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Buyer Beware: Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Pump from an Unauthorized Reseller

Buyer Beware: Why You Shouldn’t Buy a Pump from an Unauthorized Reseller

Here’s what to look out for when you’re shopping for a wearable pump online. 

If you’re purchasing your breast pump from an online marketplace like Amazon, staying away from unauthorized resellers is so important. It’s one of the best ways to guarantee your pump will be high-quality, covered under a warranty, and designed to keep your breasts and nipples safe. 

What’s the Problem with Unauthorized Resellers? 

There are a number of reasons that you want to stay away from these oftentimes shady third parties. 

  1. They may be selling a used pump as new, compromising the quality and exposing you to potential health risks (with the exception of hospital pumps, breast pumps are designed to be single-user medical devices, and should never be shared).
  2. They void the pump warranty, leaving you with an expensive problem if your pump stops working or needs to be replaced. When you purchase a pump directly from the manufacturer, you’re covered by our own extensive warranty — critical for an expensive purchase!
  3. Worse than selling a pump that’s used — they may be selling a pump that’s totally counterfeit. Best case scenario, this means that it might not work very well and you're not able to access a replacement; worst case scenario, it could leave you in pain and damage your supply because the pump may be built with poor quality parts that don't meet Willow's exacting quality standards.   
  4. They make it harder to receive great customer support — if a care agent doesn’t know whether or not you’re using a used or counterfeit product, they may not be able to diagnose the root cause of your problem.

The biggest problem? Many of these resellers are really good at tricking moms — making it hard to know whether or not you’re purchasing your product from the right place. The reps on our customer care team speak to multiple moms who purchase their Willow pumps from resellers in error every week! 


What Should You Look For? 

There are a few different ways to make sure you’re buying a breast pump directly from the manufacturer, and not an unauthorized reseller. 

  1. If you’re shopping on Amazon, look for the manufacturer’s name in the “Sold by” section under the “Add to cart” and “Buy now” buttons. (So if you’re looking for the Willow Go, for example, you’ll want to make sure it says “Willow” in the “Sold by” section.)
  2. Look at the price, and compare it to the price you see on the manufacturer’s website. Of course, prices may vary due to sales, but they should be in the same ballpark. Anything that’s much cheaper may suggest that it’s a used or counterfeit pump. 
  3. Look for ratings and reviews and be wary of testimonials from moms claiming that the product stopped working. If you see too many of these, you should be wary! 

 

But They’re So Much Cheaper!

It may be tempting to save money by purchasing your pump from a reseller. But we can almost guarantee that the savings won’t feel as great when you’re dealing with a pump that’s not working properly. Before purchasing, check out pump discounts and special offers at OneWillow.com. In most cases, prices on our own website are comparable (if not lower) than what unauthorized resellers are offering on Amazon. 

Instead, look for a pump like the Willow Go or Willow 360 that’s covered by insurance, makes it possible to pay in installments, and offers professional discounts. You could end up saving up to 40% on your purchase!

Trust us: it’ll be worth it. 


P.S. Here’s where you can purchase a Willow pump from our verified store on Amazon. You can always shop the Willow Go and Willow 360 on our website as well.