CVS Pharmacy

Ok. This is my «neighborhood» pharmacy. If there was another option in downtown, anyone would go for almost any other pharmacy and drug store. That said, they have a virtual monopoly in pharmacy in downtown Austin. So until someone at CVS wakes up and upgrades the store to align with all the residential housing and professional offices in the CBD, this is the solution. They are understaffed –today when I was in there, two lines of patrons with 10+ people each were trying to checkout of the drugstore part of the store. Repeated paging for additional checkers was ignored. The storefront Is in disrepair, there are stock outs, many of the products are dated. It is really not keeping up with the lively and vibrant downtown scene. Hello CVS leadership!!! Time to revisit your store growth plans!

This review is for the pharmacy only — I haven’t really shopped or purchased anything from the store itself — although from the looks of it and the other reviews, I don’t want to.
Anyway, the pharmacy counter — the incompetencies of the staff here are astounding. I had to pick up three prescriptions — two for myself that I’ve purchased many times and one for my dog. I had previously purchased these scripts at HEB, but we recently moved back downtown and this is the only pharmacy within walking distance.
My scripts were ready when I arrived, but I had new insurance information that I needed to give them. The tech told me they already had it. I explained to her that was impossible because the insurance had just changed over two days prior and I had yet to visit a CVS with the information within those two days. I also had a manufacturer’s coupon for $ 10 off one of the scripts and a $ 0 copay on the other. The tech had to go back to her computer to process the coupons.
When she comes back, she tells me they already have my insurance info and didn’t need to run it again. I had to again explain to her that I’m 100% positive they did not have my insurance info. Finally she believes me and goes back to run the correct insurance.
When she comes back I find out that my $ 0 copy coupon isn’t valid with my insurance. The price is over $ 400 for the script. Umm, okay? It’s a manufacturer’s coupon and it should be zero. Whatever, I’m not paying that and tell her I’ll just talk to my doctor.
I also asked about the price of my dog’s script. It was over $ 48 and normally at HEB I pay $ 16 for the same thing. She says, «that’s just our price.» Sigh.
Unfortunately for me, I’ll probably have to go back here because there is literally no other pharmacies in downtown — at least that I know of.

The premises is dingy and smells like a really old cupboard. Also all the products on the shelf are dirty and damaged like they’ve fallen off the back of a truck. Obviously they’re not counterfeit, but even the expensive moisturizers are in boxes that are damaged! Where do they store their products?
Aside from the premises I bought a Neutrogena cream product for $ 21 only to find afterwards that the same product is sold in Target and Walmart for $ 8 and Walgreen’s for $ 10.29. That’s over 100% mark-​up on your closest competitor CVS! Get a grip!
Will avoid in future.

I don’t know what’s up with this CVS but it’s pretty dirty, dingy, and nobody seems to want to help you. Stop by if you need something in a hurry but be careful where you walk… There seems to be stains everywhere on the floor.

CVS is just your average store/​pharmacy, but what makes it great is it’s customer service. When you enter you’re always greeted and the pharmacist at the back is so NICE! He’s always extremely helpful even if he’s already closed for the day he will try to do anything to help. Such a great staff!!!

The Pharmacy staff in this CVS are wonderful people that seem to deal with a lot of unique characters. The overall feel of this store compared to other CVSs is messy and run down. The only thing they have going for them is the pharmacy service times and pharmacy staff. I was getting my meds filled here because it was the closest one to where I work, but the influx of homeless people outside asking for money or the meds I just filled is a little unsettling.
Once, while in the store waiting on a drop off script to be filled, a portly woman started to get undressed and us the water fountain at the pharmacy to bathe herself. The staff stopped her and escorted her out, but only after the manager/​shift leader forced a staff member to do it.
I like CVS, but I avoid this one at all costs. It is just too dirty and has too many issues.

Robo-​calls me constantly about prescriptions I don’t even take anymore, despite my requesting no reminders in their system.

Horrible customer service. Clerk was very inconvenienced to have to help me find anything in thr store.

I am in Austin for a biz trip and forgot my medication. I was able to get my doctor to send over a prescription to this CVS location as it is closest to the office i am visiting.
When i got there, they asked for my insurance and after checking, found that since my prescription has already been filled a couple of weeks ago from my main pharmacy back home, the insurance will not allow coverage for this new prescription. So i just told the Pharmacy tech that it’s ok, i will pay full price (~$ 30 dollars more than just paying co-​pay.). then, the pharmacist approached and asked how many days of medication did i need. i said, 4, and they went ahead and gave me 5 tablets for FREE!!! Awesome experience! i am glad to see excellent customer service at work! 5 stars, 1 star for each tab they gave me! :-)
THANK YOU!

I want to give this pharmacy a GREAT review! I had to have my doctor send a prescription to this pharmacy because I was only a day home from Hawaii to Austin. There were complications and they were incredibly friendly and helpful and walked me through everything. I wish my hometown pharmacy was this great! The guy even said when I was finished «enjoy your stay in Austin». Thank you because you definitely added to that! I hope you can teach my local pharmacies a thing or two about hospitality! THANK YOU!

I love this pharmacy for their location and their fast service at the pharmacy.
Okay, okay parking at their location stinks, but walking from my office to delay the inevitable parking lot I’ll encounter on MOPAC, is fantastic.
The pharmacists are friendly and fast, I’ve never waited more than 10 minutes for a RX to be filled.
I’m not wow’d by the inside… to be honest it feels sort of gross. But, they’re fast enough, and nice enough to keep me coming there for refills… what more can you really ask for out of your pharmacy?

I’m a regular customer here.
YES, it is expensive, but if you come once a week, they always have new sales. Look for them. You’ll not be sorry.
Unfortunately there is a lot of homeless traffic outside the store. I wish they would do something about that, because it is annoying to be asked for money coming in and out of the store. However, I also wish that Austin had more resources to help the homeless/​mentally ill/​drug-​addicted — IT DOESN’T, and that’s why you see this everywhere. People are quick to bitch about the homeless, but neglect to see WHY it is a problem. Anyway, yes, I wish they wouldn’t hang out so much in front of this particular store, but whatever.
Anyway, check out the sales, and definitely see about getting a CVS card if you don’t have one. This makes their products a lot more accessible and you can print coupons at the kiosk inside the store. I got one for $ 5 dollars off any cosmetics — got an $ 8 lipstick for $ 3. Awesome.

New manager in charge? Gotta be! It has a real good vibe there & very well stocked as well. Super friendly folks work there & always offer to walk you to what you’re looking for. That’s rare nowadays in retail.

I am giving the five stars to the pharmacist who helped me save $ 116 on an RX today. When he rang up my Rx he noticed how high the cost was and proceeded to check how much I’d save with a generic. He then wrote down my doctor’s number on a card and told me exactly what to ask for. Thank you Mr. Pharmacist!
I’d give the rest of the shopping experience three stars. I do frequent this store quite a bit since I live downtown. The people at check out have always been friendly — they’ve helped me save some money with coupons in the past.
I do think a remodel — new floors and better lighting — would do wonders for the shopping experience. And since this is the only drug store in fast-​growing downtown Austin, they would really get my attention if they improved the cosmetic and beauty supply section. I lived in Canada and the drugstores there had huge, well-​lit, professionally staffed beauty departments. They sold all the name brand cosmetics and beauty supplies… would be nice to have that resource in downtown Austin. Until then, I buy online. Sigh.

Great great location. Right next to where I pay my rent. Sadly the praise ends there. Boy oh boy is this location dangerous after dark. I always feel like I’m going to be assaulted by the homeless people piled up in front of the door at the bus stop.
Really only a useful place to stop during the daytime hours. Parking can be a hassle. I imagine it’s really more targeted towards people who live downtown already so I can’t really comment any further on the location.
The last negative is the unbearable lines during busy periods. I’ve had the same problem at other locations too so it might just be a staffing issue overall.

When one searches a place like CVS, it could only POSSIBLY be for one of two reasons: to find the address or the hours. Or both. But why in an age where brands are up our asses in every imaginable way, does no one just make it clear when the hell their store is open. Isn’t that piece of information so basic that it should practically be in the logo? Fuck. Seriously, who do I have to blow around here to find out if and/​or when this raggety ass convenient store is open? Oh by the way this store is as ghetto ridiculous as everyone else says, but its close and I want snacks. But you aren’t really here to read reviews of a CVS– you got here because you wanted either an address or hours. Who the hell reads reviews before deciding to go to a CVS? Its a fucking CVS. albeit a particularly crackhead one.
update: i just called and heard the hours. LOL. how does this place stay in business? Hopefully soon it will be a parking lot or something more useful.

Location Location Location! After you battle past the meth heads at the bus stop and wake up the lady behind the counter only to buy food and beverages that are dented and stained … You can finally get on with life. Can’t fathom why with all the new high rises in the area going up Walgreens wouldn’t open a respectable store so those of us in the neighborhood can avoid the walk of shame. Horrible, wretched place! But I need some sparking water. Ha

You want to know Austin weird… it’s the bus stop right in front of this CVS. I don’t know how to explain it, people doing odd things. Then I heard this calling for me to sit on the bench, so I did. It was like I stepped into this world of chaos or like a circus was being performed around me. Lucky enough for me my group pulled me out before I followed the group onto the bus… freaky very freaky!
As for the CVS it’s also strange, I walked in to grab some water and some how lost my group and was followed by a girl wearing a normal shirt for an office job but her bottom half was only covered with a thong and I’m not talking like a bikini thong I’m talking about underwear thong, and some flip flops. I managed to lose her in the aisles. I collect my items and head to the register. Three ladies were behind the counter chit chatting about nothing as I stand in front of them waiting for them to notice me but apparently that was a mistake of mine. Another patron just moves in front of me and slams his stuff on the counter and one lady doesn’t even blink and rings him up (In my head I’m going what the $^$%(^ is going on in here). I eventually get out of there but of course then I get sucked into the bus stop but you already that story.
True story!

Seriously what jerks.
I showed up at 8.59pm to be locked out of the store. Inside I see about 7 people in line waiting to pay (and they are in there for another 20 mins), and this douchebag won’t let me go in to get a tube of eye lash glue. Sorry ma’am we close at 9. I am already downtown, I am not running across town to go to another location. The seriously convenient location does not make up for the seriously poor customer service.

The best thing about this CVS is its location, right at 5^th and Congress.
Other pluses:
–Really great selection of protein bars
–Ditto for shampoo, conditioner, hair products
–They sell stuff in tiny containers
–CHEAP GENERIC RAZORS
–I have a huge hard-​on for drugstore candy
–Cheap makeup!
–I buy their «trouser socks» and wear them with mini-​skirts when I go out… people always think it’s some big creative thing, but they’re definitely just 3-​for-​$ 2 knee socks from CVS.
Minuses:
–THEIR HOURS!!! Wtf? Closed entirely on Sunday, and close at 9:00pm other nights… I thought the whole point of CVS was to make a variety of essential items CONVENIENTLY ACCESSIBLE when they otherwise wouldn’t be… isn’t that how they get away with marking everything up so high?
–prices for food and certain other items, see above