Please help me decide between Walgreens, CVS, & Target

[RocketRPh]

Any recent input among these 3 chains would greatly be appreciated. I am trying to compare their pay, benefits and working environment. My current assessment is

Walgreens is best with Benefits, worst environment
CVS is best is pay, some what bad enviroment
Target is best in work environment, yet worst in pay.

Is that right?

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[rph3664]

CVS probably won't be around 5 years from now, and Walgreens is a bureaucracy-filled sweatshop. Go with Target.

 

[PharmyDude]

CVS will be around alot longer than you. I love Target. So many happy workers in red.

 

[Tygacil]

Target pays competitive, at least in the area I graduated, wouldn't let that dissuade you. Only prob was lack of sign on bonuses but that's a non issue these days.. benefits are great, just gotta deal with corporate shenanigans, but I suppose thats everywhere really.

 

[ronkoshy]

...

 

[jyso]

Target easily offers people a position (if they have an availability in the area) but be careful because they would ask you to do an assessment test online that took me almost 2 hours. afterward, i interviewed with a manager of the front store and not even the pharmacist manager, then i had a second interview with the DM. After my second interview they said they really liked me. but then 2 weeks later i get an email saying they are looking into a different direction. Target is super super selective and known for stringing people along... but if you pass their test after jumping thru hoops for them, then take the offer.

 

[AmyShyu]

From my experience, CVS pays about the same compared to the other two, you don't get as much help as you need compared to Target or Wags. CVS also loves the stupid unrealistic customer survey that only count if you give 5-very satisfied and the manipulatable wait time scores. They hold that against you on promotion and bonus. Lots of reports to go through, computer crashes all the time and tend to miss pay for some hours you worked. Their computer system is the most complicated and time consuming. Wags has the best computer system of the three, pay wise, you can't really negotiate much unless it's in the middle of no where, you might get sign on with that. Wags is 8-hour day or 10-hour day depends on the area. You usually have at least an hour overlap where you have two pharmacist on staff. Tech ratio is better with Wags, then Target, with CVS you might have to work all day by yourself. I heard you might have to do that with Target at times as well. You should feel great joy working at Target if you like origami. They have lots of colorful paper for you to fold and insert into weird part of the bottle. Things I like about target is the fact that they recycle almost everything, not as crazy busy, no drive-thru, and has a $4 list plus price matching. You don't get to match price for customer with CVS or Wags. However both CVS and Wags have their own savings plan or some sort. Now, my biggest issue with Target is that they make you go outside the pharmacy to promote the pharmacy to their customers (5 min challenge)..which is like soliciting..that makes me uncomfortable at times. But Target is getting all the pharmacist trained for clinical services, so that's a plus. Another thing about Target, the hiring process is the worst of all, similar situational questions asked in different terms and in both interviews, you interview with the store and the pharmacy. Some of the store managers are very snobby cuz they work for Target, not all but some. With CVS and Wag, pharmacist are very well respected by the store managers cuz they run the business. CVS and Wag both very stressful job, but that's retail for you. Work flow wise, I like Wags better. Benefits start on day one with Target both full-time and part-time, Wag is changing the benefit package to start on day one starting maybe Jan 2011, but CVS is 90 days post hire and have to maintain full-time status. They all offer pretty similar benefits (not as good as military but better than discount plan) CVS matches higher % for 401K but Wag is changing theirs so I can't tell you who is better at this time. Target simply brain wash you that you should be happy for whatever you get cuz you work for Target.
Hope this post provides some inside and things to think about if you get all three offers.

 

[Old Timer]

CVS probably won't be around 5 years from now, and Walgreens is a bureaucracy-filled sweatshop. Go with Target.

CVS is a 90 billion dollar a year corporation that still makes a profit. They are not going anywhere. That is one of the most nonsensical statements I have heard in a long time.

CVS also loves the stupid unrealistic customer survey that only count if you give 5-very satisfied and the manipulatable wait time scores. They hold that against you on promotion and bonus. Lots of reports to go through, computer crashes all the time and tend to miss pay for some hours you worked. Their computer system is the most complicated and time consuming.

CVS loves the SSS because people that give you 5's spend 25% more money and are 90% less likely to even try another store. You can manipualte the wait times but is you frequently fail to get the rxs to the customers in time, but manipulate the wait time, it's easy for your supervisor to see that. As for payroll, as a pharmacist, you have a base number of hours and you can't get paid less. If your hours are put in and they are less than your base, the system will pay you your base, so that is false as well. The only truthful thing is the computer crashes way to often, but not ALL the time. Less than once a month, is NOT ALL the time. Too much, but not all the time.

In any given market the pay will be similar. The advantage that CVS and Walgreens have is they have more locations. If you get a bad store or a bad colleague or a bad manager, it's not hard to transfer. Target is more limited.

So here is my advice. Interview them as they interview you. Weigh all the factors:

Salary
Cost of benefits (How much do you contribute)
Schedule
Commute time
Vacation
401K (How much to they match) At 120K a year, that's $1,200.00 for each percentage difference (67 cents an hour)
Amount of tech help
Career development

All of these companies have their pluses and minuses. The recession will not last forever so the pressure will come off sooner or later. I work for CVS and if you work in my district, your experience will not be the same if you work in the next district over. That's why you have to interview your employer when they interview you.

 

[type b pharmD]

CVS probably won't be around 5 years from now, and Walgreens is a bureaucracy-filled sweatshop. Go with Target.

even if cvs ultimately collapses after all the investigations and inevitable fines and charges the stores will still represent valuable production capacity .. the scripts will still need to be filled. i'd guess CVS ultimately either lives on in name and the stores go under new management or maybe they get bought out by competitors

 

[Old Timer]

even if cvs ultimately collapses after all the investigations and inevitable fines and charges the stores will still represent valuable production capacity .. the scripts will still need to be filled. i'd guess CVS ultimately either lives on in name and the stores go under new management or maybe they get bought out by competitors

The worst thing that can happen is for the FTC to reverse itself and order the separation of CVS and Caremark. The stores still do almost 50 billion dollars in sales a year. I don't think that is going to happen. So despite what many of you hope for, CVS will continue to exist in more than name only.

 

[Allure]

I can't speak for Target since I don't have any direct experience with the company. But I've heard a lot of great things mainly because it's not as busy as CVS and Wag.

Walgreens has good hours, good computer system...probably the best out there for retail. But they basically force you to give flu shots and not only that, but you have to meet a quota or else you'll get replaced.

CVS's system crashes more than once a month, sometimes multiple times a day. And then they have all these crazy updates on sundays, but you are required to fill prescriptions offline without extra help. I don't know why they bother coming out with the new system, it is still a lot worse than what Wag's been using for years and extremely slow. Ridiculous amount of phone calls to make to ask customers for refills. They monitor your calls and you have to reach 75% of the customers. They keep cutting tech hours. Some people might like working less days, but a 14-hour day is just too long to work, especially at CVS. The techs are horrible since there is such a high turnover rate for them. Every few months, someone quits. One tech lasted for 1.5 days. They don't stay long enough to be good. If someone complains about you, CVS will send them a gift card. The customer is always right. Last, but not least..their bottle caps suck! They are so hard to open. After 10 hours, your right shoulder and wrist hurt unless you're left handed.

In the end, a few dollars is not going to make a big difference in a long run. Go for one that you don't hate coming to work to. But in this economy, a sucky job is still better than no job. In the right situation, retail pharmacy is not bad at all. I've had some good CVS experiences, but those are far and few in between. I am so glad that I don't have to depend on CVS for my paychecks.

 

[MountainPharmD]

Any recent input among these 3 chains would greatly be appreciated. I am trying to compare their pay, benefits and working environment. My current assessment is

Walgreens is best with Benefits, worst environment
CVS is best is pay, some what bad enviroment
Target is best in work environment, yet worst in pay.

Is that right?

Gee ya think there is a correlation between the bad work enviroment and the pay?

 

[ucrx]

Any recent input among these 3 chains would greatly be appreciated. I am trying to compare their pay, benefits and working environment. My current assessment is

Walgreens is best with Benefits, worst environment
CVS is best is pay, some what bad enviroment
Target is best in work environment, yet worst in pay.

Is that right?

My offer from Target was higher than I heard from friends at CVS and Walgreens. I don't work retail and have never worked for any of these companies, so I can't help with environment and benefits.

 

[Pharmguy07]

Walgreens has good hours, good computer system...probably the best out there for retail. But they basically force you to give flu shots and not only that, but you have to meet a quota or else you'll get replaced.

They are ridiculously obsessed with flu shots, but I've never heard of anyone being replaced or even being threatened if a quota isn't met. At least not in my district.

 

[schamj01]

They are ridiculously obsessed with flu shots, but I've never heard of anyone being replaced or even being threatened if a quota isn't met. At least not in my district.

Exactly, the worst thing that happens in my district is they make the store manager and pharmacy manager write up an action plan for how they are going to do better. Sometimes I think corporate actually rides on management and front end employees harder than the pharmacists when it comes to promoting flue shots.

 

[bacillus1]

They are ridiculously obsessed with flu shots, but I've never heard of anyone being replaced or even being threatened if a quota isn't met. At least not in my district.

Maybe not replaced, but these pharmacies are taking flu shots really seriously, and there are consequences for people that don't fill the quotas. I don't work for a Walgreens, I work for a different chain, and they made my pharmacy manager lose her store because we weren't filling flu shot quotas. Now she'll be working as a floater. Chains are getting ridiculous...

 

[clachan3]

Any recent input among these 3 chains would greatly be appreciated. I am trying to compare their pay, benefits and working environment. My current assessment is

Walgreens is best with Benefits, worst environment
CVS is best is pay, some what bad enviroment
Target is best in work environment, yet worst in pay.

Is that right?

I'm not sure about Walgreens benefits & environment because I haven't worked there, but my guess is environment should be slightly better than CVS, maybe similar.

I am going to rate environment best Target, then WG, CVS last

CVS makes you fill prescriptions at a rate/speed that could become dangerous if you work at a busy store. Slower stores might be just fine, but you'll have to work alone without a tech at CVS. I'm not sure Walgreens does that or not (make the pharmacist work alone)

Current health benefits options & coverage: CVS better than Target

 

[sosokk]

Target has the worst interview process but if they give u an offer take it! CVS sucksI couldn't work more than 7 months for them and had to repay all the signing bonus..Trust me not worth it!

 

[schamj01]

I'm not sure about Walgreens benefits & environment because I haven't worked there, but my guess is environment should be slightly better than CVS, maybe similar.

I am going to rate environment best Target, then WG, CVS last

CVS makes you fill prescriptions at a rate/speed that could become dangerous if you work at a busy store. Slower stores might be just fine, but you'll have to work alone without a tech at CVS. I'm not sure Walgreens does that or not (make the pharmacist work alone)

Current health benefits options & coverage: CVS better than Target

The pharmacist has to work alone only at some of the slower stores, and even then, it's usually weekends alone with one tech during the week.

 

[TonyRx]

I can only speak about Walgreens from experience, and it's a decent place to work. Their profit sharing is very good, they match ~$3 to $1 on your investment. The rest of their benefits are above average too. The computer system is very good and the hours aren't too bad. But like most retail chains, forget about having any breaks or breathing time. Also a lot depends on what store(s) you are stuck in, some are way worse than others.

Pay is competitive and usually among the highest for retail chains. My friend just got hired on last month (UF grad) and he is starting at $55/hr. Plus OT is still available in many markets (Orlando for example). I know this because my same friend is working like a dog and gobbling up a lot of OT....time and a half is pretty sweet.

But like any other large chain, you will have to put up with corporate bull**** and so forth. In the end you just have to be cut out for working retail, it's not fun at times.

 

[owlegrad]

Pay is competitive and usually among the highest for retail chains. My friend just got hired on last month (UF grad) and he is starting at $55/hr. Plus OT is still available in many markets (Orlando for example). I know this because my same friend is working like a dog and gobbling up a lot of OT....time and a half is pretty sweet.

It is my understanding that OT is like a few extra bucks per hour for pharmacists. Perhaps I am misinformed?

 

[TonyRx]

It is my understanding that OT is like a few extra bucks per hour for pharmacists. Perhaps I am misinformed?

Every company is different and from what I understand even specific labor laws per individual state can vary too. I can't speak for anything outside Walgreens in Florida, but here anything over 80 hours for the 2-week pay period is considering overtime and is Pay and Half. So, my buddy for example is making ~$80/hr for his overtime. It's a great way to knock out those loans and bank some money if you're willing to bust your butt.

But yes, I've also heard of other Retail chains in various states paying around $3-$7/hr extra for overtime...no pay and half.


Edit: I just saw your status, from Orlando...I thought maybe you were outside FL. Unless things just recently changed, Pharmacists I've talked to make time and half.

 

[torchbearer]

.

 

[TonyRx]

Also, I don't know where the OP is from but if it's the Southeast then I would seriously consider Publix Supermarkets too. I have several classmates working there as Interns, a high school friend whom is a Pharmacist and other friends in different departments.

They are a respected supermarket and their pharmacy is top-notch from what I've heard. Hours are good, pay is good and stress level and workload is less than Walgreens/CVS. They also have decent bonuses and benefits. I'm actually considering getting my foot in the door there, just in case I'm no longer happy with Walgreens.

 

[Rodos]

Target Target Target

I have worked for many drug stores, they push volume and speed.
at Target you are the side show, your Job to be a good advisor, and be available to guests/patients for consultation. Techs are fairly paid so they care more about their job than CVS/Wag. I work 10 hours a day with a half hour lunch and I go home with enough energy in the tank to play with my kids. no drive thru ding, and no sales calls to do refills. It is a no brainer.

 

[J ROD]

Target

 

[TonyRx]

Target Target Target

I have worked for many drug stores, they push volume and speed.
at Target you are the side show, your Job to be a good advisor, and be available to guests/patients for consultation. Techs are fairly paid so they care more about their job than CVS/Wag. I work 10 hours a day with a half hour lunch and I go home with enough energy in the tank to play with my kids. no drive thru ding, and no sales calls to do refills. It is a no brainer.

👍

Sounds good

 

[RocketRPh]

Took the offer from Target, will start next Monday. Thanks to everyone who responded. You helped made up my mind. I liked the offer from CVS too as they are building a lot of new stores. If there are any Target Pharmacists out there, please continue to share your do, and don't at Target. Wish me luck😀

 

[PANCFLRPH]

I've worked for WAG in two Markets (PA and NC). Great pay, 401k is a money tree, great computer system, moderate tech support (based on volume).

Call for a copy to any CVS anywhere, always miserable, busy and understaffed, bitchin' about computer crash (and recently new system that seems worse).

WAG all the way baby.!!!!👍

 

[meister]

CVS was clearly the worst option here.

 

[pharmagirlie]

Target would probably be the best. But one thing you have to consider is that there arent many Target locations, so make sure you get a good location. My brother in law worked for Target and loved it there, but apparently for Target the front store manager is considered to be your manager as well. But my BIL didnt get along with him and since there werent many stores to get transferred to (due to limited number of target Pharmacies) he had to switch out of the company.

CVS is probably the worst environment where usually DM care more about the customers and side with them rather than thinking/siding with you.

Walgreens you do get lunch break (or at least where I interned at) and it has a slightly better work environment in comparison to CVS.