Pharmacies, Drug Stores, Apothocaries, etc........

These places are a requirement of most of us. A place to buy toothpaste, tampons, film, candy, milk, bread, and, yes, medicines.
At times this can be a pleasant experience and at times it is the experience from hell.
Yesterday my MO's office called in a script for me to pick up. Asked her to tell them that I would pick it up late that afternoon.
Went to my local "wally world" pharmacy to get said meds, arriving at 4:40PM. Clerk (they are called ASSOCIATES in this place) asked for name & DOB, which I graciously provided.
She; "We don't have anything for you"
Me; "Are you sure? It was called in early today"
She; "NO!"
Me; "Could you check in pile of scripts to be filled and let me know if mine is waiting to be filled?"
She; "NO!"
Me; "Well, thanks!" all the while mumbling un-nice things under my breath.
Me; dialing the number to the MO's Nurse.
MO's Nurse; "This is MO's nurse, may I help you?"
Me; "This is me, you called in a script to the Leland Walmart Pharmacy for me earlier today and they are telling me they don't have a record of it.
MO's Nurse; "This is the SECOND TIME this has happened to a patient of our's today! If you can hold for just a minute I will check with the pharmacy."
Me; holding, holding, holding, holding, DISCONNECTED!!
Me; hit "REDIAL"
MO's Office Phone Maze Answers again.....Push the correct buttons to speak with MO's Nurse and get the GastroInterology Section. GI Nurse tells me that she will transfer the call to the correct extension. MO's receptionist answers and tells me wait just a moment and she will connect me with MO's Nurse.
MO's Nurse; "We were cut-off".
Me, to myself (DUH)
MO's Nurse; "I just spoke with the Pharmacy and your script is ready. I have no idea what the problem was. I had to call earlier on another one and it was the same story: They couldn't find it for the patient but it was right there when I called to check."
Me; "Thank you so very much for your help. Rest assured that this will be the final time I use the wallyworld pharmacy services."
Me: Back into the store and the pharmacy counter.
Clerk; "Name and date of birth?" (More of a demand than a request)
Me; "yada yada yada"
Clerk; "We don't have anything for you."
Me (getting pretty ticked); "I just spoke with my Dr's office and you assured the nurse that my script is ready."
Clerk; "I didn't tell anybody anything about your script."
Me, backtracking; "I used "you" to mean the entire pharmacy staff, not you in particular"
Clerk; "I don't have anything for you. You will need to step over to the Drop-off if you have any other questions."
Me; "Thank you, I will" (I said that????)
Me, at Drop-off window; "Drop-off Window clerk, I have a problem."
DOWC; " Just a moment, I'm assisting another customer."
Me: WAITING AGAIN.....Pharmacy Manager comes up to assist DOWC and another customer.
PM; "You can come to this window and she will assist you."
Me; "No, I need to speak with you."
PM; "Me?"
Me; "Yes, you"
PM; "What can I do for you?"
Me telling my story to the PM; "yada, yada, yada"
PM; "Well, this just came off of the voice mail at 4:20....and ..... oh, it's on my desk for approval now. It will be just a minute."
Me; "If I was in here at 4:40 and you got it off of the voice mail at 4:20 why did everyone that I asked tell me that I didn't have a script here?"
PM, ignoring my question; "Give me just a couple of minutes more and I'll have it checked for you."
Clerk; "Name and Date of Birth." (Demanding, not asking)
Me, gave same for about the second or third time in 45 minutes.
Clerk; "That will be $9.33, do you want cash back?"
Me; "No thanks."

Me, leaving this wonderful, modern, marvel of the retail trade asking myself 'How do they survive with the lousy customer service that abounds throughout the company?' Examples:
1. Can you help me with this? No, it's not my department.
2. Can you tell me where I can find fidoboxes? No, it's not my department.
3. Where is the Manager? She's out to lunch.
4. How long is the wait to have a script filled? One hour. (no other customers in sight)
5. How long is the wait for an oil change? It will be an hour (one other vehicle in sight)
6. What is this horrible smell in the grocery area? Something must be rotten somewhere.

Yes, the American Retail Trade is in good hands.
Sam Walton must be spinning over and over in his grave.
Of course Sears, JC Penny and the other BIG retailers are not much better.
The days of real customer service are long, long gone. Heck, most of these
"clerks" and "cashiers" can't even make change without relying on the computerized cash registers in use today. Most don't have a clue about MANNERS!!!! It seems that a great deal of them think of the customer as a distraction from their gossip sessions.


My little saga of today comes to an end on a high note.....
I picked my Bride up from the hair place and we went to dinner. I ate too much (have to keep my weight up per the MO and RO).

Hair....reminds me of another story. A friend (I do have a few) told me she would loan me her wig when my hair falls out. Told her thanks but no thanks, she doesn't have a blonde wig and I have always wanted to be a blonde.

I'm on call this weekend so I have to carry two pagers and a cellphone everywhere I go. Hope they all don't go off at once while we're at the picnic. (Hope the weather holds, we might ride the motorcycles).

Until next time.......Smile and make people wonder what you've been up to.