To think this is not an acceptable attitude from Boots?

[pointythings]

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.

Boots can stuff their "Here come the Girls" promos they run.

Women are not to be trusted doesn't sound quite as catchy for the Christmas 2017 ad.

Women might take it inappropriately? FFS. You can't get high on it. It makes you feel shit. It's not fun medication to take. Boots need to wise up and understand women are not simpletons. And we spend a lot of money in their stores, money that we could also spend elsewhere.

Indeed. It has severe side effects. If there are in fact girls who take it every day, that should be seen as a red flag and sign of male (sexual) violence perpetrated against them, not as girls being stupid. After all, there are two people involved in a contraception failure. One might as well ask why the boyfriends of those girls don't use condoms.

Perhaps the fact that women still spend money in their stores is the reason Boots think women are simpletons.

A boycott would show them that women are not so easily fooled.

I want Boots to explain how one uses it "inappropriately". The MAP only has one function. If you are using it to prevent an inconvenient potential pregnancy, then that's the appropriate use of it surely. Wankers.

Yes, exactly. How do they think women could use it inappropriately? I mean, I am sure one can find inappropriate uses for pills - use them as tokens in a game, perhaps? Feed them to your guinea pig to see what happens? - but no one seems worried about aspirin tablets being "used inappropriately" that way!

You have 72 to 120 hours to get "MAP" or an IUD fitted - 5 days after unprotected sex (EllaOne is 98% effective up to 5 days).

No-one needs to pay Boots prices, steer clear of them. Lots of pharmacies are cheaper, clinics etc free.

That's great BeyondThePage, but not everyone knows that. The problem with MN is that 99.9% of the posters are intelligent women, who tend to forget that not everyone has the same opportunities that they do.

The morning after pill, by its very name, comes with the inference that it must be taken ASAP after risky intercourse. I'm sure a lot of people think that is does. If you live in the arse end of nowhere, where you can't get a doctor's appointment till a week next Thursday, and you only have a Boots within a bus ride, that's where you are going to rush off to. Let's face it, if you are risking an unwanted pregnancy, you want to sort it as quickly as possible.

I live in a decent sized town. There is a Boots pharmacy and that's it. No sexual health clinic (that's once a week for 2 hours in the next town). Fairly sure I wouldn't be waiting for that! Maybe I don't want to have to explain on the phone to the receptionist why I need to see my GP, in order to get an appointment. Therefore it's Boots or baby. They have a large number of women over a barrel, and it's just not right. The MAP is legal; it's not up to a multinational corporation to pass moral judgments.

Wombling, can you buy the MAP in advance to keep it somewhere until you (possibly) need it?

That's what I would do. Only possible if they let you take it out of the pharmacy, of course, but it seems safest ... especially as legal restrictions might be implemented once again - you never know.

As a woman who is lucky enough to be able to afford it, on the occasions I've needed to take it - twice in twenty sexually active years - I've paid out of convenience but also have felt that if I go to an Sti clinic, I'm potentially stopping someone who can't afford it from getting an appointment & free treatment.

Interesting that they are prepared to flog me codeine over the counter which I could use inappropriately, and yet they have principles when it comes to contraceptive choices.

I won't be shopping at Boots anymore.

@Bombardier25966 Walgreens actually bought out Duane Reade, not CVS.

As you were.

Sorry I'm late in the thread and conversation has probably moved onto another subject but I went with my sister 18months ago for her to get the morning after pill and it was free from boots. She did get a different to the 'usual' type because she has a medical condition that means the usual wouldn't be appropriate, the pharmacist said "oh that's good though because this one is actually more effective and it's free!" Random

Oh No. The Boots Police.

Me??

I'm so fucked off about this. Boots are dead to me now. I've shopped there for 24 years

Oh hello shiny new local Superdrug!

Boots pharmacists seem to be trained in crap customer service as a company policy since the association with Walgreens, and with their piss-taking prices, it’s made me avoid them completely. There might be exceptions, but I’ve had bad experiences in different branches that make me look for alternatives even if it means walking further.

I wonder if it's the tie-up with Walgreens that's prompted this attitude to women. They're a US company well known for their support for the anti-abortion movement The ultimate aim of so-called 'right to life' people is banning contraception in any form, never mind just abortion, with the dreadful consequences for women needing health care in any form.

I’ve had pharmacists call my GP to query their prescription and not because they can’t read his writing because prescriptions have been printed for donkey’s years now. One criticised his prescription of a Class A narcotic and said he should have prescribed paracetamol instead for pain relief. My GP reported that one to the GPC.

I’ve complained on the spot about a meds counter assistant, not a pharmacist, about her rudeness and talking about what should be confidential, at the counter in front of other customers. I got no apology even though the head pharmacist overhead her outburst.

What took the gold medal for misbehaviour though, and made me report the pharmacist to the GPC, was ignoring my prescription for six 100mg sumatriptan tablets (for migraines) for a week and when I called to collect on a Friday, told me I’d have to wait until Monday as they were out of stock. I made her issue me with 12 packs of 50mg Migraleve (two in a pack), costing her employer £9.60 per pack whereas the sumatriptan costs the NHS a few pence per tablet. The people in the queue behind me had a mixed reaction to what was delaying them, but I wasn’t backing down. If I hadn’t known that pharmacists can issue a branded alternative instead of a generic, and vice versa, I’d have had to go away without my meds.

For non-med stuff, there’s usually as much or better choice in Superdrug, and lower prices. I just have to order the skin care brand I prefer online if I want to avoid Boots.

Where is the statement to this effect from Boots, please?

Boots are grovelling this morning.

Too little too late Boots.

A lot of people are taking this at face value without reading the original source. I'm not saying it isn't true, and if so I disagree with their policy, but always question what you read.

Whilst I am firmly in agreement that Boots have acted disgustingly over this issue, having spent the last half an hour reading the comments on their FB page I have to say it's almost worth the disgust to read some of the hilarious comments put up by men and women opposing this stance! Bloody hell its like a lesson in sarcasm. I am SO impressed

Boots have had a serious kicking by some seriously funny people.

🤣 @VestalVirgin, no that was purely hypothetical! I'm long past needing it.

I just read some of the Boots FB page - I hope they are ready for BBQ because they are getting roasted. Looks like they are backing down as well, people power t work.

I love the comment about the diarrhoea medicine and prawns on the windowsill

Disgusting, I shall be boycotting Boots.

I am a gynaecologist who works in contraception and sexual health. I am in a very large community clinic service, and we have the luxury of offering all 3 types of emergency contraception, free, to all ages.
There are now 2 options of pill, which have slightly differing indications, depending on time since sex and medical history. Most effective option still an emergency coil, which can be fitted in younger women/teens too.

Totally appreciate, though, that if you are not in a decent- sized town or city, there will be restricted access for many reasons.

EHC should be provided free from A&E and walk-in centres. GPS and contraception/sexual services also provide free. My service will provide it in advance if you may be at higher risk e.g: under 18/25y, using barrier methods only, going travelling and pill may fail etc. It may be worth considering this for yourself/daughters/whoever so that you have some in stock.

by all means it is fair/reasonable to boycott Boots re the MAP if they are overcharging.
But I do feel you are all over-reacting just a bit - Boots sell an awful lot of things that we all need. I am sure the boycott will dwindle when the next big 'scandal' comes along.

I've just picked up on this. I've shopped there for over 30 years. I'm out.
Patronising fuckers!

I can shop elsewhere.

But I do feel you are all over-reacting just a bit - Boots sell an awful lot of things that we all need. I am sure the boycott will dwindle when the next big 'scandal' comes along.

You might be over-reacting, I'm not though. Boots literally don't sell a single thing I can't buy elsewhere (unlike some unfortunate women who might need the MAP and be forced to pay £30 for the privilege of not having an unwanted pregnancy)