework before they buy a product. For example, I read up a lot on Optimim Nutrition Gold Standard whey, and Dymatize Iso 100 whey. I know what I want in a protein powder and I can differentiate between nutrition labels and information. The GNC clerk assumes I don’t know this and talks my head off until my ears almost want to bleed.
The products are top of the line, and the selection is just like any other. If it wasn’t a ten minute walk from where I live I’d probably go to a different location, but the convenience factor keeps me coming back. I’m not saying the information fed to you is false, it’s just repetitive and annoying. You have to have a high level of patience when walking into any nutritional supplement haven. This spot is no different.

Expensive expensive expensive!
These guys will rip you off just like any other GNC store. Joe is a good salesman & super knowledgeable, but Joe (last time I was there) is unfit and claims he takes all of the shit that he’s trying to sell you… Oh really bro you take that fat burner? Because all you’ve got is a huge gut hanging over your waistband and no muscle, c’mon bro! You have to give it to the guy though, he is friendly and will answer any technical questions regarding the make-​up/​content of their products.
Their manager, on the other hand, is the worst customer service representative I have ever come across. No eye contact when entering the facility, a weak and an unenthusiastic hello, a shit pitch at the counter. I know you don’t have to be a Harvard graduate to run a place like this, but god damn he is under qualified. If you’re thinking of going here, don’t.
You San Diegans don’t have Wholesale Nutrition stores yet, but once they open their Southern locations, that’s the place you need to go to.
Avoid.