We’ve all been there: You’re going about your day when suddenly, your stomach is growling, you’re struck with a blinding headache, and you realize you forgot to put on deodorant before you left the house. So now if you’re having one of those days when everything goes wrong, CVS wants you to hit up one of their brand-new vending machines for a quick fix. [More]
drug stores
Walgreens Will Sell Off Up To 1,000 Stores To Get Approval For Rite Aid Acquisition
By 9.8.16
When two companies in the same business want to merge, a common condition placed on the merger by authorities may be that one or both companies sell part of its business so there’s still some competition in the market. It looks likely that the Federal Trade Commission will approve the proposed merger of Walgreens Rite Aid, but Walgreens may have to give up more locations before the deal goes through. [More]
Lawmakers Urge Drug Store Chains To Stop Carrying Tobacco Products
By 4.29.14
It’s been nearly three months since CVS announced it was phasing out the sale of tobacco products in its stores, and so far no other major drug store chain has followed suit. So today, a dozen members of Congress, led by Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, called on these retailers to put an end to their part in the sale of cigarettes and other items containing tobacco. [More]
Walgreens Customer Mistaken For Homeless Person, Kicked Out Of Store
By 4.1.14
An overzealous Walgreens security guard and a case of mistaken identity led to what the drugstore chain is calling “an unfortunate situation” in Chicago. A 62-year-old man, a Vietnam War veteran, claims that he entered the store and a security guard asked him to leave or face arrest. The guard had mistaken him for a homeless man who had caused problems at the same store. [More]
Duane Reade Has All Your Back To School Supplies. All Of Them!
By 7.13.11
From pencils, to bear costumes, to urostomy pouches, Duane Reade is your one-stop back to school supershop. The drug store gets a little gentle ribbing over the extensiveness of its inventory in this amusing little parody ad. [More]
Walgreens Computers Won't Let Me Buy Allergy Meds
By 5.18.10
Jason wanted to stock up on allergy meds by buying two packages rather than one in order to take advantage of a low price. Walgreens denied him then proceeded to accuse him of shady activity. [More]
Trade Walgreens Hippie Cold/Flu Remedy For Actual Flu Shot
By 8.4.09
First, there was Airborne. Then there was Rite-Aid’s house brand version of Airborne. Now, the Walgreens brand of homeopathic cold and flu remedy was also the subject of a class action lawsuit, and the settlement is at hand.
Ask The Consumerists: Should Everyone Take Advantage Of $4 Generics?
By 5.21.09 — Updated: 4.30.13
Back in April, reader B. e-mailed the Consumerist tipline about a change to his health insurance plan’s prescription drug schedule. It raised a drug that he’s taken for years, the generic version of Prozac, to a different schedule—more than tripling B.’s co-pay, from $8 to $25.
CVS Beverage Prices: Only Off By $997 Or So
By 5.14.09
A few weeks apart, in different stores, readers Spencer and Sean spotted the same error on CVS shelf tags. Printing error? Zoned-out employees? Maybe our assumptions are all wrong, and it’s an innovative new pricing strategy.
2-Foot-Long CVS Receipt Doubles As Party Streamer
By 5.11.09
Matt sent Consumerist an e-mail with the subject line, “Why is my receipt two feet long?” See, he shopped at CVS, purchased one item, used the self-checkout machine, and walked away with a receipt longer than my dog. This is a massive waste of paper, especially when you multiply it by the number of CVS stores and the number of purchases at each one, but it isn’t completely pointless.
CVS Apologizes For Horrific Customer Service
By 2.22.08
Rachael writes in with an update about her complaint with CVS.
A Tragic Tale Of Horrific, Yet Typical, Service At CVS
By 2.19.08
Reader Rachael’s description of what its like to shop at her local CVS is a good example maddening, yet typical “customer service” that you find at chain drug stores. Why is buying razor blades and photo prints so insanely difficult? Why?
