Shoppers Drug Mart

I’ve been on hold with this pharmacy for 2.5 hours and have reached someone to have the call disconnected twice. Please get this location more help asap! I hate writing these bad reviews but it’s honestly insane. It shouldn’t be this hard to get through.

Do NOT have your prescriptions faxed to this location. They NEVER answer their phone, forcing you to go into the location to confirm they received the fax—only for them to have the nerve to ask whether you called ahead to confirm they had the prescription that they’re now telling you they never received. Customer service is an absolute joke.

The absolute worst pharmacy I have been to.

They don't answer their phones, EVER, so you have to show up and ask them to fill the prescription. The wait times to actually fill it are literally hours.

Far too little staff to handle the prescriptions. Be ready to waste your day just to get your medication.

Absolutely terrible customer service I called because I had a prescription faxed over and waited on the phone for over 12 minutes for someone in the pharmacy to pick up gave up and called customer service and waited on hold for another 10 minutes and still didn’t even get to talk to anyone at customer service What is the point of having a phone if you’re not going to answer it this will be the last time I have a prescription sent to shoppers drug Mart and I will be going back to my old pharmacy.

Woman with long grey hair shouted at me to "Stop talking, " immediately after she asked me a question. I was only a couple of words into my sentence before she yelled, startling me.

She also tried to give me the incorrect medication. She didn't believe me when I said it's the wrong one. After a back and forth of several minutes, she realized her error and gave me the correct med, she was visibly upset. I wasn't the only person she raised her voice with. I'm glad I didn't give in to her perseverance and take the wrong drug.

There was alot more that happened than this, but no matter how terrible of a day you're having, it is never okay to take it out on someone else and yell at other people. If the pharmacy owner can please contact me regarding multiple other issues regarding this instance, that would be helpful.

I have been coming the this shoppers for over 15 years now. Tonight was oh so very frustrating. I have been on hold with the pharmacy for over two hours, trying to get a prescription refill, and ask some questions. They have answered the phone three separate times and hung up on me during those exact same times all in the same night. I am absolutely appalled by the treatment and lack of professionalism I have dealt with tonight. Sincerely a healthcare professional.

I am deeply disappointed by the treatment my partner and I receive at this Shoppers Drug Mart location. They have recently hired security to help manage thefts, and although we are regulars at this location for over a year, over the past couple months we have encountered constant surveillance and shadowing by the security guard. We understand it’s a learning process to learn the regulars at a new job, but it’s no longer a one off experience, it is a regular occurrence. It’s extremely disappointing to have a place we used to feel comfortable at now make us feel demeaned and unwelcome because of this individual. We hope management can take some steps to improve this situation.

This has to be the worst managed and owned pharmacy in Langford. Always brutal line ups. Pick up times not met alot of the times. 8 staff this morning all having great conversation about the day before but not able to assist the line up of people for pick up. After asking if anyone else was available to assist the line up, one of the younger male pharmacists interrupted and said 'it'll be just a few seconds' which it definitely wasnt. Clearly very busy and filling alot of prescriptions. Assuming there is alot of revenue from that volume. Hire and train more staff to service that demand, maybe? The pharmacy assistants are friendly enough for the most part but this business, which is what it is, it's poor run and managed.

! WARNING! Worst Pharmacy in Victoria. Avoid this place and go elsewhere. Slow, in effective and HORRIBlE customer service.

Issues were blamed on the “previous owner” but the new owner is even worse.

There’s more options with better service. This place is a joke.

I’ve been several times over the last few years and the prescription is never prepared. This is even the case with automatic refill medications faxed the previous day. They will say you have to call ahead to have them prepare it but they don’t pick up the phone. Seems they are understaffed and disorganized.

On two separate occasions the pharmacy has lost my prescription. Totally unacceptable, I will never waste my time on them again.

New posting Aug 10,2023 for shoppers pharmacy, Great service, friendly, and fast. I didn't have to wait a day for my prescription.

My husband and I were profiled at this location. An employee and security person watched us use the self checkout. There were two other people checking out and nothing was said to them, but we were stopped before even leaving the checkout and asked for our receipt.
Also, side note, we switched from this pharmacy about a year ago because the service is ABYSMAL. They lost my prescription 3 times.

The pharmacy staff is very responsive. I recently landed from India. My face skin was going through irritation and dryness. Kristie, one of the star (staff) member advised me a face wash and a cream. It really healed and such a sigh of relief. Thank goodness that I met her.
I really appreciate her professionalism and kindness as well.
Kudos to Kristie and all her colleagues who have been working with such great values, sincerity and commitment.
Stay blessed!
Hemant

If i could give them - stars i would. They have lost my fax’s 3 times. In the matter of 1 month. And they dont answer their phones. I have had to go without very important medication for a dayes, because they lose it. Or they say they are going to fax your doctor and they dont. I changed pharmacy’s and i am a lot happier. And all the side effects of stopping and starting my meds. Are gone to.

This is my main drugstore I go to as it is closest to my home. The store itself (food, drugstore type of things, cosmetics) is quite good and service is fine. Now the pharmacy.during Covid and shortly after, it was a bit of a tough time, but I do think this was the case almost everywhere. I think the drugstore now has nicely settled down and overall they are doing a good job. It is a little frustrating trying to get through to a pharmacist at times on the phone, but I do understand they are so busy. I am finding lately that the pharmacists here are caring about your health and welfare quite a bit. There are a few that are really good in my opinion. (eg. Jennifer and Kristy, and others I don't know their names.sorry). One though, in particular, has been the best pharmacist I have ever had, and now I try to see her if possible, if I need to ask a question.
Becca, I have found, really takes the time to listen and tries to help you, always it seems, with a smile:) In fact she was the first pharmacist to prescribe a medication (since they are now allowed to prescribe simple medications) for a rash (leg) for me and right away it worked! Of course, I try to do my part also and be sensitive about not taking up too much of their time. They are very busy! I will definitely stay with this Pharamsave. There are quite a few people that work in the pharmacy, including assistants, that are doing a good job.
Keep it up! I know that these are hard times to work in this business and will be for a while. Keep caring:)

UPDATE - It appears all of the above mentioned pharmacists have now moved on to other places: (Too bad.

I used to love going in to shoppers to get my prescription filled but I’ve never had good luck here. If you are able to call and get through you should count your self lucky. Sometimes I go in and they can find my prescription other times they have no idea where it is. I’ve called sometimes and they can not find my file at all. And then the next time it’s all there. I literally spend 10 mins standing at the counter listening to the employees chat while waiting to picking up my prescription. At one point they looked over and kept taking. I am very disappointed. I would highly highly recommend filling your prescription else where.

I had to returned three times because they can't refill my prescription correctly. Recently, I called them, waited for almost an hour to talk to a pharmacy staff and still no one answered the phone.

While I acknowledge other's experiences, and I know staff can have bad days (or weeks), I have been shopping at this location for 14 years and it's been super consistent for me.

The staff is helpful, store is well stocked and while the pharmacy isn't my primary (and I don't get many prescriptions) I've always found the team helpful. I've never needed to wait much longer than what I was told to come pick up. The only reason for the 4 star review for me is the reduction in hours, with kids, being able to stop by late (12am) for that missing item was always nice.

Edited to 5 stars to reflect that the store is now back to 12am close.

I called in my prescription using the automated option on a Thursday stating that my medication would be ready after 6pm on the following Saturday. Ok 2 days, I have enough medication until Wednesday. I went to pick up my medication on Monday having a feeling they wouldn’t be ready on Saturday due to previous experience but again, not ready. I’m ask to wait or come back Monday night. Today, I tried to call before showing up…. Still on hold after 15 minutes and counting. Why offer the automated if it’s not honoured? Of course, same answer… staff shortage, etc…. Time for me to reconsider changing pharmacy and head over to another pharmacy if my time and health lacks respect.

A prescription faxed by doctor on July 9 was not ready for pick up on July 12. When I went to pick up prescription was told there was nothing for me on their computer.
I insisted that doctor had faxed it.another clerk offered to go look for the fax and it was still sitting in the back I assume by the fax machine … and had never even been checked…this was a blood pressure and cholesterol medication…. This is not the first time I have had a problem and will now take my business elsewhere.

Another recent incident was that I had UTI AND IN PAIN AND HAD TO WAIT TILL NEXT DAY FOR THEM TO GET IT READY.

Ridiculous and sloppy uncaring treatment of customer needed medications…

Definitely unacceptable. Colwood shoppers drug mart - you should be ashamed…

Today I have had an “unheard of” experience dealing with the pharmacy here (or lack thereof). After transferring my medications to this location months ago, I haven’t had to request a refill … until today. I had to call to get them transferred as I moved to Victoria recently, which I thought would be a quick and easy phone call (as it has always been). I was a bit worried after reading all of the 1 star reviews on here about the INSANE hold time. Well, I was on hold for a total of 2 hours. Maybe more. I’ve lost track. After about an hour of waiting I resorted to calling Customer Service (not very helpful until I had my partner call them as well.) and asked them to personally ask the pharmacy clerk (s) to pick up the phone. The 2nd time asking customer service, I finally got a young man to answer. He immediately said they couldn’t transfer and I would have to call the pharmacy myself and have them call this shoppers. I am well aware that this is one way you can transfer a file but I have had the current pharmacy transfer it themselves COUNTLESS times with other establishments. Never been an issue. He was not helpful or even professional at all. I needed this medication in a few days as I am running low and it is for Grand-Mal epilepsy. So, it was either stay on hold for hours or have a seizure in the next week. I chose the former. ON TOP OF THIS, I of course did what the shoppers clerk said and called the new pharmacy, waited 2 minutes and everything was good to go! No. They called me back about an hour and a half later saying THEY COULD NOT REACH THE SHOPPERS PHARMACY. After multiple attempts (FROM THE NEW PHARMACY THEMSELVES) I was told they could not reach them and they are trying again on Sunday, when they are open. This is absolutely appalling. Since I cannot wait much longer for this medication, I called the amazing, wonderful, beautiful people at the Beacon Avenue shoppers pharmacy (in Sidney). I told a clerk this story and she was appalled too, because as I said, this is insane and absolutely UNHEARD OF. How can another pharmacy not even get through to you guys? What are the pharmacy workers doing all day? This is a horribly staffed establishment and I am well aware that the management knows about this. I wish I could give 0 stars to you. 5 stars to the Sidney location, if it wasn’t for them I would be in a lot of danger. DO YOUR JOB. You are a part of our much needed health care system, not some little corner store.

Worst customer service ever!
If you really want to feel ignored and have your time wasted, this is the place.the phone ring and no one answer. They will never have your prescription refill on time even when you called a day before to give them a heads up.

If there was a way to give no stars. The pharmacist that has glasses and greasy hair (approximately late 50’s) is one of the worst people ever. She lacks compassion and refused to do her job. She instead said you have to come back at 8 and refused to give an over the counter medication. Why are most of your workers so rude.

Do not use the pharmacy if you want your prescription on time. I went in on a Wednesday to fill my prescription, they said no issue to be ready by Sunday. I went in on Sunday to pick up around 13: 30, he tells me it's not ready, I state that I put in in on Wednesday now could it not be ready? He looks at the order and says, your right it was supposed to be filled by 11: 30. He says it will be ready by 17: 00, I come back on Monday after work, around 16: 00, more than a full day for them to figure it out, still not ready, I just waited there for them to fill as I figured it I waited another day, it still wouldn't be ready.

I have been attending this Pharmacy for well over 25 years. Unfortunately, the service, and the wasting of my time has become too much. I dropped off prescriptions on a Tuesday, requested that it be filled for Friday that week, and when I attended rhe Pharmacy on the Friday (today), I still had to wait for the team to fill the order. I understand that they are busy, but 3 full days of to fulfill the prescriptions and I still have to wait.i will be switching pharmacies. This has become a regular issue. Something needs to change Loblaws, you are ruining what used to be a great community Pharmacy

Tried to transfer our Shoppers Drug Mart accounts from Shoppers Sidney to this location in Westshore since we moved April 15th and it was a train wreck. Who knew transferring from one branch to another would be so difficult 4 weeks later and they didn't even have my insurance in their system despite our files being transfered (Shoppers to Shoppers) and I gave it it to them twice over the phone! Just getting them on the phone takes about 30 mins, if you're lucky. I won't be back as a customer. I opted to move to a different Pharmacy and the new pharmacy was able to get everything transferred and set up, within an hour! They even answered the phone within 5 mins. Absolute pleasure a complete opposite experience from Westshore Shoppers. I will say that Laura at Sidney Shoppers location had been great to deal with the last 4 years however.