Walgreens — Local services in San Mateo

ABSOLUTELY AVOID!! If you are considering using the San Mateo Walgreens for any document photo needs, particularly for an important visa or passport application, run, don't walk, to literally any other provider. This was an absolute shambles from start to finish and a profound waste of my valuable time.

The entire process was agonizingly slow. After the photo was taken, it took a glacial 30 minutes for them to send the "digital copy." When the email finally arrived, the photo was completely unusable garbage. I was promised a 2x2 visa-ready digital photo; instead, I received the messy, raw, uncropped snapshot they took in the store—complete with the busy Walgreens background visible. It was not 2x2, it was not formatted, and it was entirely useless for online submission.

The customer service that followed was even more insulting.

I called immediately to address the issue, and the first staff member told me I was "supposed" to receive the messy, non-2x2 raw image. This is insane—who could possibly use a raw photo with a retail background for an official visa application?

I then escalated to a manager, who finally admitted that the system should send the correctly formatted 2x2 digital copy. But here’s the kicker: they told me I would have to come back to the store on a Monday morning to speak to their one "professional" who supposedly understands the system.

My time is not disposable. I cannot rearrange my professional life to chase down a simple photo because of your store's fundamental incompetence. There was zero guarantee that even this second trip would resolve the issue.

This is a failure of product, service, and management. They sold an essential service they are utterly incapable of delivering. Do yourself a favor and protect your time and peace of mind: go...

It used to be a nice pharmacy , properly staffed with experienced people. Last year, especially: can't get through via. phone ( every time must call 3-7 times, wait 10-45 minutes, and they just hang up. I am assigned to this Walgreens by my worker's comp insurance. 5 days after prescription was sent, I was told after 1.5 hours of trying to get through via phone, that MD will just have to resend the prescription to another pharmacy. I realize that majority of staff are good people, but newly hired staff is lacking in basic knowledge, basic skills. I lost count of medication errors and false txm: " not ready d/t insurance issues ". When I get there: the staff just simply didn't order medication. Is this " the new normal "? The Ombudsman phone number is right there on the wall. I just grinnge every time I have to deal with another refill !!! Dear pharmacy staff, I realize that you are understaffed and new arriving staff is... but please, at least pick up the phone and tell people the truth!!! It's real people, who have been holding and redialing after every hang up. Imagine it is one of your...

The store itself is clean and has some items I couldn't find in other Walgreens. Customer service is okay.

The most unsatisfactory part of this store is the pharmacy, which apparently is small but has a high demand. It's clearly understaffed. The staff there all look overworked and stressed. There is usually a long line and long wait, as some customers can be unnecessarily chatty. The drive-thru can be slower than visiting in person, as the limited number of staff are already busy assisting those inside the store.

The phone line almost never gets through to a live person. Half of the times I called, I waited for half an hour, got transferred a couple of times, waited some more, and then got hung up on. It's unbelievably unprofessional!

I recommend that you bring your business to other Walgreens. The staff may even...