Corporate drugstores. Such rip-off artists.

[LuckyLib]

Getting a prescription filled at a local Walgreens is a two-trip event. "I'm sorry. We're out of that drug right now." "Sorry, our pharmacy closes at 6:00 p.m. -- but the store is open until 11:00!!"

I would go to a private pharmacy in a minute, but Walgreens and CVS are it!

Are they trying to move us all to mail-order?

[wtmusic]

1. Try Rite-Aid

and you'll be glad you have Walgreen's.

[sakabatou]

2. My worry is that when I run out of my Rx, they won't have it in time

[tishaLA]

3. I hate that they've closed down mom and pop drug stores, but...

on my very limited budget, I am happy that I can get most of the Rx I need for a paltry amount with their generics sales. Seriously: compared to the fortune I used to pay for my heart failure meds, the $36 I pay every three months at Walgreens/CVS is fine with me.

[csziggy]

4. I call in my prescriptions at Walgreens ahead of time

It's all automated, no human involved with the phone call and I can call in any time of the night or day. When they confirm that the prescription will be filled, they give me a time when it will be ready. If that time is too late, I can ask for a time sooner. Usually I call the night before for it to be ready for hubby to pick it up on the way home from work. Of course, this is for my recurring prescriptions.

I've never had the problems you mention for getting a new prescription filled. It generally takes about fifteen minutes for them to fill it from drop off time to pick up. And that was the old system. Now, my doctor's office can electronically send in the prescription request and it is filled by the time I get to the pharmacy.

I'd complain to corporate headquarters about the local pharmacy if you have this problem with the on a regular basis. http://www.walgreens.com/topic/marketing/contactus/default1.jsp?foot=contact_us

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. Pays to phone ahead, I have found.

We are so lucky here ( knock on wood).
Despite a Wal-greens, a Rite-Aid, a Wal-Mart, in our teeny town, we also have a family owned local pharmacy that does a roaring business, because it offers the lowest price on almost all scripts.
And most people around here are big on supporting local businesses.

[WhollyHeretic]

6. Never buy over the counter meds at them. The prices are insane. My wife bought a 10 day supply of

an allergy med at CVS for $10. We ended up getting the same one at BJs 365 days worth for $17. Same thing with acid controller meds. $16 for 50 tablets at CVS and BJs had 200 tablets for $10. Even target had 50 tablets for $4. These are all generics too.

[jmowreader]

9. The prices on everything at a corporate drugstore are insane

Try buying condoms there.

[Maru Kitteh]

7. Sorry your Walgreens sucks. Mine is awesome. 24 pharmacy and good service.

Nice people. Maybe it has more to do with where one lives. :shrug:

[damntexdem]

8. Most large supermarkets have pharmacies.

[madamesilverspurs]

10. Rented crutches from Walgreens

when I broke my ankle a couple years back. They were the only place open in the middle of the night, and my friend had to cough up $40 since I was waiting in the car. When I returned the crutches a few days later, they refunded $10, told me there would have been no charge if I'd transferred all my prescriptions to them. I told them that trying to extort new business at 2am from someone in pain is a bad plan. That $30 is the last they'll ever get from me.

-