front of store: great, no problems. pharmacy: don't get your prescription filled here, these guys are clowns. if they've got it in stock maybe you'll do alright but I've had two separate prescriptions sent here, after long fights with insurance to get them covered, and both times they almost immediately tried to "contact [my] doctor" to ask them for "a different medication" and then they do that on Friday afternoons and on the weekends when no doctor would be in, and then they cancelled my prescriptions altogether. have your prescriptions sent to the cvs in alewife. they're overworked over there but they'll do right by you. I hear the pharmacists in Porter square also actually care about your wellbeing and are somewhat invested in getting you your medication. Especially if you're getting something weird or specialty, do not mess around with the pharmacy at this particular cvs. read more

Best CVS around, clean and organized store. The pharmacy staff is top tier. Such a breeze calling in my prescriptions, always quick when I go to pick up. The pharmacist was very helpful and knowledgeable. Overall great experience read more

inquired with a portly younger man with a beard on restroom availability around 4:30 pm on thursday not very enthused to answer my question too preoccupied in watching porn on his phone read more

Long pharmacy wait and when prescription is ready, I had to go back to the end of the line for another looong wait.

I like the fact that the employees at the mini clinic are very friendly and take their time with each patient. Appointment time makes wait time faster. Never a long wait. read more

My CVS store is in Kingston, MA. I place my prescriptions in a plastic case containing partition to allow for a full week's supply. Last week when I filled in the case, I forgot to hold out the pain medicine pill bottle so I could request a refill as I only had one pill left. When I started filling in the case, I realized my error and immediately contacted my CVS pharmacy. As luck will have it the prescription needed to be refilled by calling my doctor. I had no idea how long my doctor would need to contact CVS and give them the authorization. My CVS pharmacy, being aware of my problem contacted my doctor first thing Monday morning and at 1:30 PM Monday CVS called and the message was "Come on down", Now that is a great service from a great CVS pharmacy! read more

Pharmacy service is very poor. They have made repeated mistakes in the dosage of my prescriptions (blaming the mistakes on the doctor, too) and do automatic refills when I have explicitly told them not to both on the phone and in person. Today's prescription mistake was compounded by a clerk that was so anxious that he kept dropping things onto the floor. read more

Will not answer pharmacy phone for over an hour. Went in and they were ignoring the phone that was saying "three pharmacy calls holding". Figured it was just a busy day but exact same thing happened next day. Why have a friggin phone if you actively don't answer it causing me to have to drive there? read more

Friendly and helpful pharmacists. I've gone here for prescriptions, vaccinations, and occasional store shopping. Parking is often a bit crowded by never impossible. They would be my primary pharmacy if they were open more hours or if they had a drive-thru pharmacy window. read more

I just got my covid and flu shots here and I was impressed. I checked in at the pharmacy where a very nice pharmacist checked me in where I forgot to check in through my phone(ooops!) and no later then 3 minutes I was called for my vaccinations where another friendly and sweet pharmacist who did a great job giving me the shots. I did arrive to my appointment 15 minutes earlier which was 11:45am, I returned home at 11:41. I was lucky because I bet some days are busier then others. but the pharmacists there were nice, efficient professionals. I found my go to place. read more

Oddly mixed experience with the pharmacy--consistently pleasant and helpful on the phone, and sometimes surly and impatient in-person. And if something sounds unlikely, maybe question them--I've occasionally gotten incorrect information about insurance coverage. Also, the pharmacy is closed 1:30-2:00 every day, but nothing on their website (or app) says that. read more

This place is AWFUL!! The fact that I'm taking the time to write a review for a CVS store really shows how bad this place really is. Well, to be fair, whenever I have used their photo machines for pictures, the guy who has helped me has been pretty amazing. But sadly that doesn't make up for everything else. My husband brought a prescription there to be filled. Pretty simple right- NO!! The wait time wasn't that bad but when we got home and he looked at it, he realized that the pharmacy had shorted him 15 pills! His prescription was supposed to have 32 and he only had 17. Now, that is a major error. He immediately called the pharmacy and they told him to come back. So, he had to fight rush hour traffic and go back to the pharmacy. When he got there, the pharmacist gave him nothing but attitude. My husband was humiliated. The pharmacist was so loud and didn't make an effort to pull my husband aside to discuss the issue. Instead, he pretty much berated my husband in front of everyone and implied that he was selling the medication (which wasn't even the type of medication that I think is sellable!). The pharmacist wanted to hold onto the prescription and have my husband come back the following Monday (we were there on the Thursday night the week before Thanksgiving). My hubby said that wasn't possible and that he needed the prescription then. The pharmicist then accused my husband of taking more medication than was prescribed, otherwise he should be able to wait. What the pharmist didn't ask, was that we were leaving Sunday to visit my family for Thanksgiving. The pharmicist fixed the prescription and literally (not exaggerating) threw the prescription at my husband. Obviously the pharmacy realized that they made a mistake because they did eventually give him the full prescription, which they would not have done if their stock did not show the error. However my husband walked out of there feeling so humiliated. The pharmacist obviously did not want to admit his mistake. I would recommend to anyone who uses this pharmacy to COUNT OUT YOUR prescription in front of the pharamicist. Otherwise you could get screwed. Also, while using the ATM a few days later in CVS I asked for $140 and only recieved $40. When I verified with my bank, they said $60 was withdrawn. I am still trying to resolve the $20 discrepancy. All in all, we will NEVER use this pharmacy or ATM again. read more

I have a confession. Out of sheer laziness, I didn't change pharmacies as promised in my previous review. I dealt with the BS here for a couple months telling myself "As soon as the weather is better you'll get out of here". Then a miraculous thing happened- the pharmacy got a new manager. I noticed little by little that there were a lot of improvements. My automatic refills were not only actually happening automatically, but the pharmacist was lining them up so I would fill them all at one time. For example, in the past if I had a prescription for a med for 3 months, it would auto refill twice. But when I got a new prescription for the same med I would have to request the auto refill again. Not anymore! This was huge in making my visits easier. Also, the lines are remarkably shorter. The pharmacists always come over and get the line down when it gets out of control. The wait time for meds is shorter. They are just better organized. Above and beyond all that is the new and improved customer service. I was recently laid off and just switched to Cobra. For some reason my Cobra didn't kick in right away and one of the pharmacists went out of his way to call the insurance company to try and push it through. It didn't help, but I really appreciate the effort. I am really impressed with how this place seems to have turned itself around! read more

This may not be the fastest CVS, but it does have some of the friendliest employees. I do all my pharmacy and snack purchasing here.

It isn't really fair to review a CVS but this one takes it in the books as by far the worst CVS location I have ever stepped foot in. I would say, avoid at all costs. It's a nightmare, first off the parking lot is a disaster so park on Mass Ave if you can. The service is overall terrible. Nothing but long lines, not enough staff, enough staff but they're too busy lollygagging, small and dark, just a disaster. Avoid this one and head to Fresh Pond if you can afford the extra mile of your time. read more

This particular CVS location has been my favorite local pharmacy for many years now. The retail area is clean, brightly-lit, well-stocked, and meticulously organized. Parking is ample, despite the fact this CVS shares a parking lot with a busy gym and popular local restaurant. The retail staff is always outgoing and friendly - they go above and beyond to be helpful, and often recognize me and say hello while passing in the isles. I see the same faces over and over again, which is encouraging. There seems to be a good sense of community amongst fellow employees working here. However, the real accolades go to the pharmacy department. This is a BUSY pharmacy location, and the staff behind the counter handles the volume of customers well. The staff at the "pick-up" counter demonstrate an incredible level of patience and goodwill when talking to confused or elderly customers regarding their prescriptions, co-pays, and refills. If anything, they might be TOO patient - I had to take one star off my review for the frequent line at the pick up station. I interact most with two pharmacy techs named Gurdinper and Shaminder, and a pharmacist named Dr. Sharma - three of the hardest working women I've ever known. I'm currently on six different medications, I have minimal health insurance (MassHealth), and I only work part-time. While I recognize I must be a disaster to deal with as a customer, the pharmacy staff at this location couldn't be happier to help me - with every aspect of managing my medication. They are constantly trying different GoodRx #s and coupon codes to get me the lowest price for prescriptions I have to pay out of pocket. They'll happily reach out to my PCP to request a prior authorization, fax him forms on my behalf, and call me as soon as they know the outcome of my request. Dr. Sharma is an OUTSTANDING pharmacist - she's knowledgeable, kind, and friendly, but can still maintain a fast and super efficient pharmacy operation. Her proactive thinking and just plain thoughtfulness have saved me money, time, and frustration dealing with multiple medicines. read more

Maybe this CVS entered my life after they got their amazing new manager, or whatever, but I've got no complaints. The pharmacists do their job well and, although my husband runs into snags once in awhile, I think that's kind of his problem. If you know what you're doing, and keep an eye on whatever shenanigans your insurance company is up to, this place works fine. The retail staff is friendly and patient with people who would cause me to go running into the street. And the retail store is stocked within an inch of its life. What's to complain about? Maybe their automatic phone calling system is a little too enthusiastic? read more

I have no idea what's going on at this pharmacy, but based on my experiences and the other reviews here, they need to do something about it. I went in last month to pick up a prescription. I was told it was set to be filled the next day (I'm on auto-refill and insurance wouldn't cover it until Thursday). I totally understand that insurance dictates when it can be filled, so I left knowing that it would be there waiting the following day. Fast forward to Saturday morning. Husband and little guy in the car on our way somewhere. I stop to run in and grab my prescription since I was told it would be done. Nope. I was waiting to talk to the pharmacy manager who was already dealing with a similar issue with another customer. To make up for the error they expedite my prescription and wave my copay. I'm annoyed at the situation, but accidents happen. This month my husband goes to pick up a prescription. First he calls the pharmacy to make sure they have all his info on file since his coverage had just changed. The doctor called it in and shortly after he received an automated call saying his prescription was ready. We swing in later to pick it up and not only is the prescription not ready but they told him he doesn't even exist in the system. This pharmacy is ridiculous. Never ever have a had such a problem getting an easy prescription filled. I have to actually pick up a refill this week (let's see how that goes), and then after that I'm going to take my prescription elsewhere. read more

Unfortunately I have to echo the many other negative reviews here. First and last time using this pharmacy. It's like all the staff are on Ambien and walking around in a daze. Things take forever and there is no sense of precision or accuracy, which are very important when dealing with drugs and people's lives. I watched one young mother leave in tears after waiting for lord knows how long, with her kids, and then walk up to ask about her issue and the staff was just like, huh, what, oh you wanted something and were waiting on us to act? There is a weird lazy haze floating over the whole place. I'm still here waiting... read more

When I die and end up in hell, I imagine it being exactly like this CVS pharmacy. There is NO sense of urgency by any of the pharmacists here. Even if I'm the next person in line, I often end up waiting 15+ minutes and there have been times that I've bailed out of the line because I've been there for over half an hour. Not only are the pharmacists completely incompetent, they're some of the most awkward people I've ever come in contact with. If you're dealing with the public, you might want to at least pretend to be helpful/normal. There have been times when I come up to the pharmacy and no one has seen me so I've had to track someone down. Like pay attention and do your job! They've also messed up my prescriptions a number of times. Ugh. Avoid at all costs!! read more

I'll keep this short and sweet, but I'm also really unhappy with this place. I just spent an hour there after being told I'd wait ten minutes, for a script I've tried to fill 3 times this week that should have been on automatic refill. The first time the tech told me that my insurance wouldn't cover it until the following day (which did not sound right, because I was a day late on filling it in the same week it was supposed to be renewed). I asked him to please have it filled for the following morning (this morning). So I come back this morning at 9:30am, waited about 15 minutes in line with other customers hovering immediately behind me with no sense of privacy. The tech told me it still wasn't ready, so I left saying I'd pick it up tonight. I roll in at 7pm tonight only to be told that, because they failed to stop renewing my old perscription, they didn't fill EITHER perscription and that I'd have to wait ten minutes. Forty minutes later, I finally have my script and I'm really frustrated. At least 10 customers in the same boat have come and gone before me. No apology, no explaination. I asked the tech what was up, and he explained that they're backlogged and between managers. I'd be more understanding if this was their first offense, but a few times before they've failed to fill my scripts correctly. I like CVS just fine as a company. I used to work there in highschool, and my room mate was a pharmacy tech for a few years in college. Something must be up with this spot in particular. Can't wait until the one closer to the Heights opens up. read more

Worst CVS I've been to. Their pharmacy staff is inconsiderate, slow as snail and doesn't live up to the word. I had a simple question to ask and had to wait there for 30 mins with my old parents. The guy I spoke to didn't care to hear my question and said pharmacist is busy. If there is only going to be a single pharmacist for all the patients and all the other workers in the pharmacy are dumb***$& then patients will surely suffer. On a separate incident my wife's prescription was promised in 30 mins but even after two hours they had not worked on the order. I am changing my pharmacy. read more

The CVS pharmacy located at 23 Mass. Ave. in Arlington has to be the worse business I've had the displeasure of dealing with in some time. After dealing with them for several years I find them to be unprofessional, lacking in empathy, and have a obvious predilection of preying upon clients when at their most vulnerable time. After sending emails and letters without satisfaction I am left with no alternative but to pass the word out to my family, friends, and neighbors urging them to shop for their prescriptions and sundries at another non CVS location. I will say I do not believe this is a single location issue, after talking with family and friends, but more of a systemic denigration of moral standards. As the old idiom cleverly states, to be forewarned is forearmed. read more

I've had a few issues with this pharmacy as well. If there's new management, you'd never know it. There are a few nice individuals here who do try to help, but I've had others who are remarkably clueless. It's out of convenience that I have not switched to the new CVS pharmacy in Arlington. Or laziness. But I will switch at some point. Forgot to mention, Ruth was the one woman I really liked here. She was very helpful and organized..... Ruth, where did you go??? read more

I had this CVS location fill a prescription for me because my regular pharmacy had run out of my medication. When I dropped off the prescription, I noticed that the staff behind the counter were all kind of aloof and seemingly unhappy to be there. Fair enough. I understand that work can be stressful and redundant. I didn't think twice about it, and came back 15 minutes later to pick the prescription up, and it was ready. Very good, I thought. Until I got home. I inspected the bottle, and found it to be lacking 7 pills. I checked a few more times, made sure nothing spilled, etc, and so on..... They got it wrong. By seven pills. I called them, told them what happened, and I was transferred to the manager who said two people verify the count, and that I must be wrong. He told me he would count what they had in stock to confirm that I was wrong and put me on hold for about a minute. He then told me it all checked out, and that I was wrong. I thought that one minute was pretty quick to determine that I was wrong based upon all the pills they had to count.... I realized my battle was futile, and hung up. I could not believe that these "professionals" could make such a glaring error, and on a medication that is serious. Then I read the prescription bottle. It said " 30 Talbets" So not only can they not count, they can't spell. Counting and spelling are two skills I like to think my pharmacist was able to master sometime roughly around 5th grade. Sadly, the people at this particular location are totally inept at both. But not only that, I was charged $3 more than my regular pharmacy. I am totally dumbfounded at my experience here. Two days later I read that CVS is under investigation for overcharging. How that pertains to my experience, i'm not sure, but it doesn't improve my opinion of CVS. I'll be going back to my other pharmacy without hesitation. I don't know if all CVS pharmacies are as bad as this one, so I'm not going to tell you to stay away from CVS. Just this one. read more

Pharmacy is not customer friendly. Would not fill exact same Rx that the Fresh Pond Cvs had filled a week earlier because doctor had ordered capsule rather than pill form, and they only had pills in stock. Drove to Fresh Pond CVS where they were likewise short on capsule form. They again filled the Rx in pill form with no questions. Pharmacist made no effort to be helpful and unconcerned at inconveniencing me. read more

My first visit here, I went looking for tooth whitening products. The manager, an older gentleman was super patient with me. I had a lot of questions and was trying to find a product that had recently changed packaging. He was very friendly, and very helpful. I have been several times since, and everyone on staff has been cheerful and competent. Overall, I would definitely recommend this location as my pharmacy of choice in this area. read more

Smaller store, lots of parking, decent staff.

Gotta say, I don't think I've ever seen a CVS with staff as consistently friendly as in this one. Makes a difference!

The pharmacy staff continue to be helpful here, even if the store is a bit shabby.

I have yet to go to this pharmacy and have what was promised/asked for/instructed actually be delivered. They consistently mix up my prescriptions or lose them; other times I've been told that they will put in a refill (they forget) or that a prescription is ready for pickup (it's not, if it is, it's not the correct one). I used to live in the next town over and the difference between the competency of that CVS and this one is astounding. To top it off, the customer service is poor too. You wait in line while the pharmacists goof off with one another and clearly pay minimal attention to their work (explains the screw-ups). One of these days someone is going to get the wrong pills from this place and die. read more

As far as buying products goes, you're going to be fine. The store is clean, tidy and minimally staffed 90% of the time. So if you can find someone to ring you out, shopping here isn't so painful. As for the pharmacy... Having worked as a tech at another local CVS for two years, I get the jist of how things work behind the counter. That being said, I don't know how they continuously manage to mess my prescriptions up. If you're planning on using this CVS please plan at least three trips in order to get ONE prescription. (And that's prayin' it's generic) The line is always half way out the door, and goodness forbid there's an insurance issue with the person three people in front of you you're going to wait all day. Mostly because the cashier is going to spend twenty minutes trying to figure it out because no one else will take care of it, or go ring up the next in line. I've never quite seen a CVS function like this before. Strike #1 - I had one refill (the bottle said so, the technician said so) but they unfortunately couldn't fill it because "oh, the computer won't let me. Seriously, it literally won't let me." NUH UH DUDE? I'm sorry, you need those tomorrow, well it won't let me fill these, so tough luck. ...Fortunately the CVS at Alewife Brook had some brain cells to spare and no problem filling my generic everyday drug. Strike #2 - What? My doctor never faxed my script? Okay. I'll call them, let them know. Oh, but they say they did. Well. I picked one up from the doctor myself. and brought it to you. What you say? You didn't fill it? OH, you never got it when I handed it to you 3 hours ago? And apparently it's lost in the black hole of your 5sqft. pharmacy. Fantastic. Strike #3 - You accidentally almost sell me someone else's script, then give me mine which you filled generic, even though I am allergic to it, and I know your computer will tell you I am allergic to it in LARGE BOLD LETTERS, because I put it there about 6 months ago myself, and my doctor wrote it on my script "ALLERGIC TO GENERIC". Option B: Visit the Walgreens down the street for fast, friendly service from people who actively replace their brain cells. read more

As has been mentioned, there has been real improvement in how the pharmacy at this location is run. Much more reliable now than around the time of my previous review. read more

Stay away! I have been a loyal CVS customer my entire life-- I've earned enough Extrabucks to buy a house by now. However, the incompetence and general disarray found at this location is intolerable. I don't expect much from a pharmacy except to: fill my prescriptions on time and correctly, answer the phone if I call, don't be assholes in general. Unfortunately, they've managed to screw up my prescription refill not once, not twice, but *every time* I've gone. I just moved up the street and was so excited to have this close by. I'm going to be transferring out to Walgreens because of this store. One shining exception is the young lady that works the pharmacy counter-- she's super helpful, sweet and knowledgeable. She should find a better place to work. read more