Shoppers Drug Mart

I would say this is my go-​to Shoppers. Even thought I live across the city from it. If I need a shoppers, I really will go out of my way to come to this one.
It is clean, wide open, with a well organized floor plan. They always have enough staff on shift (and they are pretty nice people; probably because they don’t have to deal with stuff the downtown locations do). It is right on the busy 170^th street, so it is easy to access, with free parking and lots of it!
The makeup department is wonderful. The pharmacy is fast. I really like the big ‘seasonal’ section — it’s a great place to get decorations or other things, for any holiday. They have a grocery part, although there is a Safeway beside it. But, if you need stamps, Cold FX, milk, bread, a new plumping lip gloss and some Easter decorations… well, this is your quickest and easiest stop.

My past experience at this store was absolutely terrible and the SDM name should be embarrassed by this store and the staff’s interpretation of customer service. I went to the pharmacy to fill a prescription. Since I hadn’t been there, the pharmacy tech asked for my 411. She said it would take about 20 minutes so I decided to pick a few things up.
I filled my cart and joined the line and I’m not sure why there’s always a line of at least 3 – 4 people and when help is called, it usually doesn’t show up for at least a few minutes, if anyone shows up at all. When the Assistant Store Manager came to help with cash and called the next customer, me, to his till. Then the other cashier says oh can you help this customer first. I think the customer was more apologetic than the staff. He didn’t say much, but then I’ve come to expect this from their cashiers. They are not typically friendly and not really sure if they appreciate any business. My sister had a horrendous experience with the sales associate in cosmetics who continuously argued with her, so it seems to be a common storewide issue.
After I went back to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription, the pharmacists informs me they are having issues filling it and need the doctor’s code and to resolve my benefits drug card and tells me to come back after 15 min. Typically, I would not be so annoyed but since I came straight from the hospital after a day of surgery and not usual patient myself, it wasn’t good.
So, I go back and they tell me sorry, we can’t put your claim through so I said forget it and just paid cash and will submit my claim directly. My benefits company said the pharmacy should have just called them and they could have told them how to put it through, but guess that extra work would have been just too much.
I think the most embarrassing thing is that one time I went to this store to ask the phamacist for help and I think the owner helped me only after I stood there for a waiting while the pharmacy staff chatted.

This location is pretty nice. It’s clean, large and even has a produce section.