During my freshman year in high school, my science teacher assigned us to interview people in the community about how they use science in their careers. Although I don’t remember most of the people I spoke with, I can tell you that I spent meaningful time with a local community pharmacist who changed my life.
What I saw was a man who loved his career and truly cared for his patients. In an instant, I knew that I wanted to become a pharmacist, and I never wavered from that goal throughout high school.
Knowing what you want to be when you grow up at age 14 is unusual, but it is very liberating. I simply had to work backwards to figure out how to achieve my goal of becoming a pharmacist.
After high school, I chose to attend Ohio Northern University (ONU) because it had a unique pharmacy program. Rather than attending college for 2 years and then applying to the pharmacy program, ONU students were admitted to the College of Pharmacy from day one.
Although it was expensive, being in pharmacy school from day one and avoiding the risk of rejection made it worthwhile for me.
In college, I spent a lot of time in the library. Although the classwork was difficult, I did well with one exception: organic chemistry.
I did fail organic chemistry—a notorious “weed out” course—but I successfully retook the class over the summer and graduated on time with the rest of my classmates. Failing a course is a difficult stumbling block, but I stood strong and persevered.
Today, I’m thankful for the wonderful pharmacy profession for so many reasons.
First, I’m thankful that community pharmacists are the health care professionals most accessible to the public. If my local pharmacist wasn’t accessible to me, then I likely would have taken a different career path.
Second, I’m proud of the work we pharmacists do, the diversity of our career options, and the relationships we share with our patients and fellow health care providers.
Pharmacy is a profession that makes a real difference in people’s lives. It certainly has made all the difference in mine.
Call Center, Crazy Requests, Extra Stupid, Florida, Patients, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | October 24, 2018
(I work as a customer service representative. Our company manages prescription plans for a government-run insurance primarily for seniors. We also function as a mail-order pharmacy. This call takes place while I’m still in training during my first week taking calls.)
Me: “This is [My Name]; how can I help you?”
Customer: “Yeah. My husband needs to start taking [drug]. I want to know if his plan will cover it.”
Me: “I can certainly check that for you, ma’am. May I have some information?”
(After I verify her husband’s account information, I look up the medication.)
Me: “Okay. Your husband’s insurance will cover that for an approximate cost of [total].”
Customer: “Well, that seems like too much, but he needs it. Can you send it to him, please?”
Me: “Let me see.”
(I check, and we do not have a prescription for it, nor has another pharmacy filed a claim.)
Me: “I’m sorry, ma’am. We will need your husband’s doctor to send us a new prescription before we can fill it.”
Customer: “Oh. Well, his doctor won’t write it. You have to stop drinking for six months, and my husband likes to have a beer or two every night, so the doctor won’t write one.”
Me: “I’m sorry. But without a prescription, we cannot send a medication.”
Customer: *getting angry* “But I told you that his doctor won’t write the prescription! Can’t you just send it if we pay full price?”
Me: “Again, ma’am, I’m sorry, but we must have a prescription before we can send the medication.”
Customer: “Well, why can’t you just send it?!”
Me: *rubbing my temples at this point* “Ma’am, that would be illegal.”
Jerk, Minnesota, Pharmacy, United States | Right | October 18, 2018
(I am waiting in line for my prescription to be ready when I see this take place.)
Cashier: “Sir, we are trying to get a hold of the number on your file, but we are unable to reach them at the moment—”
Customer: “I have been waiting, and you’re letting all these other people go. Call the number again!”
Cashier: “Again, sir, I am sorry. We’ll try the number again and let you know.”
(The cashier goes back to the phone while the customer paces and keeps calling someone.)
Cashier: “Sorry, sir, we are still trying to get a hold of someone on that number, but we’re unable to get through.”
Customer: “Well, this is bulls***. I want your name and the manager’s name.”
(The cashier sends him off with the information and he walks away grumbling. The cashier calls me up and informs me that they are bit behind, but it will be filled shortly.)
Me: “That’s no problem; I can wait.”
Cashier: “You have time to wait?”
Me: “Yeah, I understand, and I am not going to be like that guy. He was just plain rude.”
Extra Stupid, Patients, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | October 14, 2018
(I stop by my local pharmacy to pick up my prescription of birth control pills and to talk to my buddy who is a pharmacist. I notice on the package it says, “To be taken orally.” I point it out to my friend.)
Me: *with a laugh* “Well, what idiot doesn’t know that?”
(My buddy’s eyes grow big and she says
Buddy: “Oh, no. You would be surprised! The reason that is now on there is we actually had a woman sue us because she claimed we didn’t properly instruct her on how the pills had to be taken orally, and she got pregnant.”
Me: “Well, then, how the heck did she use them? Where did she put them?”
(Then, it dawns on me where she must have put the pills.)
The Pharmacy Version Of “I’m Looking For A Book That’s Red”
The Pharmacy Version Of “I’m Looking For A Book That’s Red”
Australia, Crazy Requests, Health & Body, Melbourne, Pharmacy | Healthy Right | October 10, 2018
Customer: “I need to get a repeat on my medication. I’ve ran out of the script so can you give me an owning? I’ve been here many times.”
Me: “Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem. Can you give me your name and the name of the medication you want owning?”
Customer: “My name is [Customer] and I don’t know what the medication is called.”
Me: “Oh, okay. Do you know what the medication is for?”
Customer; “No. Just look up the medication I’m on.”
Me: “You’re on a few different medications.”
Customer: “It’s a little white tablet.”
Me: “All but one of the five medications you are on are white. Box or bottle?”
Customer: “No idea. Just give me an owing.”
Me: “Sir, sorry, but without know what the medication is for or what it is called, I cannot give you an owing. But would you know what it is if I showed you the packages it comes in?.”
(I quickly grab a few bottles and boxes of medications that the customer is on, hoping it jogs his memory.)
Customer: “Nope. I don’t know which one it is. Just give me an owing. It’s a little white pill! You’re suppose to know what I want!”
Me: “Sir, as I said, a few of your medications you are on are small white pills., I’m sorry but I want to make sure I am giving you the right medication. Are you sure you don’t know what the medication is called or what it is used for?”
Customer: “You’re no help. You’re suppose to know what I want!” *leaves the store*
Awesome Customers, Connecticut, Jerk, Pharmacy, USA | Right | October 8, 2018
(I work at a pharmacy as a technician. We have the ability to request certain prescription refills for patients at the doctor’s discretion. Notes appear on a patient’s profile when we make requests, giving us the status of the request — waiting for response, denied, or approved. It usually takes two or three days to hear back from a doctor, so we generally make the requests within a week or two of when the patient will be out of medication to avoid issues with insurance companies filling too soon. It is about nine in the morning on a weekday when a middle-aged man walks up to the pickup counter
Me: “Hi. Welcome to [Pharmacy]. How can I help?”
Customer #1: “I’m here to pick up a prescription.”
(I take his name and birthdate to pull up his profile. There are no prescriptions ready, but there is a note that we’ve sent a request to a doctor for a refill.)
Me: “It appears that you don’t have any prescriptions ready, sir, but we did send out a request to your doctor for a refill of [Prescription].”
Customer #1: “Yes, I know that. I was here yesterday and you guys told me the exact same thing. I have to drive a long way to get here. Why isn’t it ready yet?”
Me: “Well, it often takes a couple of days for a doctor to respond. Are you out of medication?”
(Occasionally, we will give patients a few extra pills if we’re having issues reaching the doctor, and they’re entirely out of medication. The customer gets angrier.)
Customer #1: “Why hasn’t it been filled yet? He always responds quickly! Haven’t you checked your messages yet? What kind of place is this?”
(At nine in the morning, not all doctor’s offices in our area are even OPEN, let alone writing prescriptions. We usually recommend calling in the afternoon to hear back from doctors.)
Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but the doctor still hasn’t sent us the refills yet. If you really need the medication, you can try calling the doctor’s office, as well.”
(This sometimes does help to speed up a doctor’s refills and authorizations, and we reach out to the patient to tell them if we don’t hear back in three days of a request to recommend getting in touch with the doctor. This also causes a note on a profile, which is not on this customer’s profile.)
Customer #1: “Why do I need to call the doctor when that’s clearly your job?”
(At this point I’m shocked speechless in anger. It takes me a few seconds to recover.)
Me: “You could also call us to make sure we have the prescription before coming.”
Customer #1: “You people never pick up the phone! I always end up on hold when I call.”
(The customer walks away, muttering about how we never have the prescriptions ready and don’t know what we’re doing. The customer behind him, who was waiting for her prescriptions to be refilled, has heard the whole exchange, and is equally as shocked at this guy.)
Customer #2: “Wow… I don’t know how you can put up with someone like that; I couldn’t handle being yelled at by someone with an attitude.”
Me: “Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. Sometimes they’re even meaner.”
Customer #2: “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t have any more like him today.”
(She was very polite throughout the rest of the exchange, and whatever upset I was feeling at the first customer was erased by her. She made my day. Whoever you are, thank you; I needed it.)
Cedar Rapids, Ignoring & Inattentive, Iowa, Patients, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | October 8, 2018
(I’m a Certified Pharmacy Technician at a midwest grocery and pharmacy chain. I’m not exaggerating when I say I get far too many of these calls EVERY DAY.)
Me: *answers phone with usual friendly attitude* “This is [My Name] at [Pharmacy]; how can I help you?”
Customer: “I need a refill on my prescriptions.”
Me: *pulls up profile after asking for name and birthdate* “Okay, which ones did you need refilled today?”
Customer: “Oh… I don’t know the names.” *describing various pills*
Me: *sighs and facepalms* “Right, let me get you on with the pharmacist.”
(Long story short, folks: you, as the customer, are personally responsible for knowing exactly what goes into your body and what prescriptions need to be refilled. WE DON’T HAVE ALL DRUGS MEMORIZED JUST BY HOW THEY APPEAR IN OUR HEADS!)
Pharmacy, Texas, USA | Unfiltered | October 2, 2018
Note: I’m a customer in a long line at [national pharmacy chain], they are obviously very busy for this time of night. I have a basket of stuff to purchase and pick up a prescription. I was a waiter for 3 years.
Technician: Just want to make sure you know your Rx discount card has expired.
Customer #1 (flipping out): What?! That’s ridiculous, how come no one told me? What do I need to do to renew?!
Technician: Just pay the $9 fee.
Customer #1: Oh, OK. (walks away like nothing happened)
Customer #2 (dramatically): I came from another pharmacy that closes at 10 and I need to fill this nooooow!
Technician (calmly): We close at 10 too, and will not have time to fill this tonight.
Customer #2 (oblivious to the long line): But, Whyyyyy not?
Technician: Because we are very busy. The nearest 24-hour [pharmacy chain] is located at [address].
Customer #2: *Walks away in a huff*
Customer #3: Why isn’t my prescription ready?!
Technician (somehow still calm, despite this line of rude people): Because of *unintelligible*, but let me look… Ah, I’ve fixed it and your prescription will be ready in a few minutes.
Customer #3: Oh, OK. (Steps away, but lingers nearby creepily).
Me: I need to pick up [prescription], but I can check-out up front since you’re so busy.
Technician (loudly enough for lingering customer #3 to overhear): Oh, I’ll check you out. I don’t mind at all. We all talk about how you and your wife are always nice when you come in.
Me: If you’re sure… You catch more flies with honey you know!
Technician: Of course, no problem.
Pharmacist: Hey Mr. [my name], how’s the wife?
See d-bags of the world, being a jerk for no reason doesn’t get you anywhere. Being nice to service workers is a win-win for everybody!
Jerk, Minnesota, Pharmacy, United States | Right | October 18, 2018
(I am waiting in line for my prescription to be ready when I see this take place.)
Cashier: “Sir, we are trying to get a hold of the number on your file, but we are unable to reach them at the moment—”
Customer: “I have been waiting, and you’re letting all these other people go. Call the number again!”
Cashier: “Again, sir, I am sorry. We’ll try the number again and let you know.”
(The cashier goes back to the phone while the customer paces and keeps calling someone.)
Cashier: “Sorry, sir, we are still trying to get a hold of someone on that number, but we’re unable to get through.”
Customer: “Well, this is bulls***. I want your name and the manager’s name.”
(The cashier sends him off with the information and he walks away grumbling. The cashier calls me up and informs me that they are bit behind, but it will be filled shortly.)
Me: “That’s no problem; I can wait.”
Cashier: “You have time to wait?”
Me: “Yeah, I understand, and I am not going to be like that guy. He was just plain rude.”
Extra Stupid, Patients, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | October 14, 2018
(I stop by my local pharmacy to pick up my prescription of birth control pills and to talk to my buddy who is a pharmacist. I notice on the package it says, “To be taken orally.” I point it out to my friend.)
Me: *with a laugh* “Well, what idiot doesn’t know that?”
(My buddy’s eyes grow big and she says
Buddy: “Oh, no. You would be surprised! The reason that is now on there is we actually had a woman sue us because she claimed we didn’t properly instruct her on how the pills had to be taken orally, and she got pregnant.”
Me: “Well, then, how the heck did she use them? Where did she put them?”
(Then, it dawns on me where she must have put the pills.)
Several months ago my cousin woke up with an absolutely massively swollen right eye, so naturally, she went to the hospital to have that checked out. They administered two CT scans, diagnosed her with a large, inoperable, cancerous tumor sitting right behind her right eye, and gave her six months to live.
Cancer is rampant in our family, so this makes sense in the context. However, she’s always been kind of easy-going and also, she refuses to believe it, so she just didn’t tell anybody and went about her life as usual.
A few weeks after the diagnosis, she was at a normal dentist appointment, and whenever anything touched her right cheek, it hurt a lot, more than it ever had at the dentist, even though she was just having a check done. Her dentist informed her that she had a severe sinus infection. She told him about her recent diagnosis, and he was absolutely not having it.
The next day they went back to the hospital together, in his free time, and he demanded they do another check and pointed out her sinus infection. It turned out he was right; she had a severe sinus infection, not a deadly tumor, that had spread up to right behind her right eye, and had caused an infection. She received normal treatment for that, and within a short time everything was back to normal. The first CT scan had been incorrectly calibrated, and the second one had been incorrectly interpreted.
Having spent many of my teenage years in hospitals myself, I’ve seen a lot, but I had never personally encountered a doctor as dedicated as that dentist before.
It’s time for the September roundup! This one is a bit late as a third of our editing team was caugh
It’s time for the September roundup! This one is a bit late as a third of our editing team was caught up in not one, but two typhoons while touring Asia these last few weeks. Our editors have decided among themselves which stories in September deserve the extra attention, regardless of the number of thumbs-ups they received. Out of the 807 stories we posted in the month, we’ve singled out thirteen.
If there are any stories from the last month you feel we should have included, please let us know in the comments!
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite stories in the poll below! Note: You can choose up to three*. The winner of the previous roundup poll was Life… Finds A Way , from the Related category!
What A PIN-Head – You need to know customers’ PINs for them, apparently.
Two Heads Are Better Than One – When you work doubles you see double…
Fart Jokes Exist In A Vacuum – Yes, it’s a fart joke. Yes, it’s worth reading.
How Do You Say “Burn” In Polish? – It’s ‘palić się’ actually.
Caning Is Coming Back As A Disciplinary Tool – You’re disabling yourself.
The Best Comeback Since Sliced Bread – We love it when a customer gets a healthy slice of reality.
Mini-Cooper Versus 35-Ton Truck – Read the story to see the results of the title’s battle – stay for the final twist!
The Bells Of Destiny – Their relationship is super(stitious)!
She Was Framed – This is the frame for how all bad customers should be treated.
Guy Giving You Trouble? Just Bounce – The creepier the guy, the more satisfying the bounce…
Man, What A Wait! – Sexism gets you nowhere.
The Babysitter Blues – See what happens when you’re literally left holding the baby.
Giving You A Bridge To Cross – Quite possible one of the most “Not Always Hopeless” hopeless stories we have ever received.
The Pharmacy Version Of “I’m Looking For A Book That’s Red”
The Pharmacy Version Of “I’m Looking For A Book That’s Red”
Australia, Crazy Requests, Health & Body, Melbourne, Pharmacy | Healthy Right | October 10, 2018
Customer: “I need to get a repeat on my medication. I’ve ran out of the script so can you give me an owning? I’ve been here many times.”
Me: “Sure, that shouldn’t be a problem. Can you give me your name and the name of the medication you want owning?”
Customer: “My name is [Customer] and I don’t know what the medication is called.”
Me: “Oh, okay. Do you know what the medication is for?”
Customer; “No. Just look up the medication I’m on.”
Me: “You’re on a few different medications.”
Customer: “It’s a little white tablet.”
Me: “All but one of the five medications you are on are white. Box or bottle?”
Customer: “No idea. Just give me an owing.”
Me: “Sir, sorry, but without know what the medication is for or what it is called, I cannot give you an owing. But would you know what it is if I showed you the packages it comes in?.”
(I quickly grab a few bottles and boxes of medications that the customer is on, hoping it jogs his memory.)
Customer: “Nope. I don’t know which one it is. Just give me an owing. It’s a little white pill! You’re suppose to know what I want!”
Me: “Sir, as I said, a few of your medications you are on are small white pills., I’m sorry but I want to make sure I am giving you the right medication. Are you sure you don’t know what the medication is called or what it is used for?”
Customer: “You’re no help. You’re suppose to know what I want!” *leaves the store*
Awesome Customers, Connecticut, Jerk, Pharmacy, USA | Right | October 8, 2018
(I work at a pharmacy as a technician. We have the ability to request certain prescription refills for patients at the doctor’s discretion. Notes appear on a patient’s profile when we make requests, giving us the status of the request — waiting for response, denied, or approved. It usually takes two or three days to hear back from a doctor, so we generally make the requests within a week or two of when the patient will be out of medication to avoid issues with insurance companies filling too soon. It is about nine in the morning on a weekday when a middle-aged man walks up to the pickup counter
Me: “Hi. Welcome to [Pharmacy]. How can I help?”
Customer #1: “I’m here to pick up a prescription.”
(I take his name and birthdate to pull up his profile. There are no prescriptions ready, but there is a note that we’ve sent a request to a doctor for a refill.)
Me: “It appears that you don’t have any prescriptions ready, sir, but we did send out a request to your doctor for a refill of [Prescription].”
Customer #1: “Yes, I know that. I was here yesterday and you guys told me the exact same thing. I have to drive a long way to get here. Why isn’t it ready yet?”
Me: “Well, it often takes a couple of days for a doctor to respond. Are you out of medication?”
(Occasionally, we will give patients a few extra pills if we’re having issues reaching the doctor, and they’re entirely out of medication. The customer gets angrier.)
Customer #1: “Why hasn’t it been filled yet? He always responds quickly! Haven’t you checked your messages yet? What kind of place is this?”
(At nine in the morning, not all doctor’s offices in our area are even OPEN, let alone writing prescriptions. We usually recommend calling in the afternoon to hear back from doctors.)
Me: “I’m sorry, sir, but the doctor still hasn’t sent us the refills yet. If you really need the medication, you can try calling the doctor’s office, as well.”
(This sometimes does help to speed up a doctor’s refills and authorizations, and we reach out to the patient to tell them if we don’t hear back in three days of a request to recommend getting in touch with the doctor. This also causes a note on a profile, which is not on this customer’s profile.)
Customer #1: “Why do I need to call the doctor when that’s clearly your job?”
(At this point I’m shocked speechless in anger. It takes me a few seconds to recover.)
Me: “You could also call us to make sure we have the prescription before coming.”
Customer #1: “You people never pick up the phone! I always end up on hold when I call.”
(The customer walks away, muttering about how we never have the prescriptions ready and don’t know what we’re doing. The customer behind him, who was waiting for her prescriptions to be refilled, has heard the whole exchange, and is equally as shocked at this guy.)
Customer #2: “Wow… I don’t know how you can put up with someone like that; I couldn’t handle being yelled at by someone with an attitude.”
Me: “Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of it. Sometimes they’re even meaner.”
Customer #2: “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t have any more like him today.”
(She was very polite throughout the rest of the exchange, and whatever upset I was feeling at the first customer was erased by her. She made my day. Whoever you are, thank you; I needed it.)
Cedar Rapids, Ignoring & Inattentive, Iowa, Patients, Pharmacy, USA | Healthy | October 8, 2018
(I’m a Certified Pharmacy Technician at a midwest grocery and pharmacy chain. I’m not exaggerating when I say I get far too many of these calls EVERY DAY.)
Me: *answers phone with usual friendly attitude* “This is [My Name] at [Pharmacy]; how can I help you?”
Customer: “I need a refill on my prescriptions.”
Me: *pulls up profile after asking for name and birthdate* “Okay, which ones did you need refilled today?”
Customer: “Oh… I don’t know the names.” *describing various pills*
Me: *sighs and facepalms* “Right, let me get you on with the pharmacist.”
(Long story short, folks: you, as the customer, are personally responsible for knowing exactly what goes into your body and what prescriptions need to be refilled. WE DON’T HAVE ALL DRUGS MEMORIZED JUST BY HOW THEY APPEAR IN OUR HEADS!)
Pharmacy, Texas, USA | Unfiltered | October 2, 2018
Note: I’m a customer in a long line at [national pharmacy chain], they are obviously very busy for this time of night. I have a basket of stuff to purchase and pick up a prescription. I was a waiter for 3 years.
Technician: Just want to make sure you know your Rx discount card has expired.
Customer #1 (flipping out): What?! That’s ridiculous, how come no one told me? What do I need to do to renew?!
Technician: Just pay the $9 fee.
Customer #1: Oh, OK. (walks away like nothing happened)
Customer #2 (dramatically): I came from another pharmacy that closes at 10 and I need to fill this nooooow!
Technician (calmly): We close at 10 too, and will not have time to fill this tonight.
Customer #2 (oblivious to the long line): But, Whyyyyy not?
Technician: Because we are very busy. The nearest 24-hour [pharmacy chain] is located at [address].
Customer #2: *Walks away in a huff*
Customer #3: Why isn’t my prescription ready?!
Technician (somehow still calm, despite this line of rude people): Because of *unintelligible*, but let me look… Ah, I’ve fixed it and your prescription will be ready in a few minutes.
Customer #3: Oh, OK. (Steps away, but lingers nearby creepily).
Me: I need to pick up [prescription], but I can check-out up front since you’re so busy.
Technician (loudly enough for lingering customer #3 to overhear): Oh, I’ll check you out. I don’t mind at all. We all talk about how you and your wife are always nice when you come in.
Me: If you’re sure… You catch more flies with honey you know!
Technician: Of course, no problem.
Pharmacist: Hey Mr. [my name], how’s the wife?
See d-bags of the world, being a jerk for no reason doesn’t get you anywhere. Being nice to service workers is a win-win for everybody!
At The Checkout, Ignoring & Inattentive, North Carolina, Pharmacy, USA | Right | September 27, 2018
(I’m a customer in this story, getting into line to check out my items. I’m directly behind an older gentleman reading through a tabloid. This exchange happens when he gets to the checkout counter.)
Customer: “Can you tell me how much this costs? I can’t read it.”
Cashier: “Yes, it is $4.99. Would you like to purchase it?”
Customer: *thinks for a few seconds* “Yes.”
Cashier: *scans tabloid* “Sir, that will be $5.35, would you like a bag?”
Customer: *hands cashier a $5, grabs the magazine*
Cashier: “Sir, I need $0.35 more.”
Customer: “What, why?”
Cashier: “The total is $5.35.”
Customer: *points to magazine, shouts* “YOU SAID FOUR! FOUR! NOT FIVE!”
Cashier: “Yes, it’s $4.99, plus tax. The tax makes it $5.35.”
Customer: “NO.”
Cashier: “Yes, sir, you need to pay the tax.”
Customer: “WHY?! YOU SAID FOUR! FOUR!“
Cashier: “It’s $4.99, plus the tax, so the total is $5.35.”
(This goes on for a minute, so I grab 35 cents from my pocket and hand it to the cashier. The cashier puts it into the till.)
Cashier: “It’s been paid for; you can leave now.”
Customer: *still shouting* “NO, YOU SAID FOUR! I am giving you this $5 and no more!”
Cashier: “Sir, the woman behind you paid the rest of it; you can take the magazine.”
(This surprisingly still goes on for another minute, as the customer either didn’t notice me paying for it or doesn’t believe the cashier.)
Cashier: *gives up* “Sir, please take the magazine and leave.”
Customer: *walks away, still grumbling*
Me: “You’re welcome, sir.”
(The customer ignored me and walked toward the door, still grumbling. I approached the counter, and the cashier and I shared a look that said, “Did that really happen?” As I paid for my items and turned to leave, the customer actually came back toward the counter, and I’m not sure what happened after that. That poor cashier. I hope the rest of his day went well.)
Employees, Ignoring & Inattentive, Pharmacy, USA, Virginia | Working | September 19, 2018
It’s the end of the day, and I need to fax a prescription into the pharmacy for a patient. I call the main phone and get transferred to the pharmacy line. After five minutes of loud, obnoxious music, I hang up and call again, choosing the regular line. I thought any person working there would know the fax.
The guy who answers sounds like Ted from Bill & Ted, and when I tell him I couldn’t get through to the pharmacy and ask for the fax, he immediately transfers me… to the pharmacy.
Another long wait.
I try the main number again, and Ted picks up again. I repeat my story, telling him not to put me through to the pharmacy, as no one is picking up. He hands me off to the manager standing there. I explain the situation again: I need the fax, waiting five minutes on hold, could I just get the info?
She says she’s going to run to the pharmacy and get it. Could I hang on a second? Sure! She transfers me to the pharmacy again. Really?
I call a third time and a very young woman answers. I explain my problem and she rattles off the fax number in a second. Should have taken a minute. Wish I’d called her first.
Alabama, Awesome Workers, Criminal & Illegal, Pharmacy, USA | Legal | September 14, 2018
(I am 17, and a cashier at a big pharmacy store. I work at the front registers, while the pharmacy and pharmacy registers are in the back of the store, out of view. If people are purchasing items in the store and also picking up a prescription, then the pharmacy is allowed to ring up their purchases, as well, with the exception of alcohol. A man walks from the back of the store carrying two large cases of beer. I start to move away from the door and head to a register to ring him up; however, before I even make it two steps, I stop, as the guy is still walking straight towards me. Without thinking, I put out my hand and stop him; it seems to surprise him that a small girl would physically stop him, especially as he is more than twice my size. Instead of faltering or backing down, I stand firm.)
Me: “Sir, I’m sorry, but I have to get you to go over to the register to check you out before I can allow you to leave with that.”
Man: “Oh, don’t worry, little lady; I already paid for this in the pharmacy.”
Me: “Sir, if that is the case, then I do apologize, but I will need to look at your receipt just to verify. I hope you understand.”
Man: “Well, I don’t have my receipt; I told them they could keep it.”
(I’ve already broken one rule by physically touching the man, but I’m not going to break another by outright accusing him of theft.)
Me: “In that case, please let me walk back there with you so that we can clear this up with them. You see, it’s against store policy to ever ring up alcohol back at the pharmacy, so I really need to know who rang you up so that they can be dealt with appropriately. If you are still unwilling to do this, then I am going to have to ask you to either let me ring you up for a second time, or you can leave the beer here, but without actual proof of purchase I cannot allow you to leave the store with the beer.”
(The man just kind of looks at me for about twenty seconds and then glances over to my supervisor, who is still standing next to the door. However, she is in her 60s, and I’m sure this man could probably overpower both of us. Luckily, things end rather well. The man looks back at me and sits both cases of beer on the floor.)
Man: “All right, here you go. I’ll go ahead and leave now.”
(With that, the man actually just walks out of the store. After he is gone, my supervisor turns to me with the most shocked expression on her face, and I can feel my heart about to explode out of my chest.)
Me: “Oh, no. Did I actually just physically stop a man and then keep him from shoplifting?! I can’t believe that just happened.”
Supervisor: “Yeah, I’ve never seen something like that before, but please, next time, just let him walk out of the store. It’s not worth your life trying to stop someone from getting a couple of cases of beer. You never know if someone is crazy, or drunk, or just doesn’t care.”
Diễn Đàn Người Việt Hải Ngoại. Tự do ngôn luận, an toàn và uy tín. Vì một tương lai tươi đẹp cho các thế hệ Việt Nam hãy ghé thăm chúng tôi, hãy tâm sự với chúng tôi mỗi ngày, mỗi giờ và mỗi giây phút có thể. VietBF.Com Xin cám ơn các bạn, chúc tất cả các bạn vui vẻ và gặp nhiều may mắn.
Welcome to Vietnamese American Community, Vietnamese European, Canadian, Australian Forum, Vietnamese Overseas Forum. Freedom of speech, safety and prestige. For a beautiful future for Vietnamese generations, please visit us, talk to us every day, every hour and every moment possible. VietBF.Com Thank you all and good luck.
English
Deutsch
Français
Español
Italiano
Português
Norsk
Nederlands
Dansk
Suomi
Polski
Čeština
Русский
日本語
한국어
中文(简体)
中文(繁體)
Magyar
Türkçe
العربية
ไทย
Latina
हिन्दी
Bahasa Indonesia
Bahasa Melayu
