Gerbes Pharmacy — Local services in Columbia

Update as of 2-18-20:

I called on the phone to get pricing for medications corrected as the text I was sent stating the prices reflected the incorrect prices. I called ahead of time so I wouldn't have to wait while it was done in the store. I was told over the phone that she couldn't update it over the phone because she was the only person other than pharmacist working and I would be taking up to much time. So that leads me to what happened when I went into the store the following day.

I was helped by Jacob, someone I have seen behind the counter many times. I told him what happened the day before and the price was over by about $80 if I recall and he promptly started to assist and correct the information so it reflected the prices I was seeing. Jacob took it a step further while I was waiting and decided to price out the difference between insurance or the Kroger membership for pharmacy to see which would be a better savings. The level of wanting to help me showed with Jacob and I ended up signing up for the Kroger membership for 1 year as it saved me about $10 that first month. This wouldn't have happened if Jacob didn't take the time to compare and look up this information. So thank you Jacob and you are a big part of why I choose to come back to Gerbes when needed. (update end)

Some of the best prices at pharmacy for a few medications. Paying out of pocket 99% of the time and Gerbes is the cheapest typically when using goodrx. The staff are very friendly and I at least do not get that feeling of being judged by the person behind the counter like I used to get dirty looks or on a few occasions, pharmacists would tell me why I should not be on the medication. This happened more than once and was at walgreens and Weis Pharmacy and Rite Aid years ago. I feel comfortable having Gerbes in charge of where I get medication and the price is fair compared to others even though some generics are still to expensive even with goodrx, yet I have no choice. The older man pharmacists is quiet but he and I have spoke a few times and he means well. Between Gerbes and Hyvee, they are the best two places I believe for pharmacy needs between professionalism and cost and commitment from employees to help you as a individual and not just another person with problems who is less than a person like some other pharmacies have made me feel by what was said verbally to me from the pharmacist. Thanks Gerbes for setting the standard and treating the patients with respect.

Update as of 2-27-22 Gerbes continues to be prompt and respectful. HYVEE on Broadway has good prices however the wait time and not having what is suppose to be ready is becoming increasingly more time waiting when they tell you 10-15 minutes, though it gets said to you three times. A lot of new faces and younger individuals behind the counter doing there...

Ever since Kroger bought them out, it's nothing but drama. I've been taking the SAME medications every month for 8 years but they never seem to have it. Worst of all, if you call or use thee worst website to refill... No one will call you to say they're out of the meds. There has been times where it just says "in progress" for days. Or if I go in person, I get the hairy eyeball cuz I'm there on day 27...but I try the refill cuz many times it takes days to get meds. I also travel a lot, both prefessionally and personally, and it's always so stressful to time everything. Today, I was supposed to get 90 pills, that I take 3x a day, and they gave me 75. The label even says "take 3 times a day"... So where did 75 come from? Funny, how you'll get shorted but never too much. I've also noticed the HUGE turnover of employees. They also close for lunch in the middle of the day. I could go on and on. It's always a fiasco. My doc calls in a script in the morning and you have to call them and you get "well.... We check the machine only a few times a day. What?!! Or if they do get the call in but don't have it or whatever, and it'll say" in progress" for days until you call them. Omg, heaven forbid you grab a bag of M&Ms to pay for along with your meds.. You get the...

I'd give zero if I could. Worst pharmacy I've dealt with in decades. Scrips are NEVER ready, even with a week's lead time. Oh, but they'll fill it if you'll just take a seat. After 7 days? I can't imagine anyone continuing to do business there. It's not a flower shop; people don't need flowers to stay alive and healthy. Short staffed or not, people NEED their medications! I transferred mine to another pharmacy recently and have received great ON TIME service. Where is the store manager in all this? Oh, and no pickup window here either. Might as well just...