A question for Canadian DU'ers.

[mmonk]

A doctor has suggested we buy a medication from Canada due to our high deductable. Is there a reliable legitimate source we can try?

[OneGrassRoot]

1. I've used Canada Pharmacy before...

It was several years ago but had no trouble whatsoever. I think my parents used them as well.

http://www.canadapharmacy.com/


:hi:

[mmonk]

2. Thanks.

I'll check it out. Hey, you're not Canadian.;-)

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

3. But I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express there before...

:P

[mmonk]

5. Well I certainly can't argue with that.

:D

[Canuckistanian]

4. They're all pretty much the same for me

I just go down to my local pharmacy (Shopper's Drug Mart) and get my scrip filled. I could do it at any pharmacy.

But as for online pharmacies, I have no clue. Most Canadians don't use them. Since the prices are all the same (or roughly the same), there's no advantage to try and find something cheaper online.

Our government buys our drugs in bulk, something your government has forbidden. So we don't have the vast price differences that you do.

It always astounds me when some American politician wants to make access to Canadian drugs easier. They're the same drugs - it's just that we negotiated a better deal.

THAT's what you should be fighting for.

[mmonk]

6. I am fighting for that. I just don't have the money to buy a politician.

This is a pay to play system here.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Yeah, I hear you

Hard to compete with lobbyists carrying sacks of cash.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. Amen to that. Hey seriously though.. Those online pharmacies are in the news CONSTANTLY.

I wouldn't risk my life with them at any cost savings.
They're usually some guy selling pills out of a storage locker.

I don't know if it's legal to actually go to canada (I thought they outlawed this) but if its legal and feasible to do so, then I suggest doing that instead.

I know, I know, the big corporations paid the news agencies to put out those stories.
The fact is, those online pharmacies look very sleazy.

[mmonk]

9. I trust OneGrassRoot and a physician recommended I do so.

I checked the link out and Canada Pharmacy has a money back guarantee and 500,000 patients.

[Shagbark Hickory]

12. I've got a bridge I wanna sellya.

Don't believe everything you read.
Of course having 500000 patients doesn't mean they are happy patients.

[mmonk]

13. JBoy in post # 10 shows they are legit.

[Shagbark Hickory]

14. BE CAREFUL ! THEY ARE SENDING UP A LOT OF RED FLAGS...

For instance, when you go to the contact us page on their site, they list a US address.
And it isn't even a physical address. IF you type the address into google maps, you can see it returns to a Mailboxes Plus.

They have these trust badges all over the place. The fact is anybody with a valid credit card can get those on their website.
It doesn't mean they are shipping you accurate prescriptions or drugs that were meant for the north american market.

You seem to be eager to want to trust this company. I would suggest you try to find an national chain store in canada like the canadian equivalent of walgreens or rite aid.

[mmonk]

16. They have an office in Washington State.

[Shagbark Hickory]

18. No, they have a PO Box in Washington.

Why bother asking if you're just going to dismiss any of the tell tale signs of a problem?

[JBoy]

10. There's an Association of licensed Canadian pharmacies that sell internationally

http://www.cipa.com/ (Canadian International Pharmacy Association)

Canada Pharmacy is listed as one of their members. Took a quick look, they're located in Surrey, BC (my neck of the woods) and have an office across the border in Blaine WA (which sounds right, for logistics and mailing reasons).

[mmonk]

11. Thank you very much.

Excellent.

[Shagbark Hickory]

20. The BBB rates them with an "F", so excellent isn't what I have in mind.

First of all, they are most probably violating either some laws or some agreements with the drug makers.
Obviously the drug makers don't want Canadian pharmacies selling drugs to the US. That's why the chain pharmacies in Canada don't appear to offer online ordering for export.

The BBB scores them with an "F", they are not an accredited business you might expect from someone selling meds, even though anyone with about $300 can get this. http://www.bbb.org/mbc/business-reviews/pharmacies/canada-pharmacy-in-surrey-bc-1179869">here's the link

So right off the bat, we've got a company that is violating agreements with the drug makers, a company that is DBA online a different name, something that could invalidate some of the trust badges that they have on their site, and a company that could be violating actual laws.

I don't have any doubts they have a licensed pharmacist or that they are in some registry of pharmacies or even that they fill orders...

MY biggest concern would be:
1.) They are not selling drugs intended for the north american market (translation- Chinese drugs), or they are not the brands you are thinking you are getting (bait & switch)
2.) This pharmacy is probably not doing the same level of checking to make sure there won't be any adverse reactions or any allergies. It looks like their business model is one of sell as many drugs as you can to anybody in the world who wants them.
3.) The quality or AGE of the meds are not what you would expect to receive.
4.) The pharmacy that is actually dispensing the drugs may not be regulated or inspected to the same standards as a pharmacy in the US.

I've laid out a couple of my observations. I'm from Miami, where we don't even trust our own shadow. A place known for just about every type of crime and scam under the sun. I have experience investigating businesses. The OP doesn't seem to want to believe my warnings. PEople just want to believe that there is someone out there that wants to help them. Some nice old guy in Canada who just wants to help out his neighbors to the south with affordable meds. Lets get real here.
I'm done. Now OP can do their own homework. You can lead a horse to water...

[Shagbark Hickory]

15. What is their physical location? Is it available for inspection?

[JBoy]

17. The canadapharmacy.com website says

that prescriptions are dispensed by:

Newton Pharmacy
100A-7455 132nd St.
Surrey, BC
Canada V3W 1J8
604-501-6925

Pharmacy Manager
Robert Lee
License Number 20928

Pharmacist available from
7am - 4pm PST. Mon-Fri
Licensed by The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia.
If you have any questions or concerns you can contact the college at 200-1765 West 8th Ave. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6J 5C6

I assume their business model is to take orders and fill prescriptions there, truck them down in bulk to the border where they have a waiting customs broker, then to Blaine WA, where they're mailed out using faster/cheaper US post.

I called the local number (604-501-6925) for the Newton pharmacy, and they don't have any kind of walk-in service, it's strictly mail order.

I checked the BC College of Pharmacists website https://eservices.bcpharmacists.org/psearch/PharmacyReport.plx?id=1, and the "Newton Pharmacy" information on the canadapharmacy.com site matches that on the College's website.

So, looking at the chain of quality looks good:

The BC College of Pharmacists says Newton Pharmacy is licensed.
The CIPA says canadapharmacy.com = Newton Pharmacy.
Google chose CIPA as their verifier for pharmacies advertising on google.ca

Hope that helps!

[Shagbark Hickory]

19. Here's the problem as I see it.

First of all, they are most probably violating either some laws or some agreements with the drug makers.
Obviously the drug makers don't want Canadian pharmacies selling drugs to the US. That's why the chain pharmacies in Canada don't appear to offer online ordering for export.

The BBB scores them with an "F", they are not an accredited business you might expect from someone selling meds, even though anyone with about $300 can get this. http://www.bbb.org/mbc/business-reviews/pharmacies/canada-pharmacy-in-surrey-bc-1179869">here's the link

So right off the bat, we've got a company that is violating agreements with the drug makers, a company that is DBA online a different name, something that could invalidate some of the trust badges that they have on their site, and a company that could be violating actual laws.

I don't have any doubts they have a licensed pharmacist or that they are in some registry of pharmacies or even that they fill orders...

MY biggest concern would be:
1.) They are not selling drugs intended for the north american market (translation- Chinese drugs), or they are not the brands you are thinking you are getting (bait & switch)
2.) This pharmacy is probably not doing the same level of checking to make sure there won't be any adverse reactions or any allergies. It looks like their business model is one of sell as many drugs as you can to anybody in the world who wants them.
3.) The quality or AGE of the meds are not what you would expect to receive.
4.) The pharmacy that is actually dispensing the drugs may not be regulated or inspected to the same standards as a pharmacy in the US.

I've laid out a couple of my observations. I'm from Miami, where we don't even trust our own shadow. A place known for just about every type of crime and scam under the sun. I have experience investigating businesses. The OP doesn't seem to want to believe my warnings. PEople just want to believe that there is someone out there that wants to help them. Some nice old guy in Canada who just wants to help out his neighbors to the south with affordable meds. Lets get real here.
I'm done. Now OP can do their own homework. You can lead a horse to water...