Walgreens Pharmacy Consumer Reviews - Page 2

MARIETTA GA -- Sunday, I dropped off a prescription for a diuretic for my pet with congestive heart failure, in order to treat/manage. I was told it would be ordered and would come in sometime that evening, they would text me when it was ready for pickup. I never received the text. Monday after work, I drove thru pickup window and was told it was never processed because they called the ER Veterinarian and left a message but never for a return phone call. The ER vet is open 24/7, always having someone to take calls and answer questions. The Walgreens gal at the window said she couldn't call to get the info that a pharmacist would have to and I needed to come inside.

I waited for a very long time to no avail. At that time I decided to call the ER Vet. I was told the pharmacy never called yesterday and they had just gotten off the phone with them authorizing the 50mg dosage they have in stock. Omg, do they do this to human patients suffering from congestive heart failure.

These meds are a matter of life and death. Walgreens delayed the medication for two days and placed blame on the ER Vet who worked diligently to reverse the fluid buildup in my furry family member's lungs and around his heart. Walgreens, with all the employees in the pharmacy is a poor example for the standards of good health. If you value your life (or the life of your loved one) boycott this pharmacy and find another to get your critical medications!!!

CLEBURNE, TEXAS -- Through gross incompetence, the Cleburne Texas Walgreens filled my Metformin (diabetic medication) with a mix of Metformin and a very potent anticonvulsant medication that looked similar and which I had not been prescribed. After inadvertently taking several of the anticonvulsant pills, I had such a severe dizzy reaction, I thought I might be dying and had my son take me for medical treatment. The dizziness remained for several days after ceasing use. Upon returning the pills to the pharmacy, the Walgreens pharmacist acknowledged that the prescription had been incorrectly filled. For the emotional damage and breach of trust to me and my family, I believe Walgreens should compensate me to ensure that they take such errors more seriously.

BELHAVEN, NORTH CAROLINA -- The usual inept employees, lengthy wait, nothing gets done. After asking if I could ask the pharmacist about a recent prescription, I waited 20 minutes. During that time nothing was accomplished by Walgreens. The same people who were waiting at the counter when I got there were still waiting when I gave up and left. I did see, however, the pharmacist wave her hand across her PC as though casting a spell.

It seems it doesn't matter where Walgreens goes, the same poor performance follows. It must be in their application questionnaire "are you incompetent?" If you check yes, you have a job. They were poor when I used them to fill and refill prescriptions in Lusby, MD until they drove me away to another pharmacy where I could get my meds without missing 2 weeks. Here in Belhaven the service is just as lousy. If Walgreens could save me $10,00 a year in costs, I still go elsewhere for my meds.

12041 PALM BEACH BLVD, FLORIDA -- Florida laws states you can only pick up a schedule for medication two days before the prescriptions last refill date.
Walgreens takes it a step further. If you're a couple days late they count two days from when they physically handed the medication to you. So........ if you're supposed to pick up your prescription on the 1st and you don't pick it up till 5th.... you can't pick up your next month's prescription until the 3rd.... and trust me it gets worse.

They have taken something that could be relatively simple and made it extremely frustrating! When I voiced my frustration and said I wanted to file a complaint the receptionist didn't realize I hadn't hung up my phone, and mocked me. That sealed the deal for me. I'm done with Walgreens.

Just wrote the Governor of my state the following letter: "Dear Governor Haslam, Walgreens pharmacy has warped your well intentioned "I hate meth" law to attempt to add to their profit margin. The law states in section 2(d) "The pharmacist or pharmacy intern shall counsel with the person seeking to purchase the product as to the reasons for needing the product and may decline the sale if the pharmacist or pharmacy intern believes the sale is not for a legitimate medical purpose."

Walgreens has just told me they cannot sell me Pseudoephedrine because I do not currently fill prescriptions at Walgreens, and that is Walgreens policy which they must enforce to be compliant with the new law. My not filling prescriptions at Walgreens does not prove that I am purchasing the drug for illicit purposes. I was at their location on South Willow Ave. in Cookeville and spoke with the pharmacist on duty **. I explained that my wife was in bed in tears with pain up the side of her neck and in her ear from allergy congestion. She said that because I did not fill my prescriptions at Walgreens, she could not sell me the medicine I know I needed for my wife.

She could only make recommendations. She recommended a Phenylephrine product or Mucinex. I already know, and all the pharmacists and doctors I have asked about it agree, that Phenylephrine is a useless product that has almost no effect on serious sinus congestion. There is even an independent study that seems to support this: **. Everyone who bought this "replacement" for Pseudoephedrine was hoodwinked. Their hard earned money was spent on a product that no one even tried to prove worked until 2010, and the study finally at least lends some modicum of proof that this is true.

I know I threw away 2 club store sized bottles of this product after several attempts to use it for sinus congestion symptoms for my family of 5 yielded no results whatsoever. As for Musinex, this recommendation for severe sinus congestion is just silly and frighteningly uneducated. Musinex is an expectorant, not indicated for sinus congestion. As a matter of fact, the manufacturer has a website that recommends Mucinex D for sinus congestion. Guess what? THAT product contains psudoephederine, and is also behind the counter, unavailable to us who do not fill prescriptions with Walgreens.

I do understand that Walgreens is a private business and presumably has a right to not sell a product, but that is not the case here. They have it and simply refuse to sell it to anyone who does not fill prescriptions there. Why not just go somewhere else? Walgreens is the only pharmacy open late Sunday night in Cookeville. My wife is the love of my life and I would die for her. I had to come home failing her, failing to bring home the only medicine that will give her relief from her symptoms, because Walgreens has created this policy, and told me that their hands were tied because of this new law, and that if I did not like it, I should write my Senator.

They really said those words to me. Meanwhile my wife lies in her bed in misery, unable to get relief from her symptoms until a pharmacy less concerned with making money than the welfare of their customers opens in the morning.

MONTGOMERY, ILLINOIS -- I swiped my bank debit card to pay for my prescription and the machine said sale was APPROVED, but then the register froze and would not give me a receipt. The clerk said I had to swipe my bank card again. I said no because my purchase was approved and if I swiped my card again I would be double charged. At that point the clerk called the assistant manager who took the bag out of my hand and would not give me my meds until I paid again. I explained that I was a senior citizen on disability and could not afford a double charge, but he said "too bad, swipe again or you don't get your meds."

I was told that if I was charged twice come back in and they would give me a credit. So I went home and went online and checked my bank account and sure enough I was double charged. The next day I went to the bank and requested a print out of my account showing the double charge (which I had to pay for). I took the printout back to Walgreens store manager Mr. **, manager of Walgreens on Douglas Blvd, in Montgomery, IL. Mr. ** was so RUDE to me, I couldn't believe it. He said the print out I brought him was not good enough and I had to bring in my bank statement which I would not get until the 15th of the next month.

I told him I could not wait that I was a senior citizen on disability and I needed the money he took out twice was for my groceries. He looked at my balance and said you have 900.00 in the bank you have enough for groceries. I explained to him I had written checks that had not cleared yet, but he did not care. I was getting upset by this point and Mr. **, Mgr., then told me that he didn't like my attitude and now he decided he would NOT give me my money back. I left the store in tears, I was insulted, double charged and to make matters worse when I got home and opened the bag, I was given the wrong brand of on the meds that I take every month.

So I called and they told me to come back and return the wrong brand and they will give me the right one. So after 3 trips to Walgreens, a trip to the bank and back to Walgreens I still did not get my money back. I have to wait until next month's statement and go back to Walgreens and fight for my money back. I have used CVS pharmacy ever since they opened years ago and never had a problem like this. Mr. ** should not be a MANAGER. He was RUDE and INSULTING to me and Walgreens made the mistake... not me. I am calling my insurance company and reporting Walgreens in the morning.

This must be how they make their money by cheating their customers. Mr. **, manager of the Walgreens in Montgomery, Illinois does not deserve to have the title of Manager. There are many people out of work and would love his job. He cheated me, he knew he cheated me, but he did not care. I want my money back, I want the money back I paid for the bank print out, and I want my gas money back for the trips I made back and forth. Mr. ** should be FIRED.

I have used Walgreens pharmacy for many years simply because it is on my way home, and as many other people now, my time is precious. So, I call in my prescriptions, my husband's, and yes, my dog's. We spend (with insurance) about a month at Walgreens pharmacy and store. I don't believe it is the fault of the employees, but Walgreens corp. Because there is, at the most, two employees in the pharmacy, which is my final destination.

When I finally get to the counter, if the person who appears to be a pharmacist, waits on me, it is as if I am an irritant. They look for my prescriptions and ring them up, I pay, get home and find something wrong. They have given me generic when my doctor specifically wrote on the prescription not to give me a generic. Oh, let me mention that before I began checking, I took the generic for many months and when I went for my bloodwork, there was a problem. The doctor asked me to bring in my prescription bottles, and when I did, the doctor found that I was taking a generic for synthroid.

My bloodwork was not good and the doctor explained how important it is for me to take the synthroid. When I had my thyroid removed, they first put me on generic medication and I was allergic to pork, so they changed me to synthroid which I had been on for over 40 years (I am 59). The doctor said it is a fact that individuals who have had their thyroid removed and were placed initially on synthroid, do not do well on the generic. The doctor told me it was very important to always make sure I get synthroid. The same type of thing happened to my husband. He took the generic, not knowing that it was not okay and the medication did not work properly.

For the convenience of location, I continue to go to this awful Walgreens where the pharmacist always give me the feeling that I am a nuisance by being there. I quit going inside of Walgreens to get my prescriptions because I had to wait so long. I thought the drive-in would be faster. After many long waits in the drive through, the final drive through trip happened this week. After waiting in line, I finally got to the window, where no one was in sight and was told by a voice on the speaker to "I'll be there in a minute." It was actually five minutes, and a nice young girl appeared.

I paid for my package, and told her this had no reflection on her, but they need more help and who could I contact to voice a complaint. I was told 1-800 Walgreens. She actually said, "go girl." I know you have an idea what is coming. I called the number on my cell phone on the way home I was so fed up. After hearing a recording and waiting for a lengthy period, a person came on the line and asked my name. I told the person I would like to speak to the CEO, the person said she has never talked to the CEO, she could not connect me and she could not give me a phone number or an e-mail.

She said she could take my complaint. I asked her where my complaint would go and she said to upper management. I said, "can I speak to upper management, please." She said no, she could only take my complaint and send it herself. She said she could give me a mailing address for Walgreens corp. I came home so frustrated. I promised myself I would change drug stores and I will, but isn't it sad that the CEO of Walgreens couldn't care less about what is "going on." The American people need to take a stand. According to the news, "1 out of every 7 Americans is living at poverty level." We are doing more for less.

It is time we made a statement to corporations that are making the "big bucks", and make a public statement that they don't appreciate our business and do not want to hear what we have to say. If you are experiencing this type of service, make a statement, take your business where you will be treated as you should be treated as a very special person. We all are!

I have worked with this company for several years, and once wanted to be a retail pharmacist. But now, if I ever do become a pharmacist, I would never work for Walgreens or any other big corporation! Surprisingly (hah), they are all about the money, to the saddest degree! Walgreens is hurting financially right now, and that means one thing for us - layoffs and cut hours. But, as a corporation, Walgreens doesn't want to "lay people off", they want us to quit. They sent out presentations to every pharmacy manager instructing them to cut hours, and to encourage people to quit!

Why would they want us to quit? Here's why - because if we get fired, they have to pay us unemployment! If we quit, they save money! This presentation told the managers to "use a form of attrition" to meet the reduced hours standard! Meaning, if they want to fire a bad employee, just cut their hours until they quit on their own. If a manager ever fired an employee for whatever reason, the manager would then get in trouble by Walgreens for firing someone!

Walgreens has a little thing called the W Card, which allows uninsured patients to receive discounts on prescriptions. The W Card costs the patient $20 to sign up, and then most generics cost $10, or $12 for a 3-month supply. My biggest problem with the W Card is there are signs all over the store that say "Pay less than $1/week for Generics!". These signs are misleading because the signs don't mention it costs $20 to sign up and it is only $1/week if your doctor wrote a 3-month-supply script, and that particular medication must qualify. Not all generics qualify for that.

SO, the signs themselves cause a lot of drama. Because the $1/week thing is only possible when you get 3 months for $12, which cracks down to $1/week. You never only pay a dollar. Many people think that if they have a prescription for 7 pills, it will cost $1, but unfortunately that is not the case. Confused yet? :) On top of that, as I mentioned earlier, the W Card costs $20 for the patient to sign up.

First of all, Walgreens shouldn't charge anyone $20 to sign-up, since they profit on the medication anyway... But anyway. The pharmacy tech who signed the person up used to get $3 in commission. So, when a patient signs up for the W Card, Walgreens corporation makes $17, plus the cost of the medicine, and the lowly pharmacy tech makes $3. I think the pharmacy tech should have received $10 in commission. After all, they have to input all of the information, and re-submit the claims, and explain the terms to the patient, all which usually takes around 10 minutes. And they only got $3 commission.

BUT now, since Walgeens is in an economic crisis, they cut the commission down even more! The pharmacy techs now make $1 for every sale of the W Card, when Walgreens makes $20 plus the cost of the medicine! One dollar?!?! What a joke! Whenever someone asks me about the W Card, I will now tell them to try Walmart's $4 prescriptions, since they don't even make you pay to sign up!

Back to my first point of Walgreens cutting the hours of all the employees. We were short-staffed anyway. We have always been short-staffed. That's why it takes 30 minutes to fill a 10-pill prescription. Because the one pharmacist is usually on the phone 24/7, and the two techs are running around like chickens with their heads cut off since 10 people just walked into the pharmacy and they all need their medicine immediately. So, Walgreens answer to us being short-staffed? They told us to work "more efficiently"! Since we never worked efficiently before. So now we have to work even MORE efficiently with fewer workers!

Please, PLEASE, boycott this evil corporation. Go to your local family-owned pharmacy. They won't have a drive-through and they won't be open 24 hours, but they will appreciate you more. Walgreens treats its employees like chattle. Also, on an related side-note: As much as I hate Walgreens and all other retail pharmacies.... The next time you yell at your local pharmacy tech, please keep in mind that you are not the only person who needed a prescription filled that day, and 90% of the time, whatever you are going to yell at me about, it's probably your insurance company's fault. So call them and yell at them.

FLORIDA -- I have worked my butt off for that company for almost 20 years. Now they have this great idea of hiring a group of non-trained people to process & type, check & fill prescriptions in Orlando, FL. (They call it the CPO center which they can't do very well but that's what you get for being so cheap!!) I have seen so many mistakes come out of that CPO center!! Some were caught by retail store pharmacists but some that fell through the cracks. They constantly tell customers wrong info. Let customers know when rx's are ready when they are not, telling customers they can pay for controlled drugs for cash when their insurance says it's too soon.

Plus many more things but not enough space to list, but this is the biggest farce - laying off workers that have been with the company for years & know what they are doing, that really care about the customers, are willing to help customers find items in stores, listening to customers, feeling what they feel & for what, you got it, the god almighty dollar!! Why do you think all the Walgreens family sold all their stocks? Mr. Walgreen is probably turning over in his grave for what started out as a family (mom & pop) store, to a store that will do anything to make a dollar!! Mr. Walgreen treated his employees like they were part of his family.

Walgreens now treats employees like crap, just another body to help collect that dollar. Too bad if you have family problems, are sick, have family in life support, Walgreens doesn't care. They say they are the pharmacy America trusts, well that's a bunch of **!! I will never step foot in anyone of their stores or give them 1 cent from my pocket!! I know the real truth, Walgreens is a scam!! They are far from the best company to work for. I wouldn't let my dog work for them!! If you don't believe me, just pick up a phone & call a Walgreens pharmacy & see how many hoops you have to jump through just to talk to a pharmacist @ a retail store!!

Employees family members have to go through hoops just to speak with a family member that works in a retail store. Why else do you think all of their employees carry cell phones on vibrate on their person?? Many employees are afraid to come forward with the truth but I am not, I want people to know about it!! For those who don't believe this, I have some advise for you - be very careful & double check your prescriptions before taking them!!

Remember this - Walgreens has changed & not in a good way! They have sold their souls for dollar signs. It's all about how many stores they have open, how much profit they have made. Walgreens prescription costs are higher than anyone else. Why do you think that is?? Greedy stockholders & people in high positions. Walgreens is telling its employees the hell with you, we want the money!!! That's the bottom line.

CALIFORNIA -- I don't know what's wrong with the vast majority of people who complain. Grow up. Stop being, for lack of better words, a baby. I used to go to RiteAid but switched to Walgreens because of the better service. RiteAid suffers from long waits, out of stock merchandise, etc. mostly because the company is poorly run. When a company is heavily in debt it cannot pay top rate to get the best employees and maintain the best computer systems and staffing ratios. A large part of this is due to shrink, theft by customers, and expired foods left out by customers who are too lazy to put it back in the original place. Any by the crazy amounts of customer returns.

Walgreens has much less debt. That's why the stores are cleaner. But each store has its own set of employees. Who frequents a pharmacy? People in need of drugs. The vast majority of customers are well served. Why? They punch in their refills early and give the pharmacy enough time to fill the drugs. Its the people who cannot wait that gives the staff a hard time, and who COMPLAIN the MOST. I sat in the drive through and have seen my share of crazy out of control shopping peers. I don't use drive through because its much longer. You have one person trying to help 2 lanes of cranky people.

Some people expect fast food service at the pharmacy. Hello.. these are your pills for your LIFE. Would you want your surgeon to rush through a surgery because there is a line? No? Well these pills are just as important and dangerous. Give people time to do their work. I don't see many people complaining about their doctors and dentists. Do you know how many times your doctor was wrong in prescribing your medication? The wrong dose. How many tries did it take to get the right medication and dose for your hypertension? For mine it was 4 drugs and 3 doses. So that's 7 guesses. It took 8 months to get it right.

I think if a pharmacy made 7 wrong guesses across 8 months you would have a cow. And what happens when you make an appointment and don't show up? You get a cancellation fee. How many times did you order and not pick up a medication? Was there ever a fee? Probably not. I don't see too many people harping when their dentist is 45 minutes late. Yet 15 minutes into waiting for a prescription you go bonkers. If you have a rx for a medication you say.. I am so in pain. Put me in line first.

Yet when you try to make an appointment because you are sick.. you are told to come in and wait and see if someone cancels. No wonder the staff is so jaded when helping people like you. I think in the end the pharmacy should only accept a certain number of patients per hour. This way everyone will be served and no one will be overwhelmed. If 10 patients walked into a clinic they could all be seen in 1 hr? No way.

I am very sad my independent pharmacy has shut down. My old pharmacist couldn't run his pharmacy with the chains. Now all there is left is chain pharmacies and rude customers. No wonder the country is in the mess it's in. No one takes responsibility, we are obese, we don't want to work hard, we want to buy homes we can't afford and complain later we don't understand interest rates. If you didn't understand it why would you sign? Why do people declare credit card bankruptcy?