Having been here across several different visits, the words that come to mind are: rude, incompetent and slow.

Extra star is for the occasional deals if you have an extracare card. The customer service here isn't great. The cashiers are careless and always have an unfriendly demeanor, which has been my experience every time that I've gone here. I tried asking a question about my return since i used a coupon on my purchase, and instead of explaining anything, the cashier just told me to sign the receipt and didn't seem to understand/care about what I was saying. It says online in the return policy that it's fine to return opened nonprescription products, and that you won't be questioned about it, but the cashier was cynical and slow in processing the return. read more

This is by far one of the worst CVS's in the area. They are unhelpful, and disrespectful to their customers. They also have the longest wait times to fill a prescription. I recommend going somewhere else. If you can, find a non-CVS store, go there. I wish people would start opening their own local pharmacies. I promise that people will go to there. Time to put CVS out of business. Who is with me? read more

As soon as I walked into the store I was greeted with a smile and was asked if I need help. Then I proceeded to the pharmacy. The guy at the pharmacy had the best customer service. Very helpful. Great location read more

3.5/5. A nice, new, spacious location on the Southside of campus. The pharmacist was friendly and very knowledgeable, unlike many I've come across in the area. However, it could be because the location is so new that very people use this CVS as their pharmacy. She also accepted my prescription insurance card unlike the Town and Country Palo Alto CVS pharmacy that incorrectly told me it wasn't valid. Interesting... They also had a good selection of drinks in shiny, new fridges not too far from the register. I grabbed a bottle of sparkling water for roughly $1.70, which is along the lines of what you'd pay at a grocery store. Line at the main register can get quite long, but I was able to purchase all my items at the pharmacy counter. I was also approached as soon as I entered the store and asked if I needed help finding something, which was a nice touch. Overall, it's quite nice for a CVS. Let's see if it stands the test of time. read more

The staff was actually friendly. I just stopped by for a quick purchase but she offered to set me up with a CVS membership card real quick. Her quick service was much appreciated. Also, very thankful for the patient customer waiting behind me. read more

A good, large, new CVS, with generally plenty of knowledgeable and helpful staff on hand. Pluses: A diverse staff, mostly very friendly; wide selection; many very inexpensive items (especially if you have a CVS card, which provides some excellent deals). Big Minus: Very difficult to find anything healthy to eat. Nearly all the foods, especially snack foods, are sugar-laden chemical cocktails. Even stuff labeled "healthy" generally isn't. Nothing fresh other than a few refrigerated liquids (milk, orange juice). Since this CVS replaced an Andronico's grocery store, this has created a bit of a food desert in the neighborhood. read more

Filled my prescription in 10 minutes! Left the doctor, parked my car in the *parking lot*, waited for just 2 people in front of me, and my prescription was ready by the time I was at the register. Perfect. read more

This has always been my CVS ever since it took over the old Andronico's....up until today.I say this because they are not enforcing the new law just mandated, that all persons in a place of business MUST wear a mask. As my wife and I went there today to pick up her meds, masks on, we happened to notice that that they were letting people in who WERE NOT wearing masks. I then brought it to the attention of a staff member, who is always on the floor helping people, and his response was "The manager said that they are not supposed to confront people" Well I guess we WON'T be going to that store anymore. read more

Terrible customer service/unfair treatment. I was openly testing the clearly marked samples. I was putting them back, I dropped an item and couldnt find where it dropped. Instead of getting help. Which would have been a smart way to check out what I was doing. I was asked to leave the store over the LOUD speaker. I actually needed help. They didn't carry many of the items they had samples for. I ended up going to the suprisingly only slightly more expensive - equivalently priced Whole Foods. They were completely in stock and I purchased what I wanted. Never going back due to unfair treatment. Sticking to Walgreens, Whole Foods, and Amazon. read more

This CVS has permanently lost my business because of the dangerously ignorant and arrogant pharmacist. After not filling a prescription -- and not telling either the doctor or my wife that she wasn't doing so, the pharmacist then argued with the doctor about the prescription and ultimately only filled it at a lower level than had been prescribed. That's right, she took it upon herself to choose whether my wife could take a prescription and only filled it when confronted by my wife's doctor, my wife, and myself. (She claimed she was concerned about the total level from two related prescriptions, but the overall level being prescribed was already well within the safe and normal bounds for the medicine.) Crazy, huh? Amazingly, I know one other person who has had a doctor-prescribed prescription refused at this pharmacy. So, do NOT under any circumstances give your prescriptions to this pharmacy, or you might discover that they will not be filled. A pity: I was very pleased with the store when it went in. It's big, clean, and quiet. If I'd never used the pharmacy, I'm sure I would have kept frequenting the store, but the pharmacist ruined that. read more

The pharmacist at this cvs is a nightmare. He has made my life a nightmare trying to get pain medication filled. He had taken it upon himself to be a gatekeeper and determine whose prescription he wants to fill. He tried to tell me my prescription for morphine couldn't be filled because he heard my Dr's license had been suspended which wasn't true. I got it filled at another cvs w no problem. I heard him on the phone taking about another customer and how he refused to fill he script for a drug for lyme disease case he didn't approve of it ! I told cvs management and they have gotten other complaints and wabt to hear from u so please call them and let them know. This is illegal and a violation of our rights as disabled people. So stand up and speak out read more

Basically, this place is the neighborhood liquor store. They crank up the prices then make you sign up for the membership card in order to get a reasonable rate. Evidently, they got in trouble with the ABC and the genius in charge decided that every ID now has to be scanned. They have only one scanner on aisle 1, so that's where you have to buy the alcohol. Now we get to the fun part. To be clear, my underage drinking days are some decades behind me so any ID request is gratuitous. I go to buy some beer and get carded. Annoying, but not tragic. I pull out my very valid CA ID and the mag stripe won't scan. CVS's modern technology evidently can't handle the seven or eight other highly advanced security measures provided by the great state of California, including the bar code which is perfectly readable. I ask for the manager, who is both a little superior since he's holding my beer hostage, and completely blameless since it's not his fault that they're in trouble with the ABC. He tells me that this store was instructed by the ABC that they have to scan EVERY ID with the crappy mag scanner. No exceptions. I respond that this is utter nonsense and leave without my beer. FYI, for the district honchos at CVS, here is what the ABC website says about requirements for proof of age: Q. 74. What is documentary evidence of age and identity? A. To be suitable as evidence for a defense, the identification card must be issued by a governmental agency and have a current description and a picture of the person presenting it which reasonably describes the person as to date of birth weight, height, sex and color of eyes and hair. No defense will exist if the card has obviously been altered or has expired. A registration certificate issued under the Federal Selective Service Act is no longer considered documentary evidence of age, identity and date of birth. (Section 25660) Funny, I don't see anything about the CVS Crappy Mag Scanner(tm) being essential to determining that my perfectly valid CA ID is acceptable identification. Never going back. Got my beer at Crafts and Grapes three blocks away at Telegraph and Blake for about the same price. read more

Pharmacy: bad experience. I have a serious health problem. My doctor found out about it a few weeks ago, sent me to a therapist who diagnosed me, and then I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed me medicine to cure the problem. This all went so quickly because I need help with my condition, and I need it fast. All these people have been amazing and improved my quality of life in ways I can never thank them enough for. So I got all the help I needed and the medical chain was working smoothly... until I got to the pharmacist at CVS. I gave the young guy with dark hair behind the counter (the only one who's helpful and actually cared - but got influenced by the woman with headscarf and the old man with white hair) my prescription. I see the woman in headscarf look at me suspiciously, basically doubting my prescription! The man asks me for an ID. I give him a foreign ID. He says he needs an American ID. Okay... so if I am an international student I am not allowed to pick up medicine or something?! Now it happens to be that I am a green card holder so I do have an American ID. I give it to him. Then he says he needs an insurance card. I have never before been asked for an insurance card, normally my insurance number is enough, but okay. I try to download it on my phone but it is out of battery and the website where I am supposed to be able to download it doesn't actually give me the option. So I tell that to the lady and she says: oh that is weird, I see many students who can show it to me and upload it on their phone. In other words: she tells me I am lying! I ask her if I can use a computer or phone or charger, but she says no. I go out of the building, to get a paper copy, come back. Guess what they then say? If it's okay to pick it up another day. Uhm, no. I need my medicine and I need it now. You know what they say next? 'Students are coming to CVS all the time to pick up the medication you want to get and they make it up.' Basically telling me - again - that I am faking my stuff. The young guy is telling me this, but it's clear that the old guy with white hair has told him what to say. I have been dealing with my health problem for long enough. I have been through 3 rounds of doctors. And now a pharmacist, of all people, is telling me that he doesn't believe what my doctors prescribed? It is ridiculous. I understand you have to follow some rules, like check my ID (not American though...) or even see my insurance, but there is no need for them to doubt my prescription! That is just rude. If you have problems deciphering which prescriptions are real or not, come up with a better paper system (like have watermarks) or call my doctor to verify. But do not play doctor for yourself and go against what my doctor told me ('get the prescription today') and make my life harder as a result. I don't care you deal with fraudsters. I am truly upset they treat me as a criminal, and I had a particular tough day already and they just don't care! Anyway, good to know they do not value students as customers, as I am never ever going to a CVS store again as a working professional for the prescription that I most likely will need for the rest of my life. Now, I already liked Walgreens better anyway. So thanks for confirming what I already knew. You suck. PS. I see I am not the only one who had a bad experience with the pharmacy. I totally understand the lady who felt the pharmacy's actions jeopardized her health. I feel the same way. And I agree the old white haired dude should be fired from this pharmacy. Or at least he should (1) get training in customer service, (2) learn to understand that 99% of his customers are not junkies (and they should be treated with respect, too!), and (3) re-evaluate his limits as a pharmacist (he's not a doctor, and he clearly doesn't understand why doctors prescribe certain medicine the way they do, and that's why he's only there to fill the prescription). read more

I was surprised this place had any good reviews. My experience was limited to the photo department - so maybe the rest of the store isn't as terrible. KEEP AWAY FROM THIS PHOTO DEPT - HORRIBLE Photo department fiasco: This CVS has some of the worst customer experience I have ever experienced. I ordered 40 wedding announcement cards through the CVS website - which is the only reason this place even deserves one star, they have some nice cards at an okay price! However, I 100% regret ordering from them. It has been nothing but a hassle. I ordered the cards Wednesday (1/11/17) to be picked up at the Berkeley Telegraph location - same day printing. I was supposed to receive an email upon completion of the order. Come Friday (1/13/17), no email. I called the store, asked if my order was done and was told yes. 30 minutes later, I get a call saying they were wrong the order wasn't completed. They weren't able to print the cards because their printer ran out of toner. She apologized that I hadn't been contacted by phone the day I ordered the cards. She assured me the cards would be finished Wednesday (1/18/17) when the new toner was delivered. She promised that I would receive a call when they were finished. I was frustrated that cards I had ordered as "same day printing" were going to take so long. But I couldn't do anything about it, they had already charged me $60. Plus, I needed the cards asap. And I would have been fine if I had received a call on Wednesday. But, by Friday (1/20/17), no phone call, no confirmation email. So I called the store to ask about the status of the cards. The customer service person at photo simply replied she was too busy and didn't have time to check the status of my cards. She said she would call me back and hung up. No phone call yet (with this track record - there probably won't be a phone call!) I will update once I have figured out this debacle. I highly encourage people to order photos elsewhere. read more

Great service! This is a huge CVS, always well stocked, clean and well maintained, it has a private parking lot and the lines to check out are always short. I don't know what all the fuss in some of these reviews is about - in comparison to the rest of the tiny and not so clean CVS stores in Berkeley this store is basically a palace! read more

I've been coming here since it opened and the pharmacy experience has been variable. Some staff are nice, others, mostly the Pharm Ds, border on nasty and rude. Maybe they are overworked and understaffed? I've been put on hold when I tried to call the pharmacy 2 days in a row for extended periods of time--so long that I hung up both times. read more

"This rating is for the pharmacy only". I give the rest of the store 5 stars for being convenient and having really good sales. So I was on the phone with my daughter and wanted to speak with the pharmacist about some medication. I told my daughter to hand him the phone so I could ask. My daughter told the counter person (an old lady) if I could ask the pharmacist a question on the phone. Her comeback ,"He's busy"! My daughter, "It's just a fast question and she's on my phone". Old lady, "Well she called you didn't she"? "Then she can call here"! Why should I---I'm already on the phone and nobody is in line anyway! My daughter said the pharmacist was just standing there not doing anything. I told her to just leave and go to Walgreens (their always happy to answer questions). So CVS looks like you lost a pharmacy customer because of the OLD RUDE SHREW you have working the counter! You should teach your employee some people skills! HOW RUDE! read more

Absolutely worst service at any CVS I've been to in my life. I went shopping there today. Everything was fine until I got to the check out. Evidently, a person with a valid ID who is over 21 cannot buy alcohol from this establishment if they are even seen with someone who doesn't have an ID. The alcohol was not for the person I was shopping with, and regardless, they are over 21 (but hadn't brought a state ID as they were not planning on buying alcohol or cigarettes for themself). After they went home with their purchases, I stayed and spoke to some employees about this policy, and they condescendingly let me know that if I wanted to purchase alcohol, I would have to wait until tomorrow and come on my own, even though I was shopping completely by myself at that point and had a valid ID that states that I'm over 21. They were extremely disrespectful, and suggested that I would be arrested were they to let me buy the alcohol, implying that I was attempting to break the law and supply this alcohol to a minor. I was told that not only could I not go through the check out with someone without an ID or someone under 21, but I couldn't even be seen shopping with them at all, or I would be barred from making the purchase until the next business day. Ridiculous. I will be contacting corporate. Don't ever shop here if you want to be treated like an adult. read more

This is an incredible cvs. The service was outstanding. They helped me with getting everything I needed. And the line wasn't very long so overall it was a solid shopping experience read more

It was much better having Andronico's in this spot, but, hey, a CVS is better than the abandoned graffiti magnet it was for a year or so after Andronico's closed. I like all of CVS's coupons and deals and such, but a few of the checkout employees have been a little bit rude at times. But then again, some of the employees have been extremely helpful, too. Guess it just depends on who is working. read more

Cashiers are very slow and often make so many mistakes about sales and correct prices, especially the old Filipina lady. I spent 20 minutes behind one person, because old Filipina lady was taking her sweet time, unnecessarily long, and made so many mistakes in inputting a SINGLE item from the costumer in front of me. I waited 20 minutes, only to come back after already driving off back to my house and find out that she also made a mistake in my purchase, in which she charged me more than my two item purchase. It's very frustrating, because this happens every time I come to this CVS when the old Filipina lady is working. read more

Incredibly rude pharmacist named Niva refuses to fill prescription for my dog to prevent his seizures. After an incredibly frustrating conversation in which she constantly interrupted, was combative and was more interested in arguing with me than attempting to solve the problem of getting my dog his medication, she vindictively called me back to tell me she would not be filling his prescription. I'm definitely going to CVS corporate with this - refusing to give medication due to not liking someone personally should be illegal. read more

I'm filing a lawsuit now that their pharmacist and manager refused to fill a legally obtained prescription from the burn unit at st Francis hospital. I was harassed and talked down to by the old man at the pharmacy and the "manager". CVS should be closed if this is the best they can do. Abusing disabled people is as low as it gets read more

The male pharmacy manager has been rude and unprofessional with me on several occasions but my interaction with him today put me over the edge- and has pushed me to write my very first yelp review. The only star in my rating goes to the female pharmacist with the kind smile who tried to assist me with compassion and professional conduct. Her manager insisted that he faxed a prescription related message to my doctor 3 weeks prior but could not provide any evidence- including a date. He never left his desk (which was about 15-20 feet from the counter where I was standing) the entirety of our interaction asking me questions that should professionally remain private- such as the type of medication I am taking and the reason within earshot (a 20 foot radius in which we were all standing) of several other customers waiting to be helped. He insisted on helping both me and another customer simultaneously (all from his computer) asking us both personal questions in front of the other... jumping back and forth between our cases and then berated me for not allowing him to "finish" helping the other customer first. I replied several times that I was happy to wait my turn- but he continued to help the two of us at the same time. He refused to give me a time frame for his next fax or phone call to my doctor and although he told me it was my responsibility to have my prescription refilled (he told me 3 weeks prior (not guaranteed but..) he would handle it) he would not tell me the earliest date I could pick up my next prescription or for how many days I could receive an interim prescription because he said "you are assuming that I am not going to handle this"...??! At this point the other customer (who had been hearing all of my personal medical history) chimed in with her opinion of what I should do. The manager again told me that it was my responsibility..but that he would handle it and it shouldn't be a problem. He was irritated that I would not let him handle it (although my prescription runs out in 2 days and I don't have time for another of his misplacing faxes or not returning phone calls) and would not answer any questions at all that would allow me to make other plans for my prescription. He told me 3 weeks ago he would call when he contacted my doctor and I never heard anything. This manager laughed at me, treated me as if I was being completely irrational, put me in a position to publicly share my medical information, refused any responsibility and would not even walk to the counter to help me when things escalated. He did nothing to stop the other customer from telling me how she thought I should handle the situation. When I left they were both laughing at me, several other customers standing by exchanged looks of horror and the sweet female pharmacist kept her head down. This manager should be fired. His job is ASSIST customers not completely stress them out and make them defend themselves. Customer service aside- he was not professional at all in his conduct and most likely broke some sort of patient privacy laws. read more

Night and day that's how i found this CVS's pharmacy after 6 months of avoiding it. Just 2 days ago I decided to 'risk' returning to this location to pick up two RX's while my flu-ridden husband waited in the car. We'd just been to Berkeley Family Practice across the street & husband was really ill. Knowing what the tablets would look like, I was ready for any possible mistakes (To go to another CVS would've entailed more problems.) What a change in the pharmacy, thank goodness ! Two new techs (both seemingly competent and confident) now assist Paul. No longer crazy-confused, suddenly I saw him as the friendly professional he must've been-- before becoming stressed to the breaking point. Everything went smoothly although there were many RX's to be filled & several consultations he needed to give. Yeah CVS for recognizing that this flagship store needed attention. Now Paul can do what he was meant to do. read more

This place opened just a few years ago, so the interior looks like it is in good shape. Their selection is not great. Customer service is passable, but heaven forbid you need to return something if your receipt was sent via email. It will likely mean calling a manager, and then you will wait, and wait, and wait. So much for convenience at this location. read more

We came to this store today to pick up a photo calendar and several mugs that we ordered online. The manager and cashier spent 20 minutes trying to find these items behind the cash register. I peeked behind the counter and asked if they were in the two large packages next to the cashiers left foot where he had been standing the whole time. It then took another 10 minutes for the cashier to figure out how to cash us out because the calendar didn't have a bar code on it. To say the customer service representative has the IQ of a slug would be overly generous. I would have some sympathy if the employee were stoned, but he did not appear to be chemically impaired. read more

YIKES! There are some rough reviews here. But after all, this is where you express your good and bad experiences. I was so happy when they made this Andronicos into a CVS. They usually have pretty much everything I want or need. They are about 12 blocks or so away from me so usually I hop on my bicycle or motorcycle and ride up there. I do not consider it a "Trek" as the person coming from the Bancroft area 5 or so blocks away writes. Pharmacy, (always very busy) photo dept. (I have not used), beer and hard alcohol, shampoo and bathroom supplies and goodies for my dog and probably the least used area, greeting cards which no one under 50 sends anymore with the internet. It is all there. But hardest hit on YELP is the pharmacy in the back. They are for sure the busiest dept. Paul, Zara, Andreas and Michael are on the constant go. They are all great people. People from all around come here just for their meds. Even people that should not be coming in for meds come in for their "meds". Anyway, when it comes to medications, I always call in first even though my doctor may say he or she has sent the prescriptions in. There can always be a hold up with a range of the different things that I see with complaints here. They can also tell you over the phone if they are backed up and it will be longer than you want to wait. I believe they can send your doctors request to another pharmacy of your choice. I think? Never been that much in a hurry. So with them usually having a full day, I say call first. There is a phone right there connected to you. Chris read more

This is perhaps the worst cvs and pharmacy I have ever been to. I can't tell you how terrible these people are at doing their jobs. This place is conveniently located for cal students and local residents, but it might as well not exist. The pharmacist, Paul Newton, always makes me feel uncomfortable with the way he talks down to me. He is also constantly getting into arguments with customers who are polite and are simply asking for assistance. The rest of the pharmacy staff is run by him and don't know what they're doing as they are all brand new and most likely not receiving any help from him either. I know the reviews won't necessarily stop someone from going if it's convenient, but I can only hope a manager at cvs can see this and address the problem. This pharmacy is incompetent to say the least. read more

This place is a godsend if you live on southside past Dwight. The store is pretty big and clean, and offers a great selection of health & beauty products along with a decent selection of groceries. The prices here are fairly decent too, at least compared with Walgreens by campus and by the BART station and the CVS on Shattuck. Weekly deals are so much easier to shop here than at Walgreens too. Another nice thing about it is that it's not crowded, probably because not many people/students know of this CVS. read more

This CVS has the slowest registers. They also have this thing where people form one line and stand 7 feet away from the registers, which is super weird and makes you feel like the line is going to take a long time to get through because the line is so spread out. I don't really know if this is something people just do or if that's what the employees tell the customers to do. Some of the young people who work here are pleasant, but some of the older ladies are kinda sour. read more

Wayy overpriced at about 100% over what Target would sell the same items for. 2 stars versus 1 is for the nice staff except for the manager, he's always been rude and unhelpful (my fault for knowing this and still going to his register). Someone else feels the same way as seen in one of the "unrecommended reviews" yelp takes off read more

I've had limited experience with the pharmacy, getting a flu shot, which was fine. The front store staff began as friendly and helpful, but they have very confusing and complex rules regarding coupons, which they apparently enforce arbitrarily depending on which staff member you encounter. Some of them practically shake you down like you are a thief for wanting to use coupons that the company encourages you to use in their weekly flyers. I've had select clerks suspiciously read every single coupon in my order before relenting to apply it. This was time consuming, and frustrating for me as well as other customers waiting in line. After multiple unpleasant encounters with the staff, I gave up ever shopping there again. I have found many other CVS stores much more accommodating and appreciative of my business. I routinely shop at this chain weekly, and spend a good deal of money there, annually, but I drive miles out of my way to avoid this store and will continue to do so until they change their abusive attitude toward their loyal customers. read more