Walgreens — Local services in Alameda

I ordered a new MacBook Pro ($2,400) set to ship to my home. I was alerted that the package was redirected to the FedEx at Walgreens on Otis. We did not initiate the redirect and confirmed that Apple didn't either. When I went to pick it up, they couldn't find it. My FedEx tracking information said it had been signed for with my first initial and last name just a couple hours before I arrived. The acting manager went back to look at the security footage and saw a guy come in at the time it was signed for and he took the package. He showed me a photo of the footage it showed that the Walgreens employee at the time looked at an ID from the guy and then handed him the package.

They questioned the employee and she said his ID said my exact name and that she doesn't know the guy (of course, they have to take her word as the security footage can't make out the text on an ID). I don't buy it. The odds of that guy knowing to walk into that store and ask to pick up a MacBook package with my exact name on it at that exact time is impossible to be a coincidence. And even if there were two people with my exact name that both happened to order MacBooks that happened to each be sitting at that location at the same time, there would have been another one when I went in.

We believe she is calling a friend when a high value package shows up in their (unbelievably disheveled) holding area, gives him the name on the package to say when he comes in, then as long as he presents any ID, it appears on security footage that she did her job. Then he walks out and they split the sale of the stolen goods later. That part of the scam feels fairly clear.

The part that's a bit odd is why FedEx rerouted my package when neither the sender (Apple) nor recipient (me) initiated it. Note: we asked for details of the redirect origin and they would only release the last 4 digits of the phone number, which we of course didn't recognize. We wonder whether someone working at FedEx is also in on the operation who has both visibility into packages coming to the local area and the authority to redirect them to that location. They'd be very familiar with the labeling from well-known brand shipments like Apple and could easily call up the gal at Walgreens (presumably a friend) and coordinate the delivery time around her shift schedule.

Note: the manager has all my information and still has not contacted me once, though I've emailed several times with the guy I dealt with at the store and he keeps telling me the manager...

Don’t use this pharmacy. When your provider sends a prescription over, you can’t tell from the Walgreens app whether or when it will be filled, and you can’t call them because you’ll sit on hold for 30+ minutes and eventually get disconnected. (You can actually hear someone pick up and slam down the receiver.) Then you just have to show up and stand in line for 30 minutes to then be told to come back in an hour, but when you come back an hour later, that’s when you find out that they don’t have your medication in stock. If you ask when your prescription will be filled, you get “I don’t know,” because they don’t know when the medication will be in stock. This is what happened today, after waiting more than a week for a medication that I’ve been taking every day for ten years. And this is how the conversation went with the helpful staff member:

Me: Can you order my medication? Pharmacy tech: No. Me: Can you call another pharmacy for me so I can get my prescription filled today? Pharmacy tech: No. Me: Can I speak with the pharmacy manager? Pharmacy tech: Not here. Me: When will she be here? Pharmacy tech: Don’t know. Me: Can I speak with the store manager? Pharmacy tech: Not here. Me: When will they be here? Pharmacy tech: Don’t know. Me (laughing): You’re lying to me! Pharmacy tech: Thank you. Me: Is there anything you can do for me, since my doctor sent this prescription to you over a week ago and now I’m out of pills, and it’s your fault? Pharmacy tech: No, but you can come back tomorrow. Me: For what? Pharmacy tech: To see if your medication is in.

I’m not exaggerating. This happened to me today. It’s always been bad, but this time was the last straw. I’ve been a Walgreens patient/customer for more than 35 years, but that is it. I’m...

Listen, I love coming to this Walgreens because it's conveniently located on my way home from work. And, since I get off late, I appreciate the fact that I can stop by and pick up what I need late at night. The store is clean and well stocked. However, my main concern is with the older Asian lady that works overnight. She rude beyond belief! I come in with a positive attitude, I greet the Security guard, I don't take a long time grabbing what I need. Yet, every time I come up to pay, the old Asian lady has this angry look on her face. I smile and nod and say hello. But she just scowls at me. Look, I'm sorry if people steal from your store, or perhaps night shift is simply not your thing. But please try being nicer, especially to those that are being nice towards you. I don't come into your store to steal or to make your job any more difficult. Don't treat me like I'm some low-life that you want kicked out...