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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this is not an acceptable attitude from Boots?

159 replies

pointythings · 20/07/2017 16:07

So apparently they won't lower the price of emergency contraception (Tesco and Superdrug have done so) because they get complaints from people who are opposed to it and because lowering the price might make women 'use it inappropriately.

link here

Of course businesses are allowed to make their own policy choices, but this is blatant misogyny. So they won't be getting any more of my money.

OP posts:

Majora · 20/07/2017 16:10

God, yeah. That annoys me. I probably won't boycott because I'm shit and forgetful, but that really does bother me a bit that it's over comments they anticipate.

I'm all for abortion being readily available, but surely the morning after pill is a much better option? Nobody WANTS to take that. It's not a nice pill to take and it's certainly not advised every time you have sex. Why do these people want people who don't WANT babies to be forced into having them??

megletthesecond · 20/07/2017 16:12

Gosh, that is a lot of money. I assumed they were free.

LurkingHusband · 20/07/2017 16:14

Boots. The W.H. Smiths of chemists ...

kali110 · 20/07/2017 16:14

Don't surprise me.

Original poster

pointythings · 20/07/2017 16:15

meglet they are free if you go to a GP. But not all women feel they can, because not all GPs are neutral or even understanding about the MAP.

Personally I think that if you choose to become a GP or a pharmacist, you should not have a choice about prescribing/providing contraception - if you have issues with it, be a podiatrist. But that's a whole other can of worms.

OP posts:

IAmTheWorwax · 20/07/2017 16:15

It's almost like we can't be trusted...

I feel an angry email to boots coming on. Do you think if we could have more of us complain about the misogyny and price than those that complain about them selling it we could get them to change it?

BigChocFrenzy · 20/07/2017 16:16

So Boots are just making life tougher for women who are poor.

No one comfortably off would even blink at that, but it might be half the week's food budget for someone struggling.

Joinourclub · 20/07/2017 16:16

Well that's a bit shit. Lots of things bought from boots can be used 'inappropriately' but their prices are not kept artificially high.

BigChocFrenzy · 20/07/2017 16:18

It's not as if someone skint could save for a few weeks until they can buy it

BarbaraofSeville · 20/07/2017 16:20

Ridiculous. The price of the morning after pill will have affected almost no-one on whether or not to use it. Making it cheaper can only help poorer women who would otherwise have to go without other essentials in order to afford it. Reducing the price will make it easier to manage if they do need it.

Similarly there will be almost no-one who sees an advert or special offer for formula and decide to use that instead of breastfeeding.

I feel sorry for those who have no choice other than to shop in Boots because in a lot of cases they are much more expensive than supermarkets and other pharmacies. I never bother looking there, because I am fortunate to nearly always have an alternative like Superdrug, supermarkets or discount stores.

Lulu1083 · 20/07/2017 16:20

Boots sell condoms at normal prices even though some people disagree with them. No hand wringing over them being used 'inappropriately'?!

No, of course it's just women whose sexual health they get to hold an opinion on. Twats.

DeleteOrDecay · 20/07/2017 16:22

Ridiculous of them. I remember having to use the MAP when I was 18 because the condom broke. It was a weekend so I couldn't see my GP even if I wanted to. I was shocked at the cost then so I'm glad it's available cheaper now.

All they are doing by not reducing their prices are pricing the poor out of having access to it. People with money won't bat an eye and will buy regardless if that is what they need.

Joinourclub · 20/07/2017 16:22

An old petition but Worth signing here?
you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/cut-the-cost-of-emergency-contraception-an-outrageous-tax-on-women

BarbaraofSeville · 20/07/2017 16:23

Boots. The W.H. Smiths of chemists

Exactly. Overpriced and propped up by their distribution (prescriptions or newspapers/magazines) and airport and railway station outlets, where being alongside places that are even more extortionately priced makes them look nearly reasonable.

BarbaraofSeville · 20/07/2017 16:25

I thought the whole idea of making the MAP available in pharmacies was to make it more accessible and reduce pressure on doctor's appointments when it could safely be prescribed by pharmacies.

Keeping the cost high would encourage some to seek it from a doctor, unnecessarily taking up an emergency appointment

Original poster

pointythings · 20/07/2017 16:27

Do you think if we could have more of us complain about the misogyny and price than those that complain about them selling it we could get them to change it?

definitely do. I've already complained to them directly, and shared the Independent article on my Facebook. Going to do it on my Twitter as well. Let's shame them.

Joinourclub what makes me angry is that Tesco and Superdrug d8d reduce their prices in response to that petition (which I signed when it first came out). But Boots have to be all patronising. They are definitely taking the 'women can't be trusted' line.

Wish I'd thought about mentioning condoms in my complaint now.

OP posts:

Groupie123 · 20/07/2017 16:30

Go to my local Urgent Care on any given day and most of the young women there are for the morning after pill. I have to go a lot at the moment and most of them seem to be there three-four times a week. The morning after pill is an emergency option, it's not supposed to be used instead of condoms or the contraceptive pill.

HappyAxolotl · 20/07/2017 16:31

I would say Boots isn't getting a penny off of me again, but since the price of everything in there is a pisstake I don't shop with them anyway.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 20/07/2017 16:35

That's really shit. I was about to place a large online order with Boots but will take my business elsewhere.

Though I will say that when I went to get MAP at Boots in Wells 6 years ago their pharmacist insisted I have it for free. He did a quick consultation in a private room, gave me a form and it cost nothing. I had been quite prepared to pay too and indeed did pay when I needed it a couple of months later in London

I don't know if it's still possible to get it free at a pharmacy anywhere? Thankfully I've not needed one for a very long time.

LurkingHusband · 20/07/2017 16:35

I would say Boots isn't getting a penny off of me again

So would I. The problem is I can't remember the last time I bought anything in Boots.

They're becoming another one of these "what are they there for ?" stores.

MissionItsPossible · 20/07/2017 16:36

I have boycotted Boots after their appalling treatment of a customer (my sister). Disgusting behaviour from them.

ghostyslovesheets · 20/07/2017 16:38

you don't need to pay

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/where-can-i-get-emergency-contraception.aspx

Majora · 20/07/2017 16:38

LurkingHusband they have decent makeup selection if you have one of the bigger Boots, but other than that? Feck all really.

RobotGoat · 20/07/2017 16:38

But if they haven't used other contraception, better the MAP than an abortion, surely? The answer is to improve sex education and make standard contraception more freely available, not hike up the price for the MAP.

FATEdestiny · 20/07/2017 16:39

That's really appalling. I think I might complain about this.

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