r/AmIOverreacting • u/allegedlyostriches • 2h ago
⚕️ health AIO? Pharmacy kicked me out of the drive through line
I (43F) have rheumatoid arthritis. I have to use a different pharmacy than my usual for one of my medications, and overall they have been okay.
Yesterday I got the text that my medication had arrived and was ready to be picked up. I made it there today, but I'm having a rough pain day- so I decided to use the drive through. There was two people in front of me, nbd. I got to the window, and there was a sign saying they were short staffed and they appreciate our patience.
I sat there for 10 minutes or so. I returned some calls and texts, ordered dinner- nothing antsy or anything. All of a sudden an employee came to the window and (in a really ornery tone) told me that I needed to walk in. There were two people behind me at this point.
I did pull away, and went and parked and walked in. By the time I got in there they were at least helping the person behind me. I got my meds and left--
I feel like I should talk to the higher ups though. I wasn't upset about waiting, and I don't think I deserved to be treated the way I was.
Am I overreacting?
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u/Funk__Doc 2h ago
So you were made to drive away, but then they helped the next person in line behind you at the drive-thru?
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u/allegedlyostriches 2h ago
Yes. The two in front of me, as well as those behind me.
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u/Funk__Doc 1h ago
Odd. I have 20+ years experience in pharmacy and nothing about what you are saying is making sense.
Why would they kick you out of the lane but help others behind you in the lane? Was there an additional complication that required your presence inside?
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
No, she came to the window and told me I needed to go park and walk inside. There was no prior interaction. I was totally fine waiting. I understand why you'd think I was bothered, but I swear I wasn't. Maybe someone inside snapped at her or something though, I guess I didn't think of that possibility until just now. I don't look like there's anything wrong with me, but my immune system has serious beef with my ankles and hips right now.
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u/bythebrook88 1h ago
They probably meant that everyone in the drive through had to walk into the store, but OP was slower because they were in so much pain.
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
They were only addressing me, through the intercom. The car behind me was being helped by another employee when I was inside. Maybe they'll just deal with her being crabby on their own ig.
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u/MotherOfLochs 1h ago
NOR. If they didn’t ask a single identifying question and simply asked you to come inside then proceeded to serve other customers, I’d raise it.
You use this pharmacy regularly- why should you not use the pharmacy drive thru if it’s not available to be used. If you’re weren’t rude, I’d hope it would simply be raised as a reminder that they are at least asking what customers need before asking them to come in. I’d also suggest that next time, strongly advocating for yourself that you are in a lot of pain and would rather remain using the drive thru.
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u/thejustllama 1h ago edited 25m ago
So you waited in line for 10 minutes, got to the front of the line, got told to come inside, then they helped the other people in line behind you? If it truly played out like that I’d be miffed too. That said, I wouldn’t take the time to talk to the higher ups. Pharmacies are crazy busy, this isn’t something they need bothered with unless it keeps happening, then I’d ask why.
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
That is what happened, but you're the one who called the people in front of me a yeti lol
Thank you!
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u/CuteTempot 2h ago
nor to feel annoyed, but this is probably just a stressed, short-staffed moment not really worth escalating unless it keeps happening.
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u/Keytarfriend 2h ago
r/RegularEverydayInconvenience
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u/allegedlyostriches 2h ago
Lol, fair. I'm probably cranky because I'm inflamed and due for the injection I was picking up.
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u/Just-Gas-8626 1h ago
Don’t contact management. The staff who were there were the ones who showed up. It seems they are short staffed, so they are probably more annoyed than you are. Contacting management would only punish the people who actually showed up to do their jobs.
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u/sovngrde 2h ago
INFO. I feel like we’re missing information. They wouldn’t have made you specifically leave the line for no reason, and then helped people behind you. That makes 0 sense.
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
That's exactly what happened though. I am now considering that maybe someone inside told her to help and she was overwhelmed. I don't know.
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u/sovngrde 16m ago
And you didn’t question it? Didn’t ask why? Didn’t ask if they were gonna make the other drive in people come in too?
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u/allegedlyostriches 9m ago
I tried to, but she came across as mad about something. After thinking about it longer, I wonder if someone got after her for how long the line was getting, and maybe she took out her frustration on me. I'm not calling, but if I see her being mean to others in the future I might. We all have bad days.
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u/Username00555 1h ago
If you complain YOR. they prob were just short staffed at the moment. I have wicked knee pain so I get the frustration though
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u/Baelenciagaa 2h ago
Overreacting. People need to give the pharmacies a break imo. Especially with the wave of recently uninsured people. It’s a mess.
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u/YorkPepperMintPaddy 47m ago
YOR This is modern life. It sucks sometimes but we gotta deal. There’s nothing about you or me that deserves (your word) a pass from this sort of shit.
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u/allegedlyostriches 33m ago
That's fair, and I worded that pretty gross. If I had been an asshole, I would have been rightfully served the attitude in return. I was calmly in my vehicle, and I don't know why I was treated the way I was. That's pretty much it.
I won't be calling. I wish for her left shoe to come untied repeatedly for two days, and hopefully they can get enough employees to eliminate their staffing issue.
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u/YorkPepperMintPaddy 19m ago edited 15m ago
You were treated that way because they were assholes. It happens to all of us and sometimes we all overreact when we've had enough. Believe me I understand. But you're over reacting to assholes which rarely has a good outcome. FWIW, there's nothing worse than shitty service at a pharmacy when we're sick or in pain. I feel you OP
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u/allegedlyostriches 7m ago
You're right. I've given it more thought, and I won't call unless see more mistreatment from her in the future. I've definitely had bad days and been snippy when it wasn't necessary. Thank you for your input!
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 1h ago edited 1h ago
Yeah, you are OR if you call/complain. Understandable to be annoyed though. Your fill might have taken longer, so they asked you to come inside so they could help people behind. I mean, it happens. Ever been to McDonald’s and been asked to pull forward while your fries are cooked? Nothing to be upset about. Pharmacies are extremely stressed and a lot of them are paid very low, with staff shortages on top of it. It’s not the best, but I’d just move on from it
Edit: I see you got a notification text they were ready, so yeah it doesn’t make sense. Unless they recognized you and realized something wasn’t ready? Who knows
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u/ol_shifty 1h ago
I thought they said that they got a notification that it was ready to be picked up
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 1h ago
Oh then yeah maybe idk that is weird then. I missed that. If that’s all part of the story, not sure why they would be asked to come inside. Unless they just recognized them and knew the med wasn’t ready, who knows. Pharmacies are weird places
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
It was ready. They were busy. I'll hold off on the call, unless cranky lady gets after me again. Thanks!
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 1h ago edited 1h ago
Yeah that’s a good middle ground. Hope you manage well enough with RA. My brother has it and it’s pretty dehabilitating for him. Always has to fight with doctors/insurance for his Humana. Annoying
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
I'm on Enbrel, and more. It sucks a bit.
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 1h ago
I can imagine. I’ve developed my own joint/spine and health problems over the last two years as well. Gotta love life!
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u/thejustllama 1h ago
She did get a text though that said her meds were ready to be picked up. It’s an odd situation as it’s laid out.
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u/Xrumpxx 1h ago
YOR. I feel like there is something missing from this story as someone who has worked in a a pharmacy. Yes it’s true staffing at most pharmacies have been gutted due to corporate greed. However there’s no reason that they’d instantly tell you to come inside the pharmacy, at least without asking for at least your name or DOB or which drug you’re picking up. I could be wrong but I feel like you sat in the drive thru line for a while and maybe was annoyed at them when they came to you and then they asked you to come inside.
In the case events actually happened like you claim, it’s still not a big deal. Yes, a little inconvenient for you to have to go in after sitting in the line for some time. But give the worker some grace, like you said you got your meds and it was fine. If this keeps happening then may be I’d escalate it to managers or higher up.
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u/lordsaveusall 2h ago
YOR- In my opinion, she didn’t “kick you out” (negatively) of the line, she just told you to come inside instead. From what you wrote, she didn’t say anything rude or out of pocket. Your fill might’ve been taking longer or the others were already ready. Like another comment said, it sounds like an understaffed location and the worker is probably just frustrated with their situation.
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u/No_Seaworthiness6821 2h ago
YOR. How were you treated badly? Some meds have rules about dispensing, esp with diff types of insurance requirements. I cant comment on why they cant give you your meds at the drive through, but they have to follow their rules to.
They were busy, they served whoever showed up at the counter first. You had a bad experience because of circumstances, not because of what the pharm did. What would you have upper management do? Kick aside the ppl who were at the counter before you just to serve you?
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u/allegedlyostriches 2h ago
They didnt even ask my name, much less what I was there for. I wasn't asking to be helped first, only asking to be helped. I was not bothered by the wait.
I have picked up in the drive through before, but only on days when my pain wasn't well managed.
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u/No_Seaworthiness6821 1h ago
You're say, the staff kicked you, and specifically you, out of the drive thru line without knowing why you're there and went to directly help the people behind you?
Also, please don't make your pain someone else's responsibility. I'm sorry you were having a bad day, but doesn't make you more special, entitled to special treatment or the pharmacist's responsibility.
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u/allegedlyostriches 1h ago
That is what I'm saying.
I understand that my pain isn't her fault or responsibility, I just wanted to get my medication and carry on. I understand that the folks in line inside are the priority.
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u/ZombieZookeeper 52m ago
Well, if you had gone in at 1:30 they would have slammed the door shut in your face for lunch and laughed at you
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u/palequeen42 1h ago
This has happened to me before. I try to give them some grace and just let it go. Pharmacies near me have been direly short staffed ever since Covid. I don’t think it’s easy to work in a pharmacy or with people in public in general nowadays. They may have been having a hard day, and/or somehow fixed whatever the issue was in the drive through while you were on your way in or waiting inside. I’m sure it wasn’t personal to you, and if it was for some strange reason, it’s not your problem. Hope you have a better day and better experience next time.