Is Chemist Warehouse Actually Cheaper for Medicine, or Is It Mostly Marketing?

beltdrive on 25/10/2024 - 12:33

I generally go to Chemist Warehouse for my scripts, but to be honest I've never really done a proper price comparison with other stores.

If I buy a generic Ventolin puffer, the price always seems to be in the same ballpark regardless of where I buy it from.

For things like antihistamines, Chemist Warehouse is notably worse than most other pharmacies: they only stock brand names. They might have a "Chemist Warehouse Exclusive" box of 240 Telfast or something, but it still seems to cost more than generics from other stores.

Health & Beauty

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Chemist Warehouse
Chemist Warehouse

Comments

    • smartProverble on 29/10/2024 - 16:01

      The question asked WAS a yes or no question…

      Don't know why you're being downvoted. As Lincoln has once said, don't hate the answer, hate the question.

      • jv on 29/10/2024 - 16:11

        The question asked WAS a yes or no question…

        No it wasn't.

        It was far from it…

        • smartProverble on 30/10/2024 - 16:18
          +1

          Ok. So it wasn't, my bad.

          Is Chemist Warehouse Actually Cheaper for Medicine, or Is It Mostly Marketing?

          It's a "this or that" question.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 25/10/2024 - 12:38
    +28

    A medication I regularly have is $19.50/month @ Terry White Chemmart. Exactly the same medication from Chemist Warehouse was less than $13 recently. If I hadn't run out, I would have waited until I was near a Chemist Warehouse.

    • MS Paint on 25/10/2024 - 12:46
      +37

      That's a good price for Viagra.*

      *Not that I would know.

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 25/10/2024 - 13:26
        +4

        Bulk discount, that's What's in the warehouse, Tim.

      • Jackson on 27/10/2024 - 18:44
        +1

        Viagra is passe, it's all about cialis now

        • Chandler on 28/10/2024 - 10:40
          +1

          Pretty sure I saw online ads and email spam for cialias over 15 years ago…

    • bohn on 25/10/2024 - 17:19
      +2

      some other chemists, like Chemist Discount Centre, price match chemist warehouse which is handy.

      • Gowrie29 on 26/10/2024 - 07:00
        -3

        I think Chem Warehouse own those stores

        • bohn on 26/10/2024 - 08:42

          well, sigma made a play for chemist warehouse, and sigma owns chemist discount centre - but that was this month.

          Chemist DIscount Centre has price matched chemist warehouse for years

      • davebern on 27/10/2024 - 12:49
        +1

        Yes, I've used their price matching policy a few times, but you avoid the hassle of those other chemists trying to find loopholes or taking time to get manager approval

    • Kranbone on 27/10/2024 - 00:42
      +1

      Same. For about 80% of personal care/hygiene, medicines, etc they are significantly cheaper. The main gripe I have is that most of the locations, even ones in my area are a bit out of the way. I guess they look for cheap places to rent as it keeps the costs down.

    • SpendLess on 27/10/2024 - 19:24
      +1

      ask your closest chemist if they will price match. My local is Direct Chemist Warehouse and they have price matched both mine and my partners medication with CW.
      We also leave our scripts with them and get notifications when we about a week out of running out to go pick them up. Its great cause they also send reminders if we dont have many repeats left. Most chemist do this as well

    • Nickels n Dimes on 17/11/2024 - 11:24

      Compared the price of Telmisartan 40mg x 28 tablets (Generic medication, full priced non-concession):

      TerryWhite Chemmart $19.69
      Blooms the Chemist $19.69
      YourDiscountChemist.com.au $14.50
      (suburbname) Discount Pharmacy, formerly Pharmasave $6.70
      ChemistDirect.com.au $6.70
      GoodPrice Pharmacy $6.70
      Chemist Warehouse $6.70

      It pays to shop around, ChemistWarehouse is cheap but no more than many other chains. Support your local businesses where you can, instead of the big corporates. If you don't have many pharmacy options nearby, you may find the added cost of shipping could be recouped with a single script, and if you don't need your meds immediately.

  • hamza23 on 25/10/2024 - 12:46
    +8

    Yeah. Last time I rang local pharmacies to fill a script and it was $13.95 vs $7.95 at CW. Another time it was $14.95 vs $7.99 at CW.

  • ULT on 25/10/2024 - 12:53
    +26

    I utilise their price match as much as possible (to get insane discounts) but go shopping at other pharmacies if they have same price or very similar/lower.

    CW has destroyed so much competition, so I go to Priceline, Terry White, Direct Chemist Outlet (which looks hilariously the same as CW with the colours) etc to help support. CW being the lone pharmacy would be a nightmare for pricing.

    For scripts CW is competitive in house but Priceline is quite strong and sometimes wins in that department, need to shop around. CW for vitamins and other stuff outside of script medicines tends to be cheaper.

    • kusama on 25/10/2024 - 13:36
      +13

      I think Priceline is destroying themselves, it's like a womans only chemist, all the pink and it's Sister Club

      • beltdrive on 25/10/2024 - 15:48
        +25

        A large portion of their retail is beauty and skincare, mostly bought by women. If they can make a customer believe that Priceline is a better shop than CW for say, lipstick, then their branding has succeeded. Rather than trying to replicate CW, they are probably better off having their own brand and customer base

        • Jackson on 27/10/2024 - 18:50
          +2

          Priceline hs been around a lot longer than CW, why would they alienate their clearly strong base by changing to garish colours and telling their female population to rack off?

      • Ughhh on 26/10/2024 - 08:41
        +6

        I would say that Priceline has a stronger presence in the beauty world than other pharmacies.

      • CommuterPolluter on 27/10/2024 - 00:12
        +15

        Never realised that I’m not welcome in Priceline because it’s pink lol.

      • Boioioioi on 28/10/2024 - 10:32
        +4

        Actually you can join the sister club and get a brother card lol - I have one

        • kusama on 28/10/2024 - 12:30

          lol, nice to know

      • Dsiee on 29/10/2024 - 20:48

        I honestly thought they gave up on being a pharmacy and just sold hair brushes and makeup so never went in.

    • bamzero on 27/10/2024 - 00:04

      Had to get a prescription recently, PL was about 15% more than CW but they price matched.

  • RobBoss on 25/10/2024 - 12:56
    +10

    Is it true they make you wait so it increases your likelihood to buy more items?

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 25/10/2024 - 13:28
      +7

      Drop script, go. Come back after shopping/coffee etc. No waiting around,

      • MS Paint on 25/10/2024 - 13:50
        +4

        That saves cents. Cheers

        • Sammy2000 on 25/10/2024 - 14:56
          +4

          Except the money spent on the shopping/coffee etc.

          • DashCam AKA Rolts on 25/10/2024 - 16:18
            +3

            @Sammy2000: Was going to do that anyway, just didn't wait for the script to be filled. Came back when I know it's ready, having done the other things I wanted/needed to do.

          • airzone on 26/10/2024 - 01:37
            +3

            @Sammy2000: Not spending money if you're harvesting the dregs out of discarded takeaway cups.

            • Daabido on 27/10/2024 - 13:51

              @airzone: That's why you need the medicine. It's a vicious cycle.

      • mauricem on 25/10/2024 - 22:53
        +3

        I wish, can take ages to get anyone to even notice you at my local. I put it down primarily to understaffing, All the staff seem major stressed. I avoid whenever possible!

      • Loopholio on 26/10/2024 - 07:55
        +9

        I do this at my local chemist, but sometimes I do it a little differently.

        Drop off script
        Go shopping
        Go home
        Remember script then swear
        Go back to the chemist now or the next day

    • Summoner on 25/10/2024 - 14:23
      +4

      Chemist Warehouse started offering a free delivery on a perscription medicine. So you can order them online without paying delivery fee now.

      • Loopholio on 26/10/2024 - 07:56

        That would have been extremely handy to know a few weeks ago!

    • Subere on 25/10/2024 - 14:59
      +2

      Interesting. I had to wait a good 25min once at CW to line up and get a script.
      Fair to say, the next script I got was done at another pharmacy on a different floor of Westfields and I was done in 5min.

      • RobBoss on 25/10/2024 - 16:18
        +2

        This happens to me as well, everytime I go to CW it's 15 minutes compare to like 2-5 minutes elsewhere

        • meong on 26/10/2024 - 07:18
          +4

          Yeah and their staff tends to be rude.

          However, at any branch of CDC that i go to, they're always nice, one even stepped out of the booth to explain to me carefully how to take the medicine and the wait time is always less than 5 mins!

          Luckily I have a CDC within walking distance.

        • SolitaryMan on 28/10/2024 - 13:44

          Maybe that’s because lots of people choose to go there, and there’s a reason for that…

    • Datsun09 on 26/10/2024 - 20:28
      +2

      No they're dealing with scripts not rocks. They need to do all the proper checks of scripts before handing it out to patients. There are people who do app orders so sometimes they may not seem to have any customers waiting but there are app orders or people who have dropped off scripts to go do shopping. Used to work there.

    • GloveM8 on 27/10/2024 - 00:07
      +5

      I use the app and preorder. I get a text when its ready. When I get notfied its ready i go straight to the collection counter. Zero wait.

    • rumblytangara on 28/10/2024 - 21:11

      They are very unpleasant stores to hang around in, soni doubt it. Just take a walk outside.

  • geek001 on 25/10/2024 - 12:59
    +6

    Very similar pricing at HealthyLife compared to CW. One tip I recently received is if you are on regular medication, try asking your doctor to prescribe double dispensing escript prescriptions, meaning you get 2 months worth instead of a single month at a time. It may be cheaper at HealthyLife compared to CW. HealthyLife/CW both has auto delivery where they deliver your medication out to you monthly at no extra charge instead of you having to wait in line for your prescription to be filled.

    https://www.health.gov.au/cheaper-medicines

    • bargaino on 25/10/2024 - 14:50
      +10

      I think that is most chemists. They will sell anything that makes a buck.
      Nobody makes a profit on medicine alone, except maybe online sellers.

      • AustriaBargain on 25/10/2024 - 15:02
        +5

        It's ridiculous though, they are sugar pills. Aren't chemists meant to do serious study at serious institutions, based on evidence, medicine, and science?

        • bargaino on 25/10/2024 - 15:07
          +5

          The placebo effect works. It is easy to justify to yourself if selling.

          Though I got really pissed off when I realised the decongestant the chemist tried to sell me was just saline, labelled as homeopathic. (Saline works, but very briefly.)

        • OzzyOzbourne on 25/10/2024 - 18:28
          +3

          Mixing up chemist as in a qualified scientific person and chemist as in a shop

        • greatlamp on 26/10/2024 - 12:22
          +2

          A pharmacist's education includes and goes further than a chemistry major in a Bachelor of Science.

          It's just greed that keeps these products on the shelf. The same business owners will turn around and worry about supermarkets taking over their turf, that wouldn't be possible if they focused on healthcare rather than being an upmarket reject shop.

          • Dsiee on 29/10/2024 - 20:53
            +1

            @greatlamp: Just to add, the business owners and the pharmacist's are often very different groups of people. The pharmacist likely hates most the shit the store sells.

    • sumyungguy on 25/10/2024 - 18:33

      CW sells bottled water so I suppose you're right about homeopathic products.

      • rumblytangara on 28/10/2024 - 21:13

        Is bottled water the homeopathic treatment for drowning?

        • sumyungguy on 28/10/2024 - 21:25

          Water is a hompeopathic treatment for thirst but also every disease you can possibly imagine. Homeopaths dilute their remedies to extent that it's unlikely there's a single molecule of the original substance in the final preparation. I could have made a fortune selling homeopathic vaccines but couldn't overcome my moral fibre.

    • Loopholio on 26/10/2024 - 08:11
      +6

      All chemists (the business, not the actual chemist working up the back) sell health jank.

      One of my local small chemists sell magnetic bracelets and crystals. So long as they aren't making any ridiculous claims about the products it's fine.

      The magnetic bracelets do really shit me. The item claims to work on iron in the blood and makes me want to flog the creator of that nonsense.

      Crystals are fine, if someone feels better with a pretty quartz gem around their neck or up their arse, more power to them.

      • AustriaBargain on 26/10/2024 - 08:46
        +4

        I don't think our chemists should be selling crystals. Like you go to pick up your cancer drug prescription and there's a tray of healing crystals at the counter…

        • Loopholio on 26/10/2024 - 12:59
          +3

          Yeah but they also sell drinks, lollies, hair products and, well, everything. I think if they only sold drugs they would quickly go out of business.

          Most of my drugs cost $7.70 so they wouldn't make anything from me. As it is now I only buy the rare item, like ice packs and paracitamol osteo.

          • Cheapskate Paul on 26/10/2024 - 14:22
            +1

            @Loopholio: The $7.70 is your out of pocket expense. The pharmacy recieves significantly more than this from the PBS.

        • smartazz104 on 27/10/2024 - 12:21

          How does that affect your cancer drug prescription?

      • juki on 27/10/2024 - 22:44
        +1

        wow that nonsense is still around? i had people tell me it was to do with the electrical current of your blood, not the iron. I do like uncarved polished crystals/gems as geology is underrated

        • Loopholio on 10/11/2024 - 00:49

          Rocks, gens and minerals are pretty cool.

          One day I hope to own a turtle neck and chain with a crystal hanging on it.

          • juki on 10/11/2024 - 08:32
            +1

            @Loopholio: move to an expensive leafy suburb, call yourself a naturopath and that turtle neck and crystal is yours!! dont forget to change with your mood

  • foxmulder on 25/10/2024 - 13:05

    I compare their price with Amazon most times or just google shopping the price. Most times I ended up didnt buy from them. Amazon can have same price with them but cheaper with s&s or discounted gift card and free prime shopping.

    CW's prescription price seems the best so far.

    • BluebirdV on 26/10/2024 - 18:08
      +1

      Is that for things like vitamins? How about iherb?

  • SmiTTy on 25/10/2024 - 13:07
    +1

    I guess it depends on what you're looking for

    For things like antihistamines, Chemist Warehouse is notably worse than most other pharmacies: they only stock brand names.

    I buy azonnaire from chemist warehouse which is nasonex generic. Checked couple of other chemist's which either didn't have it or they're generic costed a lot more. (I also only need 1 and don't want to buy multiple pack like sometimes offered here on ozbargain). The brand name ones have also been cheaper most of the time. I guess if you're looking for something different or your own local chemist has better price, you should get it from there but that hasn't been my experience

    I've compared some of the prescription meds I've bought in the past to my local chemist and chem warehouse was consistently cheaper so I stopped comparing and go there as my default if I'm not in a rush

  • Ughhh on 25/10/2024 - 13:09
    +7

    Last local pharmacy sold a script item for $15, vs $7-8 at CW. I want t support local, but not by paying double for the same thing (same brand too=.

    • CyberMurning on 25/10/2024 - 13:17
      +3

      Yes i had the same thing the non cw staff just shrugh said thats our price. It was like almost double of cw.

    • spaceflight on 27/10/2024 - 17:34

      Ask them to price match

  • wots on 25/10/2024 - 13:12
    +4

    Prescription meds can be a lot cheaper.
    - I have a non-PBS prescription which was $50 at Terry White and $30 at Chemist Warehouse. Thanks Terry White won't see you again.
    - If PBS prescription meds are more than the $32 (?) maximum charge it doesn't really matter where you go. You pay $32 everywhere. Might as well go somewhere nice and quiet such as my local family run pharmacy.

    • snappy1234 on 25/10/2024 - 13:33

      I asked my local Terry White for a price match to buy my scripts there.
      They put it on the computer to override their rubbish price after a while the " computer " forgot my price.
      Got sick of that game so just go there occasionally if desperate.

      • BluebirdV on 26/10/2024 - 18:12

        I only have a Terry White near where I live. The closest chemist warehouse is 84 km away. What would be my best option to save money?

        • Jofzar on 27/10/2024 - 10:52

          As stupid as this is, depending on the car and "not valueing your time" with 32$ vs 50$ you would probably just break even.

    • PopCounty on 25/10/2024 - 21:26

      That’s a nice tip. Didn’t know that. Will do the same. Cheers.

  • CyberMurning on 25/10/2024 - 13:16
    -7

    Cw is the best they will make the competitors bankrupt. (If people really trying to save few $ per item). Sadly most Australian dont care about small savings they just spend spend spend

    • R4 on 25/10/2024 - 22:12

      I don't get this. So you're basically saying that CW should be restricted from offering lower priced medication. That would be crazy. I have no problem with CW being stopped from having market domination but if they can sell cheaper then they should be able to.

    • rickdwp on 27/10/2024 - 19:54

      The irony of claiming most Aussies just wanna "spend spend spend" on ozbargain lol. And this website isn't some niche thing a hell of alot of Aussies are on here

  • DingoBilly on 25/10/2024 - 13:55
    +1

    Generally speaking yes.

  • mar10 on 25/10/2024 - 14:06
    +2

    Prescription med was $26 at my local pharmacy, $11.99 at Chemist Warehouse.
    Packet of pseudoephedrine is $18.99 at Chemist Warehouse, got it for $12.95 at my local pharmacy (CW don't have it in the generic brand so they only sell the Sudafed branded stuff)

    • bargaino on 25/10/2024 - 14:53

      You can probably blame the junkies and Smurfs for that.

  • sumyungguy on 25/10/2024 - 14:56

    For customers who qualify for PBS subsidised scripts, CW still passes on the optional $1 discount that was introduced in 2016; prescription prices start from $6.70 where most other pharmacies charge $7.70. I think this is scheduled to be phased out.

  • gakko on 25/10/2024 - 15:24
    +3

    They loss lead on scrips imo.

    • beltdrive on 25/10/2024 - 15:44
      +3

      You might be onto something there. When I was in CW today I really took notice of how many impulse goods are on sale at the checkout. Not just lollies and soft drinks (which are definitely not cheap at CW), but fragrances and gifts as well

      • snappy1234 on 25/10/2024 - 16:06

        True but most shops do similar
        Even Reject Shop nag me to buy something else

      • gakko on 25/10/2024 - 16:22
        +4

        It's not a bad thing - means medicine is cheap. I don't have sympathy for pharmacies, they have special protectionist policy in this country and they use their clout to lobby against good policy such as longer duration scrips.

        • sumyungguy on 25/10/2024 - 16:32

          I reckon it's the GPs that hate 60 day scripts; halves their short consultation frequency.

          • greatlamp on 26/10/2024 - 12:34

            @sumyungguy: There's absolutely no difference for GPs.

            People taking medicines on the 60 day list are not a 20-30 year old that frequent ozbargain and might see a GP once a year, they are typically 60-80 year old and taking at least 5 medications. They will be seeing a GP every couple of months.

            If they are really concerned a GP will just write less repeats on the 60 day script.

            • sumyungguy on 26/10/2024 - 12:48

              @greatlamp: The Pharmacy Guild were campaigning against 60-day dispensing; the medical profession leant back and watched it play out. I attend a bulk billing practice, no way they're interested in prescribing 12 months supply. Yes, I've asked them.

              • greatlamp on 26/10/2024 - 14:56
                -1

                @sumyungguy: You misunderstand, the majority of the drugs on the 60 day dispensing list were already available with 11 repeats (12 months supply). You say yourself GPs were not against it

                • sumyungguy on 26/10/2024 - 17:06

                  @greatlamp: All the PBS medicines used in my household have maximum of 5 repeats

            • BluebirdV on 26/10/2024 - 18:15

              @greatlamp: Is ozbargain really frequented by 20-30 year olds? I'm mid 40s.

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