Cvs

As a disclosure, this was the first time I went to this CVS. It was out of desperation, the night before departure for our travel, and it was 9:30 PM and I had a list of items I needed to take with me. This location was open till 10 PM, all the others in the area closed at 9:00 PM, and I didn’t want to drive to a 24 hour location near Greenwise or on Federal off Hillsboro. My poor judgment call.
I thought most CVS stores were laid out the same as to merchandise placement. Well, this store was nothing like the one of usually go to (Glades opposite FAU). In fact, I felt like I was dropped into some terrifying movie where every aisle had things placed there which made no sense relative to the aisle signage or merchandise adjacent to it. But, I figured, that’s where the staff could help me. Poor judgment call #2.
Two staff on duty. One at register. And the pleasant woman who came from behind the register to locate items: travel sized hand sensitizing wipes; cocoa butter (for my surgical scars); 81 mg baby aspirin CVS brand — to name only two — was TOTALLY CLUELESS. She was wandering around in a daze. Mumbling to herself. Trying to find the items but not even hitting the right aisles. She walked back to the register to ask her colleague and he kept redirecting her.
Now it’s 9:50 and there are about 8 other shoppers there, apparently aware of their 10 PM closing, and some also had questions. If I wasn’t crazed when I got there, I was surely crazed now. I asked her firmly but calmly «I’m confused… why don’t you know where anything is located?» And she replied «I thought I did», and then I asked «why aren’t there more staff?» And she replied «this is a skeleton staff». I thought of a few choice remarks to make, bit my tongue, and said «Max, be nice». I promised that I would contact the store manager when I returned from my vacation. And I will.
Disclosure 2: I’m a long term stockholder in CVS. I expect more than rising stock prices and dividends from companies which serve the public and should train and staff their retail locations appropriately.