The Great Debate: CVS vs. Walgreens

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DoctorAJ

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Hey guys, I need some help (preferably from Interns and/or Pharmacists who work or have worked at CVS and/or Walgreens)...

Here's the deal: I'm wrapping up my P2 year in a couple months, have worked retail at Rite Aid for a year (quit last December for school related reasons), and now am ready to jump back into retail for the upcoming summer, but I want to experience something different...I've narrowed it down, and now I'm torn between deciding to go with CVS or Walgreens...

Lots of my friends intern at these two places and I hear good and bad about each (for example, Walgreens has a better computer system than CVS, Walgreens pays time and a half for over time while CVS doesn't, but CVS pays more, etc etc..)

What are some other unique things about the two companies I should know before committing my entire summer (and possibly career)?...

any input would be appreciated...🙂
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I am in the process of leaving my intern position at CVS to go to Walgreens. I have worked as an intern at cvs for about 3.5 years (I'm a P3) and just have to try something else. In my area walgreens pays interns $0.75 more per hour as an intern.

I have no major issues with CVS, i just need a change, and have heard some good things about Walgreens. The DM gave me my interview and showed me around they pharmacy. From what i saw the computer system is way more advanced at Walgreens, seems like a better workflow too. Although, CVS is going to be rolling out a new system soon. All in all, I'm going to give up some accumulated vacation hours but I don't care. I know I would regret not trying another retail chain.
 
They're both great companies to work for. Great hours, no weekends, m-f 9-5, great support from the corporate, large bonus, higher than average salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, large stock options, work from home sometimes, flexible work schedule to pick up your kids whenever you want to, and most important of all, you get to wear jeans to work!

👍👍
 
You can't wear jeans to CVS 😕
 
Everyone here knows I work for CVS. So here goes. Since you are not marrying the company, you need to interview the DM or Pharmacy Supervisor in your area for both companies. Remember, in a chain your experience depends on the quality of field management in your area. Others have had bad experiences at CVS, but my experience has been amazing. Except for the Jeans at work and no weekends, I do have a flexible schedule, I do get stock options, I do get paid well, I don't miss any of my kids school activities.... My DM, Pharmacy Supervisor and Scheduler are first rate so I have no complaints. That's why you have to interview them. They will determine your experience.....
 
I suspect overall there aren't real big differences between the companies--although there may be big differences in certain locals, depending on who the district pharmacy manager is. And the pharmacy manager of the particular store--who your co-workers are can make or break a job. Walgreens profit-sharing can't be matched. In my locale, Walgreens pays slightly more--pay is going to vary depending on locale. Everyone tells me that Walgreens computer system is far above any competitors computer systems. I don't like CVS's "guareentee" of all prescriptions in 15 minutes or less--that is just not possible in all situations.
 
BidingMyTime said:
I don't like CVS's "guareentee" of all prescriptions in 15 minutes or less--that is just not possible in all situations.
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It is clearly not a guarantee...... Not at all, not in any way..... Most prescriptions can be done in 15 minutes if the person is waiting. But if the Rx cannot be done in 15 minutes for whatever reason, you just reset the customers expectations and ask if they wish to wait longer or return later to pick up their order....
 
I work for CVS and you work 14 hours and on your feet the whole time, however I never ever wore a tie to work even though i am supposed nobody has said anything to me. Oh my supurvisor said something once but I still didn't wear a tie... you have to learn to say no especially when they call u to work every day on your day off. I have enough time to go pee twice and cook two hot pockets, the rest of the time I am verifying all day except at 9pm it slows down. Oh and depending on where you are you better be caught up by 4pm because it gets mass busy until 7 pm and unfortunately the good tech are usually gone by thenm cause they don't want to work nights
 
Avelox said:
You can't wear jeans to CVS 😕
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Oh I wear jeans sometimes however they are kahki color and most people don't realize they are jeans... what are they gonna do fire me? hahahaha... its not like there are people in line to work for cvs
 
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museabuse said:
I work for CVS and you work 14 hours and on your feet the whole time, however I never ever wore a tie to work even though i am supposed nobody has said anything to me. Oh my supurvisor said something once but I still didn't wear a tie... you have to learn to say no especially when they call u to work every day on your day off. I have enough time to go pee twice and cook two hot pockets, the rest of the time I am verifying all day except at 9pm it slows down. Oh and depending on where you are you better be caught up by 4pm because it gets mass busy until 7 pm and unfortunately the good tech are usually gone by thenm cause they don't want to work nights
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Sounds like a typical CVS or Walgreens experience......
 
I work for Walgreens. CVS doesn't have any stores around here, so I have no experience whatsoever with them. I worked full time as a tech before I went to school, and for the most part, I like the company, but a lot depends on the people you work with and your customer base.

The pharmacists at my store work 8 hour shifts (either 8-4 or 2-10) and every other weekend. Interns work pretty much whatever we're available - most of our interns work every 3rd weekend only because my store is about 1 hour away from my school, but I work 18 hours a week. As long as you're somewhat flexible/open, I think they'll work with you.

As far as benefits go, Walgreens is good. The stock options are great - they match almost $3 for every $1 you put in. Health insurance is very decent. Vacation time could be better (2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5, and then I get lost), but it's not bad.

The computer system is great, though I wish they'd be a little quicker to work out some of the glitches (not huge things, just certain rare things that they didn't account for when they designed things). It does take a while to learn things. You have to go through a ton of computer training on the computer system. It was a lot shorter when I did it, but it seems to take about 30-40 hours for most people. After that, you'll probably get pretty much thrown to the wolves, but don't be afraid to ask when you have questions.

While there are guidelines, work flow varies from store to store. We've changed the way we do work flow about 10 times at my store. Drive thru sucks, but I think both stores have drive thrus. I do have a CVS brochure that shows a pharmacist with a headset. I'd love headsets. Walking around with a phone between your shoulder and your ear is horrible for you back.
 
I've worked for both.

IMHO, I feel Walgreens is better in terms of computer system, workflow, and benefits. They are more inclined to use technology and clinical aspects of pharmacy. Their strength lies in staying just ahead of the curve, business-wise.

You have to realize that retail is bottom-line oriented. I honestly don't think retail will turn into some clinical-only "practice", although both companies have made some attempts (flu clinics, immunization clinics, etc.). Know and understand what you are getting into!

Retail is about doing volume-oriented grunt-work, but well-paid grunt work. It can be a professional sweat-shop environment; depending on your location, tech help, and attitude of management.

Walgreens is trying to cut their costs by instituting technology that makes RPh's and techs do more work per shift. It basically consists of remotely verifying (RPh's) and inputting rx's (techs and RPh's) from other stores in your district. They try to package this as " you helping the busier stores", but we know this is garbage. I'm grateful I currently have the option of not verifying rx's I can't read, etc.

I'm sure other chains will jump on the technology as soon as they can afford it.
 
intern at walgreens...love it there.....but i disagree bout the not missing kids activities and such: pharmacists work either 8-4 or 2-10, and with only 2 pharmacists at my store + floater, ive seen its hard to get some1 to switch with u with a short notice: this is the one advantage of working in a hospital setting: its easier to find some1 to cover for u

other than tat, the computer system ROCKS, but it does have some glitches tat need to be worked out

pay me well also😀
 
I have worked for Walgreen's for six years now, and I have no complaints about them. Generally, everyone I spoke with thinks that Walgreen's is the least evil out of all the big chains, including people who have never worked in pharmacies but have done research on them.

As an intern, you should not get concerned with things like district management. You should be concerned with the people at the specific store you are at. Come in during rush hour and observe quietly what it looks like at both locations you are considering. Come in at a slower time like Sunday before noon and talk to the employees, get a feel for the general atmosphere at the store. There are great Walgreen's and horrible Walgreen's, and there are great CVS and horrible CVS, try to evaluate the specific places you will be working. It's the people who make the difference. With the same technology and number of prescrptions, the days when I have a new or a lazier tech are much, much worse than days when I have one of my best techs. And days when you have a good pharmacist are much better than when you have a bad pharmaicst (from my intern days, since I really cannot evaluate myself as a pharmacist - though I would like to know what my techs really think of me...)
 
I am graduating in May and two of my friends in pharmacy school have worked for Walgreens all throughout school. Both of them took money from Walgreens for school as well, and both of them can't wait to get out. One of them has already signed with Target and the other one is still looking. Be careful, not all retail pharmacies are sweat shops.
 
Walgreens left me a bit perturbed after they declined me an internship because they couldn't find a store in my area...I mean come on, this is ORLANDO! CVS had no problem finding me a store. Doesn't CVS have more stores nationwide than Walgreens? I'm hoping their computer system will be released later in the summer or maybe our store can beta test. :/
 
People keep talking about this new computer system rolling out at CVS...anyone have any idea on a time frame when this is supposed to happen? Summer? A year? Few years? A lie? lol
 
At Walgreens, not all the stores get interns over the summer. The store must meet certain conditions before a summer intern will be placed there.
 
Anyone know how RiteAid is?

I have a CVS and a RiteAid within 3 min of my home, and I'll be applying as a clerk to both of them this summer.
 
Wan2BPharmD said:
People keep talking about this new computer system rolling out at CVS...anyone have any idea on a time frame when this is supposed to happen? Summer? A year? Few years? A lie? lol
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It's top secret. But it does exist. It means, it will be out when it's ready.....
 
Epic said:
They're both great companies to work for. Great hours, no weekends, m-f 9-5, great support from the corporate, large bonus, higher than average salaries, rapid advancement opportunities, large stock options, work from home sometimes, flexible work schedule to pick up your kids whenever you want to, and most important of all, you get to wear jeans to work!

👍👍
Click to expand...


i dont know what type of fantasy world you are living in. that is far from the trooth. CVS is by far the worst company you can work for. they treat their pharmacists like complete ****. screw around with your schedule b/c of their "contract" you signed. i have friends that regret every single day they did CVS.

Walgreens used to be good but they have become like cvs too just not as bad yet. that's corporate for you. all in all, you are just a number to them. they will do what they can to use you and then just cut you loose. i would choose another pharmacy before cvs and walgreens and even take less pay. plus this 9-5 you speak of is bull****. read a cvs contract, the contract isnt for 40 hours it is for me.

👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎
 
genesis09 said:
At Walgreens, not all the stores get interns over the summer. The store must meet certain conditions before a summer intern will be placed there.
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CVS seems to be able to put interns anywhere and everywhere. Last summer, corporate paid for ~20 of our hours every week.. allowing me to be an extra hand on the schedule half the time. I'm assuming that's how it'll be this year too.
 
At Walgreens, they have a budget for summer interns. Corporate paid for I believe 8 hours of the internship, and the district also paid for some of it. The district supervisor wanted to make sure we went to good stores. That's why I didn't end up at the store near my house.
 
PharmaTope said:
i dont know what type of fantasy world you are living in. that is far from the trooth. CVS is by far the worst company you can work for. they treat their pharmacists like complete ****. screw around with your schedule b/c of their "contract" you signed. i have friends that regret every single day they did CVS.

Walgreens used to be good but they have become like cvs too just not as bad yet. that's corporate for you. all in all, you are just a number to them. they will do what they can to use you and then just cut you loose. i would choose another pharmacy before cvs and walgreens and even take less pay. plus this 9-5 you speak of is bull****. read a cvs contract, the contract isnt for 40 hours it is for me.

👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎
Click to expand...

Regular hospital pays 85k in NYC. Retail pays 125k. This isnt fantasy. . . . It all depends on the area that you work in. Personally for me, I will take that extra Mercedes Beenz anytime no matter how much they screw around with that contract (even though I havent seen any screwing around).
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
Regular hospital pays 85k in NYC. Retail pays 125k. This isnt fantasy. . . . It all depends on the area that you work in. Personally for me, I will take that extra Mercedes Beenz anytime no matter how much they screw around with that contract (even though I havent seen any screwing around).
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that doesn't sound accurate regarding hospital. suburban hospitals in NJ pay 47-48 an hour which far exceeds your stated hospital pay. maybe you been long out of hospital. hospital vs retail isn't that much diff pay wise now since the gap has been closing in. contracts i saw for walgreens were the same as supermarket pharmacy so why would u choose chain over supermarket is beyond me.
 
City hospitals ie Bellevue, Elmhurst, etc starting salary is 85k. I was checking out their recent offers. Maybe private hospitals are a little bit more.
 
PharmaTope said:
i dont know what type of fantasy world you are living in. that is far from the trooth. CVS is by far the worst company you can work for. they treat their pharmacists like complete ****. screw around with your schedule b/c of their "contract" you signed. i have friends that regret every single day they did CVS.

Walgreens used to be good but they have become like cvs too just not as bad yet. that's corporate for you. all in all, you are just a number to them. they will do what they can to use you and then just cut you loose. i would choose another pharmacy before cvs and walgreens and even take less pay. plus this 9-5 you speak of is bull****. read a cvs contract, the contract isnt for 40 hours it is for me.

👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎thumbdown👎
Click to expand...


Sarcasm completely eludes you doesn't it...
 
Aznfarmerboi said:
City hospitals ie Bellevue, Elmhurst, etc starting salary is 85k. I was checking out their recent offers. Maybe private hospitals are a little bit more.
Click to expand...

Hospital pharmacist salary range posted by the HR department has a very wide range...usually $35 to $55 per hour. It's an HR thing. But more often than not, the actual pharmacist salary is closer to the top of the range vs lower end. But remember, hospitals have evening, night, and weekend differentials which can be significant. At the end of the day and after taxes, there is not a big difference in salary between retail and hospital. There are exceptions of course.

And Bellevue and elmhurst will have no pharmacists at that salary.
 
Epic said:
Sarcasm completely eludes you doesn't it...
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lol you never know man. pharmacists are type A people and many are delusional as all hell. i have heard many say things like this before.
 
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