[seanmcdirmid]

So is LemonBox basically a daigou in startup form? I’m not sure what their advantage will be vs. the very numerous amount of small players that already do this.

I also wonder if they misunderstand the vitamin market in China. Whereas it is mostly bros looking to buff up in the states, in China, you buy them abroad to show your elderly parents/grandparents you care for them. But maybe my views are outdated?

[briandear]

Are vitamins actually useful? The vast majority of people who eat normally don’t need vitamin supplements. It’s all mostly scammy to me: selling people a product that has almost no value unless you are malnourished. It’s big business sure, but it’s on the level of homeopathy for most people. Providing vitamins to undernourished kids might be valuable, but there isn’t any money in that. Vitamins are right up there with “organic” in terms of quantifiable health benefits.

[AznHisoka]

There are multi-vitamins and then there are supplements. Personally, I find the former useless but there are many supplements that are useful for various ailments. For example, melatonin if you find it hard to fall asleep, DGL licorice and probiotics if you got digestive issues. Some people swear by certain B-vitamins for acne as well. Different supplements work for different people.

[seanmcdirmid]

Chinese already have faith in unempirical Chinese medicine, I don’t think vitamins are much less reliable than that.