What is the craziest thing a customer has asked you when you were working retail

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Pharmavixen said:
(I may have posted this story before...)

A woman phoned to ask what to do. Her child had chicken pox, and the pediatrician said, use calamine lotion, so she gave it PO, then upon reading the bottle, realized that wasn't quite right.
Click to expand...

Poor kid!! again, hard to believe some people are so *****ic...
Members don't see this ad.
 
I got this question when doing patient education at a hospital. This was way back when bovine & porcine insulins were still being used. The pt asked if the bovine insulin would make her experience cravings for grass. Now that was a question I had never even thought about before!
 
Members don't see this ad :)
One customer asked me if I could do an eye exam and dispense her contact lenses lol...
 
Just last week I obtained a new favorite question:

"Am I going to have to put my finger in her butt?"
to which I replied "Just a little."

(It was for inserting a suppository in her young child.)


My previous favorite question was after we accidentally dispensed a prescription in the manufacturer's bottle with the wholesale price tag on it. "So why do you guys sell the drugs for more than they cost you?"
 
I was on a retail rotation - it was my first week working in a pharmacy EVER - and this woman comes in and asks me to look at this rash on her face. Then she says

"Can you get jock itch on your face?"
 
MarchIoda said:
So what's the recommendation?
Click to expand...

KY mos def, oil based lubes can rip condoms. I mean if you want, you can spice it up with KY: Yours & Mine. Its on sale frequently and to be honest, it looks fun to drink if i didn't know any better.
 
Quiksilver said:
KY mos def, oil based lubes can rip condoms. I mean if you want, you can spice it up with KY: Yours & Mine. Its on sale frequently and to be honest, it looks fun to drink if i didn't know any better.
Click to expand...
I cannot believe you actually replied! :laugh:
 
I pick up the phone only to find one of our usuals on the other end of the line. Keep in mind I live/work in Ohio . . .

me: thank you for calling . . . blah blah blah

her: yeah, ummm, hahahah, do you guys sell weed?

me: . . . ummm, no.

her: well you should!

me: I think we sell chia pets.

her: well do you deliver?

I hung up
 
All4MyDaughter said:
Is the question about lubricant only "funny" because it's for two guys? When I worked retail I answered questions about personal lubricants, condoms, foam, etc. all the time. Those are legit questions for a pharmacist/student. :confused:
Click to expand...


I guess a lot of us are still very immature when it comes to sexuality.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
All4MyDaughter said:
Is the question about lubricant only "funny" because it's for two guys? When I worked retail I answered questions about personal lubricants, condoms, foam, etc. all the time. Those are legit questions for a pharmacist/student. :confused:
Click to expand...

they are legit questions and i gave a legit answer, i did not inject my personal opinion nor did I become biased and treat him differently. My answer did not change whether he was straight, gay or bisexual. Its funny in the way that you don't expect people to be so blunt about their sexual preferences, does anyone learn to be polite or modest anymore? I don't go around asking people about lubes and then emphasizing that I am NOT a homosexual, I don't push my preferences on to others and frankly I could care less if you or anyone agrees with my preferences. The fact is, the facet of information was more then was necessary, thats what makes it funny and awkward for me.

naseuy said:
I guess a lot of us are still very immature when it comes to sexuality.
Click to expand...

good for you. I didn't laugh in their face. You are just Mr stoic. But, no I am sure you aren't taken off guard sometimes with what people tell you.:rolleyes:
 
In my case, I thought MarchIoda asked his/her question in jest. I wasn't expecting Quiksilver to actually answer and say what he recommended to that particular client, hence my comment. I guess I should have said "I cannot believe you actually replied to this post!" to make my meaning clearer.

If I came across as knocking a person's sexual orientation, I apologize, but I still think that the client in question volunteered TMI. However, I'm immature...
 
Quiksilver said:
they are legit questions and i gave a legit answer, i did not inject my personal opinion nor did I become biased and treat him differently. My answer did not change whether he was straight, gay or bisexual. Its funny in the way that you don't expect people to be so blunt about their sexual preferences, does anyone learn to be polite or modest anymore? I don't go around asking people about lubes and then emphasizing that I am NOT a homosexual, I don't push my preferences on to others and frankly I could care less if you or anyone agrees with my preferences. The fact is, the facet of information was more then was necessary, thats what makes it funny and awkward for me.
Click to expand...

Gays and lesbians are often accused of being immodest or flaunting their 'sexual preferences' simply for exhibiting behavior that people would not think twice about seeing from a straight couple. I think this is a prime example of that.

If a woman told a healthcare professional that she was having pain during intercourse with her husband and needed a recommendation for a product to alleviate that, would that be TMI? She just bluntly stated her sexual preference! Does she need to be more polite?

medicalcpa said:
If I came across as knocking a person's sexual orientation, I apologize, but I still think that the client in question volunteered TMI. However, I'm immature...
Click to expand...

I guess my question is how could the patient have better stated his question to avoid TMI? I guess he could have said "I need some lubricant for the person who I have sex with" or "my sexual partner" or "my special friend," but people don't talk like that. It's much more natural to say "my boyfriend," or "my girlfriend." I acknowledge that there are a lot of people out there (including pharmacists) who are deeply uncomfortable with homosexuality, but a man mentioning his boyfriend in the context of a consultation with a healthcare professional is not TMI, in my opinion.
 
All4MyDaughter said:
Gays and lesbians are often accused of being immodest or flaunting their 'sexual preferences' simply for exhibiting behavior that people would not think twice about seeing from a straight couple. I think this is a prime example of that.

If a woman told a healthcare professional that she was having pain during intercourse with her husband and needed a recommendation for a product to alleviate that, would that be TMI? She just bluntly stated her sexual preference! Does she need to be more polite?



I guess my question is how could the patient have better stated his question to avoid TMI? I guess he could have said "I need some lubricant for the person who I have sex with" or "my sexual partner" or "my special friend," but people don't talk like that. It's much more natural to say "my boyfriend," or "my girlfriend." I acknowledge that there are a lot of people out there (including pharmacists) who are deeply uncomfortable with homosexuality, but a man mentioning his boyfriend in the context of a consultation with a healthcare professional is not TMI, in my opinion.
Click to expand...
You have a valid point.
 
All4MyDaughter said:
Gays and lesbians are often accused of being immodest or flaunting their 'sexual preferences' simply for exhibiting behavior that people would not think twice about seeing from a straight couple. I think this is a prime example of that.
Click to expand...
but this is NOT my point. I am not making that broad sweeping generalization. I don't care how you use the lube, you could even enjoy the taste and squeeze the tube right into your mouth. your sexual preference is too much info. It is too much info in the mere fact that your sexual preference will not alter my recommendation. There is no lube that are more beneficial to gay people or straight people. I don't want to know what you are using it for and there is no reason to tell me.

If you don't mind hearing those things, all the power to you, I don't. I don't think its proper to add that and I wont
 
We had a customer once that had a prescription for 300 tablets of Viagra. We called the doctor's office about this and sure enough, it was a legitimate prescription for 300 tablets of Viagra. He wanted all of them right at that moment. After seeing the price, he stormed out of the store (as if it were somehow our fault).

I'll freely admit that sometimes I can be pretty immature. In another day, we had someone walk in and ask, "Do you have any douches?" I couldn't help myself....

--Garfield
 
Quiksilver said:
KY mos def, oil based lubes can rip condoms. I mean if you want, you can spice it up with KY: Yours & Mine. Its on sale frequently and to be honest, it looks fun to drink if i didn't know any better.
Click to expand...

What about analgesic lubricants? Hence "ease the pain". And I think your reply is mature and professional. You're a pharmacist; your job is to distribute and educate on these products.
 
Last edited:
MarchIoda said:
What about analgesic lubricants? Hence "ease the pain". And I think your reply is mature and professional. You're a pharmacist; your job is to distribute and educate on these products.
Click to expand...
And then promptly mock when appropriate once the patient is far enough away from the counter.
 
MarchIoda said:
What about analgesic lubricants? Hence "ease the pain". And I think your reply is mature and professional. You're a pharmacist; your job is to distribute and educate on these products.
Click to expand...

I've actually gotten this question. He wanted to use Solarcaine with lido for his girlfriend, intravaginally to ease her pain.

But I agree 100% with All4MyD...and my reply would have been identical/just as professional had he said it was for a same sex partner.
 
In my experience the only people with sex related questions are the creepy 40-60 year old men who want to talk to the young pharmacists.
 
I had someone that had a Nuvaring that didn't fit. They were trying to wear it as a bracelet.



pt "Do you have the condoms with insecticide?"

Rph "Sir, don't you mean spermicide?"

pt "No, insecticide my wifes got a bug up her **s and I'm going in after It."
 
Had a new one today

Had a very clueless 19 yr old attractive female come to the register, and I rang her out and she asked if there were any females on staff. Both the pharmacist and I are male but I told her the PIC 3 miles down the road was female. She said thanks.

15 minutes later I got a call from the PIC cracking up with laughter saying a girl came to her from my recommendation asking for a demonstration of how to insert a Nuvaring and how to know its correctly placed (the script i previously rang out).

*knocks head on wood*
 
some dude walks up to the counter with a box of condoms and asks if they come in any smaller sizes

i said, they are usually one size fits all and fit pretty tight

he then asks where the kiddie-balloons are

TRUE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!
 
jawnly211 said:
some dude walks up to the counter with a box of condoms and asks if they come in any smaller sizes

i said, they are usually one size fits all and fit pretty tight

he then asks where the kiddie-balloons are

TRUE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Don't you have the latex finger cots in the 1st aid aisle.
 
a 300 pound customer asked me if i could make her metformin into a suspension so she could get it down easier... i'm not a hater against diabetics or big people, but she clearly did not have a problem getting things into her tummy...
 
HaloKing said:
a 300 pound customer asked me if i could make her metformin into a suspension so she could get it down easier... i'm not a hater against diabetics or big people, but she clearly did not have a problem getting things into her tummy...
Click to expand...

Riomet that 300 pounder up...she will love that awesome cherry taste.
 
"What is oxycontin? You prescribed me the Percocet, what is oxycodone derived from? You tell me right now" :shrug:
 
Last edited:
farmist said:
I had someone that had a Nuvaring that didn't fit. They were trying to wear it as a bracelet.



pt "Do you have the condoms with insecticide?"

Rph "Sir, don't you mean spermicide?"

pt "No, insecticide my wifes got a bug up her **s and I'm going in after It."
Click to expand...

haahhahaa THAT would give her instant relief!
 
A young hispanic man asks my female intern to speak to the male pharmacist.

I walk up and ask how I can help...

He asks me to step out of the pharmacy so he can ask me a question...

i hesitate, but step out. He tells me that he just got married last week and his wife tells him that she is going to leave him... I'm still confused, so I ask and how can I help him with this issue? He says she is leaving him for his cousin "Sancho" unless he can last longer than 30 seconds. He is also 100 percent serious about all of this....and also apparently scared...
I say that can recommend some desensitizing lube....he says, so how many tubes should I use each time?

I tried to feel bad for the guy, but I just couldnt help cracking up:laugh:
 
MarchIoda said:
What about analgesic lubricants? Hence "ease the pain". And I think your reply is mature and professional. You're a pharmacist; your job is to distribute and educate on these products.
Click to expand...

The most common anal analgesic lubricant for sexual intercourse is Analease (which I believe can also be used in the vagina). It is commonly sold at stores that sell sex toys, because many are (or can be) used in the anus. I don't recommend analgesic lubricants for the simple fact that it's easier to injure yourself if you can barely feel pain. It's pretty rare but it happens more often with analgesics -- some people do 'too much, too soon' without realising it. It also doens't add a whole lot to the experience if you catch my drift.

If you don't know any analgesic lubricants, the obvious answer is to switch lubricants to something that works better. KY is crap for anal play (pun intended), a much better suggestion is Astroglide or ForPlay. Eros is pretty common, but it's silicon-based and I personally don't recommend it because it's hell to get it out of sheets. :D

But if you don't know the answer, telling what you do know is fine -- which you did by reccomending KY. As a straight (vanilla?) guy, KY is about the extent of your knowledge of anal lubricants and I can totally respect that. :) Just don't let weird questions get you too flustered. Much like buying condoms from the 90-year-old pharmacist, it's one of those things that will always happen. Just roll with it.

Edit: please not that this is just light-hearted discussion about a sexual topic -- not medical advice, obviously.
 
Last edited:
Grif said:
The most common anal analgesic lubricant for sexual intercourse is Analease (which I believe can also be used in the vagina). It is commonly sold at stores that sell sex toys, because many are (or can be) used in the anus. I don't recommend analgesic lubricants for the simple fact that it's easier to injure yourself if you can barely feel pain. It's pretty rare but it happens more often with analgesics -- some people do 'too much, too soon' without realising it. It also doens't add a whole lot to the experience if you catch my drift.

If you don't know any analgesic lubricants, the obvious answer is to switch lubricants to something that works better. KY is crap for anal play (pun intended), a much better suggestion is Astroglide or 4Play. Eros is pretty common, but it's silicon-based and I personally don't recommend it because it's hell to get it out of sheets. :D

But if you don't know the answer, telling what you do know is fine -- which you did by reccomending KY. As a straight (vanilla?) guy, KY is about the extent of your knowledge of anal lubricants and I can totally respect that. :) Just don't let weird questions get you too flustered. Much like buying condoms from the 90-year-old pharmacist, it's one of those things that will always happen. Just roll with it.
Click to expand...

um, you are a psych student, you shouldn't be recommending anything; however your knowledge on this subject is disturbingly informed. but, certain lubes will help to weaken condom materials and thus easier to break (which is why you shouldn't be recommending) certain condoms
 
had one middle aged lady come in to pick up Valtrex. Then asking me about is it possibly that she got it from a cold-sore..... the she started going in depth (pun intended) about how she got her anal herpes from her friend who did this and that.

Then she asked me about using preparation H. I said it won't help, maybe even make it worse. Then she got all excited and started telling me about how her anal break out spread, and what it looked like.

I was trying to keep a straight face, but it was real hard. If I had anal herpes, I wouldn't tell anybody face to face. If I had questions, I would just ask over the phone anonymously.
 
I guess she was comfortable with the situation to take to you about it. Every person has a different level of humility and what they are willing to discuss. Jeez, working retail sounds like such an enlightening experience.
 
Grandma: "My grandson won't get up, he took some Xanax"
Me: "Uh, just how much Xanax"
Grandma: "A bottle. Can't I just give him coffee or splash water on him?"
Me: "Is he conscious?"
Grandma: "I don't know, I'll just give him coffee to wake him up."
Me: "Ma'am this is very serious, you need to call 911 immediately."
Grandma: Sighs with disgust that I couldn't help her or condone pouring liquids into the mouth of an unconcious person and hangs up on me.

:confused:

Not long after that a guy asked what he could get for his friend who had the shakes, chills, high temperature, etc. I asked the dude about any other symptoms his friend was having and he said "Well he quit drinking cold turkey a few days ago and he's been shaking and feverish ever since." I figured out that this dude was a hard core alkie trying to dry out at home. I recommended that they go to a hospital as going through DTs at home is generally not a safe idea.
 
I had a 60+ woman ask for a planB bc she and her husband of 41 years had an accident.
 
"Do you need a prescription for Adderall?"

and the current reigning champion:
"What is the difference between foaming hand soap and regular hand soap?" *lady holds up a bottle of each, as if that may aid us in our response*
 
Broken condom, I suppose? But the more interesting part of all this is why does a woman who should have gone through menopause need PlanB...
 
Not any crazy stories. A girl did call and ask if she can take Prednisone and still go tanning. I think prednisone can lead to light sensitivity so the pharmacist advised her to not tan. It was winter here in the bitterly cold and gray state of Maryland so it was kinda understandable she would want to go tanning.
 
Quiksilver said:
um, you are a psych student, you shouldn't be recommending anything; however your knowledge on this subject is disturbingly informed. but, certain lubes will help to weaken condom materials and thus easier to break (which is why you shouldn't be recommending) certain condoms
Click to expand...

I meant recommend in a non-professional fashion. As in, to people I've known and volunteered with. I also recommend Taboo perfume and Chanel #5. It's not medical advice, it's sexual advice.

I caution people against doing stupid sexual things (ie begging for a rectal tear by using desensitizing creams) because I've worked with and volunteered for people in the GLBT communities.

Astroglide is safe for condoms, as is ForPlay, as is Eros. You should always check the bottle before purchasing or using a lube, and make sure you are purchasing the right condom for it (ie latex vs poly). The only thing I was wrong about is that Adam&Eve desensitizing cream now has a larger market share. I do know what I'm talking about with these subjects and I'm sorry if you found it disturbing.

I just posted in case someone else read it and wondered how to respond to the request. I frequently advise people to consult with pharmacists about these issues if they aren't comfortable talking to their doctor. :luck:
 
Bloomin Onion said:
Not any crazy stories. A girl did call and ask if she can take Prednisone and still go tanning. I think prednisone can lead to light sensitivity so the pharmacist advised her to not tan. It was winter here in the bitterly cold and gray state of Maryland so it was kinda understandable she would want to go tanning.
Click to expand...

Tanned girls aren't any hotter than non-tanned girls.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread

Similar threads

sunnyandseventytwo
For all you pharmacists working retail today
Replies
4
Views
1K
RxPreceptor
RxPreceptor
H
Anyone works for a Major Retail Pharmacy?
Replies
1
Views
783
projektreverb
P
D
Point system micromanagement working in PBM? How do you guys feel ?
Replies
5
Views
837
Pronounce Doxazosin
P
yorkie212
What attire (colored scrubs) do you wear to work in retail?
Replies
27
Views
3K
StockPharmD2020
S
I
Anyone working / has worked for Altamed?
Replies
0
Views
970
ice712
I
Top