Zero stars. I was on hold for over an hour waiting for this pharmacy to confirm a simple prescription was ready--one caller away, for the entire wait. This pharmacy was clearly not going to ever pick up this line and no callback was ever offered. Therefore it is implied we should hang up. We know this because, after a workaround, a staff member told us off the record that this is a misdirected "pound-sand" hold governed by workers who are angry at management. She essentially told me no location is too busy or understaffed to cause a wait longer than 30 minutes. You help someone in line, then you help someone on hold, then you go back to the line. What you experienced was hostile. Where is it written that anyone at this location, high or low is entitled to waste our time in such a passive aggressive manner? Take note. read more

Constantly messed up prescriptions and fails to update you or answer the phone. Very frustrating to deal with the rude pharmacy staff as well. Just go to a mom and pop pharmacy because this place is a joke. read more

I've been coming here for a long time but in the last few years I only shop if it's an emergency. It's woefully understaffed, has long pharmacy and checkout lines, and is just unpleasant to shop at overall. I highly recommend going to Park Place Pharmacy across the street instead. read more

Uncertain what changed but I give 5 stars for my experience. Very helpful folks while I called several pharmacies due to medication shortages and backlogs. They patiently took my call and told me the availabilities & expected time for the meds (brand, generic, and their dosages), and managed to fill my doctors rx within 2hrs! Stellar. read more

Doc called in an Rx four days ago. No call from Pharmacy. I called them and after 56 minutes of annoying, repetitive hold chatter. I heard someone pick up then hang up the phone. Switching to Capsule this instant. read more

If you want rude, uncaring, and unprofessional, then this is your place. The staff don't acknowledge the customers. Due to this horrible treatment, I requested a transfer. Walgreens on flatbush and 7th said they did not have a record of my prescription after they charged my insurance. Please avoid!!! read more

This is far and away the worst pharmacy I've ever been to. Yesterday I had a prescription sent there and after a while it showed as delayed in the app. I called them to see if it was in stock and they assured me that it was and that my prescription would be filled today. Today my prescription still showed as delayed so I called again. I sat on hold for 30 minutes, and when I finally got ahold of someone they told me again that they would begin the process of filing it immediately and that I could come pick it up later. After work I stopped by to pick it up. I waited in line for 20 minutes and when I finally got to the register they told me that it was out of stock and to try back next week! I asked to speak to the pharmacist and all he said was that next time I call I should get the name of whoever I talk to, as if that would somehow have helped anything. This isn't even the first time this has happened. A few months ago they did almost the same thing to me. They told me that a prescription was in stock and would be ready for pickup the next day, and then the next day when I tried to pick it up told me it was out of stock. I gave them a second shot because this is the closest pharmacy to my house and is right off the subway stop I get off at after work, but I will not be making that mistake again. read more

The store itself is fine but this pharmacy is horrific. I have NEVER seen a line that's less than 20 to 30 min to simply pick up a prescription. And on most days the line is even longer. ( yes I have tried off busy hours). It's just not worth it here unless you want to stand in line for an hour. Also the store itself knows about this issue at this location and they have chosen to do nothing about it. If that tells you anything. read more

Don't use this pharmacy if you love yourself. Worst pharmacy I've ever been to. Use to have my medications here but it just got worse and worse. Switched my medications to an amazing mom and pop pharmacy up the street which closed down and sent my medications back here, to pharmacy Hell, like a terrible recurring nightmare. Ordering refills through the app doesn't work and you still have to wait when you arrive at the pharmacy. Trying to call in usually means being on hold for at least half an hour. If you request a call back, they call you back hours later and THEN put you on hold for half an hour. The line is usually 10 people long at all times because the pharmacy is so unbelievably sloggish. Everything is also kept behind glass and the place is perpetually understaffed so you usually have to wait at least 5-10 min to successfully get moisturizer. Everyone working here seems miserable and I have a hard to blaming them. Awful vibes, awful practices, just a broken down dystopian machine of a pharmacy. read more

so understaffed. always a long wait to pick up at the pharmacy. this store is a disgrace.

Totally understaffed. Always a long wait in check out line. Everything locked up! Avoid if at all possible!!'

I imagine purgatory is much nicer than the lines you are guaranteed to wait in attempting to pick up your prescriptions at this pharmacy. When you finally get to the light at the end of it all there's typically a single soul running around frantically behind the counter lost and confused. For a million dollar corporation you'd think they could staff the damn place especially in such a busy part of Brooklyn. read more

I waited 45 minutes to pick up my prescription in a long line. It happens every time I come to get a prescription. The items are cheaper online than in the store so I do online pickup. My items are rarely ready when I go to pick them up. If you add a prescription in to be picked up with the online order it never works. They make you stand in the pharmacy line even though it should be picked up at the front counter with your online order. It's never an easy experience. read more

I just stood on line here for over half an hour. They told me hours ago that my prescription would be ready in 10-15 minutes, so I left and came back, and it's not ready. Don't be like me; use a different pharmacy. read more

Disorganized, understaffed, and long waits to pick up pharmacy items. The automated phone system typically has wrong info. Two stars instead of one because I appreciate the easy access to vaccinations read more

It should not take 45 min - 1 hour to pick up a prescription, nor should it be impossible purchase anything without requiring an employee to unlock it. An absolutely useless store. read more

Don't go here if you need seizure medications. They will put you at risk by not giving your meds, treating you like an addict, accidentally deleting prescription, asking if this prescription is from your real doctor (insinuating you are trying to get more than you need). Go to a local pharmacy, it is easier than you think. A CVS pharmacist actually told me to do this and it's much better. read more

The pharmacy is a joke. Despite many employees bumbling around behind the counter, there is never less than a 25-minute wait on line. Today they told me they haven't yet unpacked the medication they had assured me would be awaiting pick up a day ealier. I literally shouted at them to go unpack it so I can get my mother's vital medication after a 1/2 an hour wait, which they suddenly managed to do within a minute, with about ten people patiently waiting on line behind me. I live half a block away but am subscribing to an online service right away, since I would be happy never to enter this dump again. read more

The staff is friendly and this place is usually stocked with what I need. But I consistently have issues with the pharmacy when refilling a prescription. They always say "prescriber denied - reach out to Dr. XXXX." And when I reach out to the prescriber, they say they don't have any communication or request from Duane Reade. This has happened twice with two different prescribers, so I have to believe that they're not actually sending refill requests to doctors. Another time my status just said "in process" for DAYS. I had to call and the pharmacy person on the phone said "oh, looks like whoever input this into the system did it wrong." Not promising when they're dealing with medication... Also, don't bother placing an online order for pickup - you still have to wait in the massive line even though they have a SIGN that says "pickup here" (I guess they can't be bothered to operate 2 lines). read more

I don't doubt that every Duane Reade pharmacy is horribly dysfunctional but wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that this one is the worst in all of Brooklyn. I've waited on hold for close to an hour, more than once, before giving up, and have been forced several times to drop by the location to wait on long lines that almost invariably lead nowhere since everyone who works here appears to be incompetent. My doctor spent more than an hour on the phone with them to convince these people to fill two prescriptions that required no preauthorization, though the pharmacy kept claiming the opposite. He sent over a fax which finally convinced a pharmacist to fill them. Why didn't these people do their own homework? Beats me. No one notified me when the prescriptions were filled, needless to say, so I had to call and wait on hold for 15 minutes to confirm they were ready for pick up. Afterwards, when I went to get them, they made me wait to consult with a pharmacist who was busy administering Covid shots even though I've been on this medication for years. When she finished with the shots our consultation lasted half a second. She said nothing at all. And it took them close to 2 weeks to dispense my prescription. The manager here, the man responsible for this pathetic mess, is named Muhammad, I'm told, but good luck contacting him. This may be the fastest way to get anyone's attention here. read more

Folks, it's a Duane Reade not Cipriani's. Get in line to buy your shampoo and grab a seasonal Cadbury egg near the checkout. Pharmacy staff are friendly. If you don't like pharmacy lines, sign up for Capsule and get delivery. read more

AVOID AT ALL COSTS!! I took 45 minutes to fill a prescription that should have taken 5 minutes. I have been here 3 times and every time there is some kind of problem. You never get the same answer to a question - it's a different answer depending on who you speak to. Massive lines. It's never simple. It's never - here's your prescription, pay and leave. Had I not said something after waiting 30 minutes I would have waited all afternoon. They never, ever get it right. Ever. Now my afternoon is completely screwed up because they do not care about their customers. The only positive thing I can say is, is that everyone I dealt with has always been very polite but that doesn't make up for massive lines at all times of day, massive waits. I have never been to a worse pharmacy. I feel badly writing this review because, as stated, everyone was very polite and appeared to be working but the waits are too long and you can never get a consistent answer. read more

Shabby, slow service, no public washroom. Pathetic really. Nothing more to add expect review padding.

There was NO CASHIERS !!!!! There was a long line and these two workers were just yapping their mouths. All I had to purchase was one water bottle. I almost missed my bus. I had to land the water bottle some where and start running. This is the worst Duane Reade I ever been too. The customer service is poor !!!! read more

Duane Reade - a man standing in a grocery store - Drugstores Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Try to get the pharmacy on the phone. Your illness could easily run its course by the time they pick up.

Worst service. Pharmacy lines stretch out the door with one slow person working alone. A nightmare when you're sick and just want to go home. read more

For the sake of the community and the sanity of the pharmacy, Tamar Victor should not be working the pharmacy counter. Extremely inefficient, argumentative to customers and coworkers and has no sense of urgency or privacy. I will not return read more

Always crowded, understocked and understaffed, this place needs new management to make it more efficient. I live next door so use for convenience, but always find it a frustrating experience. read more

Pharmacy is consistently slow and ill prepared. They really need to do better. Just so bad.

The pharmacy part is a hot mess. The young ladies move like they're overwhelmed and it shows when they interact with sick patients. The whole team is a mess. I was on a line for 30 minutes and had to wait an additional 30...only to be told that I would have to wait 15 more minutes. I was so sick and tired with their BS that I had my doctor send my prescription to a nearby pharmacy. Duane Read called me back an hour after I walked out. Mind you, I had my prescription already from the other pharmacy. Be ready for major attitude and sub standard service! read more

This place is always cleared out, has everything under lock and key, and has maybe 1 person on register at a time. Currently 15 people in line at one register read more

It's probably wrong that I am happy to be back at this pharmacy since I always had an issue with getting my meds on time. However, now I do get my meds w/o hassle. I also get good service ...never happened before. Also the redesign is pretty cool and the mini market is definitely convenient for the 2am shoppers like me :) read more

I live nearby and I come here a lot and I don't get all the negative reviews... I mean it's a busy drug store in a big city and you have to wait in lines. But other than that I've never had any issues. My pharmacy experiences have always been fine, and the staff is always patient and attentive (probably makes the line go slower, but it's nice when it's your turn and they do everything they can to figure out your crappy insurance or whatever). Jessica at the pharmacy is particularly good. Whenever I see her she's working hard, and pleasant to everyone. She's given me shots before and is just lovely to deal with. She also helped me figure out some crazy prescription limbo situation VERY VERY patients even though it was my fault and it's not really her job to explain to me how prescriptions work. She called me on the phone twice and made other phone calls to try to solve my problem. In NYC in this day and age, that kind of customer service is nonexistent! So, yeah, you'll wait in lines but...have you been to the Park Slope CVS? Dear God this place is a billion times better. :D read more

Please don't use this store if you want to be treated decently. I am in excruciating pain. When I call to ask the pharmacy if my doctor has phoned in my prescription yet, I never get to speak with a person. They simply hang up the phone. I do understand that they will be closing soon and don't want to deal with another prescription, but still . . . read more

Yolanda gave me my first dose of the vaccine and she was wonderful. Amazing customer service, we spoke about glasses too. Definitely going back to see her when I need my 2nd dose. read more

They never seem to have anything, the store is a dingy mess, seems like poor management and planning and I feel bad for the employees

The pharmacy here is the WORST!!!! They don't care about the customers, or make any effort to help the customer. I had an issue where I just had surgery, came from the doctor's office to pick up my pain meds, and they said they didn't get the Rx yet. The "pharmacist" refused to call the doctor, refused to talk to the doctor when he called the pharmacy, and when I called the doctor and put him on speaker phone, they refused to say anything, when the doctor was trying to trouble shoot the problem. I asked the "pharmacist" if I could speak to the manager, and she said there was no manager available. After I asked a few other people, one of them went and got the manager who was there, but was just in the back. The manager offered to call the doctor. So, clearly, they lied about the policy that they can't call the doctor. But, after 1 hour of all this back and forth (right after my surgery), and nobody giving me updates or doing anything to help, I gave up and left. I had other bad experiences before, like asking questions about whether 2 drugs would have any bad reactions if taken together. The pharmacist told me to read the label and everything would be listed. The label just said take 2 every 6 hours. Nothing about a list of medications not to take at the same time. It felt like the pharmacist thought her job was to just be a cashier, instead of a medical professional. So, this was the last straw! I yelped some local options, and switched to PARK CHEMISTS based on the positive reviews. I could not be happier with that decision. They were able to fill the prescription in just a few minutes with no hassles. They are truly a neighborhood gem, family owned full service pharmacy, and just a few blocks from this location. I'll never go back to Duane Reade Pharmacy again. read more

This Duane Reade pharmacy is the nightmare of my life. I've been going here for almost 2 years and have yet to have an incident-free experience picking up or dropping off a prescription. Here's a walk down memory lane from my visits here: - waiting at the register for 10 minutes until someone even notices I'm there - waiting in line for 30 minutes because no one notices the other people in line are there - opening the bag to find that they forgot to put my prescription in it (isn't this their only job???) - being told they cannot call my doctor to check for refills, the doctor must call it in (I've never run into this at other pharmacies) - asking for help but being told "Uhh, I can't work the register" by a dude sitting and spinning around on a chair (who ended up being the pharmacist) Only a sampling my friends. Not to mention a handful of blank stares from the pharmacists every time I'm in there, regardless of the question. UGH. This place sucks. I'm switching over to a pharmacy close to my office to avoid this disaster. read more

$2.19 for a bottle of VitaminWater? Really? Yes I understand that part of the cost is due to the stunning views of the Côte d'Azur *, but that price is 69 cents more than the overpriced bodega down the street. FreshDirect will carry that shit up 3 flights of stairs to your front door for $1.49 a bottle. With 253 stores, you'd think that Duane Reade might have some volume discount, passing the savings onto customers. Next time I'll know to lube up in advance. * Pronounced (flat-bush-ave) read more

The stupidity of those at the pharmacy are just astounding! I can't speak for the pharmacist himself but for the man who rang me up for my prescription at a whopping $80 more than it usually costs. When I questioned it, he very confidently said it was due to it being a new year and it went towards my deductible. yes, partly my fault for not just walking away from Mr. "I know all the answers" and calling my insurance company. When I called them the next day, they said no, I should not have paid that, no not a penny went towards my deductible so basically, I flushed $80 dollars down the drain because this guy was SURE about why I was being charged what. Word of advice Walgreens/Duane Reade? Tell you employees to just simply say, you will have to check with your insurance. That answer would have saved my family money. If you have to go here, don't ask these morons anything! More importantly, don't listen. read more