Duane Reade

It’s a regular Duane reader but I have to mention what a jerk the pharmacist Greg was. I had a prescription and the doctor began writing one number and clearly changed it to another. He would not fill the prescription. Ok, annoying, but I tried to be reasonable and had the doctor call to confirm that the prescription was valid. There were two other scripts from the same doctor with the same date. I understand that you need to be vigilant about making sure prescriptions are authentic. However, after the doctor called and confirmed that this was legitimate he had no reason to be such a jerk that I had to get another script and be without medication for a day. Get your prescriptions anywhere else. This pharmacy doesn’t care about its customers health or needs.

This site is under major construction. 5 seconds after walking in I was greeted by a manager who helped me find all of the items I was looking for because everything was shifted around. The clerks at the counter were very upbeat and everyone had a smile on.
As of today the store is in pretty good condition for a place under renovation. They did not use that as an excuse to not be fully in stock

Duane Reade is cool, but if you post on your for that you close at midnight, it’s really unprofessional to lock the doors at 1145pm.

One good thing to mention is their interior renovation.
Many not so good things:
Prices are too high.
Reward card is useless.
Ice cream selection is minimal and the freezers are not working properly to keep it properly frozen.
The reason I am writing this shitty review is my recent encounter with a Pharmacy/​Prescription section employee. My husband and I came by at 8:48 pm on Thursday night after we spent an hour and a half in the emergency room. We needed Rx filled asap, so we could start a treatment that night. Unfortunately, we were told their system was in a process of shutting down for the day (even though it should be open until 9 pm) and suggested we took a cross town bus to go to a 24hr pharmacy.
Really helpful, not :(
My suggestion would be to have shorter operation hours, so their system could have plenty of time to shut down.
Bummer.

Man, the first cold snap hits and I’ve already got a cold. I suppose that’s what I get for not getting sick ONCE last winter. Got me some off-​brand «Dayquil & Nyquil» combo box. Waited in line behind two people for forever on a drizzly day. Such a dreary day that the woman ahead of me forgot her two bags of stuff she came into the DR to purchase in the first place. The best part of this DR is it is right on top of the subway station. I’m outta here.

Stopped in for some much needed meds. Don’t forget your Walgreens card if you have one!

I have had prescriptions filled at Duane Reade’s all over New York. That is sort of THE POINT of Duane Reade. I have even had prescriptions filled at one DR and then picked up a refill at another DR. So imagine my surprise when the pharmacist at this DR told me they wouldnt fill my scrip because I don’t live nearby (I live in Brooklyn) nor does my doctor (she practices in midtown). it was 9 pm I was on my way home from work, it was a medicine I needed very badly to get through they night, and now I wasnt going to be able fo get it filled. I am iin the Duane Reade system, I haev insurance, I have prescriptions, I told them I even have my doctor’s cell number we can call her but they said no. I said what am I supposed to do, all the DR pharmacies close at 9 and they were like «dunno! good luck!» I’ve never been so appalled at customer service in my entire life.

It took a little too long to fill my prescription. I was told an hour and it ended up being and hour and 45 min. I actually had to sit in the seating area there for quite a while. But it was my first and only time filling it up there it could’ve just been the one time. Other than how long it took it was fine.

Duane Reade was there for me when I was out and about and needed to grab something wet quickly to quince my thirst. Thanks 24hr DR for being there. Now if we could only work on your outrageous prices.

Walgeens now owns Duane Reade and the price of everything has increased. Their «Balanced Rewards card.» is practically worthless. I use Rite Aid and the internet more these days.

If you find this Duane Reade annoying, never fear, there’s another one 1 ½ blocks away. :-)
This one, I find, has a funky layout, but it’s still that traditional Walgreen’s store format, so you know where everything is.

If this DR had a redneck comedian tag line, I’m sure it would be «git ‘er done!». That charming turn of phrase is an apt descriptor of this DR.
Had to pick up a few things and they had all I needed. Checkout was fast and friendly. Indeed, DR did «git ‘er done!».
The redneck theme is also appropriate because while I was there, somebody bent over and I saw more crack than in Whitney Houston’s dressing room circa 2003. (Sorry about that last joke. Too soon?)

The pharmacist at this location, Gregory, is the nicest, most professional and caring man! If you need a new pharmacy or travel NYC please use this DR location! Can’t say enough good things about it.

Duane Reade recently switched over to Walgreen’s computer system, which made the slow and inefficient pharmacy even worse.
I routinely wait in a line of 7 angry New Yorkers, near the brink of a riot, as some poor employee tries to figure out how to work the computers, find a prescription, or disappear without being noticed.
They have lost my prescriptions and made me wait again — and again — as something goes wrong with my prescription and they need to process it one more time. This is officially the pharmacy from hell.
Oh and that medication you want… it’s out of stock.
So, in summary, you’re going to have to wait:
5 days for the medication. 2 hours for the prescription to be filled. 1 hour to process the prescription. 45 minutes in a line of angry citizens to pick up the prescription. 20 minutes for them to find the prescription. 25 minutes to re-​process the prescription because something was screwed up. And 12 minutes as someone fumbles at the register, trying to ring you up.
Total FAIL. Business has been moved to Elm Pharmacy.

I was disloyal to this Duane Reade for a while. Got my prescriptions filled in that cute little Pharmacy down the street. Mistake.
This Duane Reade has the best Pharmacy in New York, bar none. call it in, it’s there in a half hour or less for you to pick up. When you get there, there are three pharmacists and two staff members at the pharmacy itself. No waiting, no guff, no «I couldn’t reach your doctor,» no «we don’t have that,» no BS. There is your prescription. Filled. Voila.
I missed you Duane Reade. You’re the Pharmacy for me.

i rarely come in into a Duane Reade, usually because I have other options, Yesterday however I did not want to walk anymore after a day of workshops, so I selected on this location to get my Mother’s Day card.
I came in and realized I have never been in this location.
I asked an employee where the greeting cards were. I was directed to the area by her personally.
I started browsing the section and had no idea a greeting card could cost as much as $ 8. And that’s not even one of those giant cards. One fellow customer advised me to look near the bottom. They indeed were more reasonably priced.
I got in line with about 5 people ahead of me. The line moved fast.
When I got the cashier I asked about their Flex Rewards card since I had yet to get one in almost 2 years back in New York City. The cashier scanned the new card and let me know to register it on-​line and put in my information.
I walked out with my Mother’s Day card and my Flex card. I was happy.

Mad for this place. Raises the bar for all NY. Beautiful, has a lot of stuff, and prices are reasonble — not cheap — but not different than say D’Agastino’s (maybe even better)
And the pharmacy is great — they really went out of their way to help me with a prescription that had been sent to another D.R., and then they called my doctor to see if there was a generic for the expensive script they had sent over.
Is this a public company because I’d buy stock, they’re improving the pharmacy experience, CVS and Rite Aid better get on it.

Ok. My low rating is due to anger.
I have a few complaints and one nice thing to say.
Duane Reade and other drug stores and banks are taking over NYC. Every corner now has either a drug store or bank. This makes the city boring – as non franchised businesses are booted from these properties. I appreciate the convenience of close by banks and pharmacies, but it is getting ridiculous. NYC is losing it’s edge… fast.
I am mad because I bought an umbrella the other day, and left only to have it break on me within two minutes. Getting wet in the rain right after I bought an umbrella, did not make me happy.
I could not find Tylenol or Advil the other day, and no staff were available in the mid town location that I visited. I put up with it and finally asked a staff member (who was very nice) and found it. Granted I had a headache at the time.
Ok. I need to say something nice now: I like the new interior design. It makes the store a little more fun to walk around. I feel they just need a quick directory to help find the basics (like Advil!!).

Outside Duane Reade
Construction workers: «Watch out for the rat!»
Me (in my head): Ignore. Ignore construction workers yelling. Keep walking.
Construction workers (pointing): «THE. RAT. IT’S ABOUT TO CRAWL ON YOUR FEET.»
Me (in my head): They’re just messing with you. Ignore. Ignore construction workers yelling.
But, let this be a lesson learned, do not ignore construction workers when they are trying to save you from a traumatic experience. I finally looked down. I finally paid attention. There was a rat weaving in and out of my foot area.
Ew.
No rats inside, though, yay I’m a fan.

The surprise I felt–
The pharmacist wore flip-​flops!
You can imagine.