Frequently Asked Questions

How long will I need to take Probiotics and/or other supplements for?

If you want to restore your gut health, it takes most people 18 months - 2 years to completely restore all the imbalances in the body. After a course of antibiotics or steroids, the recommendation is 6 months of taking probiotics. There is variation in timeframes as it is hard to know each individuals unique gut health situation. Past medical history is also a factor, for example: number of antibiotics taken, history of stress, and lifestyle considerations. If you intend to take supplements to strengthen your health permanently then you would stick to a routine indefinitely.

I don't have any specific problems or concerns. Should I still take Probiotics?

Yes, it is very beneficial to take probiotics even without symptoms or concerns. Research shows that our level of good bacteria reduces as we age and can be easily wiped out by stress, lifestyle changes, antibiotics and other medication. Therefore, it is better to build up your level of probiotics while you are younger or as soon as you can. Your gut health contributes to many minor symptoms that you may disregard or ignore so you may see unexpected improvements while taking probiotics. 

I'm not sure what products I should be taking, can you help me?

Absolutely, please reach out via our contact page or visit our store to speak to us in person. We will be able to assist you with specific product recommendations.

I've tried another brand of Probiotics and they haven't worked for me. How are yours different?

Many probiotics products on the market are not viable, meaning they do not contain living bacteria but bacteria that is actually dead by the time you consume them. They are either manufactured incorrectly, are unstable, or are mixed with other ingredients such as other vitamins, flavourings, or bulking agents which can compromise their integrity. It is only worth taking a probiotic from a trusted, reliable manufacturer. For example, our Natren probiotics are audited to a pharmaceutical level and only contain the human predominant strains of bacteria. 

There's a product I want to try but I'm not sure if I can take it alongside my medication.

We have access to a database of medical interactions. Contact us and we will be able to check whether your medication can be taken alongside different products.

Why do some of your products have different names to the products on the brands website?

Some of our imported products such as Natren and Dr Wolz branded products have different names to the names you may see elsewhere. This can be due to a number of factors. Some brands have "domestic" and "export" names, so we sell their products under the "export" names. A few brands have products with foreign names which are translated into english for sale in New Zealand. Additionally, many products have claims on their labels which we cannot sell in New Zealand due to certain laws, therefore, the labels may look different as these claims have been removed.

When is the best time to take my supplements?

All products should have this information on the label. Probiotics must be taken 2 hours apart from antibiotics and/or other medication. If you are still unsure, please contact us. 

Where do you ship to?

We ship worldwide!
We ship within New Zealand using a courier service and internationally using DHL and Fastway.
This includes rural and commercial addresses.

What are your delivery timeframes?

Your order will be processed and shipped in 1-2 business days.

We cannot guarantee courier timeframes but our delivery partners aim for the following delivery timelines:

New Zealand non-rural: 1-2 business days

International: DHL: 2-5 business days, Fastway: 4-14 business days

* Refrigerated orders are only shipped Monday - Wednesday

Why does my item need refrigerated shipping?

Some of our products must be refrigerated to ensure stability and potency. For this reason, we ship these items in our refrigerated packaging. This consists of a woolpack lined box and/or ice packs.
Find out more about our refrigerated packaging here.

What payment options do you provide?

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Shop, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Bank Transfer

Do you provide refunds?

The Probiotic Store will process refunds or exchanges within 72 hours of delivery.

Refrigerated product cannot be exchanged or returned. No exchange or refund will be applied to product that has been altered, rebranded or has seals or cellophane damaged or has been opened even if it is established that we have sent the wrong goods.

It is your responsibility as the customer to check and confirm your order has been supplied correctly.

Please feel free to contact us directly on email or phone and we will promptly help resolve any difficulties.

Any returns within these terms will be at the cost of the purchaser. The Probiotic Store will not be liable for return delivery costs.