Pharmacie Shoppers Drug Mart

After finding out that Shoppers sold bus tickets, I have been a frequently visiting this location. Sometimes I venture in around 5:00pm, and sometimes around 9:30pm. The same problem consists each and every time – ONE cash open and a line up for days.
It seems that Shoppers is not only the place to purchase bus tickets, but it is also the place to gamble your money away on LOTTERY TICKETS and SCRATCH CARDS, which makes the line move very-​S-​L-​O-​W-​L-​Y, especially after each customer checks their cards to see if they are a winner!
I waited in line for 10 minutes while customers put up a fit behind me. On a positive note, it was good entertainment!
In all reality though, this re-​occurrence is a pain in the butt, and is an inconvenience especially if you are in a rush.
Now, if you like gambling, it seems like this is the place to go on a Friday night!

Here’s why I hate going into this Shoppers — and others sharing the same design. They make you circumnavigate into the perfume and makeup section before you enter the store. The section is too bright, has the overpowering scents of different perfumes, and when you’re bringing in your 85 year old parents, makes for a long and uncomfortable detour. I hate, hate, hate it — and I’m mystified at why someone would design a store to deliberately annoy its customers as soon as they enter. I realize it’s only adding 30 seconds to the experience — but its so annoying that I’m instantly put into a bad mood as soon as I walk in.
A far better design is at Merivale Mall, where the Makeup & Perfume counters beckon as you enter — but you have a choice to abort and walk through the magazine section instead. Given a choice, I far prefer that design, which is why I try to avoid the store at 1469 Merivale whenever possible. I also only buy the bare minimum there, out of protest. It’s like walking into Ikea, and being forced to follow a long path instead of heading where you want to go. You can get away with that if you’re Ikea — but it’s annoying when you just want to pick up your prescription.
Design aside, the store is fine. They are often out of stock on advertised specials, but at least the Post office section is great, and the pharmacists are competent. If they fixed the design flaw and let me avoid the perfume section, I’d be happy to come in (and to spend much more money). As it is, it’s a necessary evil.