Wow I never knew this place even existed! Came here to pick up and order for a dear friend and it was very nice to see that they have a place like this where you can come and pick up anything you need medical wise. A lot of different ones may not have insurance that cover these items and you can come her to get what you need instead of going to big box stores paying marked up overpriced prices. Stewart was so patient and kind helping all the customers one by one. read more

Johnston Medical - All the medical supplies - Medical Supplies Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great staff and they have everything. Hours are little tricky so make sure you check them before going

Medical supplies are probably fine. Service is not so great. Website hours are wrong. Only open in the morning, so was closed when I arrived. Rented a device on second visit. Appointment to return device to repair shop in the afternoon wasn't kept, the cellphone number for contact didn't answer, and couldn't leave a message. Return happened only on the second trip. read more

Johnston Medical is great place for your medical supply. I operate at an In-patient facility and refer to Johnston on a weekly basis. Their inventory is stellar and can find almost any time of equipment you can think of. Whenever a patient needs some equipment fast these guys always have it available. read more

first went there for a wrist brace and found the choices overwhelming, Stu the owner helped me get the right ones. Later I needed a walker and wheel chair for my mom and then other items. I've probably been there 10 times now. packed to the gills with stuff, very old school. My go to place for medical. Recently I called about CPAP and he referred me to a place with a better selection, which convinced me he's got honor. read more

Needed to rent a wheelchair it was excellent no problems and the return was perfect Thank you

Well, they aren't always open, so you absolutely must call first. But if they're open, they're chock full of stuff at reasonable prices. They're open Saturday mornings, too (yes, you still have to call first), while most medical supplies stores in the Berkeley-Oakland were Mon-Friday only when I needed new canes. The staff can be super helpful. They explained how I should use a cane--who knew there's a right way and a wrong way?! The store is old school. There is no display space, only piles of boxes as if you've walked right into the store room. Guess what, you did--the front room is the store room! Also, they use a paper-and-pencil inventory system like stores did in your grandparents' day. Even if you pay with a credit card, the clerk will patiently fill out a sales slip with a carbon copy; you get the slip, the store gets the carbon copy. You might have heard that life was slower-paced and friendlier back in the day. This is how that happened. read more

My BFF who is an orthopedic specialist suggested I get a thumb stabilizer to relive arthritic joint pain. Found what I needed here. Lower price than Amazon Prime. Support locally owned businesses! read more

Since the beginning of the pandemic, this business has gone down hill. Their hours are now severely truncated--only open for a few hours on the weekends. They apparently no longer carry supplies in "non-standard" sizes (for example, braces.) They no longer seem to be interested in attracting customers by working to special-order things they don't have in stock. My experience was one that clearly telegraphed that, because I had special needs, I was not wanted as a customer. One salesperson tried to force-sell me an item that I had already said clearly was not wanted or appropriate for me. This is a real shame, as this business has been around for a long time. Even after the advent of the internet, it's always been my go-to for medical supplies. No longer. read more

When I broke my leg these guys hooked me up with a durable knee cycle ,heavy duty crutches (I'm a big guy),shower leg cover,and a seat for the shower. I didn't miss a beat life's been different making it through was easier because of their knowledge and selection. Thank you! read more

Addendum to previous review. The woman at Johnston Medical told me it would cost $37 to pick up the overpriced rickety "wheelchair " I rented. Today I got a bill for $48. AGAIN, DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE RIP OFF ARTISTS. I looked up the "transport wheelchair " I rented from them for $93 a month (I was quoted $85 a month on the phone). It has 4 small wheels and is very unstable. I could have bought one NEW FOR UNDER $100. I had also paid $93 for April 10-May 10. NO REFUND. I guess if my mom had died On April 11 I would have been SOL. THIS PLACE IS A RIP OFF AND DOESN'T CARE ABOUT PATIENTS OR CUSTOMER SERVICE. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THESE SCAMMERS. read more

Huge inventory of all kinds of things and very helpful and friendly staff. Picked up some N95 masks, which they had plenty of.

Today was my second excellent experience with Johnson Medical. I was surprised at all the negative reviews, fortunately I've had knowledgeable help. The first time was after ankle surgery the doctor told me to wear compression stockings, and sent me to a medical store close to his office. The salespeople measured my temporarily swollen ankle instead of the good one, and I wore the wrong size for a long time. Went to Johnsons and was properly fitted with stockings that helped me. Today I went for a knee brace, again a store near my doctor had sold me one that wasn't right. At Johnsons they patiently helped me for 45 minutes, trying on many braces until we found one not too expensive that fit my nonstandard size and helped my unusual injury. Buying online is cheaper, being able to try on and choose what will do the job is worth every penny. read more

For many years, Johnston has been my go-to for all things medical, both equipment and supplies. I could probably get some of what I need and save a few dollars from the mail-order behemoth whose name starts with a capital "A," but I (1) shop locally whenever I can, (2) prefer talking with a helpful local person who knows the products, can order what they don't have, and is able and willing to dole out advice, (3) don't mind the disorganized appearance of the shop, because everyone knows where everything is, and finally, (4) the capital "A" behemoth is being internationally boycotted anyway. So when my disability became such that it prevented me from picking stuff up off the floor, I needed to get something. So a friend drove me to Johnson's and I told nice woman named Susan that I needed to get "something to help me pick stuff up off the floor." She immediately figured out what I needed and pointed me to a large container full of all kinds of "grabbers." She encouraged me to play with some of them and see what I liked, and then left me with the toys. I couldn't believe it! After a few minutes, I was easily able to pick stuff up off the floor! I found just what I needed at a fair price. A few months later, my grabber's string snapped, and the thing was useless. In an almost-panic, I phoned Johnston's. Susan remembered me. She told me that Johnston's had a no-return policy, but if I could bring in the broken grabber or take a photo of it, she could return it to the manufacturer for credit and meanwhile, she could replace it for me. Since I don't have a cell phone and couldn't get to the store, blah, blah, blah, she replaced the grabber for me anyway, and it was months before I got her the photo she needed. Today, after taking a full 30 minutes to put my socks on, I phoned Johnston's and spoke with Soonae, another helpful person there. She told me about several kinds of "sock aids" and showed me where to find pictures of them online. She helped me decide which one best suited me, took my order--and I'll be picking it up today. I now have no problem picking stuff up off the floor and look forward to putting on my socks without help. Even when they're busy, I've found that everyone at Johnston's is helpful and patient. Just try to get that kind of service--and kindness--from the mail-order "A" behemoth. read more

I needed a wheelchair in a hurry. I called and they set me up with a rental even though they were closing soon. Very reasonable price and in good condition. The staff were very helpful. read more

My first impression and experience with this place were bad years back. A decade later, I decided to give this neighborhood store another try. Too bad, I found the qualify of its customer service has gone down hill even more! The staff I encountered was very rude, impatient, unprofessional, and not helpful. Who would like to pay for overly-priced medical supplies with terrible customer service? read more

Was referred here from Walgreens to get a cane because of an injury I incurred at work- was promptly dismissed and told they didn't take insurance and wouldn't be able to refer me anywhere. They were close to closing so maybe she was having a bad workday? Aside from being unhelpful the store looks like a hoarders home. They could use assistance making the store and storefront looking professional. read more

Johnston Medical - The exterior and piles of product stacked in the windows...imagine the interior... - Medical Supplies Near Me - Berkeley, California

Convenient but Expensive, Buyer Beware Convenient because the are local and have lots of stuff. Their staff is knowledgeable. However, I recently bought a cam boot for my daughter for $169. Then went to Europe and bought a MUCH better boot for 179 euros that is available on Amazon for $199, the VacoPedes by OPED. Then saw the same boot I bought at Johnston Medical for $40. So, if you want to pay a 423% markup of Amazon, go to Johnston Medical. read more

Support local businesses! I hope that everyone shops here instead of going online. You get really customized care and they help make good decisions about exactly what you need. They have a lot of options so you can find whatever you need. That works best for you at the price that works for you. read more

So, I went here because I needed a replacement mask for my CPAP. I had no insurance and was wondering if I could buy a cheaper mask locally, not have to wait for it to be shipped and so on. I also thought the sales staff could help me. Boy was I wrong. First of all, the place is absolutely filthy. Packed to the gills. I was going through a maze of medically related crap that was so jam packed. And none of this stuff seemed to be organized. There was a random wheelchair, next to some tubes of some sort, which was next to something else.I was grateful that I walked in because I couldn't see how anyone in a wheel chair, or rolling an oxygen tank would have been able to navigate. The spacing was quite tight. I made my way to the counter eventually. Not very professional looking. Anyhow, I was greeted by a big boisterous older man and he asked what I wanted. Actually, he barked, but I was on a mission so I ignored him. I told him what I wanted and he barked a demand for my insurance paperwork. I told him I had none and wanted to get a replacement mask for the machine. He barked that he couldn't help me and wasn't allowed to sell to me without the insurance paperwork, blah, blah, blah. A woman came out from the back and he barked something to her about finding a mask they could sell me. The price $175.00. It only would have cost me $56-73 online. I'll wait for shipping at those prices. The guy who owns this place is totally rude and disgusting. I just hope he treats that helpful young woman with a lot more respect that he treated me. I'm surprised that they are still in business. read more

FYI Doesn't accept Medicare. May not accept any insurance at least for compression stockings so might want to call before going read more

I am an essential work and was looking for n95 mask back in April. I called and asked for mask guard to have a tighter seal around my mask and less friction in the ears. They didn't have them but mentioned masks. I asked if they had n95 they said yes. I drove there immediately. I asked for the n95 and also 2 hydrogen peroxide bottles. My total was a ridiculous $46.61. When I get to my car and look at the mask they WERE NOT REAL N95. They were kn95 the Chinese standard. I called back to at least ask if they were from a legitimate CDC tested manufacturer and the employee did not know, did not let me talk to owner, and regurgitated the nonsense that kn95 are th same as n95 but they are clearly not with different standard. You think a medical supply store would know the difference.... Filed a consumer complaint with the attorney general. read more

I went in there in Oct 2019 to get some arch support socks, and found the older man there in charge [Mr. Johnstone?] was incredibly knowledgeable. Finding decent orthotics has been very difficult for me, and I thought I was lucky to have what I had. But after realizing that the place was full of stuff for feet, we started talking orthotics for my flat feet. He looked at my orthotics, and thought they were better than most, but then he steered me towards some German sourced orthotics he carried, and thought they were worth a try - at $65 they were about a third the cost of my orthotics. I took the gamble. OMG, they're fantastic!! They are far more sturdily built and, as a dancer, the pain in my legs disappeared when I replaced my former orthotics with these. The months rolled by, and they continued to work beautifully, and appear to be far more durable. I'm so grateful that man took the time to talk with me, and suggest these. I kept thinking that I wanted to get 2 more pairs, for 2 other pairs of shoes I wear often, and I finally did so the other day. The price hadn't changed, and I was able to pay for them over the phone, so I could just go in briefly and pick them up. They practice one person in the store, and using masks, always a plus in these covid times. I had always noted this store in passing, but it's now on my list of great resources, and I'll go back in the future if I need medical equipment, because they know their merchandise, which I have found to be diverse, of high quality, and reasonably priced!! Thanks so much, Johnstone Medical! read more

I have been a customer for many many years and appreciate the excellent customer service I received from Johnson Medical Supply. They are easy to access via car or public transportation. read more

Johnston Medical was the only place I could find that had wound care supplies in Oakland and Berkeley. They greeted me at the front door (one person store at a time) and brought me a selection of supplies and explained the pros and cons of each. When i was allowed inside she brought out a box and told me the individual and box coast and then showed and explained the tapes I'd need too. And it was all very reasonably priced compared to drugstores that didn't even have exactly what I needed. Very nice staff too. read more

Yes, this place is expensive but they have a good selection. They gave me a reduced price on a chair because I had a quote from another store that beat theirs. They measure for compression wraps, something Kaiser doesn't offer in this area. They rent equipment. If there is something you need last minute, this is the place to go to. read more

Having to put any Star here to be able to review is difficult as this place is as bad & sad as I remember it was years ago. It was bad enough just trying to communicate with both the man and woman who work there - all the back and forth telephone calls having to be made along with the fact the place is only opened 2 hours a day Mon-Sat. (Listen to their voicemail message and you'll get an idea of the flakiness.) The final straw was renting a rather flimsy wheelchair that I was able to use a few times before my husband had a hard time folding it up the last time to put in trunk of car. He was finally able to then took it back to the store the next day. The owner said it was unfixable, wouldn't rent us another wheelchair - some welded pieces had weakened so it just fell apart - and he had the gaul of all things to accuse my husband of RUNNING OVER IT WITH HIS CAR!! Are you kidding me - need I say more? read more

I have been there twice with injuries most recently torn rotator cuff. Both times my experience was very positive rather than roaming around a pharmacy trying to find things by myself. Stuart was extremely helpful and kind, encouraged me to try it on before buying assisted me in putting it on; days later when I had forgotten how to put it on properly went through the whole process with me again. Giving me a lot of time without making me feel like an idiot which was much appreciated, (combination of chronic pain and lack of sleep making life very difficult). He even helped me put my jacket on and zipped it up! If you're in pain & want understanding patient, helpful salespeople I recommend them. As an aside, 3 years ago when my daughter wanted to be a doctor for Halloween and the stores were crazy as it was last minute during Covid, they came through with Doctors coat and even a pen that looked like a vaccine needle! Grateful to be able to shop local. read more

I tore a tendon in my ankle and had to get crutches. My doctor gave me a prescription for them and my insurance covers them, so I figured I would go to a medical supply store. Unfortunately this one doesn't take insurance and they wanted me to buy the crutches for about $65. I ended up taking my business to another store that does accept insurance. pros: The staff were nice. They have a "parking lot" (just three spots around back, but at least it isn't the street). Open on Saturday, but only for a few hours. cons: The store is horribly cluttered and you can't find anything without help. They don't take insurance. The hours are pretty restrictive. read more

Wow!!! Felt like I walked into an episode of Hoarders. This place had medical supplies stacked up to the ceiling. I would not be the least bit surprised if people walk in here and get injured from supplies toppling over and landing on them. Hey, what a business plan...people come in to get medical supplies, get further injured by the products falling on them so they need to buy even more. It was dusty and dirty too...not that I expected it to be sterile like a hospital, but when you're purchasing medical products, it's nice to think that they're at least clean. Had an injured ankle and doctor wrote a prescription for an ankle aircast. Really didn't know any different that I could purchase something like this on-line and was in pain, so went to Johnston's as recommended by my doc. Service was ok - prices were ridiculous. $75 for an aircast that I could have bought for $35 on-line. Next time I'll know, but I'll just pretend the extra $40 was the price of admission for the tour of the set for the next episode of Hoarders: Medical Supply Store. read more

I stopped in to purchase a foldable cane for myself. Initially, I was going to purchase one from amazon.com (cheaper) but I felt I needed more customer service than what I can get from a huge web store. The store is a bit crowded but well stocked and the sales team seems to know where everything is. I was greeted and was offered friendly assistance instantly. The guy and new employee that helped me was very knowledgeable, compassionate and helpful - more than I expected actually. They showed me how to use the cane for my situation, how fold it safely and so on. I believe this is the only store of its kind in the area and I hope they are able to stay in business despite competition from online stores and the failed economy. read more

We were in need of crotches for my daughter. We were able to rent for a small price.

I went to Johnston on the 14th of September. I wanted a heavy duty cane. I really liked cane X, but the salesperson convinced me to buy cane Y even thought the weight limit on cane Y was way over what I required and the cane was very heavy. (But I did not know at the time that cane Y was overkill until I talked to my physical therapist.) So the first time out with cane Y, I hung it up by its "rope" and the rope broke. Disgruntled, I threw the cane in my truck and did not use it. I brought it back in the first week of October, and told them I did not like it, it was too heavy, and the rope broke the first time I hung it up. They asked when I bought it, I could not remember, I suggested maybe September 2. They said anything sold over a month ago would need to go through the manufacturer, and I was not supposed to hang the cane by its rope. I said that was OK, since I was simply not happy with the cane and bought it based on the wrong information (from their person). They implied that they could do nothing because I bought it more than a month ago. Hmmm...I went on line to my bank and found the purchase date - hey! September 14, not 2. I was well within the one month limit. So, I picked out cane X and went to the counter to exchange but was told that it needed to go through the manufacturer. But...but...I thought...?? I asked again what their return policy was: "5 days" First time I heard that number. So I had to purchase the new cane and leave with Johnston in possession of my broken cane and my money. I mean what would be so difficult with trading me canes ($10 price difference), and sell cane Y discounted/used? They said they would see what the manufacturer had to say about the broken rope (hardly the issue) and get back to me if it could be fixed or refunded. If this does not make any sense, its because it does not make any sense, right? It just seemed like we were talking over each other the entire time, and nothing was clear. I left the place kind of confused as to what just happened. Johnston - 1 : Pat - 0 read more

HORRENDOUS. This stores prices are unbelievable and the store is a disorganized mess. I drove all the way over to grab XL Nitrile exam gloves. I called ahead to verify they carried them. When I arrived they had none on the wall and the gentleman helping me said he'd have to go "upstairs" to see if they had them. Before he went, I asked the price per box which was $28 for ONE BOX. That is single handedly the highest price I have ever heard of anyone charging. I left, called another place who had them, was very nice, and charged $11.99 for the same product. DO NOT GO HERE. read more

As a practicing Chiropractor, I've been referring patients to Johnson Medical all for the past twenty three years. Great product selection, reasonable prices, knowledgeable staff and excellent customer service. These guys are great! read more

When my father was diagnosed with an advanced form of cancer early this year, my family was immediately plunged into a world of medical terminology, specialized needs and medical supplies. The list of to-do's was overwhelming, buy this shop was--thankfully-- one of our first stops. Johnston medical supply was not only conveniently located, but also populated by a great staff, which remained helpful and compassionate even when we had to exchange one item three... no, four (five?) times over the course of two days. (And it employs an honest bookkeeper, who extended us a refund that we had forgotten about entirely, and mailed us the receipt.) read more

I stopped by Johnston looking for some very specific ostomy care supplies that I didn't know the technical terms for, much less product #s. The very nice woman behind the counter deciphered my fumbling descriptions, led me directly to a shelf with a wide range of items and proceeded to open box after box to help me find what I need. They have a *lot* of merchandise which means the store looks a bit cluttered but this is the 2nd time they've had exactly what I needed on hand for a fair price, so I'm happy. Thanks! read more

Needed a wedge pillow for my visiting relative who needed to sleep at a 30 degree angle. I was about to call the foam places or try Bed, Bath & Beyond, when I remembered this place across from Berkeley Bowl. Gave them a call and they said, yep! come on in...we've got those! Went in and they actually had a few different choices - who knew? They were super helpful and super nice.....I highly recommend going there. read more

Needed to rent a wheelchair for a week for an elderly family member visiting us. Extremely pleased with the customer service interaction at the store. The employee took time to ensure that I understood how to work all of the components prior to leaving. I thought the cost of the weekly rental was more than fair. Also, by the time I realized I needed to return the wheelchair on the following Saturday the store was closed. I brought the wheelchair in on Monday and they didn't charge me any extra. If you're looking to rent a wheelchair, look no further! Definitely will be a return customer. read more

I stopped here to buy some surgical tubing--luckily not for a medical problem, but to use in a theater show. I was really impressed with the service: I called on the phone beforehand, and actually got a live person who looked up the info I needed right away. When I entered the store, I was immediately assisted, and I overheard the manager checking in on other customers constantly, to make sure they were being helped. I can't really judge the selection of supplies available, since this was a one-time purchase, but if I had to buy medical stuff again I would look here. The price of what I got was about the same as you would find online. I'm taking off one star because the store has a crowded layout, and the manager seemed needlessly crabby toward the person who was helping me: a mystery. But everyone was nice to me; I definitely recommend the store. read more