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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm done with Boots (the shop)

106 replies

Tempertamtrum · 18/04/2018 18:30

Ahhh, annoying lunchtime visit to Boots. Told prescription would be five minutes. So I tried to find No7 Gradual Face Tan - couldn't find it and No7 assistant would not help because No7 self tan not next to her.

Went back to Pharmacy - stood there for extra ten minutes asked pharmacist twice (who was VERY BUSY stood in front of my bagged and ready order) who said wait due to needing signature - so told her will come back tomorrow.

Pharmacist then said she would need to put note on ticket - I asked why not just sign it? Which she did!

This isn't the first time such weirdness has happened to me in Boots - all other Chemists I've used are not so odd. I have repeat prescription so regularly use (mainly friendly in store) Pharmacies without any bother.

Anyone else have such annoying encounters in these places?

OP posts:
Thefirsttulip · 18/04/2018 18:34

I never understand why they can't sell paracetamol/ibuprofen tablets to you between 1pm and 2pm because the pharmacist is on lunch and has to be present Confused

They sell the in Asda ffs where I'm pretty sure a pharmacist isn't present Hmm

italiancortado · 18/04/2018 18:36

I never understand why they can't sell paracetamol/ibuprofen tablets to you between 1pm and 2pm because the pharmacist is on lunch and has to be present

They can? You can buy any of the medications off the shelf and pay at the normal checkouts at any time in Boots. You only need the pharmacist for things that are behind the counter.

Ubercornsdiscoball · 18/04/2018 18:37

It’s the amount of paracetamol and ibuprofen that they can sell without a pharmacist that might be an issue - or they might just be extra cautious in your area! There may be other issues going on.

Thefirsttulip · 18/04/2018 18:39

In the Boots I went into they wouldn't sell them to me because the pharmacist wasn't there. Confused

Then again Sainsbury's asked for ID for paracetamol (I'm in my 30s) so there appears to be weirdness all round!

GreenTulips · 18/04/2018 18:40

I stopped going when they changed the shelves to brands

So no longer 'shampoo' or 'hand cream' together.

I don't have time to lookband compare all the different brands. I want eyeliner or etc

Ahhhhhh!!'

Thefirsttulip · 18/04/2018 18:43

It also baffles me that the pharmacist has lunch when everyone else does (ie people collect prescriptions and buy over the counter medicine during their lunch break.) I work in catering and we don't take our break during the period it's going to be busiest.

Babdoc · 18/04/2018 18:44

One of the benefits of living in a tiny rural village is that all our prescriptions are ordered online from the GP in a different village, then delivered to our little village store (open til 9pm) for us to pick up with our newspapers!
I've never had to get one from Boots, or any other large, busy pharmacy, but I sympathise - it sounds very bureaucratic and unwieldy.

ALongHardWinter · 18/04/2018 18:47

I used to love Boots years ago but I've gone right off them over the last 15 years or so. Mainly due to the incompetence of their staff. I was snarled at by a member of staff when I asked him where I could find a certain item. I was actually told by another member of staff to ask this particular man because 'it's his department'. Right. And on quite a few occasions I've been left waiting like a lemon for a prescription,because I've been asked 'Are you going to wait for it?' 'Yes' I reply. 'Take a seat in the waiting area,it will be about 20 minutes'. 35 minutes later I'm still sat there and when I ask whether there's any chance of it materialising soon,it turns out that my prescription has just been left sitting on the desk,it hasn't even enter entered 'the system' yet. Cue another half hour wait. This happened so many times I won't get my prescriptions from them any more. I now go to a little independently run pharmacy,where the staff are lovely,know me by name,and never keep me waiting for more than 10 minutes.

BeyondThePage · 18/04/2018 18:49

Anything that has a P (inside a square) on the pack requires a pharmacist to be present for a sale to take place. (POM is prescription only - and also requires a pharmacist to be present even if it is already in a bag with your name on it)

So box of 16 paracetamol - no, box of 32 - yes

pigsDOfly · 18/04/2018 18:56

My local Boots is a nightmare.

I have a repeat prescription with them so have to go back every month to collect it.

The last two times I've been I've waited over 20 minutes to be served, standing in a queue that stretches to the door with one person dealing with every customer. Any queries and off goes the assistant while we all continue to wait.

It's not the fault of the staff. All their pharmacies are understaffed and in the case of my local shop far too small.

If I didn't need to go in there once a month I'd never go near the bloody place. Anything they sell I can usually get cheaper in the supermarket and if I want a Boots own product I can order it online.

Thefirsttulip · 18/04/2018 18:56

That was probably it then, the amount of paracetamol Confused

bookmum08 · 18/04/2018 18:59

The pharmacist is usually hidden away out back making up all the prescriptions - the person on the counter serving you will be a sales assistant. They would of had extra training so they can assist with some queries but they will not be trained pharmacists and cannot prepare a prescription up. There will be certain non prescription drugs that can only be sold with the pharmacists permission. If the pharmacists is not there (ie lunch break) then these items cannot be sold. This is how it has always been in retailers that have a pharmacy on site like Boots and Superdrug.

PickAChew · 18/04/2018 19:01

I hate the small boots stores because all the staff seem to be on the pharmacy, dealing with one customer, while you're stood there with an armful of nappies/snacks/whatever and being ignored.

Also, if you want to buy something as outrageous as hair putty you have to hunt through the "male" hair grooming section.

britnay · 18/04/2018 19:01

Medications can come in several versions (if you look at the pack, some of them will have the letters on them in a small box somewhere). The sale of these is governed by UK Law, not Boots (or any other shop/pharmacy whims.

GSL: General Sales License: any old corner shop can sell these. These include small packs ie no more than 16 paracetamol and no pharmacist is required. There might also be a limit to what strength they might be, ie only 200mg ibuprofen.

P: Pharmacy: These require a pharmacist to be present (so cannot be sold if the pharmacist is on lunch or otherwise out of the shop) and are your general behind the counter medicines. So these are, for example, would be paracetamol in packs of 32. With paracetamol, a pharmacist could legally sell up to 100 tablets if they felt that it was necessary, but seldom do. This group also includes things like low dose co-codamol (8/500) and pseudoephedrine.

POM: Prescription Only Medicines. Like it says on the tin, you need a prescription from the doctor/dentist/other healthcare professional to get this and you can only get it from a pharmacy, again only when the pharmacist is present (yes they do need lunch breaks too!). This can include things like large amounts (200) of paracetamol, or codeine on its own.

In small shops there is often only one pharmacist, so when they go on the break then no P medicines can be sold, and no prescriptions can be handed out. Bear in mind they usually work ~9 hours, so you can't really begrudge them 30 minutes break can you? Most pharmacies will try and keep the pharmacist's break at the same time each day so that people know when not to come in.

Akire · 18/04/2018 19:05

Since I pointed out an error with my meds (they had put different strength in the box ) and had to return it. They know make a big song and dance of giving me my meds. Opening the bag and going through each one, telling me what’s what like I’m 5. I think you will find I know what taking when that’s why I spotted the error! Hate it makes me feel really small and stupid to other customers, I’m disabled so don’t need anyone else thinking disabled = need to be told simple information.

britnay · 18/04/2018 19:09

Akire: someone probably put a note on your record to say that you had previously been given the wrong thing and to double check it is correct. This may then lead to whoever hands it out to be a bit over zealous and double check with you that it is correct.

If you find it patronising (and I would), just TELL them, and if there is such a note then it can get deleted and they hopefully won't do it again.

JustOneMan · 18/04/2018 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spacestranger · 18/04/2018 19:13

Just been into our Boots to collect DH repeat prescription.

25 mins just to the counter Sad

Luckily prescription was ready as DH had sorted it yesterday - but that's 25mins of my life I'll never get back!

I've told him if he wants me to keep collecting it in future for it to go to the local independent pharmacy. Boots are shite!

Viviennemary · 18/04/2018 19:14

I hardly ever go in Boots now if I can help it and I used to go in a lot. The assistants are super-unhelpful, they never stock what you want, and the prices are high. It's rubbish.

olderthanyouthink · 18/04/2018 19:15

I use an app to get my repeat prescriptions, that way I don't need to go to my go for the bit of paper or go an collect for a pharmacy I just put in my request and the prescription is posted to me (from a high street pharmacy just not my local one).

The app is called Echo, it's an NHS partner. No I don't work for them, I just don't like people Smile.

Fair warning it did mess up a little while ago and it was a bit of a pain to sort but other times it's been great.

catlover1987 · 18/04/2018 19:17

I used to work in a pharmacy as a student (another chain, not boots) and it was exactly the same. The pharmacist was a bitch and took forever to do anything and I was the one who had to tell customers the wait was 45 minutes and listen to their complaints. The assistants on the till aren't given nearly enough training. Independent pharmacy all the way!

TomatoChutney · 18/04/2018 19:19

Yanbu, my Boots pharmacy is dire.

ShakeTheDisease · 18/04/2018 19:19

My local Boots pharmacy staff are great. Very helpful with sorting prescriptions out, especially when my GP surgery has not done something or got it wrong. I imagine it can differ a lot from one branch to another. Or I'm just a contrary person Wink

LakieLady · 18/04/2018 19:25

My local Boots is awful. I order my repeat prescriptions from the surgery online and they're emailed to an independent pharmacy which is within walking distance where the staff are lovely.

I only venture into Boots if I want something from No7 or one of their other own-brand ranges.

greenyblue · 18/04/2018 19:27

I won't use Boots pharmacy since they gave me someone else's prescription, but I do like Advantage card and the kids' clothes Blush