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June 2024 by The Yellow Flash
I’d rate this Walgreens anywhere from 2.5-3.5 stars, as it’s not a bad pharmacy by any means but has certainly fallen far from grace. I’ll start with the positives first. The layout of the store is nice and easy to navigate, the staff are somewhat friendly and are willing to help if asked, and the pharmacists are knowledgeable enough in their craft. That’s…really about it for the upsides, I’m afraid. Now onto the negatives, for which there are several.
The waiting lines both inside and outside for the pharmacy are absolutely atrocious, with cars sometimes wrapping around the building because of how long it’s taking to give people their meds. Even the retail section isn’t immune to this, as it’s not uncommon to see one or two cashiers providing service to a line that stretches all the way to the doors. To avoid the line for the pharmacy outside, many people choose to go inside instead in the hopes of getting quicker service…only to realize the line inside is arguably even slower than it is outside.
Just last week, my mom went to Walgreens to pick up one of my meds and it took her an hour and a half to return. When I asked what kept her, she said the line outside had stalled and was too long, so she went inside and had to stand in a line that stretched all the way into one of the isles. Absolutely unacceptable. To be fair however, this isn’t really on the employees; there just aren’t enough of them to provide adequate service to the amount of customers that come in. That’s something I want to touch on next.
It’s very clear that the few workers that are on shift are completely overwhelmed by the amount of customers that are coming in, specifically in the pharmacy section. As I mentioned earlier, the wait lines outside are often very long and can take up more than an hour of your time, and this is primarily caused by severe understaffing. I’ll never forget when I called in last month to check on the status of a prescription, and I got on the line with a pharmacist who was emotionally defeated because of the amount of stress her job has caused her. The fact that she was confiding in me, a total stranger whom she had never met, told me just how rough of time she was having on the job.
The pharmacist complained about a lot of the same stuff we customers complain about, pointing out the understaffing and mentioning how hard it was to get people’s prescriptions ready because they were either out of stock or things in the system not working properly (or outright going offline, like it had been the day I called). She gave me a lot of insight into how things were like from an employees perspective, and it made me realize that things are just as rough for them as they are for the customers. Completely outrageous on all levels.
I don’t know who runs this particular Walgreens or how management works, but all of the problems I just mentioned can be solved by hiring more staff and have an easier system for them to use, which will then make the customer experience 10x better and faster. Hope this review reaches the right people.
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June 2024 by Brian Whatley
The pharmacy at this location is incredibly slow. It shouldn’t take 5 - 10 minutes per customer when it should just be people picking up prescriptions that were already filled. Poor and slow customer service.
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June 2024 by hxcmf97
This Walgreens used to be a very convenient place not only for me, but for others as well to come here any time of the night when most other stores are closed by 11. Now with everything closed by 12am other than gas stations, no one can get any of their OTC medications, food or even health and beauty products they need. So thanks for thinking about the community.
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May 2024 by David Warren
This used to be the best Walgreens in the Bham area. Was always a 5-Star. That changed about a year ago when they changed drastically. They are too backed up and routinely allow prescriptions to be dropped at the window and allow people to sit there until filled. They could easily have the people come back later or at least drive around and get in the back of the line. You wait over 30min easily, probably longer. Long waits inside too. Poor customer service compared to before. The Helena Rd store did the same thing and then started running Door Dash through the pharmacy for non-drug related business and that’s why I changed to this one. Maybe they moved the manager but its crazy bad now.
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May 2024 by Ann Bryant
This has to be one of the rudest Walgreens pharmacies. I have used them for years and would rather drive to another Walgreens that is farther away than to deal with them! Always an “attitude” when you call. No matter who answers the phone! If you call and ask a simple question they speak to you like you are an idiot. If you ask any questions regarding when your prescription will be ready for pickup they act as if they are doing you a huge favor by just answering a basic question. The Walgreens in Pelham and near Ross Bridge are so kind!! They both said that they hear complaints all the time about how rude this one in Hoover is to customers.
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May 2024 by Alabama Jenny
This is considered Walgreens Galleria. It is ridiculously busy. We used this Walgreens about 4 years ago, then transferred prescriptions to the old Rite Aid at Hoover Commons. We loved it, Walgreens bought out that store. Then they suddenly closed with a little notice, in February 2024. So now we are forced to return to the “Galleria Walgreens”.
Joy, One of the Veteran pharmacists that was at the previous Walgreens, the one that closed is now working here. She may be there part time or maybe she floats. I am unsure, but she is AMAZING! It is so nice to see a familiar face and someone who knows you. She is very personable and helpful.
Sometimes they’re just too busy,. The customer service is usually decent. I’ve had a couple of times where I’ve been hung up on, or placed on representative hold, many times when I’ve called and had a genuine problem with the app, not letting me refill a prescription that I could see, it was just tell me it was at a store that was no longer open. And short of going there myself, you must call.
So there is a disconnect between the app and this store. The app stinks. It is not very reliable. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
At any rate, I would give this store a 4/5 on Customer service. They are helpful, it’s just really hard to get through. I miss the short waits, Familiar faces, helpful and friendly staff at our other Walgreens.
And for that reason, I may transfer our prescriptions somewhere else.
I can’t complain because they always have my medication in stock. They can’t help that they’re very busy. So that’s the only complaint I have. I guess busy is a good thing, but they’re only human. I suppose it gets a little crazy working at a place where the drive-through is always five or six cars deep. And there’s usually a line inside as well.
If you use this, Walgreens, I would suggest you just park and go inside. Drop off your prescription and come back later.
I used to get my prescriptions filled while I waited about five minutes at the old Walgreens that is now permanently closed. Those were the days.
I don’t mind waiting, I don’t mind dropping off. But you have to go at a time like 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Avoid Early pick ups, Avoid the lunch hour 11-1 and by all means avoid 5 O’clock rush-hour. Go after 7 PM if thru week.
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April 2024 by Laurie Jeffrey
I call in prescriptions at least two days in advance but when I get there they don’t have it or it was sent to a diff store. The people who run the drive thru have no customer service experience. I miss U Save Pharmacy!
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March 2024 by Anthony Ndegwa
If you want the best passport picture. This is the place to go to.
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March 2024 by Caitlin Laughlin
Just want to shout out THIS IS THE BEST WALGREENS! Recently they had some delayed shipments and still managed this tri-city area that is HUGE. [and its no longer a 24 hr pharmacy]
All these reviews sound like bad time management and lack of self awarness before you get you drugs in order. Ive been going here for 7 years plus as a frequent visitor and never had an issue. And if i had to wait I didnt blame the techs I stood there like a grown adult and waited patiently.
Sad reviews below that is definitely a YOU PROBLEM!
need some happy pills to get that negative temperament under control.
THANK YOU WALGREENS And PHARMACY. You guys help so many and continue daily. Stay positive, you can only do so much to help.
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March 2024 by GH0ST
I have no idea how this Walgreens is still open, when the one up the street is now closed. At the other one, they greeted you at the door when you walked in and the pharmacy was amazing. At this one, the pharmacy techs are completely unknowledgeable and indifferent. On the same day, every single month I turn in my prescription, wait about 10-15 minutes, pick it up and go home. I was expecting to do that here. The tech tells me it will be about 30 minutes, so I go shop elsewhere after waiting for a few minutes and then come back about an hour later and at the drive thru they try telling me that my prescription isn’t available until the next day. I didn’t have time to waste, today, and it’s really frustrating to get treated like I don’t matter at all from a place I used to LOVE and visit multiple times, monthly. I ended up going with cvs because they’ve really stepped up their game, lately. Stay FAR away from this Walgreens.
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January 2024 by Melissa Estes
I was desperate to fill a prescription for my one year old niece. Frustrated after driving to a few pharmacies that advertised they were open and weren’t, I called this store in Hoover. They were open and working! Shame that that’s our standard now, but I was very thankful. The pharmacist working on 1/14/2024 at 8:30pm was super kind and helpful. I had the prescription on hand in 20 minutes. Thank you to a business still doing it right (and the amazing pharmacist on duty working late to get people the medicine they need)!
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January 2024 by Ava
Severely understaffed despite them slashing the hours they’re open
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January 2024 by anastasia latta
This is the worst pharmacy I have ever been too. Cant even tell me where to pick up the other half of my prescription I didnt want to wrastle with the pharmacy all day when I dont feel well they are out of stock of what I need. I have been waiting well over an hour and Im empathetic, I know working with the public is hard. But you hating your job should not be reflected onto me by your actions.ESPECIALLY when theres 1 person in line theres no reason for it to take an hour.
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January 2024 by Beverly Patterson
Love the pharmacy staff! They’re super busy yet they’re extremely polite! Friendly people!
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December 2023 by Amanda S.
If I could leave zero stars I would. I have never in my life written a review, good or bad, but I feel compelled. I have been using Walgreen's pharmacy for many years and the one in my neighborhood has excellent customer service and the staff are friendly. My pharmacy was out of a medication I desperately needed for my child but I was told the 24 hr Walgreen's 15 mins away had the medication in stock. Maybe the long hours are creating a hostile work environment because I have never met more rude, callous Walgreen's employees than the ones working at this location. They could definitely use some sensitivity and empathy training. I would rather drive to the other side of the city than to ever come to this Walgreen's again.
