Koam Pharmacy

These people are a joke… bring my same prescription in bi-​monthly from same dr norco 10/325…all of a sudden they need to verify. Been out all week due to dr office incompetence now the incompetence of this pharmacy. Government is a joke… people in pain need their medication without having to jump through hoops… luckily, Tar*et doesn’t have these same hang ups as I fill there also

It’s funny how Rx (prescription medication) is just as popular, if not more widely taken than illegal drugs on the street today. Millions of Americans pop an ever increasing amount of pills each year, turning over record profits to the pharmaceutical companies who sell their medicine as they next best thing. It’s sad to say but, «We Are All on Drugs» — Weezer, in one form or another.
I like small pharmacies similar to smaller community banks that make you feel important. The service here is good, especially the nice Hispanic lady that answers the phone with a smile. The employees are all friendly and efficient but it’s the owner that I have a little issue with. We’ll focus on that later. The waiting area is spacious, it never seems that crowded to me. Parking is sometimes difficult but that’s because this commercial property houses other professionals and their clients. I always call ahead and they have my family’s medication waiting for me in about 10 minutes. I’ve gone to pharmacies in Rite Aid or CVS and for some reason, they always seem a little more expensive than the rest.
2 issues that I have here. First, I used to have a Medical Expense Debit Card from work and Koam would not take the card because their credit card machine would not recognize my card being used at a legitimate health care location. All they need to do is call their merchant services and update their setting. No luck after repeated requests.
Second, they make me return monthly for 90 day prescriptions which I think is their way of trying to squeeze more business. I don’t know if 3 monthly charges translates into more money for them, but I do know that it’s more money out of my pocket for gas. Plus, I’m wasting my time returning for refills.
And don’t tell me that it’s because my insurance or doctor doesn’t cover it. CVS pharmacy just recently sent me a letter stating they could fill a 90 day prescription and my doctor just wrote me a 90 day refill so I don’t understand why they can but Koam cannot. Maybe, I’m missing something there but something sure doesn’t sound right.
However, both of my issues aren’t resolved even though I speak to the older female Korean owner in glasses. She’s can be nice but I sense some fakeness and a definite power trip. I think she’s a lot smarter than she acts. One time, I came in for a prescription for some pain killers after a tough dentist visit (root canal, deep cleaning, 3 cavaties) and she started to question what my sickness was for the pills. Seriously? None of your damn business! I’m not here to abuse medication. I know you want my business but don’t compromise the convenience/​service and then insult my intelligence for it.

Service here was quick and easy. Even though there were 2 – 3 people who came by when I came in, I still got my item within about ten minutes. A large seating area.
On two different occasions, two different pharmacists handled my questions with patience (one example: my doctor called in a script, they had it filled and ready to go. I forgot about it until I went to fill another prescription, and when I told them I didn’t want the one that my doc called in, they were completely nice about it.).
I try my best to support independent pharmacies (and in general, small and independent businesses).
Another plus: Consumer studies also show that independent pharmacies (and costco) are among the cheapest, whereas chain pharmacies are the most expensive. (google it, there are a lot of reports out there on this.)
So, no complaints. nearby, easy parking, and the service is good.

Very good service, I’ve been going here for years. I would rate it higher if possible. I don’t know what the deal with the other reviewer. I’ve known more Dr. with tricks up their sleeves then pharmacist.

This pharmacy has supplied me with drugs for several years now, and not once did I consider them poor at what they did. Sure sometimes the wait was long and that yellowed swirl of flypaper outside their entrance was a little disgusting but I always got what I came for with minimal fuss and muss.
My new doctor told me recently however that I should try another pharmacy because Koam had some tricks up their sleeves I did not know about, i.e. making me return for monthly refills on a 3 month prescription, because return visits = more money for them. Also, they fudged up several of his other patients’ stuff.
See, that’s the thing once again about having no frame of reference, I would have never known if I wasn’t told of this. And by now I’m pretty attached to the place and feel strange about scoring elsewhere.
I hate break ups. Especially if they are necessary. SIGH.