Top 5 Ways To Speed Up The Line At The Pharmacy Counter

[RxBoy]

Number Five...

...If you are picking up for someone else, make sure you know their street address. I cannot release it to you if you don't and it holds everyone up while we are waiting for you to call them on your cellphone to get the information.


Number Four...

...If your insurance information has changed, tell us that when you drop it off or stop by anytime you happen to be in the store/area. Don't wait to do this until you are picking it up. One of the most complicated parts of workflow is insurance billing and there are times we have to call the helpdesk or your doctor and this often takes some time.

Number Three...

...Get a damn debit card! There is no reason to be writing checks at the store anymore. Save them for when you have to send something in the mail.

Number Two...

...Take your other groceries to the front checkout lines. I don't mind ringing up your loaf of bread or your bottle of Tylenol along with your prescription, but if you have a cartload of groceries don't insist on me ringing it out. Because if you do, I am not allowed to refuse and then I will get bitched at by the next several customers because they were held up.

Number One...

...GET OFF THAT DAMN CELL PHONE WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN AT THE COUNTER! Nothing more need be said about this one.


Anyone care to post their own top five for their jobs?

[mattm04]

Number Two...

...Take your other groceries to the front checkout lines. I don't mind ringing up your loaf of bread or your bottle of Tylenol along with your prescription, but if you have a cartload of groceries don't insist on me ringing it out. Because if you do, I am not allowed to refuse and then I will get bitched at by the next several customers because they were held up.

I always wished they would restrict this in the register software. That bakery, pharm, prep foods register is their for you few items from that dept not a cart full of stuff. Maybe a limit of say 6 items besides you bakery, pharm, etc stuff.

[Sheldonrs]

Do not EAT when you call us. If you are chewing ANYTHING in my ear while trying to speak to me on the phone, all you will get from me is "Hello?, Hello? Must be a bad connection. CLICK".

[underemployeed]

The wonderfulness of working at convenience store where everything needs to be speedy. Leads to two common things I hate the most.

HAVE YOUR REWARDS CARD READY!
When I ask you for your rewards card at the start of the transaction, don't stare at me for 2 minutes while I scan things and then you had me your $20 and say "OH wait I have a rewards card", in which for another 2 minutes you fumble for your card that is somewhere in your purse that if you would listen to me and just hand me your keys I can already see the card.

HAVE YOUR ID READY when buying alcohol
If your 34 and look 17, you should know your going to be IDed. Especially good looking women, who are dressed to go party and flirt with me, I'm not taking any chances. Especially, when the 28yr old regular in front of you automatically just sets his ID on the case of beer.

[HYHYBT]

On your #2: I remember in the 80's Mom often would lock up the register at checkout from Kroger. They had (and still have), like many stores, a pharmacy within the store. The point of putting pharmacies in grocery stores is that it's more convenient, since you're going there for food anyway, or alternately that you'll come for the pharmacy and get other things while you're there. Either way, you're going to be paying in two places. But they had the register system set to lock out a second check on the same account within 24 hours! You can't pay for prescriptions at the regular checkout, and you can't buy groceries for a family of four at the pharmacy counter, what *did* they expect to happen?

[BrenDAnn]

Number One...

...GET OFF THAT DAMN CELL PHONE WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN AT THE COUNTER! Nothing more need be said about this one.

THIS is probably my #1 as well! Grr...Stupid people...I actually go so far as to THANK the ones that hang up or say "just a minute" and set the phone down. The ones who don't...I don't say much at all to.

[Green_Fairy]

Number Two...

...Take your other groceries to the front checkout lines. I don't mind ringing up your loaf of bread or your bottle of Tylenol along with your prescription, but if you have a cartload of groceries don't insist on me ringing it out. Because if you do, I am not allowed to refuse and then I will get bitched at by the next several customers because they were held up.

wow that sucks. i don't know if they still do (haven't had a prescription in years...ever since i stopped being crazy ), but the fred meyers where we shopped when i was little used to let us take our prescription with us and pay for it at the regular checkout lines. so much handier than having to pay twice or make the pharmacist checkout our stuff .

[bean]

wow that sucks. i don't know if they still do (haven't had a prescription in years...ever since i stopped being crazy ), but the fred meyers where we shopped when i was little used to let us take our prescription with us and pay for it at the regular checkout lines. so much handier than having to pay twice or make the pharmacist checkout our stuff .

Problem with this is... prescriptions are small enough to fit in pockets.

Yes, even your $500+/month scripts. I don't know a single pharmacy that will let you walk away from the pharmacy counter without paying now. Walgreens MIGHT be the exception now, but I know the last time my mom tried that the pharmacist allowed her to do so, but also paged "Code # at front door" immediately afterwards (I'm assuming to get a manager to watch the front to make sure it got paid for). This was years and years ago. It'd be incredibly stupid to try and walk out the door with a script if your insurance was involved, since they have all your info anyway, but if it's self pay and not a controlled substance..

The other day I was at CompUSA, picked out a new CPU and RAM, and the guy helping me said "No problem, I'll hold them at the front for you". My mom was with me and started to flip out on the guy demanding to know why we couldn't carry them, before the guy could say a word I told mom "Mom, that $150 cpu and $150 package of ram could easily fit in my pocket without the cameras seeing much, I could make a beeline for the door and they'd be out over $300 after taxes". She started to say something, and the sales guy said "Not quite how I would say it, but yeah, you nailed it on the head".

My regular pharmacy has a couple of signs posted. Biggest one being "We'll be happy to help you after you finish your phone call", and "No alcohol, tobacco, or produce sales at this register, 5 items max". The pharmacy registers don't have a scale or counter scanner anyway, just a hand held scanner as opposed to the full registers in the frontend. This is a Safeway/Tom Thumb where I'm on a first name basis with one pharmacist and a couple of cashiers. And yes, I have seen the pharmacist turn away people buying more than just a couple of things. I certainly don't expect the pharmacy folks to know produce PLUs.

As for checks, my store will allow up to 2 checks per day, but only at the same location, and only up to a maximum of $50 cash back total for the day, and only with an established check writing history. If you've written a check at another location that day, established or not, "CHECK @ OTHER LOCATION IN 24 HR PERIOD" pops up on my screen and the register locks up.. manager override needed, period. If you don't have an established check history with us, it's 2 checks per week, no cash back, until you're off "check probation". We're pretty laid back on our check history requirements - you write 1 check, 30 days later you're considered established and can do cash back up to $50 ($200 cash back every 2 weeks I believe).

[underemployeed]

THIS is probably my #1 as well! Grr...Stupid people...I actually go so far as to THANK the ones that hang up or say "just a minute" and set the phone down. The ones who don't...I don't say much at all to.

I second this and people actually seem to appreciate it, of course you can see who has a customer service job or not because I see we tend to annoy each other less than the general public.

[RichS]

Anyone care to post their own top five for their jobs?

Here's mine - I work on a work/study program as a tutor:

#5 - No Student ID, no check-in. We need student ID for you to use the computer lab or tutoring services. Why would you forget student Id when coming to college anyway, when most services here ask for it?

#4 - Use the check-out slips. No, I don't understand why we scan your ID for check-in, but not check-out, but that's besides the point. All you have to do is put in your ID number and time out on a slip of paper and put it into a basket - why is this so hard for 1/3 of our users to do? If we don't check you out, it doesn't log your use time in the computer, which they use to make decisions like expanding the computer lab. Tired of the computer lab getting full? Then fill out the slip!

#3 - We are not here to do your homework for you, we are here to help you better understand the material. Please don't come in expecting us to do it for you. Which leads to...

#2 - Tutoring sessions are limited to 1 hour each day per student. We can give a little leeway, but when you take advantage and gobble up 5 hours of my time, my supervisor will have a little problem with that. Don't worry, I plan on instructing the student this week on this subject. And -

#1 - Put your cell phones on vibrate, and take your conversations out to the hallway at least, if not the end of the hallway - voices have a tendency to echo in the hallway, and the students that are busy getting work/studying/tutoring done would like to be able to concentrate on what they're doing.

Darn, I thought that would be shorter...

[RxBoy]

wow that sucks. i don't know if they still do (haven't had a prescription in years...ever since i stopped being crazy ), but the fred meyers where we shopped when i was little used to let us take our prescription with us and pay for it at the regular checkout lines. so much handier than having to pay twice or make the pharmacist checkout our stuff .

Before 2003 they could get away with that, but not any longer. That's when the federal HIPPA laws took full effect. Since that took effect we cannot allow any employee to see your prescription or any medical records who has not completed our HIPPA certification program.

Perhaps we could have them sign something at the counter voluntarily waiving their HIPPA rights with regards to what the cashier might see, but I still think it would be asking for trouble. Many people nowadays have high deductibles or that dreaded "donut hole" in Medicare Part D, so it isn't uncommon to have someone paying $150-200 dollars or more for a prescription. It might be too tempting for someone to say they already paid for it or even an elderly person to forget to pay for it.

[fireheart]

Top #5 to speed up the process at the checkouts in a supermarket (just a note folks, YMMV)

#5-please tell me before you start if you want your products packed a particular way.

#4-if you're unsure of a price, then let me know ASAP so I can arrange for a call.

#3-to management, please give me an override code already.

#2-for the love of all that is holy, please don't request that I split your shopping up so you can abuse our petrol voucher system You'll be told no.

#1-if you receive a phone call, unless it's business related or a life-or-death emergency, please keep the calls brief.

[chainedbarista]

do not stand in line on your cellphone while waiting to order, then not have a clue about what you want. it's rude to us, the other customers and just plain foolish. your conversation about your bf/gf/wife/husband's std isn't something that needs public airing.

do not show up at the store and expect us to provide large portable containers of coffee for your benefit/event/snipe hunt; these containers require approximately 3 full pots (96 oz) of coffee to fill, which takes about ten to fifteen minutes to complete, longer if we have a rush. also, do not expect us to 'give it for free' without a tax id number and a request on your company's letterhead. no letter, no id=no coffee.

do not walk in without shoes or a shirt; it's state law and just plain nasty.

do not walk in during a rush/busy time and expect us to produce samples for you now now NOW. we do those as a courtesy, and as such, they are not a priority.

do not come in, lean on my counter, look away and say 'water.' i want clarification; do you want to talk about water, know about water, have seen some water...the devil's in the details. also, if you actually want service, speak to us, not at us.

i realise that it's good customer service to make the customer happy; however, i will not meet an unreasonable/potentially unethical/illegal request just because you think it fits into the scope of 'good customer service.'

[SecurityWench]

Here's another Top 5 Ways to Speed Up the Checkout Line:

#5 - Please know where your checkbook/I.D./card/cash/coupons/etc. are BEFORE you pay. It's really annoying when it's rush hour(s) at the store, and I just checked through your $200 order that already took a bit of time, and then you say 'Oh, I left it at home/in the car/with my mother-in-law.'

That means I gotta go get an override from a manager (and you know that half the time it takes a while for them to make it over there) and hold your order for you until you (hopefully) come back. And the customers will bitch at me about why it took so long.

#4 - Regarding price checks, please let me know ASAP, so I'll have more time to find someone to go find out. And also, don't be frugal to the point of cheap in the negative sense. I can understand if the thing that rung up $9.99 might've been $6.99, but if it's an item that rung up $3.50 and you think it's $3.25.....who cares?? Cheapest price discrepancy I've ever had? 3 CENTS. THREE F**KING CENTS.

Also, when the price check comes back, and you were proven right, don't be smug. I don't want to cheat you, I wasn't rude, be nice to me. And if it proves you wrong, don't argue. It's not my fault you couldn't read the sign. And to all those people who can't get one item they want and decide to leave everything else behind because of that, I HATE YOU.

#3 - If you move, your cart should move with you. Don't leave it at the end of the aisle, don't leave it in the middle of the aisle, and please, to be nice, take it back out with you. I don't care if you leave it in the parking lot, just get it out of the line. You just grabbing your bags and leaving it where people can't get around is really rude, and I'm the one who has to pause what I'm doing and go move it. And guess who's gonna get yelled at for it?

In the same vein, please unpack the handbaskets. Don't just leave them on the belt. It takes up space other customers could be using to unload their groceries, and while I'm checking someone through and you're next, you could have the courtesy to unpack them instead of reading that tabloid.

It's rude to just stare at me and expect me to unpack the basket for you. You have arms, use them. I know it's technically my job, but you're complaining about something that you could easily do and would make things go much faster.

#2 - Please don't take more than 10 items into the express lanes. Actually bother to look at which lane you're going into, and act accordingly. You have 11? That's fine. 12? Come on in. 15? Eh, not that many. Upwards of that? Other line, bub.

It just takes a long time to ring through those items, and it makes you look like an entitled ass when you have 30 items and everyone else is only holding one or two. And for parties of 2 or more, DON'T split the transactions!!! It doesn't make things easier by bringing 20 items and splitting it into two ten item orders, it makes it go LONGER! For god's sake!

#1 - GET OFF THE DAMN CELL PHONE. It is RUDE, and you look like an ass. Same with the bluetooth. I'm gonna keep talking to you regardless. And if you say something and I can't see your phone, I'm gonna say 'Pardon?' because I think that you might be wanting to talk to me. Don't snap rudely, "I'm not talking to you."

I can understand if it's your boss, or your doctor, but if you're just gossiping with a friend, at least acknowledge that I'm there. I'm just gonna keep repeating my questions until you bother to look at me. And talking loudly. I don't answer my phone while I help you, I expect you to show me the same courtesy. (And to those people who tell their callers 'Can I call you back? I'm in line.' and 'I'm sorry I had to be on the phone just now,' I love you. Please keep coming back.)

HONORABLE MENTION: PLEASE don't pay me all in change! I WILL count it all out and make you stand there while I do so!

[KellyHabersham]

From my secretary job....

- If you enter the office and no one is at the desk, please either ring the bell on the window ledge or say something......don't just stand there and expect me to magically sense that your presence. (this always seems to happen when I'm in another part of the office area, where I can't see, and sometimes don't hear, someone come in)

- If a document/graphic was created more than three years ago, please do not bring it to me and expect that I'll have it on file or be able to tell what software was used to create it.

- If you need to get in touch with preschool staff, call their direct office number, NOT the church's office number. Our phone system isn't set up so that calls can be transferred over to their building, so you're just going to have to hang up and dial their number anyhow.

From the library job...

- If you're going to return 30+ items in the bookdrops at once, do not rush into the library immediately and bitch because your stuff isn't checked in instantly.

- Do not park yourself in the middle of an aisle......staff members and other customers need to use that space as well.