Ottway Herbs & Vitamins

I bought a voucher to Ottway on Church Street, and I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the store that I had walked by countless times before. It is much larger on the inside, with a very well-​organized and spacious floor space.
I especially like that they carry an extensive number of competing brands, including professional brands that I had previously only seen at my homeopath’s office. These are high-​quality brands, much better than anything you can get at a drugstore. You can really take your time comparing product characteristics and price to make an informed choice.
And the prices are excellent, very competitive with even online stores like Healthy Planet. I noticed they have a price-​match policy. This may explain why they MAY have refused to give prices over the phone; I can see how unscrupulous competitors would take advantage of this policy. The regular prices are already good, but then today they had a special if you bought multiples of the same product (40% off the 2^nd regular-​priced item of the same type, 15% off for the 2^nd sale-​priced item). They also have a 10% seniors discount on Tuesdays. For example, they had specials on organic coconut oil that blow away anybody else.
I also found their customer service to be excellent. Alexander answered all my questions and directed me to the appropriate products. He also made sure I understood how all the specials worked so I could maximize my savings, and he accepted my voucher as if it were cash — none of this ‘Cannot be combined with other offers’ run-​around. Alexander was just as good helping other customers who were just there to browse.
I am an experienced buyer of supplements. I normally keep an inventory of supplements easily worth over $ 800 for my personal use. Over the past 10 years, I have had memberships or serious customer relationships with GNC, Popeyes, Healthy Planet, Nutrition House, Noah’s, and The Big Carrot. And I find Ottway to outclass them all in terms of transparency, variety and breadth of offerings, and customer service. I signed up to be on their customer list, which I rarely do on a first visit.
And let me add one more point about why shopping in person is especially important when buying supplements and health products. It’s called the Best Before date. Do you think those sale-​priced items at Healthy Planet are the freshest possible? Do they tell you the best-​before date over the phone? Can you choose the exact bottle they put into your parcel? Can you tell if those probiotics have been refrigerated their entire shelf life? When it comes to sensitive products like probiotics and omega-​3 oils, freshness is crucial. Even on the shelves at Ottway, it is worth reaching to the back of every counter to pick the freshest item — the difference in shelf life could be YEARS.
I will return to Ottway on a regular basis. This is my go-​to spot for supplements and health products. If I need my ego stroked, I’ll go to Harry Rosen.

I can see why only one review, mine. I wont bother going back either. You can’t have reviews if you don’t have customers. A place I use to shop from time to time but most likely will take it off my list. I called for a price on some Allimax garlic caps and they refused to give me the price over the phone. I can only assume this is because they are higher priced than most other stores and they feel if they make you come down, you will buy them regardless. I’ve purchased small packs here before, I just wanted to confirm they had the large size and the price. Personally I don’t care about a few dollars one way or the other, I just don’t like to be treated with disrespect. It doesn’t work that way for me, I am the customer and it is their privilege to serve me, not mine to shop there. I guess I will order them online, get free delivery and not bother with Ottway anymore. I also use to buy my vitamin D easy to absorb drops six times a year. They lost me as a customer. Good luck with your policy.
Update: I found what I want, Allimax Garlic at Healthy Planet on Danforth, only $ 75 for 180 caps, only two bottles left. Not only did they tell me the price over the phone, they are holding them for me at that cash. I will go now and pick up the two bottles. I don’t know if this price is higher or lower than ottway, I just know the service and respect was beyond what Ottway offered. I wasn’t shopping price when I called Ottway.
Update: Picked them up at Healthy Planet, they were holding them for me as promised. I don’t know if I paid more or less than Ottway, I suspect less. Price was never the issue. As for Ottway, I guess as they slowly sink, they will continue with their policy of «Ottway first customer last».