My rating is due partly to a very recent handling of my business, but there is a much bigger…read morepicture so I am not going to begin with the most recent, which certainly was a catalyst to write this.I realize this may affect my relationship with this business, if it can be called that. Just out of convenience, Gibson is also a "compounding" pharmacy.I hope not, but if it does, so be it.
Let me also as someone who practiced law over 35 years as a Plaintiffs in employment and labor, and politically and philosophically I in those ways naturally at odds with Walmart as oligopoly and the Walton family as multi billionaires.The current heirs worth billions have never worked a day in their lives and pay no taxes. So, why do I shop there? It is not just cheaper prices. My wife really likes people working, checkers, most of whom are probably immigrants. And also the pharmacy.
Everyone believes the stereotypes that big multistage stores are distant and impersonal but cheaper prices driving the poor local businesses into bankruptcy. (I also practiced bankruptcy law for many years.) But, the local business were your neighbors, would recognize you, treat you special, make you feel your business is wanted.
You can see where I am going with this. I can only speak to the Walmart Pharmacy on Foothill Drive in Salt Lake City. The head pharmacist and other workers know both my wife and I and call by our first name, they have called us personally about vaccinations and given me information and print out of medicine without my even asking.
I have been doing business with Walmart Pharmacy for about 3 or 4 years so maybe about a year or less than with Gibson's. I only go there for the filling one prescription because it was relatively new as to be prescribed and my health care provider recommended it. (Let me be perfectly clear. I do not think for a second that my physician is getting back or anything improper about her relationship with Gibson's.)
I cannot say and I am not going to check but I am sure I have been doing business with Gibson's, the local family ownedmUtah business, for over two years. It may be close to three. The vast majority of workers treat me continuously as an unknown and complete stranger. Maybe I should expect that. But, after several months, some of the pharmacists behind the counter look at me as to recognize me and never say a word to me when I come in unless I go out of my way to smile and give them a big "Hello," which earns me a grudging acknowledgement. They have been continuously cold and unfriendly to me. I was in there one time and a fellow I assume is a head pharmacist and who ignores me went out of his way when a middle aged woman came in, maybe a neighbor or somebody who goes to the same Church. That makes a big difference in Utah.
What happened recently is I understood for a long time, several months, I could renew my prescription on the 15th of each month as allowed by the insurance company. In June, I let it slide for over a week for several personal reasons. This month, July, I called and renewed my prescription religiously on July 15th. Two days later, I had to call back having not received a text from Gibson's that my prescription was ready to be picked up. I was informed the insurance company had placed a "hold" on my prescription as they had without warning changed the date I could renew as I waited to a later date in June. I do not blame Gibson's that they could not provide me with my prescription during the hold, but they could have easily prepared it.
Now, here is where the problem occurred and the continuing delay. It worked out that the hold lasted I believe until July 23rd. The 24th of July was a state holiday so they were not open. They were open July 25. Nothing was done to fill my prescription until Monday, July 28th and it was not ready to be picked up until late yesterday, July 29. They could have easily foreseen that the holiday was coming up plus the weekend so I was facing an unnecessary delay unless they gave me some consideration. Maybe I Am asking to be treated special but that is the difference between a business that gets 5 stars and one that gets 1 or 2. Factor in how they have treated me so coldly over the course of my "relationship" with them.
