Walgreens — Local services in Pontiac Township

I was hesitant about sharing my review because its a small town and I don’t want to get embarrassed, but I’m hoping by sharing my experience that this will bring awareness that mental health is important & should be taken more seriously. The incident happened back in Jan 2024, I had went in to print out pics for a collage. Laura knew exactly what I was doing because she gave me the cord. I had thought I could print the pics through Bluetooth….i was wrong. What happened was I was in the store for 40 mins, I had pictures in my cart and I was working on my last few. I wasn’t planning on staying long I did have my grandma in the car waiting with it running. A couple songs came on that I sang to & danced to….last time I checked it wasn’t illegal to sing/dance. There were employees next to me talking about expired foods In the coolers from the previous year. They knew what I was doing… Or at least I thought so. I looked up & officer, Josh Freese (Someone I go to church with) Asked me what I was doing. Thrown off guard, I gave him a fist pump told him what I was doing…& he questioned why I was there for so long. The employees did not check on me, or ask me if I needed any help Instead, they called the cops. Why? I wasn’t causing any harm. I had just moved back into town after a really bad break up, I was trying to print off pictures of my fur babies. At this point, I had questioned the employees as to why they called the cops & all three of them were standing behind the counter scared. Again why? At this point, Officer Josh Freese Called for back up … That’s when my grandmother walked in. I wanted answers as to why the cops were called… There were multiple answers… Intoxicated, Drug user, & because I was singing/dancing. Attempting to go back into the store to still get answers Officer Alex Ruiz put her hands on me and reached for her taser. All this was uncalled for. I had left. That incident, Stephanie had called the cops. Went back the next morning, hoping to get a different crew so I can explain to that manager what happened. I ran into Laura there was another woman at the counter (missy or Melissa). I had walked up to her and started talking to her about what happened. I looked at Laura and asked her what if I had a disability? She responded, “ I work with mental retardardation & she knows how they act”. I was humiliated, embarrassed, and degraded. I go down an aisle to catch a breather. Realization hit me. They don’t care. At this point, I’m having a breakdown in the aisle. The only person that was there helping was my grandmother. INSTEAD Laura called the cops. I just wanted someone to watch the tape & see how the employees treated me as a valued customer. Officer Josh Bray And Officer Derek Renken showed up. I highly applaud Officer Derek Renken for handling the situation, the best he could! I just wish Officer freese and Ruiz would’ve handled the situation better not knowing what they’re walking into. On the report, it says possibly intoxicated or has mental issues. I’m not saying whether I am or not the victim here. The situation could’ve been handled differently. Don’t abuse your power. Maybe there’s classes on how to handle someone with a mental illness? If so, Stephanie, Laura Chaplan, officer Josh Freese and officer, Alex Ruiz all need to sign up for that course. Now I have to drive to Bloomington if I want to shop at Walgreens. How embarrassing!!! Save your money and shop at CVS...

Ugh I really hate posting these things but after last week and today, I'm really annoyed with this location. After using them for a lil over a year now, I use to question why the reviews were so bad. Sure they're pretty busy at times and you have to wait in a line but besides that I usually never had an issue. However, starting last week because of a lot of medications being on back order throughout the country and whatnot, they have been very rude and impatient when I try calling and asking about it. Then today, they didn't even answer AT ALL. I mean I tried calling like 10 times today. It kept saying either 1) "There are more than 3 callers ahead of you" and I would wait it would start ringing and ringing then make a sound like someone picked up only to be hung up on. Or 2) It would say "There is 1 caller ahead of you" in which case I'm like ok cool maybe they're actually taking care of people only to have it ring again like 50 times (literally) to make that same sound and be hung up. This happened over and over again today. I can't even get a hold of them to ask a freaking question. This is totally unacceptable considering on Walgreens own website they say "if you need your prescription call your pharmacy and let them know" is total BS.

Now there are a couple of the ladies that work there that are okay and nice but overall, it's been very off putting lately and not friendly really...I went to Walmart's Pharmacy for first time last week and it was like night and day in customer service.

PS- Off topic a bit, I've worked in customer service before and I am always friendly as can be to others that work in it because of that fact. I understand the frustrations that customers can cause when something isn't your fault so I'm respectful for it. I expect to be treated the same. Especially treated the same...

Today I went to pick up a photo order at the drive thru, I've always pick my photos on the drive thru with no issues. But today I had an encounter with the person at the window her name was Mary! God she's was very rude to me.... She told me "the drive thru is only for prescriptions not pictures" do not order them here no more, although the app give the option for window pick up... then she throws my photos on the counter and wanted to charge me for my order which was already paid for online, I kindly said its already been paid for, and I suggested to show her the transaction, she follows to ignore me and went to get someone else, now the other person was more kind and helpful. This service is unacceptable, made me feel so...