Bartell Drugs

Brittany Rogers

2024-01

Before I get to the cons of this particular store's pharmacy, let me highlight the pros for this store: the store is clean itself, inventory of items is easy to find, and I've never had a negative interaction with a store or pharmacy worker. I have no complaints for the store itself.The cons are all to do with the pharmacy, which I had to switch to out of insurance necessity about a year ago. As I said, I have only had pleasant interactions with those who work at the pharmacy. However, I think it is very clear that they are overworked and understaffed. Everyone is always busy working on prescriptions, to the point where only one (occasionally two) person(s) are able to work the register. It doesn't seem to matter what time of day I come, I will be waiting at least 40-60 minutes to get to the counter and have the 5 minute interaction to get my prescriptions. Obviously, this makes it difficult to pick up prescriptions; it is far easier to find 10-20 minutes in my day to stop by than it is to set aside an hour, which one must be prepared to do each time in case it takes that long.If you think it would be easier to pay before hand and pick it up, it is not. There is still only one or two cashiers. You still have to wait in the line, and it will still take as long to locate your medications.The delivery for this pharmacy is also bizarre, but I'm unsure if that really has to do with the pharmacy itself or with its parent company. The reason I say this is because the information for deliver on the website is not consistent with what is actually offered. According to the Bartell website, orders for same day delivery can be placed up until 2pm, and then deliveries go out later that day. However, just today in trying to get a medication delivered, selecting today's date was available at 11:29am, but by 11:30am errored out and was no longer an option. While normally this would be inconvenient but harmless overall, a prescription like the one I was requesting delivery on has significant side effects if a dose is taken even 4 hours later than it usually is. I should note, I got the text that the prescription was ready at 11:27am. This was not something I waited on, but rather set to immediately and barely missed the incorrectly identified window.That is what it is, so be it, but the website needs to reflect these times. Otherwise all it does is set customers up for confusion, frustration, and difficulty getting their medication. Which sadly appears to be a theme, whether a customer goes in person or not.My hope is that they will hire more workers and implement a better system internally for this pharmacy, as I'm sure it must be chaotic within the pharmacy if the customers are able to feel those effects so significantly.Tl;dr: the store itself is fine, issues are with the pharmacy as they are seemingly short staffed, and the website has outdated/incorrect information regarding deliveries, meaning you must make the decision between standing in line for an hour or just waiting for the delivery the next day. Don't bother with Pay 'N Go, it doesn't cut your wait time down at this pharmacy.

Brian Taylor

2023-05

Love the middle isle with all of their on sales items.Pharmacy services is typically Bad to OK, but often HORRIBLE! mainly because of the long lines - lasting 30-45 min. The people who work there are great, but they are often overwhelmed and understaffed - just try calling and getting a human to answer.Because of this horrible experience I transferred all my prescriptions to CVS ... and my horror story got worse! NEVER use a CVS pharmacy!But this Bartell's pharmacy is much better than the 2 CVS's in Bellevue who are severely understaffed and 15 times worse - I know this for a fact as I've dealt with both. I got so fed up with Bartell's > CVS > I moved everything to Amazon Pharmacy. You can never talk to a CVS pharmacist over the phone as they never answer, and their lines are typically 1+ hours long.1 of the Bartell's retail clerk's goes out of his way to be extremely rude, but most are very nice and helpful.

Alexandra

2024-04

This review is for the pharmacy. It’s VERY apparent they are severely short staffed for the volume they do. The staff tries their best, it’s obvious but they just don’t have enough people.

Edaleen Cruz

2024-01

Never trusting Bartells pharmacy again. They marked my dosage as TEN times what my doctor prescribed. I was fortunate that I decided to check my visit notes before taking it.They were also incredibly rude when I had to call to inquire about the status of this medicine.

Sam Morris

2024-04

Pharmacy staff is efficient and consistent. I rarely have to wait to refill my prescription. Bartells > big chains every time

Yunpeng Liu

2024-01

This is the worst place! I never picked up my prescription successfully from this place! They always said my prescriptions are not ready (after ~30mins waiting), and we need to come back, and when we come back, they said the medicine was out of stock! If this happens once, that is okay, but it has happened 5+ times! I have transferred all my future prescriptions to CVS!

Josh Mitchell (UncleJosh029)

2023-10

The reviews are right. This particular pharmacy sucks 😔Update: I say this because during my most recent visit I was picking up a refill for my wife that was called in by the doctor that morning. I arrived around 8:30pm, 30 minutes before closing. I waited in the long line only to be told that the refill had not even been started and to take a seat to wait. Finally around 9pm I was called back to hear that it was too soon to get a refill and my insurance wouldn't cover it so they didn't work on refilling it during that half hour wait...I was then asked if I wanted to pay out of pocket to which I asked how much that would be. I waited 5 more minutes as the pricing was checked. After going to the pharmacist to get the refilling actually started, he came over personally to explain that we didn't need the refill at all because the current supply should be enough. At this point I was just ready to leave without the meds out of frustration, so I nodded and left around 9:15pm

kate fade

2023-08

All Pharmacies seem to be struggling to retain staff and this location is no exception.However the level of incompetence at this location is astounding.My prescriptions are consistently filled incorrectly, they fail to order medications for weeks and weeks and staff seems to have a general disdain for clients.One of the new staff members is particularly abusive and combative. I understand that transitioning to new ownership and retaining staff can be a challenge but management needs to wake up.I have moved all of my prescriptions to CVS in Bellevue and have had a much better experience. Do yourself a favor and fill your medications elsewhere. This place a nightmare.

Colin Hawkes

2022-05

Bartell’s used to be an amazing pharmacy. Somehow they have turned a 5 star experience to making you feel like you are flying on a budget airline. Sorry but this former amazing location is forcing my family to make a switch. Hope they fix their service issues.

Adrian Pettijohn

2023-05

Again. Every time we come here there is a line around the corner, only one desk agent and both other technicians/pharmacist do not help With the line. If you need medicine urgently I suggest trying another pharmacy. Life may depend on it.

Laura Mesick

2023-05

I don't think I've ever complained to a company about service before, but this seems to be the time. This complaint and suggestion is for this location only, I've never had an issue with other locations. This location on 8th St has never once answered their pharmacy phone, and I've called in the morning, afternoon, and evening on different days, a few times each time. I've left a voicemail. I have attempted to transfer a prescription online via the website and mobile application twice, with no update or confirmation, so I'm convinced it didn't. I traveled to the pharmacy after 2 days to check on my status since they did not answer the phone, to learn my prescription transfer request wasn't in the system after waiting in line for 20 minutes. I ended up having my other pharmacy give them a call because its urgent, and they said I should receive a response in 4 business hours, which I haven't. I've tried calling again a day later to check the status, and no one answers...again. I'm running low on medication and I wouldn't have if services were baseline functional. I wish I didn't have to drive down there in person to stand and wait in line, again, but it looks like I'll have to since the phones or online prescription checker aren't options for a transfer status. I don't want to have to bring my problem to the front counter and make the other 10 customers wait behind me, but I have to.After looking through some reviews on Google, it appears my experience isn't rare by any means. All of these issues combined are a nightmare. 20 minute wait lines, if an occasional happening, are no problem, but every time becomes a problem, especially for disabled people. I'm pregnant with sciatica and it hurts to stand in one place for several minutes, and ahead of and behind me there were elderly customers, one fortunately (in this case) in a scooter, and the other one seeking a chair and almost lost his place in line.This location needs to be more staffed to accommodate its customers, this current state is unacceptable. People are relying on medications to ensure their health and livelihood and like this, it's a lot harder if not impossible. Not only is this frustrating, it's dangerous and not okay.

Erin Brown

2023-11

The pharmacist told a young woman to wait a minute while he filled her medication. An older lady went next but they told her to wait an hour to fill it. Seems discriminatory. Also, expect to wait in line from 15-45 mins.

K W

2023-11

I filled a prescription at this Bartells. Two weeks later I went back to my doctor after no improvement and he looked up the pill and told me that it was the wrong medication. Bartells just said too bad there’s no proof they got it wrong.

R T

2023-08

The cashier a man was not very friendly when I shopped there on 7/30 Sunday. He speaks with a very fast English. I'm not expecting the cashier will be polite to me but at least, not with a rude attitude to treat a customer.

Paul Field

2023-12

20 minutes to find one prescription? This is probably the worst bartells pharmacy. I had to transfer back because the best one was being closed.

Brooke Richards

2023-06

I would like to formally recognize Angie and her team. We came in last min on Saturday as it was the only pharmacy open and needed an immediate prescription for my daughters ear infection. She went above and beyond to get the approval needed and worked late so that we could go home and start her medication immediately. We really appreciate all that she did and the time she took to make it happen.

Lynn Vernon

2023-05

Worst Bartell ever for medications. Lines are up to 18 people long. Staff is rude. Mailbox to pharmacy full. They do not answer the phone so if you need an drug right away don’t go here. I’m transferring all my drugs to another pharmacy. Even faxes from doctors are not handled in. Timely manner. I left 2 messages, neither have been returned in 3 days and I needed medication for a procedure today. Didn’t get it. WORST BARTELL EVER.

Ken L.

2023-05

Worst experience ever. Yesterday I made 3 vaccine appointments for today for myself plus my 2 kids, got text confirmation for each appointments. Today I showed up, waited in the usual long line at the pharmacy only to find out they don't carry the vaccine and directed me to the Green Lakes location 30 min away, saying they take walk-ins, no appointments needed. I asked her to call and verify they have the vaccine we need since it's going to be an hour round trip. She called and confirmed. So off we go to the other Bartells, guess what they told us when we arrived: oh we don't take walk-ins on weekends. Imagine my fury! Luckily this pharmacist was sympathetic after hearing what the Bellevue store did, they squeezed us in after all. My problem with Bartells is: First, if you don't carry the vaccine at a particular store, don't allow the system to book it, if you're system isn't intelligent enough to figure that out, then it's better not to offer the booking service at all. Secondly, if your pharmacist is going to check availability at another store, then actually call and check, the Green Lake store said they never received any calls from the Bellevue store. So who did she call?

A S

2023-05

Very unfortunate how understaffed and poorly run this pharmacy is. The wait times are always horrendous. It also does not make sense to make all staff take a lunch break at the same time and close the pharmacy. The staff also almost always refuses to call providers for prescription clarifications and expect you to handle it when they clearly have a better understanding of what to ask and do. I should add that the ladies overall are usually polite enough and patient, but there is one male pharmacist who obviously greatly dislikes people and his job (he’s very rude, doesn’t try to help and has a condescending demeanor, making an already painful experience even more unnecessarily painful). No one goes the extra mile here and they barely even meet the minimum. We switched anything we can to Amazon pharmacy (so much easier and automated/delivered directly to you) but anything urgent, find another place (the other Bellevue Bartells pharmacy is better).

Garrett

2023-05

The pharmacy is a complete joke. They do not know how to fill a prescription properly, nor will you wait less than 30 minutes if you go there. They somehow can’t count to 3 (the total prescription), and instead thought one dose was good enough. Oh, and you will never talk to them on the phone because they are so understaffed.

Michael Chu

2023-09

Terrible terrible. Terrible location. I didn’t think the reviews for a pharmacy mattered, but they do. This location is horrible, prescriptions take forever to fill, no one ever picks up the phone, and there’s another Bartels literally half a mile away, which is far better. I switched over and haven’t looked back. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

A Rich

2023-05

I'm surprised by the low reviews on this, personally - but maybe it's the time of day people come in (I come by in late afternoons/early evenings, typically). I've had better experiences here than at most pharmacies in the area I've been at. Yes, sometimes the line is long; yes, sometimes there are delays and medications are on backorder; yes, sometimes corporate technology sucks and there's not much staff can do about that.I see the folks here work hard, and they try to make things better for people when they can. The ones I've met are responsive, calm, and kind.

Calvin Doss

2023-05

Great shopping store, but the worst every pharmacy!!!! Every freaking time I go in they can't fond me on there computer. There auto call says perspiration ready and there NOT. After over 35 years of loyalty to them we now are changing to a new pharmacy. 😔 they no longer care about there customers. Do not use there pharmacy, but there store is still well stocked and helpful. Sorry Bartells you failed us.wish I could have left a zero instead of a 1 rating.

Naomi

2023-05

I really like the service I got from the pharmacy. They might be slow but still nice. Wallgreen is way worse. The stock is really full and has many sections even better than the Safeway.

Seth Wilkinson

2023-11

The store is great; very clean; professional workers. The pharmacy however sucks. So slow and careless

Håvard Siegel Haukeberg (Howie)

2020-05

They have mostly what you need. Large store and good selection.All you would expect from a Bartell.There is a QFC next door if you need a larger selection of everyday items.

Anton

2023-05

Pharmacy staff is incompetent and rude. Needs a operation oriented manager and customer staff training. Incredibly rude on the phone and in person. Never checked with a medication that was filed months ago and have to wait several days to reapproved that wasted my time and my doctor.

John Sun

2023-05

Perpetually understaffed ever since Rite Aid bought them out. They have a Pay and Go express lane, but they ignore you and help everyone else. I have no idea what the point of an express lane is if I have to wait in the line with everyone else, it doesn't save any time whatsoever.Don't have my medication 50% of the time and they have to order it.

Jim O'Brien

2023-05

Im dealing with liver disease and decided to use this pharmacy because its walking distance from my home. The past 2 times ive tried to get my meds its taken multiple trips just to fill one script. Ive switched pharmacies going forward because i cant get relief for days as these incompetant people hold my meds hostage after my Dr has ordered them.

Jen Garone

2023-05

This place used to be excellent. Then Rite Aid bought them and now I go elsewhere but I’m still convincing others in my family to do the same….so I spend my fair share of time on line.The service is painfully slow. The Rx are never ready when promised.Pity as they are sitting on a gold mine.