Shoppers Drug Mart and ODB

[Lorene]

Shopper's Drug Mart has this deal starting this weekend that anyone
who gets ODB, that includes seniors over the age of 65 and get their
prescriptions filled, Shoppers will waive the $2 co-pay for each
prescription. That is good news for me. I will be saving money from
having at least 9 prescriptions filled. I would be saving at least
$72, more or less, per year. Most of my precriptions last me for every
3 months each time I get it refilled.

I have no idea why Shoppers is doing this. They should have started
this years ago, not now. I am guessing it may have something to do
with Zellers pharmacy closing out in less than couple months and
trying to attract their customers to come to their store for their
drugs.

Lorene

[Goldielover]

I get my prescriptions filled at the small Sobey's pharmacy in my
local grocery store. They always waive the $2.00 co-pay for OW/ODSP
recipients. Not sure if they do for seniors or not. Also not sure if
this is a chain wide policy, or if it is up to individual franchises
to make the decision to waive the fee.

[johnahon]

Do you know if this is for every Shoppers'? I just filled mine yesterday and the charged me. I haven't found Shoppers' druggists the swiftest, though. I liked my old independent before, which did waive ODB co-pay.

Thanks for letting us all know.

[Lorene]

That is true, it is up the the owner/manager of each pharmacy or store
to waive the fees. That is what I was told once before.

Lorene

[Ryan]

Personally, I find Shoppers Drug Mart just plain too expensive for me--even their Life Brand products aren't that great of a deal IMO.  I still find better deals from the WalMart and Superstore pharmacies....

-Ryan

---

From: Lorene <sym...@yahoo.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 5:51 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 45571 ] Re: Shoppers Drug Mart and ODB

[Lorene]

John, read my first post, I said this starts this weekend starting
Saturday, from now on, not earlier the week or yesterday when the new
flyer comes out.

How I know is that I got a Shoppers Drug mart flyer yesterday that
tells me that they will waive $2 co-pay for those who get ODB and that
includes seniors. Yesterday, there was a huge poster hanging inside
the Shoppers Drug Mart window that tells me that where I seen it. I
have one prescription ready to be refilled but I think I will wait til
early next week to get it done as I still have few more pills to
finish first.

I have no idea if this is every Shopper's Drug Mart. But you can ask
your pharmacist.

It is the closest drug store I go to and will still go as I like the
pharmacists - Alex, Leslie and Bruce along with their staff. All are
so nice and helpful. My prescriptions are filled within 15-20 minutes
which I don't mind waiting.

I will not travel on the city bus using 1 bus ticket with a 90 minute
transfer to get back home to go to other places where they waive the
$2 co-pay fee.

Walmarts pharmacy is the worst. I have to wait an hour or more for my
prescription to be filled. Are they really that busy? I get there as
soon as the pharmacy opens at 9 and this is what they tell me I have
to wait 45 minutes to over an hour. One time I was there, there was no
pharmacists as soon as they opened. He/she was late 2 hours after it
opened. I have no patience for that. (Having no patience is my worst
enemy.) That would have cost me another bus ticket when I come back
home.

I haven't tried other places like No Frills, Food Basics, Loblaws,
Superstore, etc, because I need a bus ticket to get there. That is why
I chose Shoppers close to my home, about 3 to 4 blocks away. Also I
have another reason why I don't want to go to other places to get my
prescriptions is that I don't want to spend money buying other stuff
like food, items, etc, while waiting for my prescription to be
refilled. Saves me time and money.

Lorene

[kevincee]

I get my meds from a small local drug store and he waives the fees.
As well, when I was getting them from WalMart, it was the same.
Kevin

[Lorene]

That is true, they are dear. I don't buy their products. I can get the
same thing for cheaper at Zellers, Walmarts and Food Basics. As long
as I need prescriptions/refills and some certain groceries when they
are on sale, I am quite happy to get at Shoppers. I have no other
choice. We have Valumart close by. They are so dear to shop that I
hardly go there much.

Lorene

[damnthesystem]

I have noticed this new policy at many Shoppers locations for at least
a month now, it's about time. I have always viewed the $2.00 co-pay a
form of taxation on the poor, very un-classy if you ask me. yet
another reason I will never have another prescription filled at
Shoppers-ripoff-mart!
Peace!

[johnahon]

Thanks all for bringing this up to everyone.

[Santa's Rosiest Elf]

That co-pay was instituted by the Harris govt., NOT by SDM. Some pharmacies choose to waive it, but by doing so, they are absorbing the cost.   Rosie       -------Original Message-------

[Hope]

Shopper's is a ripoff though. Their regular prices are through the
roof. Hugely marked-up. It's way cheaper to buy your makeup and
toilettries at Wal-Mart.

Melanie

[johnahon]

Yes, and I've found their pharmacy staff quite rude at times, incompetently mixing up fax ins and other paper work. Like I said, I liked my old independent much better. Just goes with being a franchise operation, I guess. I have nothing but good things for the front staff, though. Funny since we know what the difference in pay between the two groups of employees would be.

[Lorene]

I have had no problems with Shoppers for so many years. Twice I had
been shortchanged on the pill count. I went back to them. I had no
problem that they made up the difference to me. The pharmacy/store
staff have never been rude to me. I have to have a nice attitude or
else the staff will get rude with me.

Anyway, I was at Shopper's this morning talking with one of my
pharmacists getting a refill. He told me Shoppers are waiving the $2
co-pay fee for those who get ODB. That includes low income seniors,
also. I asked if this is province wide across Ontario. He said it
should be. That is nice to know. I didn't have to pay the $2 today for
my refill.

Lorene.

On Apr 21, 3:21 pm, johnahon <jclark19...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Lorene]

Melanie, I do the same thing when I go to Walmart's for other stuff
that is cheaper than Shopper's.

Lorene

[StarTears]

Anyway, I was at Shopper's this morning talking with one of my
pharmacists getting a refill. He told me Shoppers are waiving the $2
co-pay fee for those who get ODB. That includes low income seniors,
also. I asked if this is province wide across Ontario. He said it
should be. That is nice to know. I didn't have to pay the $2 today for
my refill.

you all know that each shoppers is personally owned?  the retailer buys the use of the name and affiliated stuff and runs the stores themselves under that banner,  its all franchising.

so its good to hear that the name brand of shoppers drug mart has decided to waive the 2 buck copay finally but it could be a store level decision which they do not have to follow so i would check further into this.

my very high drug costs and therefore rewards in the way that business looks at it, goes to a local mom and pop pharm here.  i would NOT do it any other way.

star