Coupons in retail

[desertraichu]

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Anyone work in a retail pharmacy having problems with coupons like the 30 dollar gift card per prescription? The pharmacy I work at takes every competitor's coupons and I have to deal with nutjobs wanting to use 6 competitor coupons per visit and threatening to call the corporate office if we don't honor them. Yesterday, this guy snaps a photo of my pharmacist with his cell phone after getting declined coupons. Security came, and this whole ordeal took an hour to resolve and there was a huge crowd. Anyone else dealing with this kind of thing?

 

[phathead]

In the state I am in right now it is illegal to give out coupons to directly drive traffic to the pharmacy

 

[dtran01]

We get those patients.

Generally, the way we handle it is to say that to be fair we have to accept the coupons with the exact same terms and restrictions as described on the coupon.

This typically means that a prescription must be either new (can not have had that drug before at our location) or a transfer from another pharmacy. There is usually also a limit of 1 coupon per visit on the terms of the coupon (though the patient can theoretically come back the next day, they typically don't bother).

That stops the majority. Those that insist that they did not know or that it was "bait and switch" advertising, we take the hit and take their multiple coupons for one time only, make it clear to the patient it is a one-time courtesy only, and then notate their file accordingly.

With that as a policy, it never escalates to calling security..

 

[yellowlemon]

Now some of the coupons say "up to $30 of transferred prescriptions"...so if the script is $4, then we only give them a $5 giftcard---we round to the nearest $5 since our system isn't capable of doing $1 increments

So make sure you read the fine print...
It upsets some ppl...but it definitely has stopped some ppl from abusing these coupons...

 

[phathead]

Now some of the coupons say "up to $30 of transferred prescriptions"...so if the script is $4, then we only give them a $5 giftcard---we round to the nearest $5 since our system isn't capable of doing $1 increments

So make sure you read the fine print...
It upsets some ppl...but it definitely has stopped some ppl from abusing these coupons...

How does that work though? It is my understanding that it is against the law to use a coupon on a patient's copay

 

[Monalyce]

Retail pharmacy is not financially viable at this point in time...hence the need for coupons to try and save a sinking ship.

My opinion: don't go to pharmacy school if your aspire to add to this problem by working in a broken workplace. Get your education and decide how YOU can ensure that pharmacists are paid for their services instead of pharmaceutical companies' products.

 

[NaOH]

Thankfully, for whatever reason I've never had to deal with coupons of this sort. Seems trashy to me.

You know, in general I agree with the idea that it's good to help people. But so often in the specific, I can't help but think 'why the hell am I helping these people, again?!"

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I've only worked for a couple weeks now, but I haven't had a difficult customer yet. Maybe I'm just lucky because I work in a nice area and most of the customers are elderly, or at least near my parents age, so they just come pick up their stuff, say hello, and go on their way. I love where I work at now... I want to stay there forever. LOL

 

[phathead]

I've only worked for a couple weeks now, but I haven't had a difficult customer yet.

*COUGH* bull**** *COUGH*

 

[Tinkerbell22]

*COUGH* bull**** *COUGH*

Dude I swear! lol

Maybe I'm just used to working with inebriated drunk people in the sports bar, but no one has come in yet and made a scene, or has even been rude to anyone. I really do live in a place with a lot of older people and they're mostly very nice and respectful, plus it's a grocery store so maybe that's another reason? We've had a few problems with insurance and stuff, but the people weren't too upset, they just called the doctors and left to come back later when it was straightened out.

 

[NaOH]

Dude I swear! lol

Maybe I'm just used to working with inebriated drunk people in the sports bar, but no one has come in yet and made a scene, or has even been rude to anyone. I really do live in a place with a lot of older people and they're mostly very nice and respectful, plus it's a grocery store so maybe that's another reason? We've had a few problems with insurance and stuff, but the people weren't too upset, they just called the doctors and left to come back later when it was straightened out.

Do yall have a drive thru?

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Do yall have a drive thru?

No lol... Publix is just a regular grocery store with a pharmacy inside of it. We just have the normal walk up windows. They're only located in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama though.

 

[NaOH]

No lol... Publix is just a regular grocery store with a pharmacy inside of it. We just have the normal walk up windows. They're only located in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama though.

Yeah, I'd never seen/heard of Publix until I visited a friend going to college in Daytona.

And that sound you hear? That's the sound of no-drive-thru envy

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Yeah, I'd never seen/heard of Publix until I visited a friend going to college in Daytona.

And that sound you hear? That's the sound of no-drive-thru envy

Yeah I totally understand... every pharmacist or tech I have talked to tells me how crazy the drive-thrus are. The pharmacist I work with now said he visited a pharmacy that does 1600 Rx per day!!! 😱 He said they have a conveyor belt up in that place! lol

Publix is supposed to be the best grocery/pharmacy combo in the US... they win a bunch of awards and stuff for customer service, and they've been on Forbes best 100 companies to work for 8 years straight... so if I don't get an LTC position when I graduate I am so totally trying to stick with this company. LOL

 

[litetigre]

These transfer coupon should be outlawed. It's not fair competition. In a fair market, everyone can compete for sales by driving down cost. By giving out transfer coupon, chain pharmacies sell scripts below cost. In essenece they bully independent pharmacies. That's how big corps like Microsoft and intel got sued by doj.

 

[phathead]

These transfer coupon should be outlawed. It's not fair competition. In a fair market, everyone can compete for sales by driving down cost. By giving out transfer coupon, chain pharmacies sell scripts below cost. In essenece they bully independent pharmacies. That's how big corps like Microsoft and intel got sued by doj.

Again, I don't understand how these are legal.

It was always explained to me that the patient signs a contract with the PBM to pay the copays presented at the pharmacy. They can pay cash if they want, but if there is a copay involved, they have to pay it. It cannot be discounted by the pharmacy and a 'coupon' can not be used.

Or have I just been misinformed all these years?

 

[dtran01]

The gift card is only an incentive to bring the business to the pharmacy.

It can not be used directly to pay for the copay -- that's why it's a gift card for future purchases.

Shady business practice, perhaps a loophole, but surely legal.

 

[deleted205891]

Again, I don't understand how these are legal.

It was always explained to me that the patient signs a contract with the PBM to pay the copays presented at the pharmacy. They can pay cash if they want, but if there is a copay involved, they have to pay it. It cannot be discounted by the pharmacy and a 'coupon' can not be used.

Or have I just been misinformed all these years?

The legality lies in the fact that the discount card isn't a discount off the actual copay, but a gift card given for future non-pharmacy purchases (at least how that is at the chain I work for).

 

[phathead]

The legality lies in the fact that the discount card isn't a discount off the actual copay, but a gift card given for future non-pharmacy purchases (at least how that is at the chain I work for).

Ah but I know of places who use these gift cards for prescriptions that are not cash. These are rather sizable pharmacies, so I've always been perplexed as to how they have gotten away with it.

 

[desertraichu]

I don't understand how giving people 30 dollar gift cards can lead to profit if we sell the medications for four dollars lol. I also hate it when customers transfer to one place after another to get coupons, lose track of where the prescriptions went, and blame me, the technician, who has no authority over transfers whatsoever.

 

[litetigre]

Ah but I know of places who use these gift cards for prescriptions that are not cash. These are rather sizable pharmacies, so I've always been perplexed as to how they have gotten away with it.

Exactly...that's why eu wants Microsoft to remove ie from windows. There's no check and balance.

 

[phathead]

I don't understand how giving people 30 dollar gift cards can lead to profit if we sell the medications for four dollars lol. I also hate it when customers transfer to one place after another to get coupons, lose track of where the prescriptions went, and blame me, the technician, who has no authority over transfers whatsoever.

They don't make money on it. You'd be surprised how many pharmacies **COUGH** Walmart **COUGH** dispense things below their actual value in order to gain traffic into a store. And of course that's not legal, but no one cares. At least not right now.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

They don't make money on it. You'd be surprised how many pharmacies **COUGH** Walmart **COUGH** dispense things below their actual value in order to gain traffic into a store. And of course that's not legal, but no one cares. At least not right now.

I refuse to shop at Walmart... REFUSE. lol

 

[phathead]

I refuse to shop at Walmart... REFUSE. lol

Don't have a choice here, they've pushed out pretty much every one else to the point where I can never find what I'm looking for.

And one company owns all 9 grocery stores in the area, so naturally they've jacked their prices sky high.

 

[weetzie00]

It's pretty ridiculous. We have the same people who come week after week with transfers. All they do is transfer back and forth and get coupons each time. They are making like $100-200 worth of gift cards every month. I hate the promotion so much. And, whenever we refuse them the coupon, they call corporate who has no back bone and tells us to give them the coupon plus one extra for the hassle. SIGH...

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Don't have a choice here, they've pushed out pretty much every one else to the point where I can never find what I'm looking for.

And one company owns all 9 grocery stores in the area, so naturally they've jacked their prices sky high.

Ughh... that is exactly why I refuse to support that. I feel bad... at least we have a few selections here so they can compete based on rotating buy one get one deals each week on basic items, weekly specials, etc. I'd rather pay those stores a bit higher prices just to support fairness.

It's pretty ridiculous. We have the same people who come week after week with transfers. All they do is transfer back and forth and get coupons each time. They are making like $100-200 worth of gift cards every month. I hate the promotion so much. And, whenever we refuse them the coupon, they call corporate who has no back bone and tells us to give them the coupon plus one extra for the hassle. SIGH...

This is why we need actual pharmacists involved in management, policy making, legislature, etc. I made a thread a while ago about students who were considering going into stuff like that but it was a dud. LOL

 

[phathead]

This is why we need actual pharmacists involved in management, policy making, legislature, etc. I made a thread a while ago about students who were considering going into stuff like that but it was a dud. LOL

That's why I changed my major to business and why I'll be getting a MBA as well 😉

 

[Tinkerbell22]

That's why I changed my major to business and why I'll be getting a MBA as well 😉

Yay go us! haha

Honestly... business classes are killing me right now with all the paper writing and thinking outside the box type of stuff... but hopefully it pays off in the end! lol

 

[phathead]

Yay go us! haha

Honestly... business classes are killing me right now with all the paper writing and thinking outside the box type of stuff... but hopefully it pays off in the end! lol

I actually found that to be pretty easy. For the most part, business classes are WAY easier for me than Pre-pharm classes. A lot of it is common sense.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I actually found that to be pretty easy. For the most part, business classes are WAY easier for me than Pre-pharm classes. A lot of it is common sense.

I think it is the papers that are getting to me. It's like a never ending parade. As soon as I finish one, I have 5 more due. lol I always get compliments on the finished product, and I have A's on all my writing assignments thus far, but it is just so different from going to class, taking notes, and studying a textbook for science exams. I feel like it's important to be able to do both though, so that is why I appreciate it.

 

[phathead]

I think it is the papers that are getting to me. It's like a never ending parade. As soon as I finish one, I have 5 more due. lol I always get compliments on the finished product, and I have A's on all my writing assignments thus far, but it is just so different from going to class, taking notes, and studying a textbook for science exams. I feel like it's important to be able to do both though, so that is why I appreciate it.

Oh yea, I get that lol. In macroeconomics I wrote a 32 page paper discussing the cost benefits of a universal healthcare system using a combination of the Swedish and Japanese economic models. I had something like 100+ sources when I was done lol

Crazy stuff

 

[Tinkerbell22]

Oh yea, I get that lol. In macroeconomics I wrote a 32 page paper discussing the cost benefits of a universal healthcare system using a combination of the Swedish and Japanese economic models. I had something like 100+ sources when I was done lol

Crazy stuff

😱 That is nuts. I loved economics though... but we never had to write in macro or micro... I took health economics though, and we were given a writing credit because we had to analyze case studies and stuff. We had case studies on things like, the effect of "detailing"/pharmaceutical sales representatives on the market share of prescription drugs, etc.

 

[desertraichu]

My problem with the coupons isn't the money, I mean everyone should try to maximize their money in this economy, but my problem is it shows to me the darker side of humanity lol. I mean, people are willing to put time and effort into firing pharmacists and technicians for the sake of a coupon worth a thirty dollar giftcard tops.

 

[PharmerJones]

Ah but I know of places who use these gift cards for prescriptions that are not cash. These are rather sizable pharmacies, so I've always been perplexed as to how they have gotten away with it.

I work at a chain that gives out $25 gift cards for transfers. In my state we're allowed to do this for cash or insurance-paid rx's as long as the script is not paid for all or in part by a government program (Tricare, Medicaid, Medicare). My favorite is Medicaid patients with no copays who don't understand why they can't have the free $25.

I see a lot of people just transferring back and forth to get the gift cards. At my pharmacy we always take great care to be very accurate when sending out/receiving transfers but I am in support of capping the number of times that a script can be transferred because it increases the likelihood of an error being made. In my state there is no limit on how many times (non-control) scripts can be transferred and I think it's just dangerous.