GNC General Nutrition Center

Staff condescendingly misinformed me. Kept calling HCL HCI and acted like she knew what she was talking about by using verbose jargon. I’m pretty well versed in nutrition and biochemistry and she spent the entire time I asked for help responding with buzzwords that she honestly had little to no understanding of in an attempt to get me to pay for the $ 55 product rather than the $ 12 version I came in for– then criticized my personal choices re supplements.

The woman working here this morning (Wednesday 2÷25÷2015) was really rude. I usually come here twice a week and I pay full price because I don’t want to be a member. I also don’t usually take any samples near the register because I figure it probably has unnecessary sugar. Today, I was looking at variety of samples they had.
The employee walked over while she was already at a DIFFERENT register, in the middle of helping a different customer, to watch me for about 10 – 15 seconds without saying a word, and then finally she said to me in a rude tone «It’s one per customer, dear.» Seriously lady? You’re in the middle of ringing up another customer at a different register.
I didn’t even select the samples yet since I noticed something that looked like caramel and I do not like caramel. And if you have a variety of different items set out, I think someone should be allowed to take a sample of each if they want.
Again, I was coming here twice a week. Not anymore.
Also, she was rudely complaining about a phone call. It’s your job, customer service. Learn to deal with it.

David, the manager, is seriously the best person I’ve ever talked to about supplements/​fitness. He will sell you what you NEED and he won’t jeopardize his integrity in order to make a last second sale. The store is also the best looking GNC despite the smog, bums and constant foot traffic.

Got some Lean Shake protein powder today. Protein powder is expensive and it cost $ 38. They have discounts if you are a member. There was a lady helping me who pushed me to buy this when she saw me looking for protein powder.

I don’t know what these other people are talking about; honestly, This GNC has a great staff, a huge store with good selection… they even have an older stock guy who’s awesome! They don’t seem to B.S. you, they’re informative, and friendly. What more can you ask for?

Do these people get trained to be rude??? Holy frick… I have shopped here a few times and every single time I never get greeted and never get a «thank you» very non welcoming environment.

Overall, I love GNC. I love the products they have available, love that they always have at least something that I want in stock. One time I came here and they were doing a promotional event on my Quest bars and I got some free bars (and bought a few boxes, because seriously, Quest bars are the reason why I came there to begin with!), which was pretty cool.
The lower rating pretty much comes because over the past year as I’ve visited them (not very often, granted, but maybe monthly), I just have not liked the staff. Some of them are helpful and all, and it looks like the store is stocked and maintained nicely, but they are just… too willing to talk about their lives and their problems. Frequently I’ll walk into the store and all the associates are standing around complaining about something or another. Sometimes they’ll break away to make sure I’m finding everything okay (it’s hard to get lost, I rarely have questions) but usually if they’re talking to each other, they’re not going to want to talk much to me. Which is fine, except when I do have to check out, they’ll try to casually include me with their rant-​fest when I don’t really know how to respond to it.
It doesn’t happen every time, but it happens often enough so that I think I’m going to stick to ordering online from now on, or step just a little bit out of my way to get to another GNC.

It’s in my blood…
I’m vain.
My mom is vain.
My sisters are vain.
My nieces are vain.
Who doesn’t want to look and feel pretty?
After experimenting with wheat grass shots at Jamba Juice and then noticing how my skin glowed and my black eye sockets looked brighter. I was convinced to drink this gross crap daily. But Jamba was charging $ 2.99 per shot, well, that adds up to $ 1091.35 for the entire year. That is an expensive fountain of youth drink. Then I learned about wheat grass powder. I might as well give that a twirl and see if it’ll give me the same affect. Plus, I read up on all the wonderful things it’ll do for your body.
Entered GNC for an alternative and comparable source, organic wheat grass powder to add into my daily green smoothie. Most of the staff there were clueless on the products. They knew where to go find the items but that was it. Then comes the manager, Aziz (I think that’s what he said, forgive me if I’m wrong), he was like a super sales person and knows his merchandising extremely well. I gotta give him credit on retaining all that knowledge. I mean, you have to be confident in what you sell and convince people to love the product. That’s exactly what he did, made me believe… sucker? Naw… the proof is in the dark eye circles… it’s slowly vanishing!
Wheat grass powder mix — tastes gross but does what I need. So, when I’m done with my jar of icky powder, I’ll be back for more!

I’m seriously so surprised by all the other reviews of this GNC store. I have had only the best customer experience, as the staff is super friendly and helpful each time I walk into this store. I work at 425 Market, and I do pass this store when I am out for lunch. On occasion, I will pop in to see if there are any new products or offerings. The employees at this location are always tremendously helpful, personable, and knowledgeable. I appreciate returning to this store, as the employees remember me by my first name and ask me about my experience with the products they sold me previously. This is customer service at its best!
At other nutrition stores I’ve been to in the city, the staff is not as knowledgeable on the products they are selling, and you can tell they’ve never taken them by the way they are speaking about the product. I appreciate the employees at this GNC because they will tell you what products work best, based on their own personal experience. Product knowledge is important to customers like myself, as I don’t want to be taking just anything. I could walk into any GNC, but I choose to purchase my products from this store only based on my excellent guest experiences. You guys rock! Now let me grab a few of those free chew samples…

I highly recommend this GNC. During my first time there, the service was exceptional and the staff was not only very professional, but extremely knowledgeable as well. Over the last few years, I have visited quite a few GNC stores in San Francisco and this is by far the best store I have been to. I love all the staff there, specifically, a Chinese staff member by the name of Mike. He was very friendly and did not pressure me to buy any products. He was so helpful in guiding me in an effort to find the right product best suited for my body. As a Chinese American male myself, Mike really understood my needs and was very helpful during my time there. Overall, I had a very enjoyable experience and I loved the family like and professional atmosphere of the store. I will definitely be coming back in the future for more products!

First time coming here today and it will be my last. The staffs are aggressive as hell and won’t leave you alone even though you said you know what you’re looking for.
One guy that doesn’t even look like he works out at all is trying to pressure me to buy a GNC brand protein powder. And then when I was about to pay for my items, another staff won’t let the cashier ring me up because he wants to show me another vitamin to buy and kept saying «hold on!» while he ran to get it. I just wanna pay and get the hell out!!!
After this encounter I might have to find a more professional and knowledgeable nutrition store, instead of a bunch of out of shape, unhealthy looking people telling me what to buy and what’s best for me.

The experience was so uncomfortable I don’t think I could ever return. First i witnessed a guy getting drilled by an employee with super aggressive sales techniques, non-​stop. When I went to check out and buy my coconut water I was asked 5 times if I wanted to sign for their membership program. And they don’t ask nicely. They present the proposal in such a way to imply you are a great fool if you don’t agree.
Yuck.

Close to home and work so it’s got that going for it. The staff pretty much looks like they’re in shape so I guess that gives their recommendations some credibility. GNC doesn’t have the best prices and sometimes I have concerns about overall brand quality. The new free gold card is nice. Now you don’t have to buy your stuff at the beginning of the month. Good selection of bars in stock.

I decided to get back on the protein shakes and hit GNC Monday Morning. At check out with the powder mix, the clerk let me know that there was a sale on the premixed shakes. We did the math and pre mixed was cheaper.
I got what I wanted and saved some $$$. I was very happy with the experience. (Pre mixed tastes better too.)

Always feel hassled in this store when browsing. For once I needed a little advice and ended up having some guy shouting in my ear for ten minutes, wouldnt leave me alone until i had made a decision. not what you need after good work out vibes. Will not be going back

Came here on a Tuesday after work… and LMAO LMAO LMAO at what I encountered. I came to pick-​up some protein shake/​meal replacer shake mix. Granted, I know that the employees here have zero clue about diet, fitness, weight loss etc (previous experience) so I went in with no expectations.
I had my headphones on and went straight to the aisle I needed to be in. After a couple of minutes, I have this eerie feeling and turn around to see this employee smiling and staring at me –_​– and talking… knowing damn well I could not hear him. I said I didn’t need help and proceeded to look at my options. I walk up to the register and he is eager to ring me up… fuuuuck!!! I attract t-​buckets and psychos!!!
He looks at the product I was going to buy and starts questioning what my goals were for using that product –_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​– omg dude, just ring me up! I told him I used to use a similar product and I liked the results when I was an avid runner. He got all flustered and told me I can’t JUST run, I have to lift weights too or else I will lose weight but still have body fat and «that’s not good»…OKAY but did I ask you!!! He starts spewing off these «tips» and «plans» for a perfect workout routine for my «goal» that he pretty much concocted himself.
**********************WAIT*****************PAUSE******************
He stops in the middle of his sentence and reaches in his pocket. Blud, I was about to lose it at that point!!! He pulled out a camera… not a cellphone, but an actual brick sized camera. He said «I can’t just talk about it, I have to be about it» and begins to scroll thru the images on the fucking camera! They are all photos of him TOPLESS! WHY?! WHY JESUS? WHYYYYYY? I am clearly stunned, but he continues to talk about this website he has on fitness and how I can use his methods to get the results I want. I’m speechless and he gives me some free pills and I try to leave ASAP but no… this man starts repeating the same info AGAIN as I’m leaving the door. I just smile and nod cause I really didn’t want to be rude but then…
**********************WAIT*****************PAUSE******************
He pulls the camera out AGAIN!!! LMAO LMAO LMAO I can’t! Seriously, I lost my whole shit — I CANNOT BELIEVE HE JUST SHOWED ME THESE PHOTOS AGAIN.
I stood there like a smug bitch… thinking about food like the fat fuck that I am and decided I would make some steamed veggies and brown rice for lunch the next day. Before I knew it, he was silenced since he had to ring up the next customer.
I walked off like a zombie… brain dead, unsure why I just got preached to. My eyes were violated and now concerned about how much I should be lifting –_​–
At least he was «knowledgeable» …too bad I didn’t understand his fitness lingo and he was a creeper with nude photos of himself in his pocket.
aawwwwwkwarrrrrrrd.

I came here for vitamins during my lunch break. The store was not suprisingly crowded, and the staff weren’t so friendly.
A young guy sales associate guy, however, came to my aid and finally helped me (while the 4 other employees just watched me look aimlessly for a item, while pretending to be occupied with NO customer, for 11mins.)
He was not very knowledgable about the product, but however, I’ve already pre-​searched on the web, and knew exactly what I needed.

Most of the people who work at GNC know NOTHING about diet, fitness, bodybuilding, weight loss or health, nor do they know anything about any of the supplements, vitamins and other health products they sell. Do not take any of their advice.
Do your research online and buy online.
Stay away, especially from this store.

My relationship with GNC is like an old girlfriend. We’ve broken up but I keep going back because she’s reliable. Even though there are better fish in the sea it’s hard to move on.
I never buy in bulk from any GNC. I only shop here when I’m looking for a pre-​workout drink or post-​workout protein. They just can’t compete with the prices of the online supplement companies.

Every other GNC or similar store would probably get a 1 or 2 from me. So this A-​OK is high praise. The staff is a mix of friendly little Asian women and generally not intimidating guys (seriously beast the gym bunny Castro GNC). They have what a standard GNC has, plus they sell high protein pudding! I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m just dying to.
Great service story: They sell protein bars as singles, or you can pick up a whole box. I was curious about a new flavor that was only represented in box form. They were more than happy to break it open and sell me just one, even though it committed them to trying to unload 19 other lemon protein bars one by one.
P. S. — I don’t recommend the lemon protein bar.