Inman Pharmacy

Worst experience. Owner is rude and could care less about his clients especially the Elderley. It would be a mistake to ever support his business. Uses Ciampa instead!

I really wanted to like this pharmacy.
My relationship with Inman Pharmacy began in January of 2015 when an insurance company came between me and another local, independent pharmacy up the street. Inman was local, independent, and took my (crappy) new prescription insurance, so they were the first place I tried.
I didn’t last six months. Not only that, Inman Pharmacy drove me to do something I never thought I’d do, which is transfer my prescriptions from an independent pharmacy to a chain pharmacy.
From Day 1, I felt profoundly uncomfortable in this place – you walk in and it’s cramped, kind of run down, and has a faint-​but-​unsettling smell to it. Sometimes you get to the back and find the older woman people complain about, but honestly, she was never that bad; she’d just ignore me for minutes at a time while I hovered at a respectful distance and waited for her to finish catching up on neighborhood gossip with whoever was hanging out at the counter. This was the least of my frustrations.
The thing that really drove me nuts was the smug, condescending, even-​less-​professional high school or early college kids who work the registers. It’s bad enough having to spell my name again and again, and bad enough that Random Counter Kid is using his or her Theatre Voice to relay that information up and over the wall that divides the pharmacy (seriously, just let me write my name down; we will all be so much happier). But to be smirked at for the whole semi-​forever that it takes them to find my one prescription? Not only did I get the distinct impression those kids were laughing at some joke I wasn’t in on; after the third or fourth incident, I couldn’t help but wonder if I, personally, were somehow the joke. (And my prescription was a pretty boring one, at that; I can’t imagine how someone coming in to pick up something more «personal» or revealing would have felt.)
The last straw was when I biked like hell to get over to Inman Pharmacy before it closed one Saturday, only to find the lights out and the door locked at 5:28pm. I looked up and was startled to be making eye contact with a counter kid standing right on the other side of the glass door, who grinned and shook his head «no» like he was *really pleased* to be exercising this tiny bit of authority to deny me my refill. Unamused, I went back to my bike, dug out a badly needed inhaler, and started using it – until out of the corner of my eye I noticed now 4 or 5 counter kids all pressed up against the door, just *staring.*
It creeped me the hell out, so I unlocked my bike and walked it a little further down the sidewalk… and only then discovered that they were staring because none of them was going to exit the pharmacy until I left. (Like they thought I was going to sprint and try to force my way in to grab that refill, or (god forbid) maybe say something to one of them.) As they passed on the sidewalk in a little feral pack – some sneering, some deliberately avoiding eye contact – all I could think was, this isn’t worth it.
Yes, I prefer to support small local businesses. And my standards for customer service aren’t even that high – I had a retail job once; I don’t expect anyone to kiss my ass. But FFS: when it comes to something as important and potentially vulnerable-​making as my health and health care, I want the people I interact with to possess the bare modicum of professionalism necessary to treat me with respect and to find my prescription without repeatedly shouting my personal information across a room.
One star for being an independent pharmacy; second star for that one time the actual pharmacist realized I might be allergic to something in an eyedrop my doctor had prescribed.

I’m new to the area and wanted to give my business to a local proprietor. I’m glad I did. My prescription was filled quickly, and I was welcomed as a new customer.

First of all, I have been a customer of this pharmacy for my entire life (58) years. But what happened yesterday made me feel like a small bad child. I needed help from the owner, but instead I get a lecture from the owner that my 30 day script should not be out in 28 days. This happened in front of a store full of people. I wanted to crawl away and hide. Everyone in there knew my business. Beyond that he blamed me and my Doctor for the rejected script when it turned out that the pharmacy ordered a brand of medication that the insurance company would not accept.
After a lifetime of loyalty to this pharmacy, I was hurt. Hurt by a person I thought I knew. A person who was helpful in the past, a person who just arbitrarily decided to stop being a caring human being.
Take your business to the big box pharmacies. The Inman Pharmacy is no different.

Don’t come here if you can help it…
They are extremely disorganized. Three times in the past year I have had my debit card charged without ordering any medication. When I called, they would always say that they have NO record of this charge and blame either me or my bank.
Today I was charged again (despite switching to a new pharmacy over a month ago!!!) and had to file a fraud claim when a very hostile man over the phone again blamed my bank when it was quite clearly their charge. I had to change my debit card and everything.
They are the most disorganized business I have EVER encountered and I will not be back.

Has always had my medications in-​stock, and has online ordering which is convenient. The lady behind the counter is a little short/​rude/​terse but other than that it has been a fine local alternative to the chains.

Gave me the incorrect version of a generic medication with a higher dosage, resulting in a month of migraines. The staff are nice, and I’m sad to switch, but incorrectly filled prescriptions are just not a risk I’m willing to take.

Today, for the third time, Inman filled a prescription I asked them to stop filling a year ago, refused to take the medication back and charged me. I keep asking them to destroy that prescription and they don’t. The owner is really rude and unhelpful. I like to support local businesses on principle, but I’ve had it with them.

I have a family of five and trips to the pharmacy at CVS in both Harvard Square and Alewife are quite a a trek especially not owning a car. Inman Pharmacy is one of the oldest pharmacies in Cambridge and as far as I know the only one that will deliver right to your house and is still family-​owned. With all the stress and bustle at the chain pharmacy there is also the issue of privacy. The person behind you in line is privy to your every medical condition and whatever drugs you are getting. There is little privacy with the big pharmacy chains and many of the pharmacists are overworked and often stressed out and snapping at customers when they are only trying to understand the prescription and any concerns with taking them. I reluctantly share this review only because Inman Pharmacy is what appears to be a well kept secret and a great old-​style way to get your prescriptions filled with the utmost privacy, respect and convenience.

I have experienced horrible customer service at this pharmacy. The Staff are very incompetent and the way management handles their business is awful. I will not use this pharmacy in the future, nor will I recommend this pharmacy to any of my clients again.

My doctor accidentally faxed my prescription to this pharmacy although Is never been there before. I kind of liked the mom & pop feel and was having a great day… until I walked into this place. That awful blondish/​red haired older lady at the counter treated me horribly and actually MADE FUN OF MY BEING DEAF!!!
I don’t let much bring me down, was she just clueless & insensitive or it was her bad idea of a joke? She rudely gestured for me to sit down to wait (like a dog). I can hear some voices & was shocked to hear her discussing me with the next customer in line about my supposed deafness & my headphones being too loud. He was a little taken aback, and I kind of laughed and said yes my headphones ARE loud. Because I am DEAF, haha. She said I should turn them down and I wouldn’t be! At that point I thought maybe she thought I was lying or joking (?) about being deaf, so I said no haha really I AM DEAF! All jokes aside! I thought she’d be embarrassed but instead she yelled over that it’s my own fault.
???
I laughed it off at the time, I feel bad for rotten, miserable people like that, but figured I wasn’t going to let her make me abandon my task, especially since I’d already been there for 15 minutes. I just wanted to get my order & never come back. At that point, the very nice pharmacist (young Asian woman who was knowledgable & professional) came over to explain a mistake my doctor’s office had made & offered to fill my prescription right then if I wanted to wait. She was fine, I had no problem with her whatsoever, I understand why the controls are place.
When I realized they hadn’t started filling it yet, I said I changed my mind and decided to take my prescription back to my usual CVS, thanked the nice pharmacist and left.
It wasn’t until I got in my car that I realized the extent of her inappropriateness and how offended I was. I had tried to give her the benefit of the doubt that maybe she thought she was being funny, but you know what? She wasn’t, she was just being rude. On purpose. If there was anyone to complain to (American Disabilities Act?) I would.
What a wretched, awful woman. I, like so many other reviewers, would never step foot in that place again because of HER and HER alone.
I told all my friends on Facebook about it and they were equally disgusted.

What a terrible experience. Literally the most expensive pharmacy I have ever visited. If you pay for your own prescriptions, or are concerned about going over your yearly dollar limit for prescriptions under your health insurance plan, avoid this place at all costs.
I usually get my prescriptions filled at either he Walgreen’s or CVS in Central Square. Today, however, neither of those pharmacies had my prescription in stock. After calling around, I determined that the only pharmacy in the area that had my prescription in stock was Inman Pharmacy. Generally, I like supporting local businesses, so I was actually excited to give them a chance.
Things began to go wrong virtually as soon as I stepped in the door. The counter staff — as other reviewers have noted — was exceptionally rude and seemed to resent being required to do any work whatsoever. I could have lived with that, however, if it hadn’t been for the price.
I made the mistake of not asking what the price would be before they filled my prescription. I have been taking this same medication for nearly a decade, and have always paid between $ 45 and $ 75 for it, depending on the pharmacy. Inman charged me $ 191. When I asked the pharmacist if this was right, as I assumed it couldn’t possible be, he assured me that it was. When I asked if I could have my script back so that I could take it somewhere more affordable to have it filled, they said that they weren’t legally allowed to give me my script back.
So, I was stuck paying more than three times the highest price I have ever, in ten years, paid for this particular prescription.
Avoid this place at all costs if price and customer service matter to you.

Decided to come here after two failed «relationships» with Harvard and porter CVS’. Harvard us wayyy too busy ALL the time and they would often take forever to fill. Porter screwed up my perscrption and gave me the completely wrong pills… Luckily I noticed something seemed off. They both didn’t seem to care very much at all «oh well» was the general reaction. Uhh… this is downright dangerous!
As someone who likes to be treated as a human with feelings and a body that occasionally has break downs and feels ill it is essentail to be treated well. Inman is the place. It is small. They know me now. They are polite and kind. Never mess up my prescription, always are timely. Recently I was so sick I asked for them to deliver my perscrption to my home. They gladly agreed and were so accomodating as my directions for the transaction were somewhat confusing. This is the way you want to be treated, especailly when feeling ill! Thank you Inman.

I reordered my prescription a few weeks ago and I just noticed that they over charged me — I received a 1 month suppy; they charged me for 3 months. They automatically charge my credit card and don’t give receipts, so this kind of thing is tricky to catch.
When I called to resolve the situation, they were very rude and spoke to me condescendingly as if it was my fault. I’m sorry that I don’t review my bank account every 2 seconds. This was clearly pharmacy error.
I recently spoke to my doctor about the situation and she had heard similar stories in the past. Make sure to review your order!

sorry to say i am no longer patronizing inman pharmacy, and it’s all because of the awful woman at the counter. she is one of the most miserable human beings i have ever encountered. why she is in charge of «customer service» i have no idea. i have a hyphenated last name and seriously. it’s like it’s the end of the world every time i go in to pick up a script. she shouts at my husband asking him to repeat my name — makes him write it down — etc. really? it’s THAT difficult? it’s gotten to the point where my husband refuses to pick up prescriptions for me anymore just because he doesn’t want to deal with her. she has shouted loudly what prescription i was coming in to pick up (??? HIPAA anyone??) — and need i even mention that my prescriptions are usually not available to just be picked up even though i call in advance? (well that’s not her fault specifically but generally annoying)
i thought maybe it was just me being sensitive, but watching her interact with other customers, she overall seems incapable of treating anyone with respect. it’s a shame, too, because the owner, mike, is EXTREMELY nice and helpful. he’s answered questions for me about medications via email and has helped me sort out refill issues, no problem. mike. you’re awesome. but please hire some new staff so i can come back!

I started having my prescriptions filled here since the reviews on Unilocal were positive and I’d rather support a local business instead of my neighborhood Walgreen’s.
Often, I have to wait while my refill is filled, even though I’ve called ahead or ordered it online. Seems that even though there are always at least four people working, no one actually follows through on the orders 100% of the time.
This past Monday, I called to check if my medication was in stock, since the last month, it wasn’t and I had to wait an extra 3 days or so. Not a huge deal for me, but for someone who really needs to take something like clockwork, this could be a problem. Anyway, I was literally on hold for 3 minutes when someone grabbed the line back to ask if I was being helped. I said yes, someone was checking on something for me, and continued to hold. A minute or so later, she came back on the line and offered to help me because she «checked with everyone, and no one remembers helping you.» Great.
Today, I went to pick up this pack of pills that I’d waited 7 minutes on the phone for, and waited the usual five minutes as they asked me my name twice and dug around for it. I explained exactly when I had called in and what transpired to hopefully expedite matters. This time, the script did exist and I paid and was about to be on my way. I was waiting for the signature tablet to prompt me to sign for my medication when the cashier reached over the counter and started scribbling on it, evidently trying to sign my name for me. I informed her that I was capable of signing my own name, to which she responded «Are you?» and let me sign.
I reported this ASAP to the pharmacist while asking her how I go about having a new pharmacy fill my prescriptions from now on. No apologies, no offers to speak to this woman and explain what she did was wrong– and probably illegal. Thankfully, no attempt to keep my business, either, because I’m so over this place.
Do not recommend.

I always come here to get prescriptions filled and have never had a problem or a very long wait. I love that I have a local «mom-​and-​pop» pharmacy to support as opposed to a stupid CVS or Walgreen’s (both also within walking distance, but screw them).
The pharmacist is very knowledgeable and willing to answer any questions you might have (and sometimes will just tell you stuff even if you didn’t ask). The woman usually behind the register is friendly and helpful as well. Why would I go anywhere else?

i love people watching, so it was fun to wait for my prescription to be filled as i watched the sketchy random people coming in and getting their prescriptions.
i love their selection of 80s hair accessories and store signs. throwback city!
i love supporting local businesses and they have been around for a while.
everything went smoothly and i will go back again if i ever need to. seriously great people watching and nice people behind the desk.

Key points:
1. Would not say if medicine was in stock over telephone.
2. Manager hung up on me twice.
Rude manager named Karen would not let me know if they had Roxicet (a narcotic prescripted to me to relieve pain from my throat surgery) in stock. Other pharmacies would inform me that they DID NOT have it in stock, so I at least wouldn’t waste a trip. Karen insisted that I bring the prescription in just to be informed as to whether or not it was in stock. Narcotics do have restrictions as to how they may be sold, but letting someone know if you have them in stock is NOT one of them. When I asked for the owners name to complain about the policy she hung up on me. I called back, then she hung up on me again. Clearly they do not put any importance on customer service. I would rate this as a terrible experience. This type of service is not what you would expect from a small business, but I suspect that they survive due to being the only pharmacy in Inman Square. If you like the look of a small time pharmacy that sells teddy bears, but offers horrible service, go here. Otherwise I would recommend going somewhere else where they are nicer, more customer focused, and more professional.
Note: It seems that this place scores highly from people who don’t get prescriptions filled, and use it more as a CVS replacement. They like buying the same things you can buy at a CVS, and find it’s appearance to be charming.

If you live anywhere near Inman Square, you should definitely get your birth control pills or antibiotics or whatever filled here. I work in human services and have dealt with many a pharmacy in my day, and my many colleagues and I agree that the pharmacy staff here are the most helpful and accomodating bunch of people you’re ever going to find (Skendarian is pretty good too if you live further down Cambridge St.).
And they actually do deliver. Does CVS deliver? I don’t think so.