Cvs Pharmacy

Haven’t used the pharmacy, but I saw a lot of merchandise that was opened and picked over when I visited last week. This was before everybody was rushing to the stores for the blizzard. Shelves didn’t seem adequately stocked. Not a great selection of merchandise, but then again this was a smaller store.

Wasn’t surprised to see their rating. Wouldn’t sell me my allergy medication, which I know is federally regulated. But instead of finding out why, the greasy haired pharmacist just acted like what ever and made me call some CVS number (which she should have done for me). I found out I couldn’t buy the big box but I could s smaller box. I was denied due to them trying to sell me a big box. If she made the call she would have know she could sell me s lesser amount but she didn’t so as usual I didn’t spend any money in CVS and glad I didn’t. CVS is the ghetto is all pharmacies and this one exemplified that !

Yes, there are better CVS’s but most CVS’ are pretty typical. I have little doubt that CVS corporate policy is to have less than the number of employees actually needed as a cost saving measure. Cashiers are instructed to re-​stock shelves and do other things whenever there is no customer at the register, so one finds oneself always waiting for a cashier to collect themselves as a herd of customers begin to cue at the register. Once they have three or more customers waiting, they will then reach for the intercom /​mic /​phone and request backup that may or may not ever come. This happens quite frequently when grandma decides to unload all of her coupons, then realizes one isn’t crediting her for the 20 cents off to which she’s entitled. AT NO TIME will more than 2 registers ever be in use. As soon as the line is cleared, the help disappears and the main cashier will return somewhere to re-​stocking in the store. Rinse. Repeat.
Having vented, there are some good things about CVS, including this one:
1. A generally pleasant staff («Did you find everything you needed?» — «I found what you had»…;
2. Occasional good deal discounts;
3. Coupon receipt savings (that I somehow never think of to use until they expire);
2. An «As seen on TV» section in one of the aisles (which tends to move about) — love those gadgets!;
3. A decent pharmacy, especially once they get to know you; and
4. A USAA ATM machine (woo-​hoo!).

I tolerated this pharmacy for 3 months in late 2013. I kept giving them the benefit of the doubt, the chance to redeem themselves… but finally enough was enough. I had to go somewhere else or else my blood pressure was going to go through the roof with all the frustration I was experiencing.
Offense #1 — I transferred my prescription here via the online request. I went to pick up my prescription on my requested day (with this nagging voice in my head wondering why they didn’t call me to tell me it was filled) and lo and behold, they hadn’t even received the transfer request. Then it took about an hour to get everything sorted out and for my prescription filled.
Offense #2 — I submitted a refill request online and it was received by the pharmacy. However, I had no refills left. Yet no one called to ask me to call my doctor nor did anyone bother to call the doctor directly. Instead, I showed up to pick up my prescription (again with the nagging voice in my head wondering why they didn’t call me to tell me my prescription was filled) and was told I had no refills left. They ended up faxing my doctor and telling to call my doctor as well. Good thing I called because the fax didn’t go through. I finally was able to pick up my prescription the next day, but…
Offense #3 — …when I picked my prescription, the technician gave me some erroneous information. He said something about my prescription not able to be covered by insurance going forward. I ended up calling my insurance and the doctor the next day but no one knew what he was talking about or why he said what he said. That was my last straw and I switched pharmacies after that.
Overall, it seems like there’s always a bunch of people waiting and/​or experiencing issues with their prescriptions when I’m there. Maybe because of the line of people waiting, I noticed that they never ask me if I need a consultation with the pharmacist to explain the medication to me. I thought that was standard protocol, but maybe it varies from state to state. Anyway, I plan to contact CVS about this as well because it’s utterly ridiculous and unacceptable.

Horribly slow most staff don’t speak English. Last time I was in there they couldn’t find the prescription I had filled the day before and other waiting customers almost rioted they were literally screaming at the pharmacy staff because they were frustrated, I went home called ahead next day then got my prescription. Just save yourself the trouble!