For the people who bought bunk Reta, what were the symptoms that made you realize it wasn't good?

Kitty Paws

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I just got into buying from the grey market. Used to buy from a US reseller, which was overpriced, but it worked perfectly. I filtered it, but couldn't find a group test so didn't test it myself. Now I wait to see if it's any good. Any signs or symptoms I should look out for?
 
Lovedog100 said:


If you keel over and die, I would skip taking it next week. 😉

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Perfect answer.

Well, all the grey stuff I get is testing is set by the Group Promotion Vendor (Group Promotion Vendor) and most don't send it till it passes, but some ship it and wait for the test results. If it's bad, they get new stuff. You need to feel out and read these GB groups.
 
Using without testing is a risk. If your not willing to test it, you can ask around. Other people have bought your same batch. Maybe they tested it. Has any one else used that batch already? Did they get sick? Theres no definiative way to know, as most batches are not well identified. At one piont, I used untested stuff, not any more. But if your not going to throw it out and buy tested stuff. Then leave it in the freezer for a while and wait, to see if others get sick. If you decide to pin it(I'm not recommending it) start lower than normal, wait and see. If it's bad, at least there's less of it in you.

FYI, things like staph have been found in peps. You can die.
 
stg keeps a loooong spreadsheet of tested peps. There's a decent chance your batch is on there if you bought from one of their approved vendors.
 
I’ve found it a lot more productive finding tests before buying to group buys.

Keep a box of cookies in your kitchen, should be a good gauge of whether it’s real Reta or not 🤣

No cookies, no reta
 
BNLFL said:


Well, all the grey stuff I get is testing is set by the Group Promotion Vendor (Group Promotion Vendor) and most don't send it till it passes, but some ship it and wait for the test results. If it's bad, they get new stuff. You need to feel out and read these GB groups.

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How is this different than blindly trusting vendor test results?

True, trustworthy testing of "group buy" products relies on a number (usually 3-6 depending on the size of the group) of buyers being selected at random (not by the "organizer") to donate a vial for testing once they've received their order.

Then the "organizer" sends each volunteer a prepaid label to ship their donor vials to one of the other donating members of the group who has volunteered to be the collection point.

Finally, the collection volunteer sends all of the donor vials to the selected lab for testing using a prepaid label provided by the "organizer". (All of the shipping labels and cost of lab testing are included as part of the cost of the purchase.)

This is the only way of meaningfully ensuring that the "organizer" can't manipulate the test results, by removing any influence or control over which vials ultimately end up being tested. While not impossible, the "organizer" would have to engineer a pretty sophisticated scheme and engage the assistance of a lot of people to corrupt this process; and such schemes rarely go undetected or stay secret for long in this space.

Outside of this type of random testing process, any other "organizer" provided test results are no different than "Maryanne" from "CCPY Peptides" in China from sending known good samples of 'peptide X' to a lab for the best possible test results, while shipping unsuspecting customers a product which may not test as well. The critical difference being that unlike the natural, prudent skepticism of never trusting vendor results and engaging in private third-party testing, people trusting these "organizers" are highly unlikely to bother with their own testing.
 
Bioexplorer said:


They have aTG invite listed in their vendor posts on this forum. There doesn't appear to much customer discussion but it's useful for finding group tests and sometimes results. I joined one of ObviousReels tests when he was still active in this TG. My R50 batch tested fine. But I'm like you with various vendors in the freezer that I've not tried and this is one of them.

Never did find a 3rd party test on my BFF R20 batch but the COAs of the previous and following batches tested fine and it works great. Sometimes you just go with the odds.

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I'll trust the Group Promotion Vendor, before the supplier/vendor taking care of the testing. Can you trust the testing company? Who knows. It appears that some Group Promotion Vendor send in stuff with no names sometimes, not that that makes a difference. Always a risk for sure. Only one I really trust the most, is BFF and he has the best Reta I've used yet. They don't test, but just look at STG's test results. I almost think they make it and sell it.
 
Kitty Paws said:


I just got into buying from the grey market. Used to buy from a US reseller, which was overpriced, but it worked perfectly. I filtered it, but couldn't find a group test so didn't test it myself. Now I wait to see if it's any good. Any signs or symptoms I should look out for?

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Huh, have never had that problem.
 
BNLFL said:


I'll trust the Group Promotion Vendor, before the supplier/vendor taking care of the testing.

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Me too. But I trust 3rd party group test results over the Group Promotion Vendor provided results. Especially when the person running the test is well known in the space like our Obvious Reel. Finding these group tests can be difficult. I think it's a bit easier for vendors like GYC and BFF

My concern with the group buys is that while unlikely, the originator could be sent specially marked known good samples for testing. I actually prefer to deal with a group that has published failed test results and dealt with it successfully.
 
BNLFL said:


I'll trust the Group Promotion Vendor, before the supplier/vendor taking care of the testing.

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Bioexplorer said:


Me too. But I trust 3rd party group test results over the Group Promotion Vendor provided results. Especially when the person running the test is well known in the space like our Obvious Reel. Finding these group tests can be difficult. I think it's a bit easier for vendors like GYC and BFF

My concern with the group buys is that while unlikely, the originator could be sent specially marked known good samples for testing. I actually prefer to deal with a group that has published failed test results and dealt with it successfully.

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Nobody has explained how group promotion VENDOR test results are any different or more trustworthy from any other VENDOR test results?
 
I’m going to try one of the vendors shortly but I started my journey with a vial of Reta 20mg from a Canadian vendor which was great but then I had to switch to a vial of R30 that I traded from someone I don’t really know. I was worried it could be fake but my skin still has that sensation that is a giveaway to me that it is in fact Reta. Going forward though I’m going to be more calculated about where I get it especially because my wife will be using what I get next.
 
Simple answer is you don't know unless you send Vials yourself to a reputable lab for testing. Some of the Vendors have tabs on TG that have member group testing. One I know only sends off to Jano, because Vendor only honors Jano results. For refunds or replacement. Crazy to Pin from that kit until results come back. Even then it isn't perfect. I unlike a lot of folks have very good appetite suppression on Reta. I have a 4 bpm increase in pulse at 4 mg.
 
Kitty Paws said:


I just got into buying from the grey market. Used to buy from a US reseller, which was overpriced, but it worked perfectly. I filtered it, but couldn't find a group test so didn't test it myself. Now I wait to see if it's any good. Any signs or symptoms I should look out for?

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Who bought Bunk Reta ?
 
ZippityDooDah said:


Nobody has explained how group promotion VENDOR test results are any different or more trustworthy from any other VENDOR test results?

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Point taken. But some vendors don't even provide test results and some that do have COAs that are way out of date or the cap color doesn't match the product received. And how often do typical vendors provide a test result that FAILS or publicly recall a bad batch after 3rd party testing comes in poor?

At least the group promotion vendors I have experience with provided verifiable test results with reasonable dates and matching vial appearance. And sometimes these buys are independently 3rd party tested. I haven't seen a case yet where the 3rd party testing refutes the group promotion vendor results but it's probably happened especially with some lesser known or newer groups.

Furthermore, they have occasionally reported test failures and have handled those fairly well. Usually with reship, sometimes from a different supplier, and sometimes refunds or credit. That has not been the case for some vendors (XTP).

But yeah, there are lots of risks with these and it can quite difficult to find one you somewhat trust. And as always don't spend more than you can shrug off.
 
Bioexplorer said:


At least the group promotion vendors I have experience with provided verifiable test results with reasonable dates and matching vial appearance.

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Verifiable how is the question? Just having vendor test results available on Jano or another lab's site doesn't prove anything beyond that vendor having had "something" tested. There are countless vendor tests that can be "verified" on Jano's website that may have great results and recent dates, but still may not match what the vendor is shipping.

Regarding things like vial appearance/cap color, changing caps on vials submitted for testing is not terribly complicated, really just a matter of ordering the right color caps and having a crimp tool.

Despite my long-held frustration with "group buy" vendors masquerading as different from any other reseller/vendor out there, what's more striking to me is how willing so many people are to blindly accept test results from such a vendor when they would be absolutely skeptical (and sensibly so) of any other vendor-provided test results (while simultaneously and openly warning people against trusting such tests).

For me the bottom line—especially as it relates to newcomers to this space who are relying on more seasoned folks for guidance—is ensuring there is universal skepticism of vendor test results (whatever kind of vendor they are calling themselves), and understanding the crucial importance of third-party independent testing always being the best way to ensure product quality.
 
px1984 said:


I’ve found it a lot more productive finding tests before buying to group buys.

Keep a box of cookies in your kitchen, should be a good gauge of whether it’s real Reta or not 🤣

No cookies, no reta

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Good points all around...but especially zippity......just too many ways to fool the system here.

I believe reta is one of the most tested peptides both by vendors as well as by customers...is there really that many failures or concerns with it?? To loose reta sales would be a big hit for a bottom line. And yes I understand this thread applies to other peps...

Have there been alot of cases where the reta just didn't work? where it was bunk?? Please school me on this.

Either way I see this testing system morphing into something simpler..something more universal that will apply both to customers as well as manufacturers...it's in a gray confused and unorganized area now....but soon...

Personally I like the kiss principle and think the cookie test is about the best I've heard.......
 
This is why it's called "pin and pray". That's exactly what you're doing. Have I done it before? Yes, from a long time vendor, but not with any kit I've purchased since CNY when everything turned to shit in the grey world.
 
Kitty Paws said:


I just got into buying from the grey market. Used to buy from a US reseller, which was overpriced, but it worked perfectly. I filtered it, but couldn't find a group test so didn't test it myself. Now I wait to see if it's any good. Any signs or symptoms I should look out for?

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I personally pay for 3rd party testing on every peptide I run.

Buying grey market without any testing (group or personal) is rolling the dice. You might be fine, or you might get underdosed, contaminated, or completely wrong compound.




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If nothing weird shows up and you’re getting the expected results, you’re probably okay this time. But I’d still strongly recommend testing the next vial before you keep using it. Janoshik or similar is cheap insurance compared to injecting unknown shit.

Better to know than to hope.
 
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