This is one of the most astonishingly unprofessional experiences of my life. It would actually be a little funny if it wasn't so bad.
On Friday, March 24, 2023 at about 3 pm, I went to pick up my prescription. There was an issue with the price of the drug (ie. the price was roughly 400% higher than what I paid last month), which made sense because (1) I had recently changed insurance providers and (2) the last time I went to this same Harris Teeter Pharmacy, the exact same situation occurred, ultimately resulting in my paying the LOWER price.
Now we all know that prescription pricing can be confusing, especially when you are changing providers. Rates change, coverages change, it's complicated. I certain get that, so ultimately, that I had to pay the higher price isn't unheard of nor was the idea that there was a price discrepancy. I know this. You, the person reading this, knows this. One would think a pharmacist knows this too and gets that it is their job to reasonably deal with these issues. Well, one would think.
That said, and I mean this, I have never, ever, dealt with a more unprofessional, rude and frankly, arguably unstable managing pharmacist in my entire life! This person, who happened to be a brunette woman, probably in her 30s, upon being asked a very routine and honesty, reasonable question/explanation about why my prescription could TWICE have been quoted a higher price initially but only once been offered the lower price, she launched into what I can best describe as an aggressive diatribe that was unwarranted and unprovoked. I mean, I was just standing there, nobody was mad at all.
Upon being asked this question about my healthcare, she conjured up a rage that went from 0 to 100 in literally 3 seconds. And she was using hand gestures that were akin to what you might see from a woman on the Maury Povich Show....you know....RIGHT before Maury reads whether baby Aiden actually does belong to "The Father" who is just denying it all? It was like a mix between that and the moment when Vanilla Ice said "word to ya mother" on the Ice Ice Baby video.
It was like it was personal for her but I don't know her and we spoke for under 10 seconds! It was completely nuts as she was aggressively getting after me about how how I need to call my insurance company, how she "knows [she's] right" (?) and "do you want it or not?" Then, I think sensing that she took things too far and because she was literally losing control, again inside a 10 second long interaction, she just walked away!
I was stunned! Then I looked at the other employees there and they looked back at me with expressions that were one part "she often does this" and one part "GET OUT!" Then I literally asked "is this how she always talks to customers?" I mean, they didn't respond and who could blame them? But they looked at me with blank stares like caged songbirds that had completely lost their tune.
Here is the bottom line, this pharmacist has no business being in any role involving interactions with the public. And that's not a knock on her integrity, it's just not a good fit. She does not have the temperament for that job. Second, her conduct was so unprofessional and she did it so quickly and with such ease, that there is no possible way I'm the only person she has treated this way. She is a toxic individual and frankly, Harris Teeter would do well to get her out of this role because I'm certain that she mistreats employees, colleagues, customers, reps, delivery persons, I mean anyone, the exact same way.
And while I know she's not in a position to defend herself, which is unfair, in this case it's a favor to her. Because whatever she wrote back would undoubtedly be written in ALL CAPS with several exclamation points and an angry emoji blowing smoke out of its nose!
I will be moving my business elsewhere. This is not a trustworthy leader and she really shouldn't be working there or anywhere involving the public and definitely not in a position of trust. Also, and I'm serious, be on the lookout for the hostile work environment harassment claim because, again, there is no possible way this was an isolated incident.
And to my pharmacist friend. I know you remember this interaction. Please don't sabotage my file or do something even more regrettable. We just aren't right for each other so I'm leaving. Normally I'd say it's not you, it's me but this time, it is you! I think you should do something else. Something more consistent with your skill set where you can mistreat people with impunity. Maybe rogue corrections officer, parking scofflaw boot affixer or bounty hunter.
Wow. read more
