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

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

If you forgot your loyalty card, or can't seem to find the damn thing in the TARDIS you call a wallet, just give the cashier your telephone number to get your loyalty discount. Don't keep rummaging around looking for the card.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

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.

WHAT??????

Whatever manager came up with that rule needs to be shot or beaten severely, most places I go to with pharmacies have signs specifically stating that the registers there are for pharmacy purchases ONLY.

[Hyena Dandy]

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!

And honestly, you know what? If you're going to pay in all change, you can count it out yourself. I'm sick of seeing people dropping handfulls of change on the counter and saying "That should be enough."

[Grrrrrrr]

Christ.

Thanks for reminding me that I am coming off from a three day mid week weekend (it was so nice) to go back to my personal Hell, aka the pharmacy.

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.

Yeah, that one is always fun. "Hello, I am picking up for such and such and I have no information. WHAT?! You will not give me 180 painkillers on my word alone? Is there a manager I can talk to?".

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.

This is my #1 personal pet peeve. INSURANCE IS NOT A FUCKING COUPON! I can't stand it when someone comes to the counter, get their meds, gets rung up, and then at the LAST possible second they pull out an insurance card. Really? You never once thought to mention to someone that you had insurance before it was time to pay for your scripts? Really? Not once?

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.

Yeah, the semi official rule at the pharmacy I work at is that if it is over 5 items you can refuse them, but that was a spoken rule from the LAST pharmacy manager who left quite some time ago. If it is too busy I will refuse and say "sorry, we have a limit blah blah blah" and they usually understand, but so many many MANY assholes just do not get why you do not have the time to ring up 20 items with a line of 15 people.

The ones you forgot:

"No I don't know, and it's because I WORK AT A FUCKING PHARMACY!"

Customers come to the pharmacy asking all sorts of questions that have NOTHING to do with the pharmacy. One customer asked me about r/v batteries, and another customer thought I was joking when I told her that I did not know anything about the store credit card or it's annual intrest rates. She just looked back at me waiting for some websites and precentages. She asked me twice if I was being serious.

"You have your answer, stop bugging me because you don't like it!"

Anyone who works at a pharmacy knows that there was a MASSIVE Tylenol recall, and I had one lady ask about Tylenol PM. When I told her there was a recall she looked at me and said "But I have been using Tylenol PM for years, and I never had a problem with it". No big deal, right? When I rephrased my answer she said the same thing. When I gave the answer a third and fourth time she said a third and fourth time "I have been using Tylenol PM for years, and I never had a problem with it". GOD! There was a fucking RECALL! Do you think if you say the right set of words I will change my mind and produce some Tylenol PM? There was a recall, deal with it!

And of course:

"Why do I have to bring my insurance card to the drop off window, can't you just do that here?"

Okay, it isn't bad enough that customers do not mention they have insurance under they go to pay for their scripts (as mentioned above) but they somehow think that a register with a line of 7-20 customers is the place to enter insurance? Even if I could use my computer to add insurance, where am I going to print out the new paperwork? Do you think we keep the OTHER five thousand dollar 4 foot tall two foot wide printer by the registers just in case of stupid?

Well, glad I got that off of my chest. Sigh. Work tomorrow. No need to wait till morning, I should start drinking now.

[Primer]

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...

I used to work in the tutoring lab, as well as being a teacher. We worked on a walk-in basis only - no appointments.

#5&4 - Exactly. Want more tutors on duty? Be sure to sign in AND out EVERY time!

#3 - Most teachers know the handwriting of most of the tutors. At least recopy the notes in your own handwriting!

#3.5 - Sign in, sit down, and get your books and notes out and be ready for help when the tutor gets to you!

#2 - Our sessions were limited to 30 minutes if other students were waiting, and new students for the day were to be helped before anybody got a 2nd session.

#1 - if your cell phone goes off, your session is over, and you go to the end of the waiting list. So turn it OFF.

[JustaCashier]

When I gave the answer a third and fourth time she said a third and fourth time "I have been using Tylenol PM for years, and I never had a problem with it".

Well actually, Ma'am, it appears that you have had a problem with it.

It's caused you to lose the ablilty to comprehend simple explanations, and to repeat yourself.

Mike

[Peppergirl]

Travel call center, after hours/weekends:

1. If you're calling on Saturday and your boss just told you that you have to travel on Monday, get some DETAILS. Don't just hang up the phone, call the travel line, and go 'duhhhh' when I ask you what time/how long/do you need a car, etc.

2. Your shopping for a cruise in August at 10pm on a Saturday. During March. No, that's NOT urgent. No, I don't care that you 'are too important to call during business hours'. No, I don't care that your wife/husband is chiming in from the background. No, I don't care that you're in pacific time and that it's NOT YOUR FAULT that I'm in the Eastern Time zone. There are people who are stranded sitting on hold, waiting for help, as I sit and argue with you about this. F**k off!

3. If I tell you politely that you have the wrong number, or that your agency is open during the time you called, it's not a personal attack. No need to get defensive. People mis-dial all the time. I have offered to transfer you to the correct number. Don't tell me to "Do whatever I need to do. My flight got cancelled.' Really? Then dial the right number. Oops - sorry - disconnected while transferring.

4. I don't respond well to drama and/or threats. Your flight got cancelled. It's upsetting. Berating me, or the airline agent because there are thunderstorms? Really? NOT in your best interest. Way to get me to drag my feet and move as slowly as possible! Talk to me calmly and with a little respect? I'll move heaven and earth to get you out of there. Scream at me like a banshee? Hmmmm - time to decide the BARE MINIMUM I can do for you and keep my job.

5. Don't eat/use the restroom/sit near the blender at the coffee house while you talk to me. My mother taught me phone manners before I was ten. What would YOUR mother say if I called and told her you were eating chips and belching in my ear?


Wow. Sorry for the rant. That was theraputic.

[hotelnpa]

I am at the hotel just part time now (working for a major ketchup company in Accounting full time currently).

Anyway:

1- Have your loyalty card handy. Just with a few strokes of the keyboard, I can enter your number and the computer will fill in all of the details. It saves time as you try to hurry me up!

2- NO, we do not accept loyalty cards from other hotel chains. If you want at Holiday Inn Express, then use their card at their place.

3-Don't sigh and sigh when we ask you for your make and color (and tag # if you know it) of your car. If you leave your lights on, you would appreciate it later!

4-Don't ask 20 questions about local attractions, places to eat, places to shop, a place to buy some brand of shoe (or other item) I've never heard of before, or ask for complex directions to a place 10 miles away when you have a line of guests waiting behind you and the phone is ringing off the hook. I sometimes I wonder how people even made it to the front door of the hotel...some people just seem so clueless about the most basic things.

5-The breakfast ends at 10:00 AM. Don't come down at 10:05 and expect a full breakfast and then call corporate to complain that we didn't have breakfast out.

[Grrrrrrr]

4. I don't respond well to drama and/or threats. Your flight got cancelled. It's upsetting. Berating me, or the airline agent because there are thunderstorms? Really? NOT in your best interest. Way to get me to drag my feet and move as slowly as possible! Talk to me calmly and with a little respect? I'll move heaven and earth to get you out of there. Scream at me like a banshee? Hmmmm - time to decide the BARE MINIMUM I can do for you and keep my job.

Amen.

Perhaps someday sucky customers will learn that kicking and screaming like a two year old who REALLY needs a nap will never ever motivate anyone to help them, and they will actually begin to approach problems on an adult level.

When this day comes the world will trually be a utopia, and in this utopia, I expect bacon flavored Tic-Tac's.

[underemployeed]

#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.

Actually, me, the guy in line behind me, and the cute cashier all found it hilarious the other day because she was running a line the nice long belt, I walked up with 2 items, he came in with 3 items and we both passed up the express lanes that had at least 5 people with loaded carts in each line and unattractive women running the registers, I mention that because I know some lines are WAY to long because each slob needs to try and pick up the cashier who while attractive is only being as nice as her job forces her, and chances are that ring on her finger really means she married. I guess I would rather have all the people unable to realize the small counter isn't meant for their whole cart to be stuck together so I got to use the unintended express lane.

I know when we buy pop and water for my dad's work we tend to be above the 10limit but when your getting 10 cases of water. 4 cases of pepsi, 4 cases mt dew, gallon of milk. They don't make a big deal as with the magic quantity button its like 4 items. and only the milk ever is pulled from the cart

[Big-box-retail-blues]

Wal-Mart will let you pay for prescriptions at any register. I regularly grab my insulin at the pharmacy, without prescription as it is not needed for insulin, and pay at a regular register once I have finished my shopping.

[Pagan]

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.

Where I used to work, we need a birthdate. And please to have your ID if you're picking up a control, not the person it's for. That needs to be captured by the computer in case said drug never reaches the intended patient. Not to mention that the Board of Pharmacy gets is knickers in a twist if there's no ID.

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.

WHAT??????

Whatever manager came up with that rule needs to be shot or beaten severely, most places I go to with pharmacies have signs specifically stating that the registers there are for pharmacy purchases ONLY.

Yeah, the semi official rule at the pharmacy I work at is that if it is over 5 items you can refuse them, but that was a spoken rule from the LAST pharmacy manager who left quite some time ago. If it is too busy I will refuse and say "sorry, we have a limit blah blah blah" and they usually understand, but so many many MANY assholes just do not get why you do not have the time to ring up 20 items with a line of 15 people.

We were supposedly not supposed to do any over 5 items. But, of course, that would change depending on which pharmacist was on duty. Got really entertaining when they couldn't check out any weighed produce or produce/bakery by the piece because we didn't have the codes for all of that stuff. In fact, I was the only one who knew how to ring up the iTunes/phone cards/gift cards/what have you because of where I worked before.

This is my #1 personal pet peeve. INSURANCE IS NOT A FUCKING COUPON! I can't stand it when someone comes to the counter, get their meds, gets rung up, and then at the LAST possible second they pull out an insurance card. Really? You never once thought to mention to someone that you had insurance before it was time to pay for your scripts? Really? Not once?

Especially fun when they think to mention it after you've already rung them out. Or they've taken it up front, paid for it, and it's 2 days later....

"No I don't know, and it's because I WORK AT A FUCKING PHARMACY!"

Customers come to the pharmacy asking all sorts of questions that have NOTHING to do with the pharmacy. One customer asked me about r/v batteries, and another customer thought I was joking when I told her that I did not know anything about the store credit card or it's annual intrest rates. She just looked back at me waiting for some websites and precentages. She asked me twice if I was being serious.

I got asked where rice cakes were once. My favorites were the ones that asked if we sold any food and had somehow managed to miss the entire grocery side of the store.

5. Don't eat/use the restroom/sit near the blender at the coffee house while you talk to me. My mother taught me phone manners before I was ten. What would YOUR mother say if I called and told her you were eating chips and belching in my ear?

That is just the absolutely grossest, most disgusting, rudest thing on the planet. And I particularly cannot stand to hear (or watch, for that matter) people eating.

Wal-Mart will let you pay for prescriptions at any register. I regularly grab my insulin at the pharmacy, without prescription as it is not needed for insulin, and pay at a regular register once I have finished my shopping.

Only if it's under $50 and not a control. And our pharmacy, we didn't let insulin go up front because it was getting stolen left and right.

[MyChelle]

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

Here's mine; I work at a pet store in the fish department.

5. No, you cannot keep a clown fish and a yellow tang in a betta bowl. In fact, you can't even keep one of those in any sort of bowl.

4. No, I will not sell you a turtle for your kid's art project after you've told me that your plan was to kill it once the project was finished.

3. Yes, we do have a return policy (15 days for freshwater fish), but I can't give you any credit on the bag of nasty brown slime you just brought me. It's impossible for me to identify what, if any, fish were in there.

2. (From regular pet supplies) No, I won't sell you a gentle leader for the baby deer you caught and now want to take for walks.

1. Fish tanks DO require maintenance! And yes, fish do need to eat!

I'm so glad I'm allowed to refuse sales to anyone who let's on that they're going to mistreat the animals in my care.

[Racket_Man]

Wal-Mart will let you pay for prescriptions at any register. I regularly grab my insulin at the pharmacy, without prescription as it is not needed for insulin, and pay at a regular register once I have finished my shopping.

WOW insulin is now a non-prescription drug??????. when my Ex had to be on insulin only a couple of years ago we needed a perscription.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I've never asked the pharmacy to ring up my non-pharmacy purchases. If they offer because I have a few items in my hand, I will take them up on it if I'm finished shopping. But I don't expect them to, especially if there is anyone waiting behind me.

Cheapest price discrepancy I've ever had? 3 CENTS. THREE F**KING CENTS.

I once did an exchange where the original purchase was made in another state. I forgot to change the tax rate for the return (and this was a pain on the old register system we had at the time). She made a big deal so I had to fix it...took several minutes and in the end it was a difference of about 53 cents. Really, if I was the customer, that few mintues would have been worth the .75% difference or whatever it was.

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.

The Wegman's I go to actually has signs (or they used to, at least) saying not to unpack hand baskets and just put them up on the belt. I still unpack them, because there is a space for them under the end of the counter. The only place I leave the basket on the belt (I still unpack it and put it behind my stuff) is at Target because they don't have a place to put them underneath. If you put it at the end of the counter on the floor, you are blocking the drink cooler and also creating a trip hazard.

And honestly, you know what? If you're going to pay in all change, you can count it out yourself. I'm sick of seeing people dropping handfulls of change on the counter and saying "That should be enough."

Yeah, but unless you actually watch them count it out, you still have to recount it.

Related, from the bookstore: If your kid wants to pay with the proceeds of his piggy bank, teach them to count it at home and give them bills; don't bring in a ziplock baggy of change and have your four-year-old count it all out on my counter.

Also, if there is a line, please don't have each of your 6 kids give me their items separately (even if you are paying for them all). As much as I like seeing kids get excited about buying books, you're holding things up and pissing off other people. (If there's no line, go for it. I'm probably bored and it's usually cute, if I'm not trying to keep things moving.)