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Target Pharmacy ripoff inadequate & slow service, repeating same mistakes again, poor customer relations Columbia Maryland
I am writing in reference to problems that I have encountered with Target pharmacy repeatedly for the past couple of years and recently was the final straw. I am disappointed and shocked on how unorganized and slow the service is.
My mother is a type 2 diabetic, which means that she has to be on long term medication and has to be very regular about taking it. She cannot afford to miss any dose otherwise it could be detrimental to her health. Everyone, esp pharmacists should know that.
Everytime i go to the target pharmacy to pick up my mothers prescription, the pharmacists either don't have it ready, or they claim that the doctor hadn't called it in. Every time! On many occasions it has happened that they claimed that no one ever called about the prescription but later checked their answering machine/fax and realized that our doctor had left a message. Then we end up having to wait almost an hour to get the medicine. What is the point of asking our doctor to call ahead of time when we end up having to wait for our medicine to be filled anyway. No one has that kind of time!
Recently, i went to the target pharmacy to pick up my mothers usual prescription and of course the same ritual happened again. They once again claimed that no one had called and the customer service was horrible. They asked me if my mother was in the system. Of course she is! We've been going to this pharmacy for years! I called my doctor once again and I couldnt reach him at that time. They should know that the reason why i was there was because my doctor had called me the day before to let me know that he had called the pharmacy. Why would i just show up like that?!
I tried to hold my temper and asked if it was possible if I could get 3-4 pills of my mothers medication so that she wouldnt have to miss a dose until tomorrow when once again I make another trip to the pharmacy after asking my doctor to call again. They denied my request claiming that it was illegal! They should know that a diabetic cannot miss his/her medicine and its not like its narcotic or painkiller! She is in their system so they can see for themselves what she takes. Other pharmacies have been kind enough to do that in similar situations with people i know.
Also, the information in their system was all wrong. Apparantly one of the medicines was last filled 3 years ago! That was plain ridiculous.
Other issues like the $10 gift certificate you get if you fill out a new prescription at the pharmacy was a complete disaster. One of my relatives had to get some antibiotic eye drops and the lady there charges her for the gift card (which is supposed to be free, mind you) and then uses the same gift card on her prescription! So basically she got nothing. Its too idiotic for me to handle.
I am just very disappointed at this sort of service when target has so many other great products. Unfortunately I am definitly changing my perscription provider to another store. Something needs to be done about the terrible customer relations and poor service.
Utterly shocked and annoyed,
F
columbia, Maryland
U.S.A.
12 Updates & Rebuttals
f
columbia,Maryland,
U.S.A.
answer to ur question
#13Author of original report
Sat, February 04, 2006
of course she called the pharmacy before i went to pick up her medicine!!! that was the whole point of me getting annoyed. the doctor calls the Rx in and then my mother would call to confirm it and i would go and pick it up. but the Rx would never be ready and there would always be someone there looking at me like i've lost my mind lol.
anyway, whatever, i've switched pharmacies so thats that.
ill def look into small pharmacies/online and see how that works.
Leticia
Anytown,Other,
U.S.A.
I have a question.
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
Did your mother ever call the pharmacy to make sure that her perscriptions would be ready????
My mother has severe asthma and has suffered complete respiratory failure before and when her doctor calls in a refill perscription she always calls first. (As well as to make sure that the other scripts she needs will be ready as well.)
I'm sorry but if my mother can call (for herself) and check up to make sure that her scripts have been called in and will be ready when she gets there, why can't you or your mother do it?
I'm sorry but they get perscriptions from many doctors every single day sent to them. But they are for some reason supposed to fill yours before you get there??? when they don't even know if you are coming in that day???
If you or your mother would call beforehand then you can just pick up the medication.
Joe
Richmond,British Columbia,
Canada
Unfortunately not.
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
I've been trying to find something similar to soma. There's nothing quite like it. They tried to replace it with Flexiril. They make me very tired , and dry mouth. That's why was checking online. But as the gentleman said it's an online pharmacy. And they are definitely there for the buck. If you know , something that is on the same line as Soma . please let me know. Thanks
Lorraine - Geek Consumer Advocate :-)
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
The reason you got such a high price was due to it being an online pharmacy Joe.
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
They are extremely high in cost for any drugs you order and a lot of them take your money and never send the product.
I take Soma for my Fibro and I'm paying $.44 a pill for 90 a month at a local pharmacy. Soma is such an old drug and it wasn't even regulated until recently. I'm sorry to hear you are unable to get it these days up there. It makes the difference of my being able to move freely every day or put up with burning, stabbing pain in my shoulders. I hope you found another med to help your back.
Robert
Jacksonville,Florida,
U.S.A.
There is a simple reason you paid 10% what the pill was worth
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
The Canadian Government pays 90% of the cost of the drugs. Our Government doesn't...yet, unless you are on Medicare, Medicaid, or any of the other idiotic money wasting schemes the "Gimme" Generation dreamed up.
People like me get to foot the bill. You know...people who are self-reliant, and can actually live every day without needing my Government saving me from myself.
Joe
Richmond,British Columbia,
Canada
Your Right!
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
Your right. Fortunately , I get my prescriptions in Canada. My Wife Who Is American Tells Me Her Mothers Prescriptions Run into the Hundreds. I Know You Need to Save Every Dollar You Can. I Used to Get a Prescription for My Back. It Was Called Soma, I Pay .30 a Pill. Soma Stopped Coming into Canada, Because A Lot Of Our Doctors Weren't Prescribing It. So I Went to Your Online Pharmacy. They Had a Deal on for 3.20 US per pill. So I'm Guessing That A Lot Of Your Prescriptions, Are Ridiculously Priced Especially When They Make the Majority of pills in the US. The Reason I Mentioned Finding Another Pharmacist. There is always good and bad in every field.For someone who you see , basically . once or twice a month, should show you some respect. They should never make you feel like an outsider. Especially when you bring your mothers prescriptions. They have no class. There are a lot of people out , who would love to help you! Best of luck and as he says check out there dispensing fees. Have a good one to all. Joe
Joe
Richmond,British Columbia,
Canada
Your Right!
#13Consumer Comment
Fri, February 03, 2006
Your right. Fortunately , I get my prescriptions in Canada. My Wife Who Is American Tells Me Her Mothers Prescriptions Run into the Hundreds. I Know You Need to Save Every Dollar You Can. I Used to Get a Prescription for My Back. It Was Called Soma, I Pay .30 a Pill. Soma Stopped Coming into Canada, Because A Lot Of Our Doctors Weren't Prescribing It. So I Went to Your Online Pharmacy. They Had a Deal on for 3.20 US per pill. So I'm Guessing That A Lot Of Your Prescriptions, Are Ridiculously Priced Especially When They Make the Majority of pills in the US. The Reason I Mentioned Finding Another Pharmacist. There is always good and bad in every field.For someone who you see , basically . once or twice a month, should show you some respect. They should never make you feel like an outsider. Especially when you bring your mothers prescriptions. They have no class. There are a lot of people out , who would love to help you! Best of luck and as he says check out there dispensing fees. Have a good one to all. Joe
Pete
Valley View,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Joe
#13Consumer Comment
Thu, February 02, 2006
But that 'few bucks' adds up, doesn't it? The simpler solution is: Call ahead or make sure your new prescription is in hand in time to avoid running out of your medication--especially if it's a 'must.'
Pete
Valley View,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Joe
#13Consumer Comment
Thu, February 02, 2006
But that 'few bucks' adds up, doesn't it? The simpler solution is: Call ahead or make sure your new prescription is in hand in time to avoid running out of your medication--especially if it's a 'must.'
Pete
Valley View,Michigan,
U.S.A.
Joe
#13Consumer Comment
Thu, February 02, 2006
But that 'few bucks' adds up, doesn't it? The simpler solution is: Call ahead or make sure your new prescription is in hand in time to avoid running out of your medication--especially if it's a 'must.'
Joe
Richmond,British Columbia,
Canada
Unbelievable
#13Consumer Comment
Thu, February 02, 2006
I myself had a similar problem with my old pharmacist. Every month , I would go to pick up my medication for Type II diabetes. I always had my doctor phone it in three days before I ran out. It never failed, every time I would go in the pharmacist would look in his drawer. And say are sure the doctor called it in. After searching for 20 minutes, they would find it. It will be ready about half an hour. I would always leave angry. Then I realized, it was my fault. I went to the big chain pharmacy to save a few bucks.
So I decided to go to a small pharmacy that's been in the neighborhood for years. It's been a year and a half, since I have been going. What a difference. When I go there, I'm always greeted with a smile and Hello Joe.
Also twice now, when I ran out of a prescription. He has always given me enough medication until I could see the doctor. Plus if my order wasn't ready, I didn't mind waiting actually . I enjoyed waiting . that's because we would talk about current events. Hopefully , you can find one also. Also , they were being jerks in regards to your mother's medication. I know if I miss a couple. It really screws up your body. Best of luck to you!
Alyson
Hillsboro,Oregon,
U.S.A.
In the future... it's especially important to get that order in ahead of time
#13UPDATE Employee
Sat, January 28, 2006
Call in for refills a day or two, maybe even a week before you need them. It allows the pharmacy enough time to properly fill the script, and keeps the pressure off of you and your doctor. If she's out of refills, and your bottle will tell you that the doctor's authorization will be required for the next fill, it's especially important to get that order in ahead of time. They sound like they're busy over there. Work with them a little better.
Also, they are technically correct when they say that they cannot give you a few pills to tide you over until the doctor calls back. That is considered filling without a prescription. Many pharmacies, ours included, will advance a few days' supply as a courtesy, as long as it's not horribly expensive or a narcotic, but it's just that: a courtesy. We don't have to do it, we are not required to.