Any of y'all use CVS pharmacy? I'm going to switch.

[raccoon]

I was using Kmart Pharmacy, until my local Kmart closed and they moved all their patients over to CVS.

Yesterday I saw the doctor and she prescribed two meds for me both of which I have had before.

I went to CVS this morning because I Thought that would give them time to get the prescriptions filled.

I got there and they weren’t filled. The clerk told me they were two days behind. The clerk spoke to the pharmacist and said something about the pharmacist would have to verify it.

The clerk also asked about my insurance information.
I’ve been using that pharmacy for about a year and none of my information has changed. I gave her my cards to scan but I did say that I didn’t understand why they didn’t already have that information because I had been using them for a while. At this point I asked to speak to the store manager who they said wasn’t there but I did have the opportunity to speak to the pharmacy manager.

She was nice and I told her what had occurred. I kept emphasizing that it wasn’t the staff’s fault but it was corporate’s fault because they apparently were understaffed. (And I had asked the clerk earlier if they were shortstaffed because of vacations but she said not. She said that CVS wouldn’t give them more hours.). Also I told her I didn’t get why they didn’t have my insurance information and a clerk had to re-enter it.

I left after that and when I checked my email I had an email from CVS asking for an evaluation. When the survey asked how likely I was a to recommend CVS to my friends, I checked zero.

Twice when I was commenting on a question, I emphasized that the staff were nice and polite and it wasn’t their fault but corporate needed to hire some more people.

Interestingly, I went to lunch with some friends today and one of them has a daughter who is a pharmacist. She said CVS had fired the pharmacists who were making good salaries and hired younger ones lower cost.

Searching on the Internet, many people are saying that CVS pharmacies are often short staffed.

There’s a Walgreen, a Publix, and a Bilo not far from me. I’m gonna change to one of those pharmacies.

Your experiences?

[MineralMan]

1. The minute they said they were two days behind,

I'd have taken my prescription elsewhere. Yes, indeed.

[Blue_true]

55. Doctors send them direct to the pharmacy now.

At least that is how it's done in Florida. I guess a person can ask the doctor to hand write a prescription.

My experience with CVS has not been bad. I have noticed that the faces seem to change relatively frequently.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I've been upset that CVS took over the pharmacy at my local Target.

[dflprincess]

71. They took over all the Target pharmacies.

There is one locally owned drugstore left in my 'burb that I stick with when I need a prescription. There is also a Walgreen's in my neighborhood that I've used a couple times as it does have longer hours than the local outfit.

[leftieNanner]

4. I had a somewhat similar problem with Rite Aid

So now I have my prescriptions filled at a local pharmacy where I get excellent service. Costco is another good option if you have one close to you.

[raccoon]

14. I hadn't thought of that! I have a Costco card and it's fairly close. NT

[snort]

25. You're a Costco member but you aren't using the pharmacy?

Whuuut? Try it you'll like it.

[Indykatie]

41. For Folks with Rx Insurance Costco May Not Be In Their Pharmacy Network. Check to Be Sure.

[LiberalFighter]

43. Don't have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy

[nykym]

5. I recently switched from CVS pharmacies

to ACME pharmacy, mainly pricing, but I did remember having to wait for my prescriptions at CVS.
Also at times the clerk was a bit surly, but I guess making less than minimum would account for that.
I am happy with ACME for now.

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. CVS sucks on so many levels.

I'd go twenty miles out of my way to avoid their crappy stores.

[lunasun]

52. +100% maybe more

[Yeehah]

66. Totally agree

CVS is a rip-off.

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Just gave up on this so called

pharmacy. Needed lens solution,out of stock,went two blocks south to another CVS,same damn story. Manager on Duty got the"good place to start a Pharmacy" as I was leaving. His reply,our Warehouse is having stocking issues. My reply,no,they are over leveraged as to the last merger and you can not get forward financing for inventory. He looked at me and said,how did you find that out,my reply,look at your shelf inventory and the number of stock outs.

BTW,got my lens solution at the local Smiths Super market and it was two dollars cheaper.

[Wellstone ruled]

15. Face it,CVS will

be a Bankruptcy Company or they will try and sell themselves to the likes of KKR Capital and do a Bain heading for Bankruptcy. Load it up with debt and fund the golden Ex's parachutes.

[Takket]

8. They suck

My wife is stuck with them because of her Medicare prescription plan (or we pay much more). We used to go to Kroger and they were AWESOME. everything is like pulling teeth with CVS.

[Midnightwalk]

9. A don't have a choice

My insurance from work forces me to, but never have a problem except when they happen to be out.

Do you mind if I ask whether this was a rich vs poor neighborhood? I learned from my parents that the quality of food and service was usually better in supermarkets in richer neighborhoods. My experience is that is often the case.

I wonder if that is the case for pharmacy customer service as well?

[raccoon]

72. It is in a town of about I'm gonna say 20,000 next to a big city.

It is in a town of about I’m gonna say 20,000 next to a big city.

Not in an extremely poor area, nor in Palm Beach. I’d say most people around here about average income.

[asiliveandbreathe]

10. As a matter of fact, just this morning the Dr. called in a nausea script for my hubby..

He has been in this very long this long staging process for prostate cancer.(since Feb 28th) - today was the last stage before the start of radiation..he had a three pill regime for this mornings procedure ..the pill caused nausea - the script was called into CVS around 10a..we got home about 10:45a..I called CVS to be sure ready..I cannot tell you how aggravating the auto system was...IT kept asking for an RX #..I said I didn't have one..kept asking..I know to hit zero to get thru..finally..when I got through, the gal asked for name and birth date..I got cut off..had to go through auto system again ….

Now I am totally pissed....gal apologetic..took info..said has script, but won't be ready for 1/2 hr..okay..meanwhile..hubby very uncomfortable..nausea is wicked... I have to stay in network for insurance..they no longer ID with Walgreens..so I will stay with CVS for now...just want hubby to get better..and be more comfortable...


I will see if they send a feedback form...

[Laurian]

12. I'm currently in the process of moving our prescriptions from CVS

to a neighborhood pharmacy.

CVS staff where we’ve gone since moving here 2 years ago are snippy and rushed. I’ve also gotten surveys, but just trash them. I get stressed having to think about that place.

The final straw came this week as I was working out a situation with insurance. They clearly had no interest in helping and were curt and dismissive.

The small neighborhood pharmacy seems (so far) more interested in me as a customer, personable and eager to please. They even provide free delivery.

[budkin]

13. I use it because it's preferred, but THEY SUCK.

Not going to go into it but they have the most draconian policies and the worst service and staff of all.

[mwooldri]

16. For common meds CVS is okay.

When it gets more specialized or certain schedule II/III/IV drugs I'd prefer a local pharmacy who knows what they are doing. Or if available a hospital outpatient pharmacy.

[fleur-de-lisa]

17. I used KMART too until they closed my local store. They switched me to CVS and they sucked.

I use Walgreen's now. Walgreen's is okay. KMART was better, but I definitely don't like CVS.

[redstatebluegirl]

18. I HATE HATE HATE CVS!

We were forced to move to them by our insurance. So far I have had two prescriptions that will filled improperly. They are not friendly, they are not helpful, they drive you nuts with texts and email. If you do move don't let them set you up for automatic refills.

[matt819]

19. I pretty much stopped using CVS

The people and service were okay. But I decided to start checking prices once I started using Good Rx. Turns out they are almost always higher than all the other local pharmacies. So I switched to the pharmacy at my local grocery store, though it's less expensive to use Rite Aid for one Rx, and so I go there for that one. And if the prices change, I'll go where the prices are best. Happy with speed, people, service, price. Plus I don't have to make a separate stop since Rx and food are in the same place.

[Sgent]

20. I've been fairly happy with my local Walgreens

they tend to be a good mix of neighborhood pharmacy and big chain for me, very good service with a lot of locations regionally (I'm in a Hurricane zone so one of their other locations can do refills if needed) and a few 24 hour around local hospitals.

I also use a local for some compounding drugs and find them good, but their hours are shorter which is a big issue for me.

[Arazi]

21. Yes, 2 fantastic pharmacists work great with me

[hedda_foil]

22. I use Walgreens and haven't had a problem, but check to see if it's a preferred network provider

[Turin_C3PO]

24. I've had good luck with CVS

and bad experiences with WalGreens. WalGreens never had anywhere near enough staff to handle the patient load. I don’t know if the staffing issue is specific to my local store or if it’s a company-wide problem.

[tavernier]

38. Same here.

I only hate that they give you ten pounds of paper receipts with every transaction.

[Blue_true]

58. The CVS Pharmacy that I go to is always staffed.

Typically I get my prescriptions filled within an hour. I have never tried Walgreens, but if the only one that I went into is any gauge, CVS fills a lot more prescriptions.

[edbermac]

26. I use them every month for 2 years now, no problems whatsoever.

Maybe it’s the store or the general area, if somebody in my neighborhood asked me I’d recommend they go to them.

[dameatball]

27. CVS is too busy counting beans and scrimping to give good customer service. I use a family owned

local drugstore that knows me and takes care of me. Hard to find that these days.

[NCjack]

36. I use a small independent local pharmacy. Service and prices are great. But, you have

learn to plan ahead. For example, on M-F it closes at 6 pm, on Saturday at noon, and all day Sunday. Prior to that, my wife and I were full-time travelers for 8 years. We got our meds from Walgreens during 2005 - 2011 because of their national computer database. When we stopped traveling, we continued with Walgreens -- until the CEO announced that he was moving Walgreens HQ to Switzerland. The next day, I moved my business to a local independent pharmacy. Walgreens didn't move. But, since the CEO planned on his customers making up the taxes Walgreens would not be paying in USA, I didn't and will not move my business back to them.

[tishaLA]

28. I've had a similar problem with Rite-Aid

I call in a prescription and enter the information (prescription number, etc) INCLUDING MY PHONE NUMBER because the recording says they need it in case they have any questions. Then I go to the store and invariably they don't have one of my meds and tell me it will be in 2 days from now.

Well that's fine, but you have my number, so why don't you call me and let me know it's not there so I don't have to make 2 trips?

TL;DR I now go to Von's

[CountAllVotes]

29. CVS is pure scum

I used to go there but not after they attempted to manipulate a prescription that I took to be filled.

It was filled at half the strength!

Worse yet, it was a controlled substance.

Seems someone working at that CVS was up to no good.

Today said person is in jail and no, I do not go there anymore as I am not allowed to go there by my health care provider.

I am having far better luck with Rite-Aid.

[quickesst]

30. When I go to Walgreens....

.... I'm pissed off before I even walk through the door because I know that it is really a portal to hell.

[underpants]

31. Our Walgreens was really good

but we just moved. A few miles but there has to be something closer.

[Raven123]

32. I avoid CVS. For my needs they are overpriced

[Freddie]

33. I use mail-order

DH has 6 regular prescriptions and I have 2. Had CVS mail order but now have FutureScript. Honestly I found the CVS mail order to be more user-friendly. Quick and efficient, the opposite of store experiences. If one of us needs a one-time prescription I use the local Giant, never a problem.

[MontanaMama]

34. The CVS at our local Target is

flat out excellent. They're fast, they give a crap about what they're doing and bend over backwards to help. We also use Costco pharmacy and highly recommend them too...other than they don't have Sunday hours which is usually when I find time to go to Costco and spend my obligatory $400. My sister-in-law is a pharmacist at Alberston's and she says that they routinely have to refer patients elsewhere because they don't keep basic prescriptions on hand in the quantities that are needed. She says it is hell working there and only getting worse. She believes that Albertson's is trying to bankrupt their own pharmacies...crazy.

[stopbush]

35. CVS has the most-expensive prescription prices out there.

Anyone else is better and cheaper.

[customerserviceguy]

37. I've used CVS in the past

When I was living in NY, they had the ONLY one in my zip code, other than a couple of tiny supermarket pharmacies. There were a half a dozen places to buy a tire or a car to put it on, but only about five or six years ago, they finally put up a CVS. They were OK, but the prices were steep.

If you can, find an independent pharmacist. We have one in SC, and they bend over backwards to get things right. They don't spend money on advertising like the big chains do. Also, if you've got maintenance drugs, some supermarket pharmacies will fill them with generics for dirt cheap or free. I just found out that the Publix in my town will do that with my blood pressure medication.

Finally, if you've got the need for a maintenance drug that is not cheap, consider Canadian pharmacies online. It takes about three weeks to get your meds, so it requires some planning. Also, they'll take my Mastercard attached to my health savings account. I have one med that costs about a hundred bucks for a 90 day supply, the same drug at CVS would be well over six hundred dollars!

[Maru Kitteh]

39. I have always enjoyed my experience at our local Walgreens. Very convenient and timely. nt

[Everyman Jackal]

40. My wife is covered by CHAMPVA.

Her meds are usually done by Meds by Mail for free. Sometimes when the meds are cheap she pays 25% she has the doctor fax her prescription to the CVS in Target in Jacksonville NC. They always have them ready on time. They also call her when her refills are ready. It all depends on the pharmacy.

[milestogo]

42. I use CVS and its very good.

Its inside a Target store, so its not 24 hours, but I am happy with the service.

[Jersey Devil]

44. I use Humana mail order and now my drugs have no co-pay at all

I take 5 different medications daily and though the co-pays on them were pretty low (Tier I meds), maybe $50-65 per month total for all of them, now that I get them mail order with Humana they cost nothing.

[LiberalFighter]

45. I used CVS once nearly 15 years ago. Never again.

They couldn't find me in their system.

Now I use either Walgreens, Costco, or Meijer.

[Submariner]

46. Costco Pharmacy is cheaper

and you don’t have to be a Costco member to use their pharmacy.

The downside is the pharmacy is closed on Sunday, and they close for a half hour for lunch break.

[TheCowsCameHome]

47. I love their cash register receipts.

I bought four items there and got enough wasted paper to build a full size replica of the Lincoln Memorial.

CVS sucks.

[OriginalGeek]

48. We had been using Publix for 30+ years

and were very happy with them. Then my insurance changed and they made it VERY difficult to use anything other than CVS. In fact they tried to make it sound like we HAD to use CVS and that's what we thought at first. So we dutifully changed to CVS and there seemed to be a problem every time we got our stuff filled. Out of stock, come back tomorrow, charging the wrong thing for pills that should only be a few bucks, forcing us to get 90-day supplies when we had been happy doing it monthly at Publix for 30+ years. Just all kinds of aggravating things that may not have mattered had I not already been irritated by being "forced" to change.

But the (eco-friendly paper) straw that broke the camel's back was when my wife got prescribed vitamin B12 injections. Her dr gave her a specific needle to get and she was to do it herself. She was very nervous about this but was willing to do it. She got to CVS and the first problem was they said they didn't carry the size needle she was supposed to get but she could use this shorter one and it was just the same. My wife didn't like it but figured she had no choice. Then she asked the pharmacist (he was the manager of the pharmacy dept) if he could show her how to do the shots and he just said "Look on youtube - they'll tell you".

Well that pissed her off but she took the stuff and went. She decided the next day to go with me to my dr appt and ask them to show her how to do the shots. Our Doc was happy to show her but the very first thing she said after my wife pulled out the short needles was "WTF are those? That's not what I prescribed." and my wife told her the pharmacist said it was OK to use them. THAT pissed the Doctor off to no end. She said no those were not the same and they wouldn't even work as you needed to go deeper for the medicine to have any effect.

Now we're all pretty fucking pissed off but the doc had a correct needle and showed my wife how to do the shot (it was easy and fairly painless) and we packed up the dumb crap needles and went back to CVS.

My wife told the pharmacist she wanted a refund. and they told her they only give store credit. She told them that wouldn't work she wanted a refund, here's the receipt. They argued for a while and then my wife called for the store manager. She gave in and gave the refund and my wife told her she also didn't like that the pharmacist told her to look on youtube for instructions on how to giver herself a shot. The Pharmacist heard her tell the manager that and piped up with "No I didn't! I would never tell anyone to look on youtube"...My wife was REALLY pissed by that because he was lying to his boss and calling my wife a liar to boot. She said "Oh yes you sure did and I'll stand here and wait for the manager to get the security tape from yesterday to prove it".

So long story less long but not yet quite short, she got her refund and I called my insurance company and told them there was no way in hell we were going back to any CVS and they said "Oh ok, you could always choose another place - you just have to "opt out" of using CVS" Yeah assholes - you sure never told us that before or we wouldn't have even tried CVS.

So we're mad at CVS and I was mad at my insurance company but we got new insurance at work again so we're back with Publix where we belong and where they remembered my name even after being gone for about 6 months.

[Texasgal]

49. Worse pharmacy on the PLANET!

It's a very long drawn out story... But I was forced to use this pharmacy when my husband was very sick and dying. Let me just say, they were rude, constantly short, out of meds ALL of the time, wouldn't accept coupons for expensive meds ( GoodRX etc. ) constantly fighting me with the insurance....etc.

My dearly departed husband was on almost 30 pills near the time of his death. CVS was a horrible place for me as a caregiver at the time.

One last anecdote. When my husband was brought home to hospice the nurse called in morphine and something else for him to relax and not to have pain. Well! Guess what? CVS didn't have it! We called 7 CVS's and none of them had it! We finally were able to find a Walgreens..... many, many hours later. My sweetheart passed away the very next day. I'm glad he was comfortable. No thanks to CVS!!!

[Fla Dem]

50. I use a little independent pharmacy that's between my home and my Dr's office.

The few times I needed a prescription filled, the office sent it over and by the time I reached the pharmacy it was ready and waiting for me.

This is a stand alone pharmacy. Aside from some OTC medicines and other medical related supplements, supplies and equipment they don't carry anything other merchandise. Usually 4-5 pharmacists working all the time with a staff to manage the counter, drive thru window and phones/computer.

[Kurt V.]

51. i use walgreens. no problems

[lunasun]

53. My vote is for Walgreens and my advice is to stay away from CVS stores completely

[csziggy]

54. I've had good and horrendous service at CVS pharmacies

A lot probably has to do with the management at the different locations.

The horrendous experience - my back went out so my husband took me to the doctor. He called in (this was before electronic transfer of prescriptions) the prescription to the closest pharmacy, which was a CVS - plus he indicated it was a rush job. We arrived about half an hour after leaving the doctor's office, they claimed they had gotten no prescription. They claim they had not gotten it even though we'd heard the doctor call it in himself. My husband drove back to the doctor's, got a written prescription, and the doctor again called it in as a rush job.

Back to the CVS, no prescription, they didn't want to fill the written one since it was a controlled substance (muscle relaxants, not opioids), didn't want to give back the written prescription so we could take it elsewhere. Two fucking hours after our first arrival, they finally filled it. Meanwhile I was sitting the truck with a spasming back in absolute agony.

I didn't go back to any CVS for decades.

Good experience - After my husband's appendix burst and he spent three days in the hospital getting the infections drained, we needed sterilized saline solution to flush the several drains he still had in his abdomen. Walgreens and Walmart could not provide this. The nurse with the doctor's office found it at a CVS - but my husband's drug coverage was only at Walmart. The pharmacist at CVS (a different location) provided it, gave me a great discount (I think he gave it to me at his cost), and made sure that if I came back for more, I would get the same price even if he was not there.

I would not go back to the first CVS location again. The second one, I would and have gone back to make both medical and non-medical purchases.

[cbdo2007]

56. My wife does extreme couponing at CVS and gets all of our

Toiletries, makeup, paper goods, etc for free. It's awesome.

[scarytomcat]

57. I say NO to cvs

they are apart of big pharmacy that wants to order and ship you drugs. I got stuck with 3 month supply of something my doctor switched me off of, without me ordering it. I use Rite Aid now.

[doc03]

59. I went to K Mart to but my local K Mart also closed, they had nice people there. I now go to

Kroger and they have been good. The prices at CVS always seemed higher although I think Kroger may own CVS.
There is also Walmart which I avoid, I hear they are pretty good. We don't have Walgreen or Publix. I always go to
Publix when I am in Florida, my favorite grocery store.

[tymorial]

60. I was using a small mom and pop pharmacy that my family had used for generations

They recently went out of business and transferred everyone to CVS. I was so very disappointed. My grandfather's first job was as a soda jerk there when he was 15. My mom and her friends would go there after school for milk shakes. My parents obtained all of my prescriptions there and when I was a kid. The old pharmacist knew everyone and so did his son who took over. His daughter was running the shop until they had to close because they could no longer afford to keep their doors open.

It was so sad. Now ad for CVS. They are so damned expensive compared to other places and I am not just talking about prescriptions. Store items are marked up high as well. It isnt hard to drop a $100 when you go there. My wife and I were just talking about how we should go somewhere else because they gouge you.

[MarcA]

61. Regarding pharmacies and experienced staff leaving.

Been using a chain pharmacy nearby for almost 10 years. Entire store
has friendly employees, effective service and available products. Then about
three or four months ago several of the long time pharmacy staff left. Don't
know if they quit, were transfered, fired or what. The pharmacy experience
became frequently unpleasant and storewide the staff seemed unhappy. In the
last few weeks things have gotten more back to normal but none of the old
pharmacy staff have returned. Not sure what all happened. This store is not
CVS but is part of a large chain.

[MaryMagdaline]

62. Publix Walmart and Costco are all good but I stick with

CVS because they are open 7 days per week and have a drive through. I’ve had a couple of instances when the doctor has called in or faxed the prescription and they have not downloaded the messages by the time I get there. They do, however, pull it from the system when I’m there. 2 days is not reasonable. If they don’t have the meds in full CVS gives me half the dosage or sends me to another CVS.

We have CVS and Walgreens on every corner in Broward.

BTW. I prefer the easy open bottles at CVS. Walgreens bottles are a little tough.

[Horse with no Name]

63. They filled the wrong medicine for me several times

The last time when I called the pharmacist said that he most assuredly did not fill my prescription wrong.
I told him that I sincerely doubted that as a woman that my doctor would give me a medication for my prostate and a medication that would interfere with other medication that I took.
He admitted he was wrong. I returned the prescription, got a refund, free correct prescription and $50 in gift cards. I transferred all of my other meds out the same day and never went back.

[MaryMagdaline]

64. My eye doctor recommended Publix close to his office but only because they were used to filling meds

Commonly prescribed by eye doctors (several nearby). Made me think that when I’m going to a specialist I might want to find out which pharmacies are the least problematic for the drugs they prescribe

[MichMan]

65. I love CVS and wouldn't go anywhere else

Fantastic service and great sales and coupons. I don't get that many prescriptions, but the Pharmacist always greets me by name when he sees me and asks me how my day is going etc.

[Iggo]

67. I use Kaiser. One stop shopping.

I only use CVS for overpriced toiletries.

[Ilsa]

68. I use a privately, family-owned pharmacy for most

of our drug needs. A few 90 day mail Rxs. The private one almost always has what we need, or they'll have it the next day. Plenty of RPhs on staff. Plus, the owner, once he gets to know you, will help you out in a pinch.

[RhodeIslandOne]

69. They all have their own issues.

My parents use Walgreens and sometimes they call you with an automated message and then you go in and they don't know what you're picking up.

[tblue37]

70. I just switched TO CVS. my regular pharmacy upped my BP meds to $208 per month. They had been going

up continually for the past two years--from $30/month to start! They wouldn't take a GoodRX coupon for that prescription, either.

CVS took the coupon, so my meds cost just $47 this month. Another medicine will cost me just $25 with a coupon there, whereas my regular pharmacy wants $35 with the coupon. That med was originally $9 per month and had gone up to $70/month with insurance!

Since I just went on Medicare I worried that my medicines would cost more, even with my supplemental drug coverage. I had been covered by a decent state plan until I retired in May. I actually paid much less once I switched to CVS. I went from $278 for those 2 meds to just $72.