I was taken aback when I strolled up to the Pharmacy counter at Walgreens at 3339 South Las Vegas Boulevard day-before-last and overheard the clerk quiz a customer about the cost of a prescription drug pursuant to the individuals insurance coverage.
After noting that the co-pay for the customer picking up the prescription was $3.30, the elderly employee proceeded to poke his nose into the patron's private medical affairs.
"Do you realize that this drug normally costs $1,000.00," he pointedly sniped at the customer (loud enough for all within earshot to hear) who struggled to maintain his composure.
Obviously, the middle-aged man was stunned by the intrusion judging by his negative reaction.
After all, what business was it of the pharmacist's?
Was the crotchety-old clerk jealous of the customer's excellent insurance coverage or was something more sinister afoot?
At this point, the individual stumbled for a response for a second or two.
"I know," he hesitated sincerely at long last, "I am quite lucky. I count my blessings every day," he managed to blurt out, a little emotional over the lack of code of ethics on the part of the ignorant Walgreens employee.
In my opinion, the conversation should never have taken place pursuant to applicable privacy laws.
The pharmacist should have simply checked the ID of the customer, processed the insurance, and collected the co-pay (with no questions asked).
In sum, the Walgreens employee breached a code of ethics and violated the customer's right to privacy in the process.
In fact, his shocking conduct rose to the level of negligence and invasion of privacy.
But, I am not surprised with what went down.
After all, Walgreens has a history of of "crossing the line".
For example, in the past the corporate giant has disclosed confidential private medical information about its customers to third parties without their permission or written consent.
The data was obtained from the prescription records on file which they gathered by virtue of drug sales at their pharmacies around the country.
Walgreens has also been previously slapped on the wrist by the Government for overcharging on sales items (i.e. computer scanners were not adjusted to reflect sales prices so consumers were charged the original ticket price unless they double-checked their bill and noticed the billing error).
The store's actions amounted to false advertising, deceptive business practices, and fraud.
The outlet at 3339 South Las Vegas Boulevard is also guilty of price gouging.
For instance, the items on the shelf are consistently priced at 10% - 20% higher than the products in other stores in the chain around Las Vegas. For example, a container of milk that sells on Fremont Street for $1.39 is sold for $1.99 at the Venetian Hotel location on the strip.
Management has deliberately manipulated the cost of inventory to dishonestly take advantage of the fact tourists lodged at hotels nearby are - not only use that store for convenience sake (distance factors) - also unaware that the items are less costly at Walgreens stores at other locations.
Because I shop at Walgreens stores in - Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Las Vegas - so I am quite familiar with their basic prices and keen to their dishonest business conduct as a result.
Talk about an "evil" Empire!
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