Duane Reade

I gave this Duane Reade 3 stars for a couple of reasons.
The first is that their inventory was pretty depleted. They did not have any of the items I was looking for and I then went to another one to get them.
The second. There was a huge commotion between a customer and one of the employees while I was there. The customer kept yelling that the employee had stolen from him or something along these lines. He would keep walking out of the store and coming back in to continue his ranting and cursing at the employee. This went on for about a solid 15 minutes of yelling and accusations. I understand that there are altercations, but I feel like this employee or another one should have called the cops or something to handle this guy. Not just continue to let him go on and look like he was about to get violent.
As a customer, I would like to feel more safe in the environment. And knowing that the employees had called for the authorities would have made me feel safer.

Decent selection. My main complaint is that the lines can get long and they’ll only have two cashiers working. Other than that, it’s clean, good sized, and usually has what I’m looking for.

BAIT AND SWITCH. They offered a special of 2 boxes of gluten-​free rice chex cereal for $ 6.00 but they only had one box in stock. I asked them to honor the price and charge me $ 3.00 for the one box. I was told the price for one box was $ 4.99 since I am a DR/Walgreen’s member. The clerk called the manager who then offered me another cereal and a raincheck. I explained that I am traveling and the rain check would not work and that another cereal with gluten would be dangerous to my health.
I was very surprised and disappointed that the manager could not make an executive decision to honor the $ 3.00 listed price. I spend thousands of dollars at Walgreens for my prescriptions every year and will be looking at other pharmacies (i.e., CVS) that offer meaningful customer service.
File this review under: How to lose a loyal customer with a Bait and Switch.

This is, by far, the worst pharmacy in New York. In the two months that i’ve been going here, they’ve lost my perscription once, not had a record of me as a customer once, and one time actually filled my perscription with the WRONG medication. I only noticed myself because i’ve been taking it for a while. The pharmacy staff is rude, and the manager, whom i’ve spoken to twice, is useless. I would reccomend any other location over this one.

This Duane Reade sucks! I went to fill a prescription and stood in line for a half hour only to be told it would be at least an hour wait. I left and took the script to the DR in Union Sq and the wait was 15 minutes and they were understaffed.

Beware of the overcharges. Today, it was 50 cents on a box of envelopes. Staff was nice about it, though.

I came back from Paris with a few friends and one of them was sick as a dog. As we got to NYC he got better but after dinner at Ssam Bar with a few other friends on their way to Spain it was time to get some pre emptive meds. We come strolling here and he gets what he needs. Lots of people out so it was a bit crowded. We did our business and then moved on. Typical Duane Reade. We may complain about them but it’s good that they’re there when we need em.

Oblivious employees letting lines build for no reason and allowing their friends to cut several people in line. That’s exactly what I look for in a drugstore.

They answer your daily needs, with a cool air conditioned shopping experience. That said they are in no way inexpensive. But they do tend to have all the things you might need. And they’re everywhere.

So basically they are trying to spruce up the place because it looked grim before.
You know what it reminds me of?
It reminds me of a woman you work with who just had work done on her face.
She looks great, but she still is a bitch to work with.

I prefer the old school Duane Reade like this one over the shiny, overly lid and touristy DR’s that’s been popping up around town. Friendly staff and is stocked with just the items you need from a local convenience store. Stay cool.

I go to this Duane Reade on occasion simply out of convenience — it’s on the way back to my apartment from my gym. However, that is the only good thing that I have to say about it. Every time that I have gone I have always been underwhelmed. There are always 5 – 6 employees working but only one person behind the counter. It doesn’t matter if there are 2 people in line or 10 people in line. They will continue to have just one person working checkout. Then when they do have to call for «back up» the person who comes to take over a second register always acts as though you have greatly inconvenienced them. I’m sorry to say, but in some cases it’s just worth walking the extra block to get some better service.

«Gee Elliott, what a lackluster way to kick off the year with your first review for 2010 to be of a friggin’ Duane Reade!» Well, I’m sorry, I’ve been super busy.
I go in here periodically, usually to buy a pack of my «fancy» cigarettes: Dunhill Lights. There was a time when I could get them at almost every corner bodega, then Mayor Mike came along and started cracking his little whip and shutting down stores that sell to minors. Look, if some 10^th grader wants to smoke to piss off his parents or impress that hot exchange student from Paris or whatever; who am I or Mayor Mike to say otherwise?
So now I’m forced to seek out Duane Reade’s like an addict seeking out a heroin dealer on Avenue B circa 1987, as the only place I know I can get my fix.
The only problem is this particular Duane Reade is never stocked with Dunhill Lights, but they do stock regulars and menthols (Really??? Do THAT many people really smoke British menthol cigarettes!!! Really???). And the staff, I mean I understand they work at a Duane Reade, it’s tough to be motivated, but c’mon…
Sunday night:
Me — (There’s a line at 11 o’clock at night on a Sunday? Whatever, I need a pack of smokes) «Can I get a pack of Dunhill lights?»
Clerk — «Huh?»
Me — «A pack of Dunhill Lights, please? In the blue box?!»
Clerk — «Umm. (Turns and stares at cigarette display, then turns back to me) Umm…»
Me — «They’re in a blue box, see those? Like those, but in a blue box.»
Clerk — «Oh (Short pause, followed by more staring). I don’t think we got those.»
Me — «Well, can you check in the back? Once the manager checked in back and found a carton for me.»
Clerk — (More staring)
Me — «Typical!»
– END SCENE –

Since when did this place hire Da Brat and a Nina Sky reject? The service here is absolutely horrible here. The lines are long, the employees are rude. Then there is that creepy indian guy at the end of the cashier booth staring at random people. This place gives me the chills.
Another star for having chase atm’s~

I only go in here if absolutely necessary and I am too lazy to walk to CVS, a far superior chain. My experience with all Duane Reade stores is that they are understocked, low on selection, disorganized, messy, cramped, and offer slow, inadequate service. This particular location, and the corner of 14^th St and 3^rd Ave, brings mediocrity to new levels. Poorer service, longer lines, slower sales associates… a drug store shopping experience really doesn’t get much worse. There is a less crowded DR a few blocks north on 3^rd Ave btw 17^th and 18^th, and if you want to avoid DR altogether, there is a CVS near 20^th and 3^rd and one on Park Ave South at 18^th.

I am rating this pharmacy as a person without prescription health insurance.
Their prescription drugs at retail are higher than if you buy them at Walgreens. Generic brand drugs are always cheaper, but if you go in with a prescription without health insurance they will regularly fill the brand name over generic, making you pay sometimes over 50% more than you need to. Of course you can request generic, but I could imagine some people not being aware they could get generic for much cheaper.
The store itself is not well kept, it’s kind of a disaster zone. Supplies are always running short or lacking, and there is always STUFF on the floor, random garbage or products.
The lines take FOREVER, too.
I’m grateful for this local drugstore, but I usually end up walking 1 avenue to the Walgreens for more supplies and better service.
1 extra star for being open 24 Hours.