At the End of the Line: How Walgreens' Supply Chain Fails Key West Patients Living in Key West--and living aboard a sailboat--means accepting certain realities. Groceries cost more. Deliveries take longer. We are, quite literally, at the end of the road. What should not be part of that bargain is going without life-sustaining medication. Yet that has become my experience at Walgreens. As a patient who depends on daily medication, I routinely wait three to four days after placing a refill order before it is actually available for pickup at my local Walgreens. During that time, I have had to go without my medication entirely. When I asked why this happens so often, a pharmacist explained that Key West sits at the southernmost end of Walgreens' supply chain. Shipments arrive later, inventory is thinner, and delays are common. That explanation may describe the logistics--but it does not excuse the consequences. For patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, missed doses are not an inconvenience. They are a health risk. The problem is compounded by how Walgreens dispenses insulin. Long-acting insulin such as Lantus is typically prescribed as a 30-day supply, but because it is sold in fixed, sealed packages, many patients receive closer to 20 days' worth per fill, depending on their dose. Insurance copays are charged per prescription fill, not per month. The result is predictable: two pharmacy visits, two copays, and more opportunities for delay. In a place like Key West--where even Walgreens acknowledges that we are last in line for deliveries--that structure becomes dangerous. If your refill is delayed by several days and you were already given less than a month's supply, you don't just pay more. You run out. Walgreens will point out, correctly, that it does not manufacture insulin, that it cannot break sealed packaging, and that insurance rules govern copays. But those explanations miss the larger issue: Walgreens chose to operate a national pharmacy model that does not adequately account for geographically isolated communities like ours. If a company is going to dominate the pharmacy market--closing competitors, centralizing fulfillment, and cutting staffing--it also assumes responsibility for ensuring reliable access. In Key West, alternatives are limited. When Walgreens is delayed, patients don't simply go across the street. We wait. Or we go without. This is what profit-driven efficiency looks like at the edge of the map. Inventory kept lean to control costs. Refills routed through distant supply chains. Patients absorbing the risk when the system fails. Public health experts have long warned that gaps in medication access lead to higher emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and preventable complications. That risk is magnified in communities with fewer providers and fewer pharmacies. Key West may be a tourist destination, but for those of us who live here year-round, it can feel like a pharmacy desert with palm trees. Walgreens likes to describe itself as a healthcare partner. Partners do not tell patients to wait several days for essential medication. Partners do not design systems where people pay more and receive less--and then blame geography. If Walgreens intends to serve communities like Key West, it must do better. That means maintaining adequate local inventory, aligning insulin dispensing with real-world dosing, and treating access as a health obligation rather than a logistical afterthought. Because at the end of the supply chain, the cost of delay is paid not only in dollars, but in days without medicine--and in a higher risk of diabetes-related illness and death. read more

Photo service department is terrible! I received my confirmation email that my photos were ready for pickup, when I went to pickup my photos the lady kept repeating "no not ready." I kept trying to explain that I got the email and even showed her the email. After she saw the email she walked away from me and attended another customer who was there for a photo pickup as well, he also experienced the same problem! read more

horrible. I put in an order for same day photo printing first thing in the morning, they said the photos would be done by 11 that morning. I came back at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and she just told me "no print, tomorrow" and then got very upset when I asked why. will never come here again read more

spectacular help during Thanksgiving when the other pharmacies were closed, and somebody was suffering, needing pain medication, and going through hospice. This store remained open until five. they did have an hour break for lunch i believe but the point is that the hospice nurse monica, in the only hospice in the keys was able to locate the store and get medicine that we thought might not be available for someone elderly and suffering and for that i am truly grateful and they deserve a five star rating when other pharmacies shut their doors shut down completely so that the needy could not receive what they needed. Walgreens helped us. read more

The pharmacy is a joke. The pharmacists are horrible at customer service and the out of shape old angry lady that works there is completely rude. Won't be back to a Walgreens ever. read more

0* 2805 N Roosevelt Blvd Key West, FL 33040 United States This manager in photoshop she was so rude ,unprofessional and really mean to me.She yelled on me. She wasn't right what she do to me day before ,so l ask her about cameras record proof ,because was 100% proof of she wasn't right.She doesn't want to return me money back at all.After she start speak only Spanish with another employer so l have no clue what she say.!!! Im 13 years here resident and l never have experience like with her. read more

The best Walgreens I have ever been to! The place was great with great selections and the sign even said be kind!

tanisha was the best she helped me super quick and with amazing service 10/10 recommend this place and her

Ordered online and it did not state this store was closed in Key West on Thanksgiving. AFTER I ordered and hour later an email was sent to me stating it would be Friday at 7am...although I asked for noon in my original order. So, I chatted with Walgreens. "Sorry, can't do anything because it is ready for pickup by Doordash"...but the store is closed..."Yes, and the 'system' automatically goes to the next day and open time."... So, I can't cancel, I can't change the time..."You can call the store in the morning."...so I have to wake up at 6am and call the store? You can't make a note to your own store and tell them to cancel?.. "no." I will not be here, so what happens? "They will leave it on the ground." and if someone takes it? "Then you can call us for a full refund".. how STUPID is this place? They can't alter a 'system' they should be able to control? And yes, I called the main office and was told the same thing...call the store in the morning. SO.. WE WILL NEVER SHOP HERE AGAIN... I had doordash go to CSV, that was open today for my toothache medicine. IF you are a company that creates software and then can't control that software, you are an idiot. read more

I had to visit Walgreens after my daughter had a baby a few days. We all had to take Covid Tests due to a family member testing positive. The young lady at the pharmacy counter was quite rude and abrasive. She was also not helpful. She never cracked a smile once and seems to genuinely hate her job. She might want to look into another line of work that doesn't deal with the public in customer service. Walgreens , maybe you can hire some employees who don't drive your customers away. read more

This is a clean store and pharmacy. Standard Walgreens. Checkout is a little busy all the time but this is key west. Only a few drug stores and tons of tourists like me. I didn't have to wait too long at the pharmacy but checkout had like 12 people in front of me. Stay calm and carry on and life is good! read more

This store is a hot mess. Pharmacy is randomly closed at 2pm (if you're at lunch, at least put a sign out and tell your staff) and there's only one guy working the front and FedEx. read more

The African American in the pharmacy is the most rude person without reason, she's not ready to answer or comprehend very simple questions by phone or in person. This women shouldn't be in interacting with people she hate her job and give customers hard time. read more

I love their photo center. It is so easy to upload photos to the Walgreens website, select the location where you want them to be picked up, and within an hour your photos are ready. Quick fast and easy. Just love it. read more

The pharmacy sucks the people that work there sucks if you have a medicine in stock and n a patient needs it u serve them not wait for the "regulars " to come in first n if there more u might help what the fuck kind of service is that worst Walgreens there is read more

If I could give this negative stars, I would. I have had many altercations with this pharmacy, but I have to use it because my insurance is contracted with them. CVS was SO much better. On 11.19.2020 I saw a rheumatologist who prescribed 4 medications for me, one of them being Hydroxychloroquine. All of them were filled right away except for the HCQ. Walgreens texted me and said it would be delayed due to a problem with my insurance. I figured the insurance was balking because I was recently tested for COVID-19 and it was negative. However, I told Walgreens that the doctor had prescribed this for my autoimmune disease and that I really needed it. Walgreens said that they needed something from the doctor stating that this was not to treat COVID-19. I called the doctor's office and they said they would take care of it. So now it's 11 days later and still no HCQ. I call Walgreens and the pharmacist says (and I quote) "I do not show any prescription for HCQ in your profile. We don't have that prescription." I said, "How is that even possible? YOU are the ones who contacted me to tell me there was a problem with the insurance." She kept saying that maybe the doctor forgot to send that one. And I kept saying YOU contacted me about the problem. I hung up and called my doctor and the nurse said they had confirmation that it was received on 11.19.2020. This is, by FAR, not the first time this has happened. All the local doctors here in Key West wills end the scripts electronically, but they also give me a hard dopy because they KNOW that when I get there to pick up my prescription, the pharmacy will say they don't have it. Last year, strangely enough also in November, I had an earache and went to pick up my script. This is what happened (11.11.2019): I have had an earache all day. I went to my doctor and she prescribed some ear drops. She sent it to Walgreens and I came to the pharmacy counter and said VERBATIM, "My doctor sent over a prescription for ear drops for me", and gave her my name and birthdate. I am wearing a heart monitor at the moment (until I see my cardiologist tomorrow). I live 10 miles outside of Key West so it's challenging to keep the pads on - if you sweat, they come loose, so I am trying to not exert myself a lot and stay cool. I get the prescription, drive the 10 miles home only to discover that, even though all the prescription labels and info say NEO/POLY/HC 1% OTIC SUSPGREEN (EAR), instead I am holding an inhaler for asthma (Wixela Inhub Diskus 500/50 MCG 60S). I don't want to drive all the way back to Key West tonight and wait in line to get the medicine I should have gotten in the first place. This is not the first time something like this has happened. read more

Walgreens are everywhere and everywhere you need them for the most part. This is a 24 hour Walgreens which means it's always open for youtoo. This place has everything; It's a pharmacy, slight grocery store, cosmetics, cold drinks, alcohol, snacks etc. Being a tourist, Walgreens is like an oasis. You need them even though their prices can be much higher than say Walmart or other stores they have what you need and because of that, you'll pay for it. read more

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Great location with a big 'ol parking lot. If you're lucky, you may meet some skittish chickens and roosters in the lot, too. This location has plenty of the tried and true merchandise you come to find at just about any Walgreens store, but with tons of fishing bait and gear and souvenirs. This location has a pharmacy, photo center, and a liquor store that is separate, but no Take Care clinic. However, you can get flu shots here! Located before Roosevelt becomes Truman street, this Walgreens location is a nice fit and very convenient. read more

Walgreens - Walgreens on Roosevelt, Key West - Drugstores Near Me - Key West, Florida

Terrible photo service. The photo booth is a mess. I submitted photos for frames to their one day service. After three days and four visits to the booth they finally tell me, having already shown me the order slip, that they can't find the order. Don't believe the website. Go elsewhere. read more

I was making a photo blanket for my Papa in Boston today. Just wanted to say a big thank you to Amanda for her help. After several employees-or finding employees, she actually helped me! She is so upbeat and helpful. If it wasn't for her, I would never come back. Thank you Amanda! You are an asset for that store. read more

Very poor service in the pharmacy. I took my wife in for a flu shot and she was told "the system is down." Rescheduled **on their reservation system** for the next day. Went in at the appointed time and was told "come back in two hours." Very poor service with no regard for their customers. read more

If I could give no stars I would. The manager here is just RUDE! I've ordered several photo orders and every time it's something with this manager.(I need to come back because it's only been to two hours since I ordered it, "my machine is down", I don't see your order, you need to come back another, etc) He always has an attitude. His always talking creole to his other employees right in front of you which I think is rude cause I'll be in the middle of telling him something and he'll just start saying something to his employee. Almost like his talking about me. When I explain what I need he always sucks his teeth like his a pain for him to do. I've also seen him have attitude with other employees. If there was another Walgreens near by I would go there but unfortunately there isn't. This guy need to be fired his attitude as a leader is the worst. I wish I would of got his name but I was so disgusted by him I didn't even want to look at him. read more

Extremely helpful staff and caring pharmacist filling prescriptions for us out-of-towners. Offered discount card because we were self pay -

Glad they are open 24 hours I don't know of another store. I needed medicine in the middle of the night and there close to everything. It was a nice clean store and clean restroom. The overnight cashier was nice and told me about local facts. read more

Walgreens - Drugstores Near Me - Key West, Florida

A one star is too good for this place. This has got to be the dirtiest Walgreen that I have ever visited. I don't think they ever sweep or mop the floors. The outside of the store is gross. Is hard to believe Walgreens will allow this filth to exist. Unfortunately I have no choice as a Snowbird to come here because of Lab Corp. read more

I normally do not shop at Walgreens I'm normally a CVS shop or if I go to any pharmacy that this was located directly across the street from my hotel so I was very happy that it was open 24 hours and I was able to get sun tan lotion protein bars and snacks for my son and his little slumber party while me and my sister went out on the town Be careful do not park here too long you will get towed they are very strict with parking At the store I had a friendly staff a lot of sales and tons of flip-flops hats and beachwear and anything that you would need for any of your convenience on vacation luckily for me it was directly across the street read more

Open 24/7! This is a good Walgreens location to stop by to pick up water, snacks, and other necessities if you're vacationing at Key West. This location is off the main bars area, so quieter and cleaner. There is a good selection of items to choose from, and the prices aren't bad. There is also plenty of parking in their lot. read more

Dear Walgreens, It's true that it just doesn't get any more convenient than this! Located right next to our hotel, you are a 24 hour Walgreens with Pharmacy, Photo Center, and a liquor store. :) ALL the essentials for a great vacation located within walking distance to the front door of my vacation home. :) We stopped in here for late night munchies, beer, milk for the morning's coffee, and a lighter. Total necessities. In and out within 10 minutes, we got all of our last minute essentials. Can't say much about the pharmacy or the photo center, but seems to have great customer service all around. Thanks Walgreens! You're SO dependable, no matter where I am. Regards, SabrinaAnna* read more

Picked up a few things as it was located next to our resort. How cool to have a liquor store attached! Was able to get wine, beer, yogurt for breakfast and some bananas very convenient ! read more

My daughter and son-in-law came to visit me and my son-in-law forgot his blood pressure medication. We walked into Walgreens and in less than 15 minutes the pharmacist transfer the prescription from a Walgreens in Texas filled it and had us out the door with his medicine. Customer service like that will keep me coming back. read more

Nice Walgreens store on the way into town. The store is large, spacious and well stocked. They have plenty of parking which is a big plus. The staff is very helpful also. Open 24 hours which is convenient. read more

The pharmacy lies right to your face. The most inconsiderate bunch of morons I've encountered! Do not go there for prescriptions!!! You'll be waiting all day while 7 workers do nothing! read more