Costco Pharmacy

Started by Sparda29
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Sparda29 said:
I've been contacted by a pharmacy manager over at a Costco pharmacy near me? Anyone have any experience with how Costco pharmacy is like? I heard their hours are great.

How much do they usually pay for techs?
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Do it. **** the pay.

The fact that there is a cost to even enter the building keeps the riffraff out. The hours are great and the work is (typically) slower paced. Sam's/Costco pharmacists actually get to counsel and such. It's nice for retail.
 
Classmate of mine works for them , has a lot of experience.. the pay is $18+ ... do it, the environment is fun so i hear!
 
What WVUPharm2007 said is right, it does keep the riff-raff out. I have a friend that works there and he loves it. He's up to $20/hr, he's been there for 4 years though. If you can GO FOR IT!
 
I've worked for them for 5 years now- its awesome- but it does spoil you..when I hear the conditions my classmates are working in I honestly don't know how they do it
 
One big complaint I have heard is that they always use the cheapest generic of the moment so there are a ton of NDC changes. Also, I have heard that they get alot of impatient and cranky cash customers there who are not members and are there just for the lower cost. But, I heard this before Medicare D, so that may not be as common.

Costco's smoothies are awesome. And their employee lounges are pretty cool. They get nice couches, pool tables, pinball machines, and all kinds of other stuff to do on breaks.

There are these tea rolls at Costco bakery that come in a round tin and taste very similar to the sweet rolls from Texas Roadhouse. Also, they have Tillamook cheese and San Francisco Sourdough bread. My favorites. 😍
 
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bananaface said:
There are these tea rolls at Costco bakery that come in a round tin and taste very similar to the sweet rolls from Texas Roadhouse. Also, they have Tillamook cheese and San Francisco Sourdough bread. My favorites. 😍
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Yea, I couldn't work there, I'd weigh 500 lbs in a couple months. Eating the bakery while at work, and hitting the meat market before going home, it could turn ugly in a hurry 😀
 
PumpkinSmasher said:
Most people do not know it, but you do not need to be a Costco member to use the pharmacy. Most people do not know this though, so it still keeps some of the riff-raff out.
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I believe I heard somewhere that this is actually a law, you can't have a members-only pharmacy, so everyone must be allowed. Still, I can't see many non-members coming to Costo or Sam's just for the pharmacy, and even among the members, I'm sure many get their Rx filled someplace else. Seems like it'd be pretty low volume to me (unless maybe Walmart passes off some Rx to Sam's).
 
Ackj said:
I believe I heard somewhere that this is actually a law, you can't have a members-only pharmacy, so everyone must be allowed. Still, I can't see many non-members coming to Costo or Sam's just for the pharmacy, and even among the members, I'm sure many get their Rx filled someplace else. Seems like it'd be pretty low volume to me (unless maybe Walmart passes off some Rx to Sam's).
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I worked at a grocery store chain that did like 250-300/day and the Costco next door was doing like 500/day.

It makes sense that a place with low prices might have a lower margin and be more volume driven. Especially since Costco is not likely to be using a loss leader strategy.
 
I talked to my friend and he said it's true, they can't turn away people, but they still can't buy anything except their RX...
 
MaybeRX said:
What WVUPharm2007 said is right, it does keep the riff-raff out. I have a friend that works there and he loves it. He's up to $20/hr, he's been there for 4 years though. If you can GO FOR IT!
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$20/hr for a retail pharmacist?😕
 
Sparda29 said:
So I went in for the first interview, looks pretty good. When I asked about dress code the guy was like, dude its casual, so I showed up in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks.

The pharmacist who interviewed me was wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
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Yeah the only requirement for the dress code is that your shirt has a collar..i pretty much wear jeans and a 3 button down shirt every day. If you forget to wear a collared shirt one day, just put on a white coat (or blue if you're not a pharmacist). Some of my co-workers wear hoodies under their technician coats
 
WVUPharm2007 said:
Do it. **** the pay.

The fact that there is a cost to even enter the building keeps the riffraff out. The hours are great and the work is (typically) slower paced. Sam's/Costco pharmacists actually get to counsel and such. It's nice for retail.
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What I was told by the interviewing pharmacist was that since there is a cost to enter the building and be a member, the customers feel more like they are entitled to special treatment.
 
Apparently, Costco has been criticized by Wall Street for being too good to their workers by paying them really well and giving them awesome benefits. As a result, this means they are not that good to their shareholders.

****ing awesome, I'd love a company that cares more about its workers than they do about their customers or shareholders.
 
Update: I'm hired, just gotta figure out the salary details so I can find out if CVS is willing to counter (won't accept CVS's counter unless it is ridiculously higher), and figure out a way to break the news to my CVS supervisor since someone else just quit at CVS and they are very short handed.

Also have an interview at a hospital on Monday.
 
Sparda29 said:
Update: I'm hired, just gotta figure out the salary details so I can find out if CVS is willing to counter (won't accept CVS's counter unless it is ridiculously higher), and figure out a way to break the news to my CVS supervisor since someone else just quit at CVS and they are very short handed.

Also have an interview at a hospital on Monday.
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Get out of CVS while you still can. Put in your two weeks (they'll fire you beforehand, but its still nice to do). And don't feel bad about the district higher-ups - they could care less about you.

Which hospital?
 
Sparda29 said:
Update: I'm hired, just gotta figure out the salary details so I can find out if CVS is willing to counter (won't accept CVS's counter unless it is ridiculously higher), and figure out a way to break the news to my CVS supervisor since someone else just quit at CVS and they are very short handed.

Also have an interview at a hospital on Monday.
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Congrats Sparda. How different does the work-flow seem compared to CVS?
 
Praziquantel86 said:
Get out of CVS while you still can. Put in your two weeks (they'll fire you beforehand, but its still nice to do). And don't feel bad about the district higher-ups - they could care less about you.

Which hospital?
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It's South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside.

Rockinacoustic said:
Congrats Sparda. How different does the work-flow seem compared to CVS?
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1200 scripts/day with 2 pharmacists overlap and 4 techs. But they do loan us to the front store if needed and the majority of the sales are bulk OTC products.
 
Sparda29 said:
Update: I'm hired, just gotta figure out the salary details so I can find out if CVS is willing to counter (won't accept CVS's counter unless it is ridiculously higher), and figure out a way to break the news to my CVS supervisor since someone else just quit at CVS and they are very short handed.

Also have an interview at a hospital on Monday.
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CVS will fire you. Put in your 2 weeks and kiss them goodbye. Do not tell them anything except you quit and when your last is.

If you have to work retail Costco is probably the best place right now.
 
Sparda29 said:
The dress code for the Costco pharmacy interview was shirt + slacks. Would the hospital pharmacy have a stricter dress code (meaning, should I pull out the suit?)
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Yup wear a suit. If you're overdressed, then you can always remove the coat and tie. I would certainly like to see people take the interview seriously... tho I would probably poke fun.... "why you wearing a suit young man?"
 
MountainPharmD said:
CVS will fire you. Put in your 2 weeks and kiss them goodbye. Do not tell them anything except you quit and when your last is.

If you have to work retail Costco is probably the best place right now.
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👍 You do not want to burn any bridges... so just say goodbye and have fun at costco.
 
Sparda29 said:
Update: I'm hired, just gotta figure out the salary details so I can find out if CVS is willing to counter (won't accept CVS's counter unless it is ridiculously higher), and figure out a way to break the news to my CVS supervisor since someone else just quit at CVS and they are very short handed.

Also have an interview at a hospital on Monday.
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Congrats man- you're gonna love it
 
Sparda29 said:
I'm not going to be there until Saturday. Is it okay to give my 2 weeks notice over the phone? Or is that akin to breaking up with your boyfriend/girlfriend over the phone (shows you have no balls if you can't face your boyfriend/girlfriend to tell them you're breaking up).
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Write a letter, hand deliver it, and include a small verbal explanation. I wouldn't spend longer than 3 minutes. Never burn a bridge (like others have stated).

Good luck at Costco - I would recommend the hospital if you get in - work is different and more rewarding.

... and the hospital has nurses :meanie:
 
aboveliquidice said:
Write a letter, hand deliver it, and include a small verbal explanation. I wouldn't spend longer than 3 minutes. Never burn a bridge (like others have stated).

Good luck at Costco - I would recommend the hospital if you get in - work is different and more rewarding.

... and the hospital has nurses :meanie:
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Yup, and the hospital is looking for someone to work nights. Best timing to do "stuff" in broom closets without getting caught. :meanie:
 
Just handed in my two weeks and started training at Costco. I don't know if my current supervisor is going to be a good reference though, I picked the worst time to announce that I was leaving. She was all bitchy moany about how terrible everything in the store has been, how we are short staffed and everything. So right then I told her, "Oh yeah, I'm gone in two weeks. Costco offered me a job."

Am I a bad person if I was holding back laughter when she started crying?:roflcopter:
 
Sparda29 said:
Just handed in my two weeks and started training at Costco. I don't know if my current supervisor is going to be a good reference though, I picked the worst time to announce that I was leaving. She was all bitchy moany about how terrible everything in the store has been, how we are short staffed and everything. So right then I told her, "Oh yeah, I'm gone in two weeks. Costco offered me a job."

Am I a bad person if I was holding back laughter when she started crying?:roflcopter:
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Nope...business is business....they damn sure would have no problem cutting you loose if they didn't need you anymore. You did what was required, you gave two weeks notice. CVS sucks. She should be crying because she works for them.
 
Another horror story about CVS. Is that why every time I go into my local CVS everyone looks depressed or grumpy? Man, the pharmacist that works at the Bashas in my town has a great life. He gets paid to surf the internet and read or do crossword puzzles all day. There were like 10 little prescriptions hanging up when I went there.
 
MountainPharmD said:
Nope...business is business....they damn sure would have no problem cutting you loose if they didn't need you anymore. You did what was required, you gave two weeks notice. CVS sucks. She should be crying because she works for them.
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yess (waiting for OldTimer to come to CVS's defense)
 
rxlea said:
Another horror story about CVS. Is that why every time I go into my local CVS everyone looks depressed or grumpy? Man, the pharmacist that works at the Bashas in my town has a great life. He gets paid to surf the internet and read or do crossword puzzles all day. There were like 10 little prescriptions hanging up when I went there.
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Surfing the internet and doing crossword puzzles is your idea of a great life?
 
Sparda29 said:
Just handed in my two weeks and started training at Costco. I don't know if my current supervisor is going to be a good reference though, I picked the worst time to announce that I was leaving. She was all bitchy moany about how terrible everything in the store has been, how we are short staffed and everything. So right then I told her, "Oh yeah, I'm gone in two weeks. Costco offered me a job."

Am I a bad person if I was holding back laughter when she started crying?:roflcopter:
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WVUPharm2007 said:
Yes. It's not her fault CVS is balls.
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Yeah that's pretty messed up. Hate CVS, not the people you work with...
 
Sparda29 said:
I'm not going to be there until Saturday. Is it okay to give my 2 weeks notice over the phone? Or is that akin to breaking up with your boyfriend/girlfriend over the phone (shows you have no balls if you can't face your boyfriend/girlfriend to tell them you're breaking up).
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You should go out like this. Not really, but it's funny.

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