This review is solely for the pharmacy. I only use this because it is close to my house. The cashiers here are never friendly. The actual pharmacist is nice and helpful but you only talk to him if you have a question on your medication. If something goes wrong with your insurance on file, good luck getting an explanation why or any sympathy from the cashiers. If you have their message system, be prepared to be called everyday by your new best friend: the Walgreens automated message system. They will literally call you every day until you pick up your prescription. Sometimes the messages are also inaccurate. I've had a message to pick up my prescription but then the pharmacy doesn't have anything for me. I've had a message to refill a prescription but the problem actually is that I need to contact my doctor. This is not the most helpful system. The drive through is the worst part of this pharmacy. The point of a drive through is to DRIVE through it. People will literally park in the drive through and wait for their prescription to be filled. This can take over 20 minutes! What about other people who need the drive through, Walgreens? They need to make people move along if their prescription isn't ready and then drive back though when it is. Overall, wouldn't recommend. read more

The two stars is for a specific person. I was in need of medication. It was an emergency - this medication was going to stop me from bleeding to death - literally. I go to my local Walgreens (4070 El Camino Real) and unfortunately they were out of the medication. This is after waiting, dizzy and weak at home for hours, for the pharmacy to text me that it was filled. So, I'm standing there and they tell me they are out of the medication. "I guess you need it, huh? I show the Walgreens in downtown San Mateo has plenty. I will call them." So the pharmacy tech calls the location I am now reviewing. On speakerphone. PT: "I'm calling because we show you have this medication." AH (A$$hole) Pharmacy Dude: "Um, we don't have any of that." PT: "Um, I'm showing you have 321." AH: "Dude, seriously?! You can't just fill it yourself? You keep sending retails over here. Ugh. Fine. FINE. Send it. But this is the last one." It's a Friday night in San Mateo so every 20 - 30-year-old entitled tech jerk in San Mateo is using the Walgreens as a parking lot to go get hot pot. (Watch out for the coronavirus, suckas!) It takes me 23 minutes to get a spot. All the while I'm dizzy and sweaty because I'M BLEEDING TO DEATH SLOWLY IN A WALGREENS PARKING LOT. I get inside and there is one man in the pharmacy. He comes up and starts talking. It is AH. I can't help it. After I check out I say, "Hey, thanks for being so magnanimous and filling my prescription so I don't bleed to death. Man, now I know why you didn't become an M.D." read more

This place is a total mess & simple run by a bunch of amateurs. It clearly doesn't rate any stars at all whatsoever. Just like all of the many other single star or less reviews. The pharmacy, if on can actually call it a pharmacy, is completely unorganized & run by a staff of rude & incompetent people. I was at the drive-thru for a Covid test, and the people there ask the most useless & ridiculous questions. After having my third testing done, the young girl tells me to close my car window when swabbing my nose. Seriously? I guess they make up the rules as they go along....This was never mentioned to me on either of my two previous visits. Also, she demanded I show her my ID to prove it was me. Maybe she should try applying for the highway patrol or something. No tact or professional courtesy at all! Please do yourself a favor & read the other 1-star reviews & find yourself another location to fill your prescriptions, before they fill it wrong by mistake. Don't take any unnecessary chances.... Again, this pharmacy is a TOTAL MESS! Robert read more

The Pharmacy staff is outstanding. They are so courteous, kind and helpful. They also have experienced nurses give you vaccines and they do a great job. Plus, you can drive through to pick up your meds.This our new favorite pharmacy! read more

Was on hold for 2 hours for the pharmacy. After 1 hour and hearing the recording tell me "we will be right with you, there are 2 calls ahead of you". I decided to call on a 2nd line. I was given the same fake message there too. So, at 4pm I called and the pharmacy closes at 6pm. Guess what happened to both of my calls at 6pm? I was hung up on!! There is No excuse for this. Completely ignoring the calls. The pharmacy manager and the district manager must know this goes on. When I did get through 3 weeks ago (yes 3 weeks ago!) the woman on the phone had no idea how to do a Rx transfer from another pharmacy. read more

Walgreens - Finally was cut off at 6pm after a 2 hour hold - Drugstores Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I don't use the word "hate" very often, but this location is nearly in that category. Busy as heck, messy, low inventory, long lines -- those describe, and explains some of what is going on here. Cray cray. What I blame the store for: * Not clean * Not hiring more cashiers * Not hiring cashiers with some personality and customer service skills This is one of the last Walgreens I would go to. read more

+1-star for the pharmacy because they are the best part of this Walgreens. The staff here is efficient and professional despite the endless lines here, they always take care of my elderly mother and keep her wait times down to a minimum. +1-star for the managers, and most of the staff especially the cosmetics counter and photography counter, they are very helpful and polite and allow you to bypass the huge lines up front. +1-star for the general inventory and organization of this store. You can always find what you want, and if they are out of stock, you can get a rain check, or someone will look for it in the back warehouse for you. -2 stars for the cash register staff & lines up front. They never have enough clerks and most of the clerks are slow and don't seem to know what they are doing. I don't mind coming here for the rest of the store, but paying & checking out always seems to be a nightmare! Throw in a few slow elderly people or people paying with coupons or checks, and you have a TRAFFIC JAM, just like everywhere else in the Bay Area! read more

This is a review for the pharmacy team. It can't be easy managing all the prescriptions and insurance programs but after several years coming here, I have found all the people who work here, especially the front line service people, to be incredibly empathetic and try really, really hard to help resolve your issue. Parking is decent if you're not here during max peak hours given it's downtown. And when the drive thru is open, it's really nice. Thanks, pharmacy team!! read more

They seriously need to get somebody else more qualified to work the drive-thru. This guy I feel bad for him that he needs to either be relocated or retrained. Always asking your name three times writing everything down then he can't find you in the system then he asks for your birthday. I just spent 25 minutes in the Drive-Thru. I could see in the store there were nine people in line at the pharmacy.. This place needs a new management or better management! I'll be moving soon otherwise I would move all my prescriptions to Millbrae where they know how to get people in and out! SMH read more

Worst Walgreens ever. Run by some greedy dork who makes all their money by constantly calling tow trucks on cars parked in their mostly empty lot (even if you're currently in the store). Go to any other store! read more

I give Walgreen's a zero! I have an infection and my doctor sent in a prescription for antibiotics on Friday. It's now 430 Sunday afternoon and it still is not filled. Tried calling the pharmacy but no one answers. read more

The Pharmacy is Awesome! Except for one worker She doesn't give me my rewards Always says I don't get them! The lead Pharmacist's are amazing!! The lines can get long.. You just have to be patient! read more

This pharmacy is pretty bad with rude people at the desk. I saw an elderly man who had to asked to wait repeatedly to get his medication refilled. When my turn came they said they did not have the appointment information. Then checked the computer and said my test is not covered even though the website said I was eligible after asking a series of questions. read more

Me and my friend were rudely asked to leave the store for no reason. First of all they did not assist us when we pressed the help button ever when we were asked for help over the intercom. Then we go to check out and this worker comes up to us and asks us to "Get out" My friend and I have done nothing but grab our makeup about to check out. And when we asked for a bag we were rudely declined. Don't go here unless you want to be kicked out and accused of nothing read more

This is the worst Walgreens. We went recently to get some infant stuff and some regular stuff. Had my baby with us and we parked in their lot. We got free real quick as they did not carry what we needed . My husband had to quickly run to the bank so we did and we were back in 30 mins to the parking spot as the time limit to park in their spot is 60 mins. Kid u not, the owner had our car towed and we had to pay $480 to get our car back. And even if we forget about money and hassle we had to go through, the owner has no decency to speak. He was ultra rude. I wish this pharmacy closes or someone else buys it out. And the place he has the vehicles towed is a very shabby place. Did not even seem legit. We had our baby and was a very hot day otherwise I would have called the police. So good luck if u ever go to this :) read more

Review can be applied to the whole Walgreens which is down there with the worst Walgreens I've been to, including locations in New Orleans or Las Vegas which are a bit more hectic than San Mateo. The pharmacy is consistently bad and my numerous bad experiences there promptedthis review. Many folks are working behind the counter but without fail only one person will he helping a long line of patients. The male pharmacist is disinterested and unhelpful. Leaving old and young patients alike waiting as he meanders about indifferent. Lack of leadership here is evident as I overheard the other technicians speaking about patients and joking about the different languages needed to work in this area, and how that impacts how much work they have to do or who they have to help. Avoid this place at all costs. Update: huge lines, 1 cashier read more

Walgreens - Long line, one cashier - Drugstores Near Me - San Mateo, California

1) Phone call. In for prescription 3xs not operational Defaults to wait to speak to representatives and it Rings with no answer 2) attempted drive through pharmacy ....last 2 times was closed 3) 1:30 appointment for vaccine Arrived timely .....advised to get in line of 12plus Customers .... Appointment made three weeks ago No manager on duty Was advised short staffed "Preston" less than helpful Took over an hour to get vaccine .. read more

AVOID!!! We made online appts for Covid boosters. Arrived to find the system had scheduled us for Pfizer though we'd requested Moderna. That the system had scheduled our 9 year old but that they didn't have under 12 vaccines in stock. And then once we'd filled in the paperwork, only THEN did we get told we were facing a likely wait of 45min. So the time slot we had booked was meaningless. And they weren't able uk vaccinate our kid meaning I will have to make another appointment and use up more of my time so doing. While we waited, we watched a succession of people come to the counter and have similarly unsatisfactory experiences of various kinds. The staff were really friendly and polite but the systems this place appears to be run on appear to be completely broken. GO ELSEWHERE!!! read more

The PLUS side on this Walgreen's is that it is located in downtown San Mateo and not too far from the 101 highway -- and it has a DRIVE THRU PHARMACY...Keep in mind however that this location is always very busy especially during after work hours during the week. (5-8PM). Customer service is better outside the pharmacy. They are usually helpful and can help you find great bargains and best sellers. Their aisles are also nice and wide, and the middle of their store are generally for food display end caps such as canned goods and cookies. The very back wall is their ONE HOUR PHOTO center. I got my PASSPORT photos done here. It was quick and painless. The PHARMACY like most Walgreen's provides FLU SHOTS and YEARLY BOOSTER SHOTS too!! The pharmacy manager is generally on duty during the week and service is usually better when he is at work. They are usually pretty good promising your prescription filled within 20 minutes or less depends on how busy they are. I think in general Walgreen's Pharmacy is better staffed than CVS pharmacy. If you look hard enough and religious in saving your add that you get in the mail and cut out your coupons - you can really get good deals at Walgreen's especially with their vitamins (buy 1 get 1 free). read more

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I've been on hold for 30 minutes... They do not answer their phone at the pharmacy. this is not the first time I have called. Another service that is understaffed. Sorry but I'm going to get my prescriptions on Amazon. So much easier. read more

the pharmacy here is the worst ever. nobody answers the phones. they are rude if you go in person.

I came to pick up a photo. It was fast and the service was good. Photo quality is alright.

HORRENDOUS PHARMACIST. Literally lied to my face when I showed a confirmed appointment, and claimed to have called to cancel my appointment at the last minute. I showed them my phone with no messages except one I received the very morning of, that said "don't forget your appointment!" and the pharmacist still continued to lie and say he called. He didn't even bother to check if maybe, just maybe, the message didn't go through. So then I asked them to verify my number and he continued to deride me in a derogatory tone, and said he called to cancel, and I said well at the VERY LEAST I need to make sure they had the right number because I need to be notified of cancellations. And it took multiple asks of that to even get him to show me the number he claimed to call. Even with his rude degrading and derogatory behavior I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt. I told him the number is correct and there is NO history whatsoever of a phone call. I showed him my phone. Add on, if they were out of stock which they claimed was the reason for the cancel, they had TWO days to notify me. But he claimed he called the morning of which is already bad process for people who need to plan. I had other options, I chose Walgreens. Bad idea. I told him I missed work hours to get to my appointment and that these things need to be clear and notifications sent. That I could have made an appointment elsewhere had he bothered to notify me. He didn't care, he didn't even respond like any normal human with any form of empathy would. He didn't respond like any professional in a workspace would. Not one "sorry this happened", he literally walked away from the window instead of just saying sorry for whatever happened, NOTHING, and his tone throughout was disrespectful and degrading. I have worked in the service industry and his behavior was nothing short of despicable and abusive. He also did not have this demeanor to the rest of the people in line who were all men, so let's add on an additional layer of gender bias on top of horrendous service. Disgusting. Never again. Walgreens customer service hotline apologized for his behavior, and we'll see if they bother to follow up. Why support a business that not only doesn't care but disrespects customers? read more

Terrible customer service. Paying customer here! My 4 y.o. had to use the restroom. I asked an associate. She looked at me briefly and said "no." I should've let my daughter pee on their floor right then and there so that she would have to clean it up. How can you not provide a restroom to your paying customers?! That's a bit ridiculous. Smh. read more

Pharmacy is terrible. Worst customer service. They provide false information about prescription status.

DO NOT GO HERE TO GET VACCINATED! I had a horrible experience that ended with blood streaming down my arm, and when I filed a complaint I got a call from someone from the pharmacy who didn't apologize and instead tried to make excuses! I hung up on him when he tried to tell me that when you roll up a long sleeve shirt pressure builds up so bleeding is normal: I was wearing a short sleeve shirt on purpose that day! He just assumed and wasn't interested in finding out what happened. Again, HE MADE NO APOLOGIES at all, they are not interested in taking care of their customers there clearly. One more thing: apparently they contract out to a nurse. Fine whatever, but this nurse was not wearing a uniform or any sort of name tag or identifier. read more

Worst customer service. i always have to come back twice after refilling online. This time even though they have my refills in the system they have not been able to fill it for a week. Auto phone system is useless . The one time i did get through to a human o waited 45 minutes on hold before i was disconnected. 7 days without my prescribed meds and waiting. The worst!!!!! read more

WORST PHARMACY EVER ! Literally the pharmacist William was so rude and very unprofessional! He doesn't deserve the title to be a manager. I waited 30 mins in their pharmacy line just for him to tell me he didn't fill my mothers prescription and asked me to swing around and he would fill it. Are you kidding me ? I just spent 30 mins in the slowest damn line ever all because you hire people who can't do their job GEORGE sucks also he holds up the line because he can't even understand the name you give him so pathetic I will be contacting the district manager about William for sure do yourself a favor and drop this pharmacy so slow,unprofessional, and rude. read more

Im leaving this review for the Walgreens pharmacy on east 3rd ave, this morning at around 10:30am I called the pharmacy and a guy picked up I gave him my information to pick up an auto refill that I've been picking up now for about a few months in this Walgreens. He tells me my information is not there that maybe it's in another Walgreens and then hangs up the phone. So I got confused and checked again on google and saw I had the right number so I called again telling him I just called I give him my information again and he says the same thing, I then ask him if the address is East 3rd avenue in San Mateo, and he tells me it's not east 3rd avenue instead it's just 3rd avenue and I was gonna ask him if the other street was south Ellsworth but he hanged up the phone and didn't let me finish. Which is totally disrespectful and unprofessional to do, I was so disappointed. read more

The older, Caucasian, male with glasses is the rudest cashier I've experienced in awhile. There was an issue with bc I need my transaction to be tax exempt, he looked dumbfounded. Called the lady manager, she looked dumbfounded as well. Didn't even try to help me. Out of laziness they refused to help me. You can see why this store has two stars. read more

This is a traditionally good store. I've bought grocery type items there, purchased home goods, picked up medications for relatives and prescription needs, handled a bit of legal work for their midwestern office many years ago and recall hearing nothing but positive reviews about their many years of service. It is a classically great name. read more

I'm reviewing this based on my experience with their photo center. I needed to get my passport photos taken and needed to get it done quick! When I got there, there was no wait which made the process more efficient. I took 2 photos and the cashier let me choose which one I wanted. Seeing as its a passport photo and they're really cracking down on the restrictions, I felt like my picture came out a little awkward. Hair needs to be tucked behind your ears (for girls) and it can't be in front. The guy knew the rules and what the guidelines were so that was very helpful. Whole process took about 15 minutes from the time I got there until I received the photos and printed. Very hassle free! They also have a parking lot that is located in the back of the store. Plenty of parking, but you will have to walk around to the front to enter the store. read more

Listen I am not one to leave one star reviews and when I do it means something. This Is probably the worst Walgreens ever. I don't know if the employees here really.hate. their jobs or this is the place were rude employees come to hang. Every time I come here the service is beyond horrible and rude. The cashiers that I have encountered are rude, non helpful, never smile and when you say hello how are you doing they say nothing back. I have one cashier that is always in a bad mood I got his name but will not blast him since that's not what I do. Listen if you hate your damn job so much make changes something that can be done. But if you have to have this awful negative Nancy attitude while working with PEOPLE try and do your job and slap a semi smile on your face. If that is something you can't possibly do then GTFO and find your self another career choice because this one is not working for you! What has happened to customer service? management at Walgreens even read this because by your many crappy reviews you don't! read more

pharmacist are kinda garbage. they are unable to use basic logic. they told me to double up a med, and come back when i run out. the pharmacist. the pharmacist! then i come back when i run out and they can't find my prescription and tell me they can't do anything. wtf, why did they find it the first time? were they lying to get me out of my hair? saw a lady in line in front of me, also having problems with their comprehension. never having scrips sent there ever again read more

First, I never right reviews, ever. But the fact I am leaving one should tell you the horrendous experience I have faced with this site. Never have I encountered a more dysfunctional, unprofessional and incompetent medical professionals in my life. The amount of runs rounds and lies I have been told would put the mob to shame. The incoherent communication and false informational I was given belongs in Mean Girls. I implore you, if you value your sanity, your very existence, run away and never come here. And to the management, get our act together. The fact that nothing has improved is an indictment of not only your site, but your inability to do your damn job. Ive seen toddlers playing store run a more functional operation that the mess at this pharmacy. read more

Should have read the reviews. Pharmacists must either really hate their lives, job, or both. Went to get a prescription for the first time and the guy working was sitting down and snatched the papers from my hand when I first arrived. I asked if he was having a bad day and he just stared at me looked back to the computer screen. I grabbed my papers and left. Never going back. read more

So I recently got some medication to help me... let's say... stop licking my coworkers so often. My doctor gave me a no-refills prescription for 45 5mg tablets of... let's say... Nolixya. I was supposed to take 1/2 a pill each day for 14 days, then one pill a day thereafter. I got my Nolixya filled at the pharmacy here and started taking it according to the directions printed on the label, which corresponded with my doctor's instructions. I ran out of pills a couple of weeks before my followup appointment. When I inspected the label, I realized that I had only been given 23, and not 45 pills. I did the math again and again, and concluded that my doctor had prescribed the wrong amount. I didn't think my condition was particularly serious, so I just decided to wait until I saw her to mention the mistake. That's where things got ugly. The licking flared up big time. I had recently relocated to the desk next to my boss. After nearly drowning during one of my attacks, he erected a barrier of monitors and file folders between our desks and started keeping the office letter opener tucked in his belt. I had my followup doctor's appointment a couple of nights ago. She showed me the carbon copy of the prescription, which clearly was for 45 tablets. When I dropped off my new prescription at the pharmacy here, I told the clerk what had happened. She looked up my records, then explained that there was no 5mg Nolixya tablets, so they had given me half the amount of 10mg tablets. BUT THEY HADN'T CHANGED THE DIRECTIONS ON THE LABEL OR SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT THE DOSAGE. That's when the scope of the issue hit me. I had not only run out of pills prematurely, causing a horrible flareup of the licking, but I had actually been taking twice the dose prescribed by my doctor! When I went to pick up my prescription, I was helped by the manager of the pharmacy. I explained what had happened, and told him how freaked out I was by this. He looked up my records, verified the 5mg vs 10mg deal, and started making their case. He made the point that I should have called my doctor or the pharmacy when I ran out of medication. He is completely right, and I absolve the pharmacy of all responsibility for the third degree tongue burns on several of our staff. Then we began going around and around with the numbers... 5mg, 1/2 pill, 14 days, 23 tablets, 10mg, 45 tablets... he argued that I actually hadn't been taking twice my doctor's prescribed dose. I was already flustered by the shock and, being in customer service myself, did not want to behave abusively, especially if he was right. So I made one last point that, even if he was right about the dose itself being correct, the pharmacy should have alerted me to the difference between my doctor's prescribed strength tablet and what was actually available. I went back to work... eventually went home... and began to think about it. Clarity hit like lightning and I dug through the trash for my empty bottle. My doctor prescribed me 5mg pills, two weeks taking half a pill daily, then one pill each day. Those instructions were exactly what was written on the label of my Wallgreens Pharmacy bottle- EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE PILLS WERE 10MG PILLS. Wallgreens had failed to change the dosing instructions or say anything to me about the difference. The manager was wrong. My original logic had been correct and, by following the instructions on the bottle, had indeed been taking twice as much medication as my doctor prescribed. What if this had been for something more serious than compulsive licking? What if it had been blood pressure or pain medication? WHAT the fuck IF, Wallgreens?! read more

This is a bit of a weird Walgreens, and actually reminds me of the Walgreens in SF the way their checking stations are set up all on one counter. I really like this location being so close to Caltrain, it's incredibly easy to walk over and get your monthly pass and the service is friendly and prompt since they have seem to always have someone staffing that counter. My main issue is I really dislike register set ups like this, especially if you use carts, it makes it almost impossible to not block someone elses way and makes bagging difficult. I only ever run into it at a Walgreens and it tends to cause the line to back up because the checkers have less working room. This location could probably use an overhaul, but otherwise it's good for the quick pick up item trips. read more

Walgreens where the walls aren't green at all. :] I actually like Walgreens and due to an injury I have to stop by Walgreens on a regular basis to pick up prescriptions and what not. So here it goes... What I Like The Drive Thru Pharmacy, when its manned by the right person the pharmacy in general is a smooth operation. But ESPECIALLY the Drive Thru Pharmacy, I was extremely happy with it just a few nights ago. It's like the greatest thing ever when done right. So I like the convenience and like I said when manned (or managed) properly its perfect. What I Kinda-Sorta Don't Like I feel like this Walgreens is ALWAYS understaffed. Whether its in the Pharmacy, Cosmetics, Photo, every department seems to have some waiting or a line that never ends. I use to work at a Walgreens and I know this can be adjusted to be smoother. "IC3" which is basically "I need back up" in Walgreens Staff terms should be implemented in every department...ESPECIALLY in the Pharmacy. Some people can't even stand for a long time you know? I'm Just Saying. Tip To Owner (Yelp - Give me credit if you copy this idea please, thank you...haha) My Tip To Owner is HIRE MORE PEOPLE, AND PAY THEM BETTER. Your employees deserve better pay, so they can love their jobs. Also, you may need to retrain the Manager to better handle the regular rushes that are bound to happen at a busy location. Maybe monitor the parking lot because I'm sure there is unauthorized parking going on there...haha I hope this helps, God Bless. ~Da Critic read more

Walgreens - The Store Front. - Drugstores Near Me - San Mateo, California

I had scheduled an appointment for a covid PCR but as I reached the drive through, an Asian guy there said we didn't have an appointmen, even when I showed my email confirmation. he wouldn't even listen to me and while trying to clarify he just left ??? I needed a PCR by Monday (I went on a Saturday). very poor service. i would rather eat a toenail than go to Walgreens! read more