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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that a pharmacist should at least PRETEND they don't recognise you...

43 replies

SawdustInMyHair · 06/01/2016 18:33

... when the last time you were in was on New Years Day to get the morning after pill, and now you're buying Caniston

He tried to get me to get a Boots card - "You're in here regularly - you were in last week!"

I realise he probably doesn't remember anything more than vaguely my face, but I was a bit

OP posts:

Original poster

SawdustInMyHair · 06/01/2016 20:30

He was the pharmacist, not an assistant, but I can see I am being a bit U!

I don't think it's silly, though, it's one of those things where I want to be anonymous - like how a therapist isn't supposed to acknowledge you unless you do first!

OP posts:

BoomBoomsCousin · 06/01/2016 20:45

But you were in the pharmacy. Therapists aren't supposed to pretend they've never seen you before when you're in their offices.

Justaboy · 06/01/2016 21:09

Pardon my ever so slightly warped sense of 1970's humor be we know of an odd chemists shoppe;!

Take it away John Cleese!

WanderingTrolley1 · 06/01/2016 21:17

Yanbu.

I don't need chit-chat, just serve me the damn medicine.

janethegirl2 · 06/01/2016 21:23

The expression of the checkout persons face in Boots when I was buying condoms for my dd, and had the said boyfriend in tow, was hilarious. She obviously thought I was sleeping with him and was not impressed. We both found it hilarious.

GreatFuckability · 06/01/2016 21:23

i dont even need to tell the receptionists at my surgery my name when i ring anymore. they recognise my voice...lol

SparklesandBangs · 06/01/2016 21:49

Love this thread, there was a time when the pharmacist at our local Tesco knew me by sight and quizzed me about my drug regime each time I went in and offered advice (was recovering from a major op, plus other side issues), been healthier for a while and she has moved on.

However in our local town there are a few shops where I am greeted by name as a regular, not just my favorite dress shop but places like the opticians, somehow it really adds to my day being greeted by name when I walk in. But then I am quite chatty especially to shop staff much to my DC embarrassment.

I am even 'known' to the ladies who work on the desk and tills at Tesco to the extent that I had a nice little chat to one of them on Christmas Eve in the car park, we were both on our way home.

Witchend · 06/01/2016 23:02

You can use canisten cream for other fungal stuff, if that helps.

Reminds me of once db had nits and dm went to phone the school to tell them.
"please don't say it's me" db said, so dm said she'd just say "my child in Mrs Smith's class".

Phone call went like this..
head: "Hello, X School"
Dm "Hello, could you pass a message on for me"
Head "Certainly Mrs Witchend, is it about your ds"
Dm "I am anonymously letting you know that my child in Mrs Smith's class has nits."
Head "Certainly, tell I'll let her know immediately."

Dm "You don't know who it is, remember..."

That was the point me and dsis completely lost it and laughed hysterically.

Next time the head saw dm he told her she better work on her disguises as she'd make a rotten spy.

Next time dm phoned the school she spoke with an Australian accent, which she can do (on the phone) passably well....

SistersOfPercy · 06/01/2016 23:09

Is this a bag thing then? My pharmacists assistant retired before Christmas, I've known her since I was a six year old buying hair clips in there with my nan. She's seen me through childhood, teenage acne, 2 kids and now I'm 40. Almost every script I've ever had for everything and anything has gone through her.
Personally I miss her greatly and enjoyed a chat with her every month.

SistersOfPercy · 06/01/2016 23:10

Bag? Bad.

Mmmmcake123 · 06/01/2016 23:19

Yanbu, if you weren't familiar with them on the first visit and again on the second they shouldn't be familiar toward you, it's not like you were in purchasing suncream.

godblessamerica · 06/01/2016 23:36

The expression of the checkout persons face in Boots when I was buying condoms for my dd, and had the said boyfriend in tow, was hilarious

can they not buy their own condoms then?

Fizrim · 06/01/2016 23:51

In the case of shameful, surely they were only asking about the meds to see if you needed to pay for the prescription? I can see that it might be difficult to think of that on the spot though, most people would probably go into hopefully unnecessary detail about the meds while the queue earwigged!

A pharmacy assistant did ask me what I took a particular medication for, as I was taking it in fairly large amounts (for pain relief) and had a prepayment card - they asked because it is used for another (life-threatening) condition and would have been free for that condition.

MadamCroquette · 06/01/2016 23:55

I've had anxiety problems and been on a generous selection of meds, plus I get prescribed stuff for acne and eczema etc. I was in there all the time and it was getting embarrassing. So one time I finally quipped "It's me again, come to clear you out of drugs" - pharmacist laughed and was lovely. She sees it all and you see her being so kind and helpful with all the frail/deaf/confused customers and those with MH and SEN issues, knowing them on sight and their needs, without broadcasting it. It's a job that really demands people skills and patience.

But I suppose there's a bit of a dilemma between friendliness/personal service and being totally discreet when you want that.

I do always hang around waiting for a woman pharmacist before I ask for thrush cream etc. In theory I don't give a toss, actually I totally do.

janethegirl2 · 07/01/2016 17:50

godblessamerica yes they can buy their own, of course, it was that I had taken her boyfriend into town and we met up in Boots and I'd picked up the condoms for her.

mudandmayhem01 · 07/01/2016 18:00

I saw a vague acquaintance when I was buying threadworm tablets and she was buying a pregnancy test, we both pretended we have never seen each other in our lives

sparechange · 07/01/2016 18:04

There is a pharmacy near me, staffed by really quite a hot pharmacist.
They sell birthday cards and little gift type things, so I go in there quite a lot, and he often serves me and we make small talk about the weather and traffic.
Last year, I was prescribed some medication last year, off label. One of its main uses is to wean cocaine addicts off the drug.
I then had to have some minor surgery and was given a prescription for some antibiotics to take afterwards. When I read the leaflet, it said they were usually used to treat STDs

I go somewhere else to buy my birthday cards now

grannytomine · 07/01/2016 18:07

pasturesgreen, you would love my old GP, he is retired now. We bumped into him one day when he was shopping with his wife. He introduced my son to her by saying, "This is one of my babies." He had delivered him but I did think it could be a bit misleading. He told me son that, "this is the lady who gives me pocket money."

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