I walked into a CVS Pharmacy a few days back. I normally avoid them. I worked for CVS over 10 years ago back when they were the Melville Corporation. Back then someone realized they could make huge profits by cutting payroll. I ended up working many nights with just myself and another employee. Lines everywhere, the place was a mess, the minimum wage CVS was paying couldn’t get you decent help beyond the 16 year olds who didn’t really need to work and just needed extra cash to have fun.
Most of those 16 year old employees moved on to college and then productive careers. The managers of the company are left to rot. Careers are hard to come by in retail. I was one of the lucky managers who broke out into a new career, much happier and healthier.
After 10 years I thought CVS would have changed. I really thought this recession, forcing people to demand more service for their money, would force change on corporations only out to make a buck .
I guess not. Check out the quick picture I took from the middle of a line at a local CVS Pharmacy. Pretty pathetic. An Assistant Manager was the main ringer. 1 employee was ringing along side him. They were telling customers the photo machine was broken so no one could drop off pictures but more likely there was no one to man the photo center.
This particular CVS was located in a low income area. Some of their stores in higher income areas are spotless and offer some credible customer service.
Shame on CVS Corporate for continuing to cut payroll to the bone and they really only do it in low income areas because these areas accept it. I avoid the chain pharmacies at all costs. There are still many local pharmacies out there. Do a search on Google and support your local Pharmacies.
[Recovered from Wayback Machine on 2026-05-10] Original: http://daviddaniels.com:80/2010/04/cvs-pharmacy/ · view snapshot
David Daniels has been writing at DavidDaniels.com since 2001. Download the free life planning workbook, Write Open Act, to start mapping the gap for yourself.