1. Lower your expectations. The team at the store is likely overworked and understaffed. Many good people have become jaded working the corporate grind. The quest for maximizing profits and chasing metrics can leave employees with little time for patients. Expect the customer service level to fall somewhere between AT&T®/DirecTV® and the airline industry.
2. Listen to the entire S-Town Podcast®. You know you’re going to have a lengthy wait for your prescriptions. You might as well entertain yourself. Settle in to a comfortable seat in the waiting area and throw in your headphones. I highly recommend these Bose Soundsport wireless® ear buds. You will probably want to download all the podcast episodes in advance, as the Wi-Fi can be spotty.
3. Catch up on your late night infomercials. Have you been sleeping well? Have you cut the cord? Do you fast forward through commercials on shows recorded on your DVR? The As Seen on TV® aisle has you covered! Find everything you never knew you needed while browsing the hottest items from pocket hoses® to Scrub Daddies®.
4. Take a friend and play “Find the Pharmacist”. Pick a random side effect you want to know more about. One person calls the pharmacy and asks to speak to the pharmacist on the phone. Potential hazards include extensive phone trees, pharmacist lunch breaks, and extended hold times. The other tries to find the pharmacist in person. Potential road blocks include shopping buggies, floor displays, elevated pharmacy counters, and shy pharmacists. Race to see who gets their question answered first! Winner gets a free flu shot. Ages 14 and up.
5. Let them know you are transferring all of your family’s prescriptions. If they ask you why, tell them you heard there was a pharmacy in town that cared about the customer experience in their store, and delivered your medications to the house free of charge if it was more convenient for you. Remind them to be sure to answer the phone when they see (828) 298-3636 on the caller ID.
Brad Melson
