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Okay so after not lifting a single weight after 8 months, I started my training again.
I bought the same brand of protein powder I had always gotten, MuscleTech's "Nitro-Tech Hardcore" Formula (yes I just noticed what a retarded name that is).
To my dismay, the jar was more than half empty!
It's the 2 LBS. jar, it was sealed and everything.

Now, I do remember always thinking they put little of the stuff in there,...but I seriously have forgotten if MORE than half the jar should be empty!!??
So, does anybody use this brand?
If so, is it normal for more than half the damned thing to be empty?

Many thanks, up front.

many of the places that sell the protein stuff have good return policies.. so if you think you got jipped, you can try returning it and buying it again? maybe from a different store just in case it was a bad batch?

Let's look at it from another angle.

Hey! Your jar was half full, yay!

Often the containers are a lot bigger than they need to be. I suppose the best thing to do is weigh it.

Ghen saidLet's look at it from another angle.

Hey! Your jar was half full, yay!

.... I love you.

Yeah Salubrious, I guess weighing it seems like the only option.
But I don't have the proper scale for that, but I suppose later I can find someone to help me out who knows more about this stuff I guess.
Thanks for the reply.

They all do this to varying degrees. Everything associated with bodybuilding has to be gigantic for some reason.

Oh, I know why: to take up as much space in our cabinets as possible.

(Actually, I'm guessing they use hugely oversized containers to maximize the shelf space their brand gets and give shoppers the impression that they're getting "more.")

You weigh 245 pounds you fucking monster. If I saw you on the street I would just kneel immediately in adoration.

hobronto saidThey all do this to varying degrees. Everything associated with bodybuilding has to be gigantic for some reason.

Oh, I know why: to take up as much space in our cabinets as possible.

(Actually, I'm guessing they use hugely oversized containers to maximize the shelf space their brand gets and give shoppers the impression that they're getting "more.")

you have to remember that powders become more compact during shipping. When the jars are filled there is a much higher air to product ratio. Each time the product moves, it settles more. Manufactures do use larger jars for several reasons... 1st to make you think that you are getting more product for you money, 2nd as the jar is being filled with a powder, the powder mushrooms up. If the jar is larger than it needs to be, less leaves the jar.

virgo4progress saidYeah Salubrious, I guess weighing it seems like the only option.
But I don't have the proper scale for that, but I suppose later I can find someone to help me out who knows more about this stuff I guess.
Thanks for the reply.

Do you have a scale? Weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the jar.

And it'll say right on the jar "packed by weight, some shrinkage may occur"

I'd say you're probably good.

virgo4progress saidYeah Salubrious, I guess weighing it seems like the only option.
But I don't have the proper scale for that, but I suppose later I can find someone to help me out who knows more about this stuff I guess.
Thanks for the reply.

Hey man... if you have a regular scale at home... weigh yourself, then weigh yourself while holding the protein... see if its close to a 2lb difference...

But in general, its a marketing gimmick. Bigger container makes it look like you're getting a lot of product....

hahaha... after re-reading the thread, Q gave you the same suggestion (about weighing the protein).... sorry for repeating

I don't think u are being ripped of. There is usually a lot of space above the powder. Weigh it and make sure .

Automation makes mistakes too. If it does in a big way lol.

I find that there is a space above the powder all the time.

You have a problem here, but it's not the problem being addressed. The crap probably weighs what it says it weighs. However, MuscleTech in my opinion is one of the worst supplement manufacturers still in business. They are famous for listing all their ingredients as part of proprietary formulas and various subgroups (Super Duper Recovery Matrix Deluxe 4000), and then listing various ingredients as part of those subgroups, without ever giving the real amount of most of the ingredients.

Then they throw a little bit of everything but the kitchen sink in the formula. The hope is that you will have heard of the at least a few of the ingredients, thus the consumer goes..."oh my its got the creatine, and the creatine AKG, and its got medium chain triglycerides and its got chromium and it's got ______(insert over-hyped ingredient of the month). Thus the consumer is led to believe that they are getting this amazing "patent pending" proprietary mix of all kinds of the latest stuff to get ripped, and its so powerful that they have to keep it as a top secret "proprietary mix". What ends up happening then is that since they use the subgroups like this, they use the subgroup with the greatest overall volume as the first listed ingredient, and then they don't have list the amount of the actual ingredients in the sub group. They do this to hide the fact that there are very small amounts of the effective but expensive ingredients and a much larger amount of the cheap garbage that has no scientific evidence to support it. Oh yeah you may feel it, because they will load it up with caffeine hidden in herbal forms, thus leading you to believe you are wired from the "super energizing blend for mind blowing pumps". These are same guys that use these magazine ads that look like 4 or 6 page scientific reports, when they are in fact just slickly done marketing propaganda.

If you can return it, then return it. Not only are MuscleTech's products usually minimally effective or completely ineffective, but they are also way over-priced. Many of the supplement products on the market today that cost in the 70 dollar range, cost less then two dollars to produce. THere are much better choices for your money bro. Best of luck to you.

You will have to weigh it if you feel cheated.

There is a process called settling that occurs when products are shipped, be it cereal, chips, protein powders.

Often times the protein powders are in larder containers for a couple of reasons;

1. Marketing. Larger container makes it more visible to the consumer.
2. its a powder that often hasnt had time to settle before packaging but often times it is because of #1.

If it really bothers you buy kitchen scale. Honestly everyone who cooks should have one.

YngHungSFSD saidYou have a problem here, but it's not the problem being addressed. The crap probably weighs what it says it weighs. However, MuscleTech in my opinion is one of the worst supplement manufacturers still in business. They are famous for listing all their ingredients as part of proprietary formulas and various subgroups (Super Duper Recovery Matrix Deluxe 4000), and then listing various ingredients as part of those subgroups, without ever giving the real amount of most of the ingredients.

Then they throw a little bit of everything but the kitchen sink in the formula. The hope is that you will have heard of the at least a few of the ingredients, thus the consumer goes..."oh my its got the creatine, and the creatine AKG, and its got medium chain triglycerides and its got chromium and it's got ______(insert over-hyped ingredient of the month). Thus the consumer is led to believe that they are getting this amazing "patent pending" proprietary mix of all kinds of the latest stuff to get ripped, and its so powerful that they have to keep it as a top secret "proprietary mix". What ends up happening then is that since they use the subgroups like this, they use the subgroup with the greatest overall volume as the first listed ingredient, and then they don't have list the amount of the actual ingredients in the sub group. They do this to hide the fact that there are very small amounts of the effective but expensive ingredients and a much larger amount of the cheap garbage that has no scientific evidence to support it. Oh yeah you may feel it, because they will load it up with caffeine hidden in herbal forms, thus leading you to believe you are wired from the "super energizing blend for mind blowing pumps". These are same guys that use these magazine ads that look like 4 or 6 page scientific reports, when they are in fact just slickly done marketing propaganda.

If you can return it, then return it. Not only are MuscleTech's products usually minimally effective or completely ineffective, but they are also way over-priced. Many of the supplement products on the market today that cost in the 70 dollar range, cost less then two dollars to produce. THere are much better choices for your money bro. Best of luck to you.

I completely agree. Muscletech is notorious for having this bad rep because of their over-exaggeration and high high ridiculous pricing. For protein powder thats the nations best-selling, try Optimum Nutrition (ON).

Musce Tech has a simple formula for "their" success. They will take out a 4 page spread in the bodybuilding magazines that costs tens of thousands of dollars, they use all the fancy smanshy terminology to sound scientifically legitimate and then they wind up being the most expensive products on the shelves at stores.

It's all marketing hype. They spend a lot of money on presentation so that they can make a lot of money.

I buy EAS protein powder at Costco simply because it's reasonable and it's sufficient. It's 6lb for $33. It went up due to the economy as just last year it was $24. But even still, it's a good price.

When it comes to spending to much money I coined the term "wallet rape."

I think when it comes to buying Muscle Tech products you did indeed get wallet raped.

ursamajor saidYou weigh 245 pounds you fucking monster. If I saw you on the street I would just kneel immediately in adoration.

hobronto saidThey all do this to varying degrees. Everything associated with bodybuilding has to be gigantic for some reason.

Oh, I know why: to take up as much space in our cabinets as possible.

(Actually, I'm guessing they use hugely oversized containers to maximize the shelf space their brand gets and give shoppers the impression that they're getting "more.")

I think Ursa is looking for someone to worship.

YngHungSFSD saidYou have a problem here, but it's not the problem being addressed. The crap probably weighs what it says it weighs. However, MuscleTech in my opinion is one of the worst supplement manufacturers still in business. They are famous for listing all their ingredients as part of proprietary formulas and various subgroups (Super Duper Recovery Matrix Deluxe 4000), and then listing various ingredients as part of those subgroups, without ever giving the real amount of most of the ingredients.

Then they throw a little bit of everything but the kitchen sink in the formula. The hope is that you will have heard of the at least a few of the ingredients, thus the consumer goes..."oh my its got the creatine, and the creatine AKG, and its got medium chain triglycerides and its got chromium and it's got ______(insert over-hyped ingredient of the month). Thus the consumer is led to believe that they are getting this amazing "patent pending" proprietary mix of all kinds of the latest stuff to get ripped, and its so powerful that they have to keep it as a top secret "proprietary mix". What ends up happening then is that since they use the subgroups like this, they use the subgroup with the greatest overall volume as the first listed ingredient, and then they don't have list the amount of the actual ingredients in the sub group. They do this to hide the fact that there are very small amounts of the effective but expensive ingredients and a much larger amount of the cheap garbage that has no scientific evidence to support it. Oh yeah you may feel it, because they will load it up with caffeine hidden in herbal forms, thus leading you to believe you are wired from the "super energizing blend for mind blowing pumps". These are same guys that use these magazine ads that look like 4 or 6 page scientific reports, when they are in fact just slickly done marketing propaganda.

If you can return it, then return it. Not only are MuscleTech's products usually minimally effective or completely ineffective, but they are also way over-priced. Many of the supplement products on the market today that cost in the 70 dollar range, cost less then two dollars to produce. THere are much better choices for your money bro. Best of luck to you.

FINALLY A TRUTHFULL EXPLANINATION!!!
THANKS FOR OUTLINING IT'S CRAP....BUYER BEWARE!!

Every jar is like that.

i would just send a letter to the company not where you bought it from. just send a copy of the receipt and a firm but friendly message just saying that its unacceptable and hopefully they'll replace it.

my aunt one time bought a pair of jeans and washed them once and they FELL apart. She took pics and sent in everything to the company and they replaced the jeans and sent 3 shirts. lol

so make your point firmly that youre an unsatisfied customer and theyll do anything to keep your business.

rickstr saidi would just send a letter to the company not where you bought it from. just send a copy of the receipt and a firm but friendly message just saying that its unacceptable and hopefully they'll replace it.

Just get your money back, the stuff is garbage.

I HATE it too but it is what it is!

it's like polobutt(?) said earlier.

When the powder is packaged, it mushrooms up; and the big jar is to contain that powder that would like to escape.


hell; my amino acid powder poofs when I open the lid and that's without shaking it up or anything.

I guess what you said is true, YngHungSFSD.
I'm definitely switching to another brand, this stuff is not worth the price indeed.
I stuck with it so far because the results weren't bad, but then I haven't tried many others to appropriately compare them.

To be honest, another reason why I kept buying it (& I'm going to sound like an idiot for saying this) is the taste.
The others that I have tried tasted more or less like chalk shakes, and this one is pretty decent i.m.o.
But yeah, surely there must be others that are more effective and taste just as good, if not better, than this one.
Time to haul my ass back to the supplement store.

Thanks for all the replies guys.
By the way, I tried weighing myself holding the jar and without but the stupid thing doesn't really show on the scale, as it weighs about as much as I did that time I tried becoming a vegan.
Anyhow, I couldn't care less anymore.
The bottom line is; that was definitely my last Muscle Tech purchase ever.
Thanks again boys.