SIGforum
Can Someone Explain To Me How CVS Stores Are Still In Business?
May 09, 2024, 11:40 AM
ZSMICHAELCan Someone Explain To Me How CVS Stores Are Still In Business?
Must be an exception since CVS is required here. The local employees here MUST use CVS and the stores locally are undestaffed and dirty.
May 09, 2024, 11:59 AM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by PASig:
WTH? I can get a bottle of like 30 or 40 tablets on Amazon for $7-8
Way cheaper than that. Hell... you can get a bottle of
365 generic Claritin on Amazon for just $9.99.
Or Sams Club sells 400 for $12. I'm sure Costco has similar.
(And thank goodness... The vet has my dog taking 4x per day. Two per meal. So 365 is only about a 3 month supply.)
May 09, 2024, 12:39 PM
straightshooter1CVS is a place I try to avoid-fortunately I get my drugs from the VA. But my wife has to use them as her plan pharmacy unless it's a mail-away prescription.
There are lots of CVS stores in my area, and the closest one looks like an ashtray, parking lot always filthy with trash and cig butts. Floors have no trash but the place just, to me, looks dirty.
Used to think the Winn Dixie up the road had the dirtiest parking lot, but CVS beat 'em hands down.
BTW, one of the WD stores, which I have, for years, stayed away from because of its filth, has just recently cleaned itself up.
Hoping CVS does the same.
Bob
May 09, 2024, 12:47 PM
corsairquote:
Originally posted by PASig:
How are they staying in business? Is it the pharmacy business? I know they own Aetna as that is my (very crappy) HDHP employer health plan is through. What is keeping these stores open with these ludicrous prices?
They are making it somehow and I'm not sure how.
Yup, answered your own questions. I have United Heath and they're my prescription provider, only way these stores can maintain a captive customer base is get tied with an insurance provider. Besides the other insurance companies they're partnered with and thier own brick n'mortar stores, I believe they also operate the pharmacies at Target stores.
May 09, 2024, 12:49 PM
shovelheadAetna and United Healthcare and other insurers ap part of their Medicare and Advantage an OTC benefit, so much money per quarter to spend on bandages, non prescription medicines, personal hygiene products.
Most of the time you are restricted to either mail order or in store visits to Caremark/CVS with inflated pricing.
This year I changed to a BC/BS plan. I can now use CVS, Walgreens, Kroger, Walmart or Meijer with the additional ability to use my OTC benefit for healthy food options due to a preexisting condition. And coupons/in store sale items are also honored using that benefit.
-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
May 09, 2024, 01:22 PM
blueyeI also use CVS/Caremark thru my retirement plan. That with GoodRx I can save quite a bit.
May 09, 2024, 02:36 PM
downtownvI believe Caremark is using CVS for a tax loss. Safeway does that with Acme Markets.
May 09, 2024, 04:25 PM
sigmonkeyThey took on a "Partner"...
NSFW! https://youtu.be/e2bDVyfOma0?t=210
"the meaning of life, is to give life meaning" ✡ Ani Yehudi אני יהודי Le'olam lo shuv לעולם לא שוב! May 09, 2024, 08:15 PM
casConvenience store business model.
Though just closed one by me, so maybe things aren't booming.
May 10, 2024, 08:39 AM
Fire AwayAround here, CVS is much better than Rite Aid.
May 10, 2024, 11:46 AM
KrazeehorseIf I want to get the maximum benefit from my drug plan it compels me to use CVS. Grrrrrr.
_____________________
Be careful what you tolerate. You are teaching people how to treat you.
May 10, 2024, 06:13 PM
lymanquote:
Originally posted by markand:
Pharmacist at a nearby CVS claims her store does more than $1 million in pharmacy sales alone every day. That's how they stay in business. That and high prices for everything else.
that is a shitton of pills being processed,
but yes, Rx profits are generally good, to very good, (been out of the gro bix 10 yrs, so forget what margin the Rx usually made, and keep in mind Gro Store RX's are no were near as busy as the standalones)
all the crap between the register and the Rx counter is amost all profit,
https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/
May 10, 2024, 06:37 PM
HRKOur Publix Rx is always busy, granted it's rare to be caught in line with more than 3 people but the techs are always working, the Pharmacist is filling scripts non stop from AM to PM 7 days a week.
It's where I send most scripts since we're up there a few times a week, couple go to Costco, that way the wife can't tell me no when I say I'm going LOL, actually because Publix has a 30 day limit on two scripts and Costco will fill the whole 90 days without issue.
May 10, 2024, 07:45 PM
mikeyspizzaquote:
Originally posted by lyman:
quote:
Originally posted by markand:
Pharmacist at a nearby CVS claims her store does more than $1 million in pharmacy sales alone every day. That's how they stay in business. That and high prices for everything else.
that is a shitton of pills being processed,
but yes, Rx profits are generally good, to very good, (been out of the gro bix 10 yrs, so forget what margin the Rx usually made, and keep in mind Gro Store RX's are no were near as busy as the standalones)
all the crap between the register and the Rx counter is amost all profit,
I'm a gig courier and take CVS prescription deliveries (and retail deliveries) when it works for me. Many of the pharmacies are crazy busy, and there's a ton of filled prescriptions sitting waiting to be picked up. Each morning their system prints out a list of filled scripts to be returned to stock because they haven't been picked up - one store about 100 each morning.
On the retail side, people can't be bothered to pick up their own toilet paper or $10 bottle of Tide. Jeesh.
May 11, 2024, 10:10 AM
shovelheadAt least with the ones around here they must be saving money by not cleaning them. Not well lit, tight aisles, packed shelves, dirty commercial carpeting, they’re disgusting. I feel as if I need a shower after going in there.
Contrast that to Walgreens, well lit, clean spacious
-------------------------------------——————
————————--Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even, usually, surpassing knowledge(E.J.Potter, A.K.A. The Michigan Madman)
May 11, 2024, 03:23 PM
thumperfbcquote:
Originally posted by PASig:
Piggybacking off my Claritin post, I was halfway to work yesterday and realized I needed to take one and didn't have any on me and I knew I'd pass a CVS. Stopped in there and started getting sticker shock at the prices of their OTC meds. Brand name Claritin for $49.99 and $39.99 a package. CVS brand for $29.99 and $19.99 a package. I finally found a small package of CVS brand 10 tablets for $9.99.
WTH? I can get a bottle of like 30 or 40 tablets on Amazon for $7-8 and I know I could get that in the grocery store for much less too.
How are they staying in business? Is it the pharmacy business? I know they own Aetna as that is my (very crappy) HDHP employer health plan is through. What is keeping these stores open with these ludicrous prices?
They are making it somehow and I'm not sure how.
Does cetirizine work for you? You can get it at Dollar Tree.