Buying Powdered Infant Formula on Ebay - Safe or Not????

Updated on October 27, 2009
C.C. asks from Crown Point, IN
18 answers

Was wondering if anyone has bought or would you consider it safe to buy powdered infant formula on ebay. Am thinking of doing so to save some money but am concerned about the safety of doing so. Any thoughts????

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A.G.

answers from Chicago on

I would be leary of anything like formula on line. Target makes a store brand of all types of formula, from regular to soy to lactose-free, etc. You can get a can of regular formula for 11.69 for 32 oz I believe. I buy my daughter's lactose free formula there for 13.89 for 24 oz. Much better price than the enfamil at like 22 or 23 dollars. Hope this helps.

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A.

answers from Chicago on

I've never bought formula on ebay, but have sold it. I know the formula I sold was good, never opened, and a lot of people bid on it. I think that you should be okay.

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K.P.

answers from Chicago on

Amazon.com has a grocery store with some pretty good pricing. they also do $25 off coupon codes alot too (just google amazon coupon codes to find them)... and there is always free shipping on orders over $25.

I never purchased formula so I have no idea if the prices are good or not, but I have purchased bulk diapers and have saved signifcantly more than at sams or target.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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P.

answers from Chicago on

C., I work for a pharmaceutical company. I know for a fact that there are several countries out there that do not have strict laws on counterfeit drugs which includes formulas. You may be saving a lot, but how can you be sure that the formula you are getting is safe and has all the nutrition that its label says it has? Some companies just copy the label of a reputable US company and sell the counterfeit products for a lot less. Just be careful when you buy food or medicines and formula particularly for babies as they are still vulnerable to infections, etc.

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I would buy it from Costco or some place like that. This is your CHILD...Why take any unnecessary chances with her food?
Amy

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L.R.

answers from Chicago on

I bought formula for my daughter from eBay the whole time she was on formula (6 months) and I never had a problem. It was WAY cheaper and there are a lot of people who sell it in bulk. I mainly would buy from the same two or three sellers. Just make sure you read their feedback. I also had some sellers e-mail me when they were going to sell more to see if I wanted to buy it outright. We saved a TON of money!

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

my husband and i bought formula on ebay - ten cans for some cheap price. it was great b/c it saved us money and we weren't running out every few days in order to buy it.

highly reccomend.

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K.

answers from Chicago on

C.,
I think I would be a bit concerned about purchasing formula
on e-bay. It would be very easy for someone to get something into that container. If you are trying to save money on formula did you ever consider the store brand? Walmart and Target both have a store brand. Or go to the website that makes the formula and see if you can get coupons, sometimes you can get 5 or 10$ ones. Also check out the new parents magazine when you subscribe to that I believe it is free, you get really nice coupons from there.
Good Luck, Kris

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R.R.

answers from Chicago on

Hi, C..

I buy powdered baby formula on ebay. As long as the containers are sealed when you receive them, I don't see any safety issues. I do wipe off the tops of the containers before breaking the seal to make sure nothing icky falls into the formula when I pull off the metal top. But I do the same with store-bought cans, too.

You can find some great deals on formula on ebay. Just watch the shipping prices. Some people charge outrageous shipping.

R.

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K.C.

answers from Chicago on

Our daughter was on very expensive Nutramigen forumula so we found some really great bulk deals buying off of eBay. We saved a lot of money and had no problems at all. I think people have valid points about weirdos but there are weirdos everywhere. Who's to say the guy stocking the grocery store shelf isn't a psycho or the guy at the factory boxing them up for the grocery stores. I think some common sense and some inspection of the product you receive should reassure that you that your getting a good product.

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K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi! At times I have sold it on ebay so I know what I sold was on the up and up and safe BUT I personally would never buy it on there because...you just never know where or who it is coming from...

J.N.

answers from Chicago on

Hi C.,

I have bought lots of things off ebay, but not formula. That's just something I didn't want to take a chance on. It's one thing to buy a purse, but you don't know where food-type items are coming from!

After I stopped nursing, we bought our Enfamil formula at Costco, where is was cheeper per ounce than at grocery stores.

Good luck and enjoy your sweetie!

J.

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J.S.

answers from Chicago on

C.,

We bought our formula in cases on Ebay and saved tons. It was very helpful especially not having to run out to get any. You should be fine. There was no way anyone could have tampered with the kind we got(good start with iron) Ask the seller tons of questions before bidding and check on their feedback. Also make sure the price they are offering is reasonable.

Good Luck!

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N.S.

answers from Chicago on

I don't know if you feel comfortable or not but I still have an opened formula sitting in my pantry from my 18 month old. If you or anyone else would like it I am happy to give it away. I just couldn't bare the thought of throwing out formula since we all know it costs an arm and a leg. (Just by the way, I tried it on my daughter a few times when I had to go out and didn't have time to pump but she never took it. I exclusively breast fed so I am not familiar with formula names or anything. I think its newborn formula but I can check if someone wants or needs it.

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D.P.

answers from Chicago on

When nursing was scary I did buy low iron formula on ebay but I never used it, so if you are interested I have two containers (Similac Low Iron & Enfamil Low Iron). Nursing worked itself out and both canisters are still good for another year. If you want them let me know. I have never had any issues with Ebay and it can save you money. ____@____.com

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C.G.

answers from Chicago on

I personally wouldn't. There have been reports of formula being tampered with, expiration dates changed, labels changed, etc. I'm sure there are reputable sellers but I think it would make me too nervous. Sometimes you can find cheap deals- I think drugstore.com used to sell it cheaply sometimes.

BTW, I LOVE shelties too!

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K.K.

answers from Washington DC on

yes I purchased cans of formula several times. My baby did just fine. Just check exp dates and make sure the formula is unopened.

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

I have bought and sold formula on ebay. They are unopend cans. But there are some weirdos out there. So you are taking a gamble. I would make sure I was buying from someone who has sold formula before and got good reviews.

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