Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year for many different industries – and the supplement industry is no exception. Find out everything you need to know about shopping for supplements on Black Friday in our guide.
Why Shop for Supplements on Black Friday?
It took a few years, but the supplement industry has finally fully embraced Black Friday. The last few years have seen massive discounts on Black Friday from virtually every major supplement retailer.
One of the best things about shopping for supplements on Black Friday is that in some cases, you don’t need to leave your computer chair or couch. Sure, brick-and-mortar retailers like GNC have sales, but some of the best sales can be found online from each manufacturer’s website.
It’s not uncommon to find buy one, get one free deals on Black Friday, for example – or even bigger discounts.
If you’re reading this guide, then you’re probably planning on using supplements at some point in the past year. Most supplements don’t expire – so why wouldn’t you buy them on Black Friday?
What About Cyber Monday?
As I just mentioned, most supplement manufacturers are based online. That means customers like you can not only get big discounts on Black Friday, but you can often even bigger discounts on Cyber Monday as well.
In some cases, we’ve seen supplement manufacturers launch one deal on Black Friday, only to launch a better deal on Cyber Monday after they realize they still have stock remaining.
If you plan on waiting till Cyber Monday, however, then beware that many popular supplements will have already sold out by this time – so it’s a dangerous waiting game to play. If you really need something, especially a supplement that’s in high-demand, you shouldn’t hesitate to buy it on Black Friday.
Tips and Tricks for Black Friday 2016: How to Get the Best Deals on Supplements
People who go into Black Friday unprepared are going to miss out on the best deals. With that in mind, here are the best tips and tricks to help you get the best deals on supplements for Black Friday 2016.
Start Researching Today
A number of supplement manufacturers have already announced Black Friday 2016 sales. Or, they’re preparing to announce them in the next few days. Some companies like to be mysterious, but most supplement makers will give you some warning.
Do your homework, and you’ll have the best chance of finding the best deals. It’s that simple. Check out the constantly-updated list at the bottom of this article for the retailers offering the best Black Friday 2016 deals on supplements. If you think you see a good deal on one protein powder, make note of it and check other retailers to see if they have better deals.
Compare Prices
This one’s obvious: supplements are a unique industry because you can typically buy the same supplement from 10 different retailers. In many cases, the official manufacturer’s website isn’t even the cheapest option: you can find better deals from Bodybuilding.com, GNC, and other third party retailers.
Before you click the “buy” button on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, do a quick Google Search to find out if there’s a cheaper deal.
Supplement Markups May Be Larger Than You Think
Supplements aren’t always expensive to manufacture. That doesn’t stop, say, diet pill manufacturers from charging exorbitant rates on their products.
If you see an $80 package of garcinia cambogia diet pills available on Black Friday for, say, $10, don’t be surprised: the company might still be making $15 in profit off your purchase. That’s how cheaply some of those pills are made. Be aware of markups.
Watch Out for Shipping Costs
Shipping costs can add a significant amount onto any supplement order. Companies that normally give you free shipping might cancel that policy on Black Friday. Make sure you take a close look at the final purchase price before you enter your credit card information.
Be Aware of Refund Policies
Many Black Friday sales are final. Companies might refuse to give you a refund on supplements purchased on Black Friday – after all, you got them at such a cheap price, and the company needs to make money somehow. Buy each product with the assumption that you aren’t getting a refund. If you’re unsure, check the company’s refund policy – and watch for any “Except for supplements purchased on Black Friday*” disclaimers.
Remember You Can Buy Supplements from Retailers like Walmart
Online retailers and supplement companies aren’t the only places where you can buy supplements. Well-known Black Friday giants like Walmart often have enormous discounts on supplements – many of which are the same brand-names you’ll find on more specialized supplement retailers. Take a quick peek at these retailers’ catalogs to see if any supplement deals stand out.
One of the best parts about Black Friday supplement deals at Walmart is that many of the people waiting in line are going for big-ticket items like TVs, allowing you to calmly waltz over to the supplement section without even needing to bring a weapon to defend yourself.
What Happened in the Supplement Industry on Black Friday 2015?
The best way to judge what will happen on Black Friday 2016 in the supplement industry is to look at what happened on Black Friday in 2015. Here are some of the highlights:
Bodybuilding.com
Bodybuilding.com had an enormous Black Friday sale, featuring discounts on most items in their store, with particularly strong discounts on Bodybuilding.com branded merchandise. Bodybuilding.com has also held “Cybro Monday” events in the past, where a large portion of their stock was available for 30 to 40% off retail prices.
Other Supplement Websites
-Many smaller online supplement websites went all-out on Black Friday, hoping to make a name for themselves in the face of overwhelming competition from larger competitors like the aforementioned Bodybuilding.com. The vast majority of these companies are perfectly reputable, even if they don’t have the brand recognition of larger websites. Take advantage of their marketing campaign and you can find yourself saving a couple bucks off the lowest price seen on the larger guy’s websites.
What’s GNC Doing on Black Friday 2016?
GNC has had some sort of Black Friday sale every year, although they typically wait until around November 20 to post their ad online.
Typically, GNC discounts their entire online store at 30% off, which includes things like diet pills, probiotics, bodybuilding supplements, multivitamins, and much more. You may have to use an online code to qualify toe the GNC Black Friday discount.
What About Amazon’s Black Friday Supplements Sale?
Amazon is one of the world’s largest retailers, and you can be sure that they’ll have plenty of excellent deals around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As an online retailer, Amazon has always focused more on Cyber Monday, but they’re increasingly getting into the Black Friday game as well.
Amazon has a massive supplement category, particularly for residents of the US and the UK, so this is your chance to get even bigger discounts than usual. However, Amazon already has thin profit margins on most merchandise, so don’t expect to see all items discounted – nor will you see too many 50% off or better deals.
Other Supplement Retailers to Check Before Black Friday
Typically, supplement makers don’t announce their sales until the days leading up to Thanksgiving. A variety of online and offline supplement retailers are expected to make some noise over the coming days as we prepare for Black Friday 2016. Check out the following retailers for more information about their Black Friday sales:
- Bodybuilding.com
- Amazon.com
- GNC.com
- Muscle & Strength
- A1 Supplements
- The Vitamin Shoppe
- NutraPlanet
- DPS Nutrition
- FitRx
From Amazon to Bodybuilding.com, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are always a huge deal to the supplement industry. Check the retailers above for specific information about the best Black Friday supplement sales!
