Duane Reade

The staff are nuts.
I’m looking at hangers and shower curtains and this Duane Reade bozo shouts down the otherwise empty aisle, «DO YOU NEED HELP WITH SOMETHING?» He was so far away it took me a second to figure out he was shouting at me.
What is that nonsense?
Alas this experience makes three out of three for similar experience, so I’m done.
Can’t tell if they’re provincial and paranoid or if they’re just rank amateurs who bring a lot of bad juju to their work but the net result is you feel like a suspected criminal.
There’s a Duane Reade or Elm or Rite Aid every two blocks around here — would avoid this one.

Let down by my local Duane Reads
The Managment at this store is very lazy and slow. They page him to the front and he just walks very slowly checking shelves and taking his sweet time. He shows no care for seeming like I’m his main worry. They have tried to tell me twice now (returning two separate products) that with my valid receipt and unused product they can only give me a gift card. The reason being there is a barcode on the receipt and it’s never able to be scanned. They tell me if they can’t scan the barcode they can only do gift cards which I see to be a cop out of what probably entails more work to get me my money back (ie call corporate, Call I.T. Support). Over all I have now boycotted this store which is unfortunate as its one block from my house. I don’t recommend you invest your time in this store as customer service is not number one here.

All positive here. On my way up to White Plains and wanted to buy some last minute hair products.
Staff here are super helpful. Not like other locations where you can’t find an employee to help you. Products here are displayed neatly and not at all disorganized.

Duane Reade typically doesn’t allow dogs, but this one does! It’s so nice to walk through the store without worrying that someone is either going to ask if my pup is a service dog or ask me to leave. The people that work there are very friendly and love saying hi to my dog. I’m lucky to live near this Duane Reade.

I came to this store looking for bulbs. As soon as I entered, it was clear on my face that I needed help.
But staff was too busy discussing their lunch stories and other gossips.
So I decided to leave it that and found my way through the store.
It’s actually a great store with tons of amenities. But lacks customer service.
When I was checking out, they never cared to say thank you. So I deliberately looked at one and said «I said thank you» with a smirk.

Providing optimal customer service. Come see the wonderful pharmacists and techs!

Fairly new/​clean Duane Reade in my neighborhood. I come here once in a while on the weekends when I decide to venture to 1^st Avenue for a change of pace.
The organization of this store is sort of cramped and weird to me for some reason. I’ve never seen a Duane Reade like this, but that’s not a bad thing. Just not used to it.
They have a pretty good selection. The cashiers are super friendly and they’re pretty quick so you never have to wait long in line (but then again, there aren’t a lot of customers here usually).

Pretty new Duane Reade that opened up not too long ago near my block. Nothing special, just a standard store like all of them here in the city. They all have that new pastel cover scheme, extremely bright lighing, and decent hours. Well stocked large store. You can get everything you need here for your personal use, toiletries, and pharmaceutical needs. Plus, there is a small section for frozen, refrigerated, and snack goods. Convenient location if you live on the far reaches of the UES by 1^st Ave.

This is a pretty standard Duane Reade– it’s always clean, the staff is friendly, they have virtually every brand of beauty stuff I could want.
When I first relocated here from Chicago, I needed my prescription transferred over and had no idea how to do it. I called the DR pharmacy, gave them the number of my old pharmacy, and my prescription was ready for pick-​up in 30 minutes. They only told me after the fact that it’s technically against their policy to accept out-​of-​state transfers, but they did me a favor and bent the rules so I wouldn’t be put out. When I needed it refilled, they contacted my doctor, faxed over a request form, and again had my prescription ready when I needed it.

This place is a NIGHTMARE. I just moved across town, and I used to use the Duane Reade on Broadway, which was very good. So, I had no idea what I was in for with this new location. True, they have the usual wide selection of products you’ll find in any Duane Reade, but trying to get a prescription filled is hell. They’re severely understaffed, and every time I ask someone behind the counter for help they tell me they’re just there to train the actual staff, and they can’t help me. I’ve never spent less than 15 minutes in line. It took me 4 trips to get 3 prescription refills, and every time I go back there’s some problem — they lost my refill number, they’re out of something, they don’t remember my doctor calling a prescription in, etc. They handed my a bag with my refills, and I didn’t find out until I got home that one of the bottles only had one pill in it – when I went back they said to come back in a week when they had more in stock! I’ve been using Duane Reades for my prescriptions for 4 years, but I’m never going back here again.

Big DR with everything you can need. However, a bit disorganized. At least you know that the clerk will avert eyes when you buy pads, and double bag too. It’s ok, I didn’t need the double bagging, but the thought was nice.