CVS Pharmacy has honestly become very hit or miss lately, and I say that as someone who has visited…read moremultiple locations over time trying to give the experience another chance.
The biggest issue for me is consistency.
Almost every time I walk into a CVS, I struggle to find the item I came in for because the shelves are either partially stocked, completely empty in certain sections, or the inventory system says something is available when it actually isn't. At times, it genuinely feels like the stores are just being maintained rather than actively improved or fully supported operationally.
And unfortunately, the customer service experience often reflects that same energy.
It's rare that I walk into a CVS location and encounter employees who seem genuinely happy, supported, or engaged. I'm not even saying that critically toward the staff themselves because honestly, it feels bigger than individual employees. It feels like there may be pressure from corporate expectations, staffing shortages, impossible metrics, burnout, or operational stress that eventually trickles down into the customer experience.
But customers feel it.
The worst experiences I've personally had tend to happen at the pharmacy counters, where interactions can sometimes come across rushed, cold, dismissive, or lacking empathy altogether. And when someone is already stressed, sick, or simply trying to locate an item they need, that type of environment makes the experience even more frustrating.
My most recent visit was honestly simple:
I walked in looking for a specific item and couldn't find it.
But what stood out wasn't just the missing product -- it was the overall atmosphere. The store felt disconnected from the actual customer experience. Retail today is competitive, and customers notice when businesses stop feeling welcoming or fully functional.
I've left positive reviews for many businesses because I believe in recognizing good service when it's deserved. I also understand retail is difficult right now. But I also believe companies need to revisit employee support, staffing, inventory management, and customer service culture because people absolutely notice when those things decline.
At the end of the day, customers don't expect perfection.
They just want to feel helped, acknowledged, and able to find what they came in for.