Health guide
What to Check Before Ordering a Supplement: A Five-Minute Checklist
Most problems with supplement orders are visible before the order is placed. Five minutes spent on this checklist prevents nearly all of them, whether you are buying from a pharmacy website, a marketplace or a call centre.
The product
Confirm exactly what you are buying: the full product name, the pack size, the number of servings and the amount of active ingredient per serving.
If the listing does not say, ask. A seller who cannot state the pack size is not a seller who will resolve a problem later.
- Exact product name and variant
- Pack size and servings per pack
- Active ingredient amounts per serving
- Expiry date, or at least the guaranteed minimum shelf life on arrival
The seller
Identify who you are buying from. For a pharmacy, a physical address and a licence reference. For a marketplace, the seller name, rating and recent reviews. For a call-centre order, the company name and a working number.
A seller with no traceable identity has no accountability, and no accountability means no recourse.
The total price
Confirm the final amount including delivery, not the promotional headline. Ask whether the advertised price applies to one pack or requires a multi-pack purchase, which is a common structure in direct-response selling.
Get the total in your own currency and write it down before the parcel arrives, so the amount requested at the door can be checked against it.
The delivery terms
Find out who delivers, how long it takes, whether you can inspect before paying, and what happens if you are not available.
Cash on delivery is standard in most of the region and is a genuine consumer protection. Confirm it applies to your order before agreeing.
Questions for the confirmation call
Many direct-order products are confirmed by telephone. That call is your opportunity, and it is worth preparing for.
- Can you read me the complete ingredient list and the amounts?
- What is the pack size, and how many days does one pack last?
- What is the total price including delivery?
- Can I inspect the pack before paying the courier?
- What is the expiry date on the stock you will send?
- What is your company name and address?
On delivery
Open the outer packaging in front of the courier. Check the product name, pack size, batch number and expiry against what you were told, and look for an intact seal.
If anything does not match, decline the parcel. Declining costs you nothing; pursuing a refund afterwards costs a great deal of time.
Frequently asked questions
What if the price on the call is higher than advertised?
Ask why, and decide before agreeing. A promotional price that only applies to a multi-pack should have been stated up front.
Can I cancel after the confirmation call?
Usually, since payment happens on delivery. Simply decline the parcel and inform the call centre.
Related guides
How to buy supplements safely online
How to avoid counterfeit supplements
How to choose a dietary supplement
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Medical disclaimer. BioMedic Africa publishes consumer health information and supplement research summaries. It is not a pharmacy, a clinic or a medicines regulator, and nothing here is a diagnosis, a prescription or a treatment plan. Dietary supplements are foods, not medicines: they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with a pharmacist or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under 18, living with a long-term condition, or taking prescription medication.