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10 Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts You Can Get At The Drugstore

Sometimes, Valentine’s Day is the last thing on our minds, and buying a Valentine’s Day gift at the last minute becomes kind of inevitable. February in general is such a crappy month, between the unpredictable weather and the fact that you’re still waiting to organize all of your tax forms, praying that you’ll actually get something back and not have to owe a thousand dollars. (I’m sure it’s easy to figure out your taxes, but I’m not a math person, and it’s always kind of a big surprise to me as to how those numbers and columns add up. All I’m focused on is paying by April and not going to jail. That’s what happens, right?)

Thankfully, I’ve been in a happy marriage since the tail end of 2012. What that means is, I know what to expect for Valentine’s Day. “Flowers and a card,” I ask my husband every year. I don’t care where the flowers even came from — it could be a grocery store, a fancy florist, or half dead from someone’s cold garden for all I care. I just like flowers. However, years past have been a little bit more confusing. For those of you who started a brand new relationship in January, starting the conversation about Valentine’s Day expectations can be a little worrisome. I mean, what if you buy him a new sweater, and he gives you a high five?

This is why we should be glad that drugstores exist. Besides, you know, being a handy way to get that anxiety medication you need after analyzing what might go wrong on Valentine’s Day, it also offers a few good mid-level selections that can help either you or your fresh new significant other prove that you remembered this special day of love.

That’s why I’m here, dear reader. I searched through all of the seasonal aisles at my local Walgreens like a creepy weirdo/possible shoplifter in order to find you the best Valentine’s Day gifts you can buy for your loved one this year.

1. The Not-Too-Obvious Stuffed Animal

I don’t know what it is about this lion, but I love him. Like, I want to cuddle this thing all day. And I can! Know why? Because his arms aren’t sewn onto some gigantic heart made of poor material that says something like “HOT STUFF” on it. Even at the age of 31, I can still appreciate a good stuffed animal.

2. Cards, Obviously

You don’t need to step into a Hallmark store to get a decent card. Most drugstores have a pretty up-to-date selection, and you should be able to find something that speaks to you. I mean, from the standard Peanuts card to the lovey dovey romantic cards with a lot of words in script, you can’t really go wrong.

Also, they have cards that play music. I bought my husband one last year, completely by accident. Don’t even ask how my weak hands failed to open the card to its full capacity while at the store, since that’s a mystery I’m still trying to solve to this day. Thankfully the song wasn’t the worst.

3. Mustache Box Of Chocolates

There’s one thing that we, as a nation, have accomplished in the last few years. We’ve finally been able to openly honor the mustache. Men my age strive to look like cartoon villains who tie poor women onto railroad tracks while deviously twirling their follicles, and rightfully look up to Nick Offerman as a hero for his amazing facial hair.

Also, mustaches are funny. Anything which acknowledges the hilarity of a ‘stache is immediately great as is, even if it doesn’t include delicious chocolate inside.

4. The Hello Kitty Crazy Straw Cup

You guys won’t be able to tell, but it lights up if you press the bottom of it. I tried it out in the store, and then awkwardly walked away the second a fellow customer gave me a strange glance. Why didn’t I take a video?! Even worse, why didn’t I just buy one for myself? I do admit, I was massively tempted.

Regardless of your age, the crazy straw is an amazing thing to have in the house. We all need to drink water to survive, so why can’t we do it in a way that boosts up your daily morale? Guys, this gift is perfect for the Lorelai Gilmore-esque girl in your life, who’ll never think that Sanrio items and accessories aren’t adorable.

5. Gift Certificates

Yeah, sure. They might be a little impersonal. But you know what? If you’re suave enough, you can make it work.

Use this prompt I just made up, and feelings won’t be crushed: “Hey, baby. I know you like movies. And I know AMC is your favorite theater chain within a 20-mile radius. This gift certificate is a promise to see a movie together on a super romantic date. Popcorn is on me. And by me, I mean we’ll use this sexy, totally planned gift card to pay for it.”

6. Non-Alcoholic Wine

So, I live in Pennsylvania. And in Pennsylvania, we have super strict rules about how and where you can buy alcohol. Currently, even getting a six pack of beer is difficult. You can’t get wine and beer at the same place. When my husband and I went to California for our honeymoon, we bought wine at CVS just because we could.

That’s why I was quick to notice these random bottles hanging out at Walgreens, probably waiting for some under-aged kid to buy it without reading the bottle first. Is this a great gift? Eh, probably not great. But if your loved one also lives in Pennsylvania and doesn’t drink, it’s definitely a sweet gesture to have something “fancier” than soda to drink while watching TV together and holding hands.
(By the way, that’s like, the ideal Valentine’s Day date to me.)

7. These Lionel Richie-Inspired Cheesecake Treats

I’m a sucker for packaging. Since we last talked about wine, I’d easily buy the bottle with the hilarious label that ends up tasting like Sweet Tarts and hand sanitizer over something that’s classy, yet kind of uninspired design-wise. This is why I love these milk chocolate treats. If you haven’t seen the video for Lionel Richie’s “Hello,” you’re missing out. Two words: Clay Bust.

8. Other Candy

The candy at Walgreens isn’t just there for the purpose of being sneaked into a movie theater via gigantic purse. Even though these candies weren’t “seasonal aisle appropriate,” it doesn’t mean that they won’t be thoroughly enjoyed. I mean, it doesn’t have to come in a heart-shaped paper tin to be a stellar gift.

Seriously, this might be your only chance this year to buy your boyfriend 20 packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups without looking weird. Trust me, he’ll love you for it.

9. A Decorative Tin

This one requires a “Step 2.” What will you put in your love tin? Twenty packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups? A gift card to AMC? Clues to a romantic yet sadly disappointing love-themed treasure hunt? A coupon for a free hug? The world is yours with this tin.

If you want my honest advice, I think a few homemade cookies would fit quite nicely in there. Cookies fit nicely everywhere — tins, stomachs, hands, and more!

10. Someecards Chocolate Heart

If your romantic partner litters their Facebook wall with Someecards to the point where you’ve actually considered breaking up with them, this is the perfect way to show them how much you care. He’ll see it, laugh, say “this is SO me!” post a picture on Instagram, and probably get a couple obligatory likes. Just let him enjoy the chocolate before getting snarly with the comeback of, “they’re so everyone, Troy! Everyone can relate to them!”

I mean, you kind of knew what you were getting into when buying this, right?

Images: Mike Mozart/Flickr, Karen Belz (10)

 

Sourced from Bustle.com

 

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HOW to REALLY Piss off your Pharmacist

Don’t use the automated line — press zero to talk to us, especially on Monday morning.

Hand us your empty Rx bottle and inform us you’ll be back in a few minutes for your refill.

Wait until your prescription is paid for THEN hand us a manufacturer coupon.

Hand us a prescription dated several days ago and inform us that you need it right now.

Write a check at the register and take your time doing it like we have nothing else to do.

Act like you’re in a hurry to get your Rx filled THEN after you pay for it you’re no longer in a hurry.

Call and ask to talk to the pharmacist when your request or question can clearly be answered by the technician.

Ask us to ring up a bunch of crap with your prescription because you’re too damn lazy to use our automated check out up front.

Ask me to talk to your doctor on YOUR cell phone. Ewww!

Start talking to me or ask me a question when I’m clearly on the phone.

Ask me to fill another prescription of yours when you just paid for one and there are other people in line.

Ask me for an early refill on your narcotic and give me some bullcrap story. Really, we’ve heard them all.

Tell us there you don’t have new insurance and let us scramble around trying to figure out why your old insurance doesn’t work any more.

Ask me for pharmacy advice then not listen to me.

Ask me a question when I’m helping another patient.

Call the pharmacy and act like we’re the switchboard for the rest of the store.

Ask me to refill your narcotic early. Just don’t, ok?

Ask me to loan you some Percocet and tell me it’s ok because you’re bringing in an Rx from your doctor later in the week.

Write a check. Come on, it’s 2013. Use a debit card, you dolt.

Try to show me your rash, lesion, or wound. We really don’t want to see it.

Ask me why YOUR doctor hasn’t called back on your refill.

Tell me you know that “something” is absolutely true because your neighbor’s brother’s cousin said so.

Tell me you know what you read is absolutely true because you read it on the Internet.

Refer to brand medication as “the real stuff.”

Tell me all I have to do is “slap a label” on your medicine.

Write on your prescription. DON’T DO THAT.

Tell me your prescription is cheaper somewhere else. If that’s true, GO THERE.

Ask me where the bathroom is. Come on, the store is not that big. You can find it.

Tell me I “never work anymore” when I’ve been here 40+ hours a week.

Ask me for anything recommended by that quack Dr. Oz. The man is a loon.

Ask me for anything “homeopathic.”

Ask me for the “best” of anything. Of course we’re going to recommend the best. Duh.

Say you have to have brand because you’re allergic to generic.

Say you have to have brand because our generic “didn’t do anything” for you.

Say you must have a specific generic manufacturer.

Ask me for advice when you get your medication filled at our competitor across the street.

Ask me for something in the store that’s not pharmacy related, at all. No, I don’t know where the [insert anything non-pharmacy related here] is located.

Ask me for a kleenex, use it, then leave it on the counter.

Ask me to scan your club card AFTER the transaction is complete.

Hand me your Medicaid card while holding car keys for a Mercedes, Lexus, or some other fancy car. I drive an old beat-up Camry.

Hand me your Medicard card then come up to pay for your prescription later with a Starbucks in your hand.

Hand me your Medicaid card and act like that means we’re supposed to ignore all other pharmacy patrons and have your Rx ready in 30 seconds.

Call the pharmacy and ask to be transferred to another department. We’re NOT a switchboard.

Stare at me through the glass while I’m filling your prescription.

Go stand at the register and stare at me after I’ve told you it’s going to be 15-20 minutes before your Rx is ready. We have an expensive waiting room. USE IT.

Press zero to talk to the pharmacy when our automated line tells you we have an Rx ready for you. Just come and get it or don’t come and get it. We don’t need to hear from you. Either you pick it up, or if you don’t, we will return it to stock. DON’T BOTHER US.

Call to tell me you need an Rx filled that YOU know is already on auto-refill. OMgosh that’s annoying.

Authorize a refill to be picked up later in the day then show up in an hour to get it.

Keep calling the pharmacy WHEN I’ve TOLD YOU I WILL CALL YOU when your refill is authorized.

Ask me to fill a prescription for you on the spot because you’re a prescriber and you need a Z-pack while you’re in town.

Ask me to break the law for you in any way as a favor. I’m not going to lose my job for you, sorry.

Sourced from the crazyrxman.blogspot.com
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Advice for Pharmacy Patients about MONDAYS

Check this out from the crazyrxman.blogspot.com

Dear Patients,Let’s talk about Mondays.Monday is NOT the day for you to go to the pharmacy. Monday is not the day for you to request your refill. Monday is not the day for you to come anywhere near the pharmacy? No, we’re not “slow” on Monday and busy on the weekends. The opposite is true.

Monday is THE busiest day
of the week for all pharmacies. 
1. At most pharmacies there hasn’t been a delivery of medication since Friday.We’re going to get a big order on Monday. That takes time to check and get shelved.2. We have a bunch of partials (prescriptions that we didn’t have a full quantity of product and dispensed a few tablets) from the weekend that get filled on Monday after the order arrives.3. Things we didn’t have in stock over the weekend get filled Monday morning after the order arrives.4. People requested refills from their doctor over the weekend… those requests don’t get seen by the doctor until Monday morning and those prescriptions that get approved get sent over to the pharmacy on Monday morning.

5. Few doctors keep weekend hours, and most of those doctors try to see all their patients on Monday morning. That means about 10am they’re going to flood the pharmacy with their new prescriptions.

6. Most people start their work week on Monday and one of the first things they do is request refills for all their medications. Oh, they could have done it over the weekend but they were too busy grilling.7. For some reason people think we’re closed on Saturday and Sunday. So they show up on Monday.So, dear Patient, please stay away from the pharmacy on Monday. Don’t call or come by unless you really need to. Call in your refills on Saturday or Sunday. If you just have to see your doctor on Monday, bring your prescription by the pharmacy on Tuesday or later in the week. We’re plenty busy at the pharmacy on Monday. We’re about a nine on the tension scale Monday morning. Wait times are longer on Monday.

Make your life easier and our life easier:
 
STAY AWAY FROM THE
PHARMACY ON MONDAY!
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