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Chalk one up for the little guy!!! In a recent Consumer Reports study of 43,000+ subscribers, the top rated walk-in stores are independent pharmacies, not giant chains such as Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. So that leads to one big question, is your drugstore the right one for you?
Every individual’s drugstore visit is different, some go every month for maintenance medications and some go on an as needed basis. Either way, you have a choice for what drugstore you want to use. If you are the type of person that wants to drop off your prescriptions and get your grocery shopping done, then you need to go to one of the chains stores and that provides that type of service. You will be able to knock out two birds with one stone, but you may be giving up some of the benefits that you are offered at independent drugstores.
Independent drugstores can offer you a personalized experience that most big chains cannot. Customers are able to get the “Mayberry” experience at local stores. Independent stores, unlike big chains, place a value on your relationship and not on your money. You are more likely to develop a personal relationship with the staff at a local drugstore than you are at a big chain pharmacy. A personal relationship tends to ensure great service. Service that translates to shorter wait times for medications because independents want to maximize your relationship, not your visit. They understand that you have other things to do in your busy day besides wait for your medicine, not to mention that people do not want to wait when they (or their children) are sick.
Local pharmacies can offer their customers more services than most big chains. Free local delivery is a service that is primarily found at you neighborhood drugstore, not you big retailers. When you feel sick or have a super busy day, home delivery is a service that you cannot put a price tag on, it is invaluable. Another great service offered by local pharmacists is the ability to give immunizations. This service offers you the opportunity to get your yearly immunization or travel immunizations without any appointments or office visit co-pays. Be sure to check with your local pharmacy to see what valuable services they might offer that you didn’t know about.
Buying from a local pharmacy supports the local economy. When a customer buys from a local drugstore it provides jobs for pharmacists, technicians, and other staff. Not to mention, a large percentage of the money made stays in the community and does not go to some large corporate office located in another state.
In Conclusion, the Consumer Reports study shows that 41% of Americans purchase their medications at traditional chains, that is more than any other category of drugstore, yet readers were more critical of them than they were of independent pharmacies. This leads to believe that consumers are unhappy with the big chains, but don’t want to through the process of switching to the independent pharmacy even though it is a more pleasing experience. Why is that? Is it possible that the customer has this perception that the process is difficult to transfer medications to another pharmacy? Well, the reality is that it is not at all! All that is required is to go to that local pharmacy and ask one of the pharmacists to call your current pharmacy and ask for your list of medications to be transferred to the new independent pharmacy of your choice. We believe you will find that the services, friendliness, and relationship built with the local business far outweighs the convenience of being able to buy your groceries while you wait.
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