June 2008
Drugstore review: Problems we found
Even the lowest-rated drugstores pleased most readers, and our Ratings (available to subscribers) show that pharmacies are getting better at addressing consumers' needs. That's not to say they
get it right all the time.
At 29 percent of visits over the course of a year, readers complained that a prescribed drug was out of stock at least once. Big-box stores had a slightly better track record than average; grocery stores, slightly worse. Half the time, patients got their medicine the next day, but a third of the time it took two or more days, our drugstore review found. That's a long time to wait when you're sick. Readers were especially likely to find drugs out of stock at Giant, Rite Aid, Eckerd (bought by Rite Aid after our survey), and Albertsons.
At 14 percent of walk-in stores, readers said that prescriptions weren't ready when promised or that there was a long wait at the counter. Those two problems were especially prevalent at Longs Drugs, where 42 percent of readers encountered one or the other. Kmart, which scored higher than average for speed, has an unusual guarantee at some stores: If drugs aren't ready when promised, you get a $20 gift card.
For 1 percent of prescription-drug buys during the year, readers said they were billed incorrectly or didn't get enough personal attention from the pharmacist. For one in 50 buys, they received the wrong number of pills.
At 29 percent of visits over the course of a year, readers complained that a prescribed drug was out of stock at least once. Big-box stores had a slightly better track record than average; grocery stores, slightly worse. Half the time, patients got their medicine the next day, but a third of the time it took two or more days, our drugstore review found. That's a long time to wait when you're sick. Readers were especially likely to find drugs out of stock at Giant, Rite Aid, Eckerd (bought by Rite Aid after our survey), and Albertsons.
At 14 percent of walk-in stores, readers said that prescriptions weren't ready when promised or that there was a long wait at the counter. Those two problems were especially prevalent at Longs Drugs, where 42 percent of readers encountered one or the other. Kmart, which scored higher than average for speed, has an unusual guarantee at some stores: If drugs aren't ready when promised, you get a $20 gift card.
For 1 percent of prescription-drug buys during the year, readers said they were billed incorrectly or didn't get enough personal attention from the pharmacist. For one in 50 buys, they received the wrong number of pills.
