One of the things that motivates me to review on Yelp is being able to highlight amazing small…read morebusinesses in the area, and Gibson's is one of those small businesses that I have nothing but pure pleasure bring to the world's attention.
Gibson's is an independent pharmacy located in a strip mall across from Fashion Place. Walking inside, you're greeted with an open, clean, and comfortable space that feels cozy and welcoming. If soda bars were still in vogue for pharmacies, one wouldn't feel out of place here.
The staff is friendly with excellent customer service skills. Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that my primary focus is on customer service; everything else is secondary. The pharmacists genuinely seem to care about the people who walk in that door with a compassion that is often missing in larger pharmacies.
To those who need the pharmacy once every year or so may not care so much where they get their medications. I know that it didn't matter to me until a few years ago when my life changed unexpectedly through no fault of my own. I was healthy and took great care of myself; chronic conditions through injury or illness never crossed my mind, nor did have any clue that it was possible for one person to be sensitive to so many different types of medications, fillers, brands, and even have issues with absorbing certain vitamins. Dealing with such a thing has been more frustrating, embarrassing, and draining than I have the ability to express.
This is important for my review because the staff have been very patient and caring as I bring these special needs with me through my transfer to their business. Chris and Char have especially impressed me with their kindness in making sure I'm taken care of. In a world where people (especially the elderly, chronically sick, and those dealing with chronic pain from injuries) are processed through a conveyor belt-like situation--just another money making product for pharmaceutical companies--this is not only refreshing, but brings real feelings of gratitude that could never adequately be explained in words to someone who has never been in that situation.
Gibson's does their best to keep prices low for their customers. I was surprised the first time I picked up a medication just how much cheaper it was than my last pharmacy. Of course, every prescription will be different, but that was my experience.
Another plus is that Gibson's is a compounding pharmacy, which means they can hand make prescriptions without certain fillers/dyes/etc., create a liquid version of a medication, and take care of bio-identical hormones for better absorption.
Other things to note: a very comfortable waiting area for patients, adequate parking and spaces close to the door, and conveniently close to the freeway. They also deliver (for FREE), do immunizations, can test for flu/strep, consult for medicare open enrollment, and offer a medication sync program to help patients get all their medications filled on the same day of the month (which I know that I am personally interested in!).
There is a trade-off when you support an independent pharmacy. It isn't 'conveniently' located inside of a grocery store or a big-box retailer where one can do a 'one stop shop', and you don't get 'loyalty points' for whatever store it might be in. They also have less over the counter items to choose from than a big corporate pharmacy might, though they still have a nice little selection.
Some other things to keep in mind are that they are not open late into the night and are closed Sundays. Pharmacies do not all have the same distributors, so if you have special pharmaceutical needs, this is something you would want to check first.
Lastly, and this is more of a general consideration in changing pharmacies: there are middle-men called Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM for short--I recommend reading up on this) connected with your insurance that have a large influence on what brands and prices you get. If you change pharmacies, you may get a different brand with the lower price. Some people don't care, while others are more particular, but it's worth mentioning on any pharmacy review.
Humans are creatures of habit, and we will stick with something we know even if there is something that could be better. That was me. I wish I would have done this sooner. Besides everything else I've written about here, I love that I'm supporting a small, local business; which, in turn, supports the community, and keeps prices low in general through competition.
As you can see, I'm very happy with my decision to move my business to Gibson's. My experience in the 'Medical Industrial Complex' has made me realize how important it is to seek care outside of that chugging machine, if possible. When you support an independent pharmacy, your business actually means something to them and you're not just a number. Why not see the difference yourself?
