Frequently Asked Questions - The Natural

How many times must a question be asked to be considered a 'frequently' asked question?
     Approximately 3.14 times.

What happened to the store in Franklin, NJ?
     We lost our lease at the store in Franklin after almost 12 years at that location. Our greedy landlord combined our space with the space next door and leased the entire 8,000sf area to one tenant. There was nothing illegal in the transaction, but we felt it was pretty unfair considering we'd been excellent tenants.

Will you open another retail store in the area?
     This is the $64,000 question. The short answer is: we don't know. Once the website is complete we'll address this issue. There are certainly a number of benefits to having a retail store, but there are also a LOT of headaches, too. We are constantly getting referrals about commercial space, so it is definitely a very real possibility in the near future. We'll keep you posted. If you do hear of any decent commercial space for SALE (no more leasing!), please call or email us.

Why don't you carry BRAND X on the website when you used to carry it in the store?
     Some of our vendors have adopted this (in our humble opinion) ridiculous company policy whereby they won't sell to stores that don't have a brick and mortar storefront (ie, web-only stores). Since, at this moment, we do NOT have a brick and mortar store, we've lost the ability to purchase from a small handful of vendors. We tried pleading our case and although our objections fell on sympathetic ears, we were not granted an exception to the rule. What's most frustrating is that not only have we built up loyal customers of these products over the 17+ years in business, but we've found other websites (web only) that do carry the products!!! When we raised this objection, we were told those sites were "grandfathered", which basically means "we've decided to sell to them and NOT you!". It sounds like a lawsuit in the making, since some of these vendors have happily received my business for over 15 years!!

Their main reasons given for said policy are: 1) they can't control what websites will charge for their product (that is, they want to prevent extreme discounting) and 2) they like the face-to-face product sell. My objections are as follows: 1) I agree that you can't control what a website will do with your product, just like you can't control what someone will do with a kitchen knife. However, these companies know who they're selling to, so they could very easily question (in writing) every wholesaler as to the intended distribution channel for their products, and, the discounting structure. I'd happily fill that out. 2) I also agree with the face-to-face sell, but only in some cases. We have so many customers that just come in, grab what they want, pay for it and walk out. Very few people have time for the face-to-face, and, bottom line, I believe we can serve that need in other (possibly better) ways.

We feel we're honest merchants trying to make an honest living. We feel we've carried many of these products for years and have done the legwork to bring more customers to the product line, thus earning the right (as it were) to continue to stock these product lines. We also feel that someday in the very near future, these policies will have to change. However, at that point in time, we will have moved on to different product lines that had the foresight to see the shift in the world of commerce and we will no longer want to purchase supplements from them. End of story. Check our clearance area.

I ordered liquid vitamins that arrived during the last winter storm and now they're frozen. Can I still use them?
     Yes! We've been informed from some of our vendors regarding frozen liquid vitamins. They say they're still completely fine and you just need to thaw them. Please be aware that we use extra caution when packaging liquid vitamins to prevent this, but we cannot control the elements at the package's destination point. If you have any doubt about whether a package will be safe on your porch, please use the delivery confirmation number to track your package as it provides detailed delivery information. Please plan ahead, where possible. Please be advised that if a glass bottle of liquid vitamins has broken as a result of freezing, DO NOT INGEST THE PRODUCT as it may contain glass splinters.

I bought Product XYZ and I don't like the taste. May I return it?
     Generally, No. We don't run a tasting center and we'll be the first to admit that not all 'cherry' products taste like cherry. However, that said, if you're experimenting and taste is a concern, purchase the smallest bottle or contact the manufacturer directly as they may offer samples. You may also ask us to try to get samples. We DO try to stock samples when the manufacturers are generous enough to provide them, and we DO ask them.

My TV's broken and I don't know what to do with all my time?
     You poor soul. Your TV breaking is the best thing that ever happened to you. Look outside; there's a whole world out there just waiting to be explored. Read good books, experience good films, take in a museum, learn an instrument, learn a foreign language, research what a 'runcible spoon' is, go climb a mountain, etc... The world is yours, so go live in it.

I love your store and want to tell the world. How may I do so?
     We love receiving positive feedback about the work we do. Feel free to email us any testimonials about positive experiences you've had with The Natural. If we post any of your comments on the website, please be aware that we will keep your identity masked.

I want to hug/punch/kiss/thank/propose to/etc one of your past employees, how can I contact them?
     We do maintain contact with our past employees and can forward any friendly comments on to them. We will not provide any personal contact information, but will happily forward any emails or phone messages to them.

What happened to the 'old guy' that used to be at the store all the time?
     The 'old guy' is alive and well and still lives in town with his wife. They are both retired now and are enjoying their individual hobbies, which more than fill up their days.

Was it a boy or a girl?
     It was a boy (and still is)!! This, of course, is referring to our second child, a little bundle of joy that helped force us to close our store as his arrival coincided with the date we closed the store. He's doing very well (as is his sister) and we couldn't be happier; life offers no greater reward.

How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?
     The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind.