• SelfDecode

SelfDecode

Overview

SelfDecode has a rating of 1.83 stars from 6 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally dissatisfied with their purchases. SelfDecode ranks 381st among Health Information sites.

  • Service
    3
  • Value
    3
  • Shipping
    2
  • Returns
    3
  • Quality
    3

This company responds to reviews, but usually not within the first month

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
Positive
0
Neutral
0
Negative
2
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How would you rate SelfDecode?
Top Positive Review

“So informative about your health and body!”

Sarah C.
6/4/22

Love this health tool! Very unique and one of a kind. Great customer service. Helped me really get in touch with my body and health. Thank you! Would def recommend.

Top Critical Review

“SelfDecode - are they a scam company?”

Violet F.
4/5/23

On 11 September 2022 I purchased two Self Decode genetic tests as gifts for members of my family. The two people receiving the gift registered on the Self Decode site but did not receive the test kits. We have sent repeated messages to SelfDecode with proof of purchase and they have completely ignored all the messages. We are now asking Mastercard to refund the purchase.

Reviews (6)

Rating

Timeframe

Other

Thumbnail of user pata14
2 reviews
2 helpful votes
November 8th, 2023
Verified purchase

I purchased this because a nutrition coach suggested it and she wanted the experience of interpreting the results for her clients. First be prepared for an onslaught of emails promoting the products and trips to India to get healthy. Second in order to access the Health reports to determine your predisposition to different diseases you must pay an extra $200 to have one of their specialists open it and tell you what it says. The coach I had managed to open it and tell me what it said. There is no way I am genetically predisposed to any of the diseases they listed. The ones that are in my family weren't even mentioned. And the suggestions to all of the reports are so generic they can fit anyone. As well they offer a "specially prepared supplement" to help you overcome these genes. The cost is $84 a month and you have to purchase 3 months at a time. I am 75 and the issues i am dealing with weren't even mentioned or were so low down on the genetic list that I shouldn't have them. The other reports were generic--stay away from cigarette smoke, exercise, limit alcohol. And when you order from them you are automatically given a recurring subscription for about $100 a year. Make sure you cancel this right away so you don't forget about it. In my opinion this is a waste of money and they increased the prices since I bought it. Please don't waste your money on this company.

Products used:
DNA health tessting

Service
Value
Shipping
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Quality
Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C. – SelfDecode Rep

Hi there! I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, and I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I understand concerns about the emails and subscription details. We aim to keep our customers informed, but you can unsubscribe from certain emails anytime by clicking unsubscribe at the bottom of the email, or replying to the email so that our Customer Support team can help.

Regarding your subscription, I'm really sorry for any confusion about what it included. Our standard Health Insights plans include full access to our core features, such as various health and trait reports (we have over 450 currently), the lab analyzer tool, personalized supplement formula, SNP & Gene Explorer, the Lifestyle Analyzer, and more. However, the Disease Reports are a separate service, and unlocking them requires purchasing a consultation with one of our medical professionals. This is due to regulatory reasons.

I can also understand the disappointment you may have felt with certain results and the perception of generic suggestions. Your top recommendations will probably be the things that seem "generic" because they are the things that are going to be most effective and have the most research behind them. To see other recommendations that you might not have heard of, you can continue scrolling to see the suggestions from further down on your prioritized list. These recommendations tend to be less common since there is less research on their effectiveness. Remember, the risk scores in your reports indicate relative risks based on genetics and are not definitive predictions. It's crucial to consider genetics as one piece of the puzzle that is your health, with lifestyle, environment, and overall health (measured by labs) playing significant roles. That's why we encourage our users to upload labs and fill out Lifestyle Assessments within the app.

We strive to stand out by analyzing more genetic information, providing a comprehensive view of your health risks. Our mission is to empower you with insights backed by scientific research, allowing you to make informed decisions about your health. Once again, we appreciate your feedback, and we'll continue working to enhance our services. If you have specific concerns or need further clarification, please reach out to us at support@selfdecode.com. We are always happy to help.

Thumbnail of user hbreidinger
1 review
2 helpful votes
August 30th, 2023

If you think this company is in the business of helping people improve their lives, think again. Their subscription option sounds like a great, affordable idea until you realize they charged you for another year without notice. I honestly did not get much out of the service for the year I had it. The reports are generic and largely unhelpful. With this, I had no intentions of paying $97 to sign up for another year. They have always bombarded my inbox with offers and ways to take more of my money, so I got used to deleting them immediately. I have read online that the subject of the email a month before the subscription was set to renew was incredibly misleading and easily overlooked. Many have had this same issue. After reaching out to customer service, I was told I could not be refunded despite canceling my subscription as soon as I realized. They claimed that what I paid had already gone toward the service for that period. What service did you administer to someone who hasn't been active on her account for months? These people are looking to grab your money any chance they get. Any other company I've paid money to on a subscription-like basis is always understanding and empathic on a human level to handle issues like this with grace. SelfDecode is not and it sounds like I'm not alone in the matter.

Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C. – SelfDecode Rep

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience, and I wanted to let you know that we really appreciate your feedback. As you mentioned, we do notify all our customers 30 days before renewal to ensure ample time for cancellation. I understand concerns about the email subject line, and I'm pleased to confirm that we've actually already made changes to improve clarity based on feedback like yours. Additionally, our subscription fees are very transparently communicated on our homepage and checkout pages. Subscriptions can be set to non-renewal at any time in your account settings or by reaching out to us for assistance.

I'm sorry if you found the reports generic and unhelpful. We are continually working to enhance our services and appreciate insights like yours, so we hope you will tune back in in the future to see all the updates we have made. Regarding the refund, I understand your frustration, and I'd love another opportunity to assist you further. Please reach out to us at support@selfdecode.com, and we'll be happy to find a solution that works for everyone. Thank you again for sharing your experience.

Thumbnail of user constances226
1 review
2 helpful votes
January 5th, 2023

I am semi gullible because I signed up for this. Then after a while, when the reports came that didn't say anything relevant to my past or present health issues, though there have been numerous issues, I figured that this service is not for me. If it is for you because you don't want to do your own research, that is your choice. I got all my DNA information from Promethease and that site has actual references to original published science documents that will allow you to make conclusions as to what to do about anything in your DNA that might need to be addressed. Self Decode is supposedly processing original docs but their conclusions may not be correct for you at all. Some of their suggestions were so far from the mark for me that they should have been directed at someone else. They did not address my past or present issues at all. As I am well past middle age they would have shown up by now. Also, doing a few of the suggested work arounds instead of seeing a physician and getting tests may not be in your own best interest. What might be your issues may come to pass. Then again they may not. If you are afraid that you are not smart enough to figure out what to do based upon your own research, you may be making a huge mistake. Putting all your faith and trust in Self Decode can lead you down a path you will be sorry you went down. There are a lot of fake reviews out there. This is not one of them.

Products used:
Self Decode site

Service
Value
Returns
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Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C. – SelfDecode Rep

Hi Constance! I appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, and I'm sorry to hear that our service didn't meet your expectations. Your feedback is valuable, and we take it seriously. Our goal is to provide personalized insights based on the latest scientific research, and I regret that the information provided didn't resonate with your health experiences. I want to acknowledge that everyone's health journey is unique, and the insights derived from genetic data may not cover all aspects of an individual's health history or current issues. I'm sorry if the reports did not address your specific concerns.

Your point about the importance of doing personal research and consulting with healthcare professionals is well taken. While we aim to provide valuable information, we always recommend that users use our reports as a complement to, not a substitute for, professional medical advice.

We're continuously working to improve our service, including the clarity and relevance of our reports. In fact, we have already made some significant improvements since you left your review. Of course, if you have any specific feedback or suggestions on how we can enhance our offerings, I'd love to hear them. Please reach out at support@selfdecode.com. Once again, thank you for sharing your perspective, and I wish you all the best on your health journey.

Thumbnail of user violetf25
1 review
1 helpful vote
April 5th, 2023

On 11 September 2022 I purchased two Self Decode genetic tests as gifts for members of my family. The two people receiving the gift registered on the Self Decode site but did not receive the test kits. We have sent repeated messages to SelfDecode with proof of purchase and they have completely ignored all the messages. We are now asking Mastercard to refund the purchase.

Tip for consumers:
We should have done more research on the reputation of the company.

Products used:
Test kits were not received - the product that was paid for was not received.

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C. – SelfDecode Rep

Hi Violet! I'm truly sorry to hear about the challenges you've faced, and I understand how frustrating this situation must have been for you and your family. I want to assure you that your experience is important to us, and we genuinely care about resolving this matter for you.

Please accept my heartfelt apologies for any inconvenience caused with your kit orders. It looks like we had contact with you last year regarding 2 complimentary replacement kits. Before placing the new orders, we asked you to confirm your shipping address, but we never heard back. We would love another opportunity to assist you, so we'll reach out again and work to resolve this issue promptly. We are committed to ensuring that your family members receive the test kits they were expecting.

Once again, I apologize for any frustration or disappointment this has caused, and I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make things right for you. Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we look forward to assisting you promptly.

Thumbnail of user sarahc2178
1 review
1 helpful vote
June 4th, 2022

Love this health tool! Very unique and one of a kind. Great customer service. Helped me really get in touch with my body and health. Thank you! Would def recommend.

Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C. – SelfDecode Rep

Hi Sarah! Thank you so much for your feedback. It makes our day to know that SelfDecode has been a positive and unique health tool for you. Our team is dedicated to providing the best service, and we're thrilled to have contributed to your journey in connecting with your body and health. If there's ever anything more we can do for you, please don't hesitate to let us know.

Thumbnail of user joannes76
2 reviews
9 helpful votes
February 21st, 2021

SelfDecode is a direct-to-consumer DNA testing company. I had a report generated on my DNA by this company, which makes their tests available to customers at another website (www.sequencing.com).
I will never again pay for a test from SelfDecode. I'm sure the results they reported for my genome are probably accurate; HOWEVER, the recommendations in their reports (based on those DNA results) seem designed to push people into paying for more of their tests.

Tip for consumers:
The DNA results in the reports may be accurate, but the recommendations based on those results seem designed to get you to pay for more of their tests.

Products used:
A report based on my DNA results (generated by a different company).

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Thumbnail of user selfdecodec
SelfDecode C.
Usually responds not within the first month

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