What is Great Pharmacy Customer Service?
Pharmacy customer service isn't just about filling prescriptions quickly—it's about building relationships, solving problems, and genuinely caring about your health outcomes.
AV Chemist in Glendale provides exceptional pharmacy customer service in Queens by treating every patient as an individual, not a prescription number.
Elements of Excellent Pharmacy Service
Human Connection:
- • Pharmacist knows you by name
- • Same team members every visit
- • Genuine relationships built over time
- • Caring, empathetic interactions
- • Remembers your health history
Expert Guidance:
- • Comprehensive medication counseling
- • Answers to all questions, no rushing
- • Proactive medication reviews
- • Drug interaction prevention
- • Cost-saving recommendations
Accessibility:
- • Direct phone access to pharmacists
- • Quick response times
- • 24/7 emergency service
- • Easy communication channels
- • No automated phone trees
Problem-Solving:
- • Insurance issues resolved quickly
- • Stock problems handled proactively
- • Special requests accommodated
- • Coordination with doctors
- • Solutions-focused approach
Chain Pharmacy Service vs Independent Pharmacy Service
❌ Chain Pharmacy Customer Service (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid):
- Automated Phone Systems: Navigate endless prompts, wait 10+ minutes to reach a person (if ever)
- Rotating Staff: Different pharmacist and techs each visit—nobody knows your history
- Rushed Interactions: Pharmacists serving 200+ prescriptions/day have 30 seconds per patient
- Policy Over People: "That's our policy" takes precedence over solving your problem
- Limited Accountability: Corporate structure means nobody takes ownership of issues
- Metrics-Driven: Speed and volume prioritized over quality and care
✅ AV Chemist Customer Service (Independent Pharmacy):
- Direct Human Contact: Call and speak directly with a pharmacist—no automated systems
- Consistent Team: Same pharmacist and staff who know you, your family, your health goals
- Unhurried Care: 10-15 minutes for counseling, unlimited time for questions
- Flexible Solutions: We find ways to help you, not enforce corporate policies
- Owner Accountability: Pharmacist owner personally ensures your satisfaction
- Patient-First Focus: Your health outcomes drive every decision we make
Real Stories: How Customer Service Makes a Difference
Problem-Solving at 8 PM
"My insurance rejected my diabetes medication on Friday at 6 PM. CVS said 'nothing we can do until Monday, talk to your insurance.' I was going to run out of medication over the weekend. I called AV Chemist at 8 PM and the pharmacist answered personally. He called my doctor, got an alternative medication approved, and delivered it to my Forest Hills apartment by 9:30 PM. This is customer service."
– James T., Forest Hills
Remembered My Mother's Allergy
"My mother has a penicillin allergy. Her new doctor (who didn't know this) prescribed amoxicillin. Walgreens filled it without checking. When I transferred to AV Chemist, the pharmacist noticed the allergy in her records, refused to fill it, and called the doctor for an alternative. Walgreens would have given her a medication that could have killed her. AV Chemist's attention to detail and personal knowledge saved her life."
– Robert K., Rego Park
Actually Answered My Questions
"I started a new blood pressure medication and had 10 questions about side effects, when to take it, interactions with my other meds. At CVS, the pharmacist said 'read the pamphlet' because they were too busy. At AV Chemist, the pharmacist spent 15 minutes explaining everything, gave me his direct number for follow-up questions, and called me 3 days later to check how I was doing. This is what healthcare should be."
– Sarah M., Middle Village
What "Personal Service" Really Means
Examples of Personal Service at AV Chemist:
- • Calling before delivery to confirm you're home
- • Remembering your work schedule and delivering at convenient times
- • Checking in when you start new medications to see how you're tolerating them
- • Noticing when you're due for refills and calling to remind you
- • Coordinating with multiple doctors when you see specialists
- • Finding solutions when insurance creates barriers
- • Packaging medications in daily organizers for elderly patients
- • Providing extra counseling for family caregivers
- • Knowing your health goals and working toward them with you
The Hidden Cost of Poor Pharmacy Service
Bad pharmacy customer service isn't just annoying—it directly impacts your health:
Health Consequences of Poor Service:
- • Medication non-adherence: Long waits and poor service lead patients to skip doses
- • Drug interactions missed: Rushed pharmacists don't catch dangerous combinations
- • Questions go unasked: Patients don't ask questions when pharmacists seem too busy
- • Errors increase: High-volume, fast-paced environments breed mistakes
- • Cost opportunities missed: Nobody advocates for lower-cost alternatives
- • Health outcomes suffer: Without personal relationships, optimal management is impossible
How to Evaluate Pharmacy Customer Service
Questions to Ask Your Pharmacy:
- 1. Can I speak directly to a pharmacist when I call?
If you get automated systems or can't reach anyone, service will be poor
- 2. Will I see the same pharmacist each visit?
Continuity is essential for relationship-based care
- 3. How long do new medication counseling sessions last?
Should be 10-15 minutes minimum, not 30 seconds
- 4. What happens if I have problems after hours?
24/7 emergency access shows commitment to patient care
- 5. Do you proactively review my medications?
MTM services prevent problems before they happen
Experience Better Pharmacy Service in Queens
If you're tired of impersonal service, long waits, and feeling like a number, switching to AV Chemist takes 15 minutes:
Easy Transfer Process:
- 1. Call (929) 387-8111
Speak directly with a pharmacist, no automated system
- 2. We Handle the Transfer
We call your old pharmacy and transfer all prescriptions
- 3. Meet Your Pharmacist
Personal introduction, medication review, build relationship
- 4. Experience the Difference
FREE delivery, personal service, genuine care
Serving All Queens Neighborhoods
Exceptional pharmacy customer service with free delivery throughout Queens:
- • Glendale
- • Ridgewood
- • Middle Village
- • Maspeth
- • Forest Hills
- • Rego Park
- • Elmhurst
- • Corona
- • Flushing
- • Astoria
- • All Queens!