remember you're getting paid in experience, not money. I gave up my $20/hr+ job to work as a slave for <$11/hr just for a LOR and the ability to put pharm. experience down. All my other BS/BA friends are making 2-3x what I am making.
I don't think there is any difference in the retail settings. You can have a blast at CVS, you can end up with an dingus boss at Rite-Aid, etc...
Funny I had a patient today ask me point blank "are you going to be a pharm tech the rest of your life?" and luckily I was able to answer with confidence "oh no i've already applied to pharmacy school." Glad it was me who got that and not one of our career-techs.