This is a decent Rite Aid location. They are usually well-stocked, the staff is usually friendly,…read moreand I'm usually able to find whatever I come in for.
(Pro-tip: Rite Aid has surprisingly good deals on alcoholic beverages.)
This store was partially remodeled within the last few years, after a car drove through the side of the building. (Seriously, what is up with the residents of Folsom driving through retail stores? The same thing has happened at Raley's and Starbucks.)
Earlier today, I posted pictures of the new garden center inventory. They have lots of cute stuff, and it's almost always on sale. This time of year, the sale is only 25% off, but it'll probably hit 50% off by spring, and 75% off by fall. If there are any bicycle planters left by fall, they might become part of my collection.
A few weeks ago, while shopping in this store, I noticed signs on the (fully stocked) ice cream freezers which read, "ICE CREAM NOT FOR SALE." Now, I'm curious. What was going on with the ice cream?
Why was it there, but not for sale? If it's not for sale, why not move it to the back freezer? Do they not have a back freezer? If it was spoiled, why wasn't it thrown in the trash? Was it waiting to be donated to the food bank? Was it perfectly good ice cream that just hadn't been scanned in yet? I have so many questions.
Anyway, the main reason I shop at this store is for the pharmacy, where I usually receive great service, with a few exceptions. I've actually had to come in three separate times this week, and the first two times were good experiences.
The third trip has a backstory:
About five months ago, I came in to pick up a three month supply of birth control. The pharmacist told me that I was only getting a two month supply, instead of three, because they were out of stock. He assured me that he would make it up to me next time-- but he never did.
This afternoon, when I called to refill my prescription, I was told by the young male pharmacy assistant that I was too early. This is upsetting for a few reasons.
First, they still owe me a whole month's supply that they never gave me! That's the last time I'll trust the pharmacist on his word alone, without a note or something. Why wasn't it notated on my file, as promised? Where did my prescription go? Did one of the employees sell it? Is there a Dr. Richard Sharpe situation going on?
Second, according to CA law, I should be able to receive a whole year's supply at once. Last year, they were making me come in every single month. After my supply came in late two months in a row, I ended up throwing a fit (you can't just mess with my hormones and expect me not to get moody), and then they started giving me three months at a time.
Third, I should be able to skip a week out of every single month, and it's honestly not my pharmacist's business if I do. This is a personal decision that is between me and my doctor. I should be able to pick up my yearly supply up to three months early, theoretically.
Fourth, it's important to take birth control on a regular schedule, in order to prevent things like acne and pregnancy. Randomly changing the schedule can mess with your mood, along with a lot of other things that I would rather not mention in a Yelp review.
So, to have a young man in his twenties (who I'm guessing has never taken birth control) deny me my medication was upsetting.
Luckily, when I called my doctor, she straightened things out, and I was ultimately able to receive the medicine on time. By the time I came in, the young man had been replaced by a young woman, who was much more understanding and helpful.
That being said, the reason I docked a star is actually for the nightmarish restrooms, which were somehow missed during the partial remodel.
If my rating were for the restrooms alone, it would be a negative five. Of course, I'm only able to speak for the female restroom, but it's always dirty, has multiple broken soap dispensers attached to the walls, and rarely has usable soap.
Honestly, I'm not doing it justice. It's so bad. It has that ancient pipe smell. All of the tiles are cracked. And the walls are caked with years of... nevermind. I can't wrap my head around how this was missed during the remodel. Does someone need to drive a car through the restroom, too?
I *hope* the pharmacy has their own separate restroom, because if the pharmacists are using a restroom where there is no soap, then that would be a health code violation (and gross).
Overall, I'm mostly satisfied with my shopping experiences at this location, and will continue to shop here in the future-- although I really wish they would bulldoze the whole restroom, and start over.
