"Next!"

Patience isn't just a virtue, there's a prescription for it.

The community pharmacy where I currently get my prescriptions has always been slow but lately it has become intolerable.  They're in the process of being taken over by a large national chain known by three initials.  If I call in a renewal, the automated phone system tells me that it will be ready, "Tomorrow morning".  When I show up the following morning they tell me that, "It's not ready".  If the system tells me that it will be ready, "Tomorrow afternoon", when I show up the following afternoon they tell me that, "It's not ready".  When they tell you that it's not ready, they also tell you that you can sit and wait for it and they will let you know when it's ready.  I'm no Einstein but doesn't that defeat the purpose of calling ahead and having an automated phone system?

Two days ago I called one in and the system said that it would be ready, "Tomorrow morning."  This afternoon (two days later) I went to pick it up and you guessed it, they said, "It's not ready, you can sit and wait for it if you like".  I've been making two trips in the same day before I can finally pick something up.  People have been getting disgusted and are turning around and walking out.  I'll have to start calling in my renewals a week in advance.  The lines and waits have gotten so bad that we need a prescription just to get us through so that we can make it to the counter and  be told ... "It's not ready.  Next!" ...

Author's Note

"The cart before the horse is neither beautiful nor useful." - Thoreau