The store is convenient and the staff is usually very helpful. I find the prices high compared to big box stores and that is understandable considering the higher costs of selling out of a smaller store with more service provided. The store does have specials and online specials that can be delivered to the store with no shipping charges so that some prices end up similar to big box stores. I also saw a 50% more size in something I use regularly so the price per ounce would be similar to that in big box stores. In general, the store seems well run and friendly.
The pharmacy is usually pretty efficient and friendly. When they have three or four people working in there, things move along well enough even when it's busy. However, when they have only one pharmacist with no help behind the counter, it can be a long wait even though there aren't that many customers physically present.
The manager needs to ensure that anytime a lone pharmacist is working at the pharmacy, she has support at all times or can call for help at any time. She is working the window, the phone, the counter, and the called in and routine prescriptions, as well as other administrative duties, I'm sure. There shouldn't be five workers in the store, two non-pharmacy customers wandering around, and one pharmacy customer waiting for 45 minutes for a shot while the pharmacist is juggling six or seven other requests that came in after the customer at the counter. If the pharmacist has no help, they end up making everyone wait longer and skipping the niceties, leaving some customers waiting far too long. It's not fair to the pharmacist or the customers.
The pharmacist who waited on me today was quietly terse and cool, skipped the niceties, and left me feeling as though my time and word were not respected and as though I was a nuisance to her. While I believe that the failure of the manager to provide her with the practical support she needed was the main problem, it would have been possible for her to make eye contact, smile, say, "Hello", and say, "Please," "Thank you," and so on during the interactions.
Also, if she's juggling several orders, she should at least give an indication of the expected wait time. I appreciate that she was probably heavily focused on accuracy and efficiency, and that is truly the most important thing. But, no matter how busy she is, she really must show outward signs of friendliness and more social signs of respect.
In my eight or so experiences in this store, only one was negative due to the pharmacy being understaffed. I did get my needs met accurately and completely in the end but probably could have saved 20-30 minutes if the manager had assisted the pharmacist earlier.
I did see the same pharmacist talk in a warm and friendly way with someone at the drive through and take the time to even make an extra nice comment or two. It looked as though she knew the customer. I would suggest that she treats every customer as a friend and petition the manager to give her more support behind the counter so that she can manage that more easily.
The other experiences with this store and with the pharmacy were positive in terms of customer service. I sometimes work in this area and am glad to have this store as an option when I have prescriptions, vitamin needs, vaccinations, or product needs. The prices are similar to those at most pharmacies of this size, however.
I have never had any medical mixups or problems with the actual prescriptions or inoculations at Walgreens and generally find it friendly and convenient. I have used other Walgreens stores in the past and found them friendly, reliable, and efficient.
I do recommend the Walgreens pharmacy and feel that the issues I had today were related to the manager understaffing or not adequately assisting the pharmacy and due to this one pharmacist not realizing how important personal communication and respect for the customer's time is in each and every pharmacy visit. I believe she and the manager will both take these comments to heart and provide excellent service together. read more