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.

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Comments

        • GrueHunter on 26/10/2024 - 12:57
          +1

          Are you suggesting they pay below award wages? Got any proof?

          • Alley Cat on 26/10/2024 - 13:03

            @GrueHunter: No, that would be illegal. A company this size can’t be that dumb. There are other things that makes the cost of working a job rather high. For example, 30-minute shifts. Note I’m in no ways saying that is what CW does.

            See the comments from a pharmacist below.

          • Datsun09 on 26/10/2024 - 20:30
            +1

            @GrueHunter: Not below award wages, but local pharmacy's do pay a bit better.

        • hazzad on 28/10/2024 - 08:23
          +1

          Yeah sorry I'm not here to make sure people get paid better. That's the employees responsibility. I'm here to get the cheapest deal on everyday items to save myself a dollar. Life's hard enough without having to worry about whether someone else is getting above award wage.

          • Alley Cat on 28/10/2024 - 14:41

            @hazzad: You don't sound very sorry, but I understand, you are responsible for your own happiness.

            "First they came for the pharmacists…"

  • vchar on 25/10/2024 - 16:35

    some are cheaper while some are more expensive.

    I pay around $10 for my prescribed medicine at chemistwarehouse every time and i bought from them for years. last month, for convenience, I bought from a local store which costed me more than $20.

    however, I've found some over the counter medicines are more expensive than priceline, coles and woolies but not always the case. I normally do price-check before buying and in some case, I save quite a good amount of money as they often have discount for the same product at different time.

  • Benoffie on 25/10/2024 - 18:20

    Virtually all my meds are cheaper at CW. However, my local is a Star Pharmacy now and I've made sure they price match (they will, just gotta ask).

  • Varoufakis on 25/10/2024 - 18:54
    +8

    Thank goodness for Chemist Warehouse. The pharmacy ownership and location rules are deliberately anti-competitive - designed to limit competition in order to prop up 'local pharmacies'. It is a rort pushed by the powerful pharmacy guild.

    The great thing is that Chemist Warehouse have used a loophole to get around the ownership restrictions and bring some economies of scale and genuine competition to pharmacy retailing.

    • R4 on 25/10/2024 - 20:32
      +5

      This. Australia's pharmacy setup is a restricted joke, so what CW is doing is to be welcomed.

      • greatlamp on 26/10/2024 - 12:37

        Ironically the restrictions now benefit the warehouse more than anyone else, since they are protected from competition entering from outside the industry while their existing competitors are withering away.

        Warehouse owners aren't worried about supermarkets and they see deregulation as a big payday. If they were allowed to sell part of the their store equity on the open market their store valuations would multiply overnight - an increase in the range of several $ million per store. If it doesn't happen, they continue to enjoy monopoly power.

  • vi9ilante on 25/10/2024 - 19:32

    Cheaper in some? Yes but of course do your research.

    That said I see them akin to Woolies and Coles, so I prefer to support the local pharmacy instead even if they’re more expensive. Remember you’re also buying the service and reputation.

  • inertia8 on 25/10/2024 - 20:35

    When I did the comparison with my local Amcal yonks ago it was 35-40% cheaper, I've found them to be consistently cheaper.

    I use their app to order and receive an SMS once the order is ready for collection

  • ribze1 on 25/10/2024 - 20:36

    For me yes, and it's a considerable difference.

    $8 CW vs $13 Priceline. Another $11 CW vs $17 at an independent.

  • n00dler on 25/10/2024 - 21:22
    +14

    Pharmacist here.

    In general, yes, Chemist Warehouse is often cheaper, even compared to other discount chains like Discount Drug Stores and Star Discount Chemist. This price advantage mainly comes from their strong buying power, allowing them to purchase stock at much lower wholesale rates than other pharmacies, particularly independents. As a result, other stores often can’t compete, as Chemist Warehouse can price items below what others pay.*

    ChemistWarehouse has ruined the pharmacy industry, but I applaud them for creating a business model that made them dominate marketshare. But it has come at the cost of patient centred care and poor working conditions for their staff. If your kids mention they are thinking about studying pharmacy, tell them not to. Thinking about my cohort, most have left the field, myself included.

    *Exception is if your a concession healthcard holder - they will always be $7.70. If you don't hold a concession card, the maximum is $31.60 for PBS items (but most medications shouldn't be close to that, this is more applicable for cancer, osteoporisis, immunotherapy, some antiocaguants etc).

    • p1 ama on 26/10/2024 - 00:16
      -7

      ChemistWarehouse has ruined the pharmacy industry, but I applaud them for creating a business model that made them dominate marketshare.

      Sorry, but how can you, in one breath say that Chemist Warehouse is often cheaper than the competition, but in the next breath say that it has ruined the pharmacy industry?

      Are you suggesting that consumers / patients should pay more? I would have imagined that the success of the pharmacy industry is measured by how cheaply and efficiently we can get medication into the hands of patients?

      But it has come at the cost of patient centred care

      What is the harm to patient-centred care? In all of my decades, the interaction I've had with my pharmacist has not changed - I bring the script from the doctor, something happens behind the scenes, and my name is called out, and I collect and pay. It's been exactly the same for decades, and the model is exactly the same at Chemist Warehouse.

      and poor working conditions for their staff. If your kids mention they are thinking about studying pharmacy, tell them not to. Thinking about my cohort, most have left the field, myself included.

      I agree and disagree here - yes, the honeypot is no longer there because you probably cannot start an independent small business as a pharmacist and make lots of money like before Chemist Warehouse, however, there is a standard Pharmacy Industry Award rate which Chemist Warehouse abides by. From what I can see, an entry-level pharmacist at the award rate still gets paid significantly higher than (let's say) an Accounting graduate going to a Big 4.

      If you really wanted to be a pharmacist, it's not like you're bound to fail - there are plenty of opportunities, including working at a hospital, just perhaps not the guaranteed business opportunity that once existed.

      • n00dler on 26/10/2024 - 08:41
        +8

        Sorry, but how can you, in one breath say that Chemist Warehouse is often cheaper than the competition, but in the next breath say that it has ruined the pharmacy industry?

        Are you suggesting that consumers / patients should pay more? I would have imagined that the success of the pharmacy industry is measured by how cheaply and efficiently we can get medication into the hands of patients?

        I am saying they ruined the pharmacy industry not due to financial reasons, but rather, it ruined what pharmacy used to be. You used to go to a pharmacy to receive advice, counselling on medications, and primary healthcare. Now, you go, get your meds, leave. No questions asked, no lifestyle advice, no preventative healthcare. I am not saying all ChemistWarehouses are like this, but this is the case in the majority. When was the last time your pharmacist knew you by name?

        The main reason why pharmacy is not as profitable and lucrative anymore is due to the government introduced Price Disclosure, and government rebates.

        What is the harm to patient-centred care? In all of my decades, the interaction I've had with my pharmacist has not changed - I bring the script from the doctor, something happens behind the scenes, and my name is called out, and I collect and pay. It's been exactly the same for decades, and the model is exactly the same at Chemist Warehouse.

        This is precisely the problem. Not a question asked. Healthcare is a swiss cheese model to pick up errors. Ultimately, we are all human and make mistakes, but by having multiple layers, it prevents them. Having a pharmacist simply "putting a label on a box" does not do that. But the ChemistWarehouse model requires that for speed and efficiency. I have personally picked up countless errors in community, and even more working in hospital - but that's the value of our job, preventing harm.

        If you really wanted to be a pharmacist, it's not like you're bound to fail - there are plenty of opportunities, including working at a hospital, just perhaps not the guaranteed business opportunity that once existed.

        Pharmacist Award Rate pay is $35.20 - after completing 5 years (4 years undergraduate, 1 year internship). Average income in Aus (as of May 2024) is $1,923.40 - pharmacists award is $1,337.60/week. I agree, hospital pay is much better (except some states like NSW), but jobs are much more limited, and the majority of pharmacy graduates will end up working in community.

        • p1 ama on 26/10/2024 - 19:51

          I am saying they ruined the pharmacy industry not due to financial reasons, but rather, it ruined what pharmacy used to be. You used to go to a pharmacy to receive advice, counselling on medications, and primary healthcare. Now, you go, get your meds, leave. No questions asked, no lifestyle advice, no preventative healthcare. I am not saying all ChemistWarehouses are like this, but this is the case in the majority.

          I understand what you're saying, but it's not like we woke up overnight and there were Chemist Warehouses everywhere and the pharmacy model changed completely.

          It happened over a period of time where people had the choice of a cheaper "no frills" service, and the model where they could get the "lifestyle advice, preventative healthcare…etc." as you say. It seems that over time, people preferred the cheaper, "no frills" model.

          Ultimately, I do think that it is unfortunate that some pharmacists have left the industry, or that it's no longer an attractive job. However, I don't think this is due to Chemist Warehouse ruining the industry, but rather, the industry just moving towards giving consumers what they want. It's not unique to pharmacies, in almost all retail segments, people are buying on price.

          I agree that certain marketing elements of Chemist Warehouse is a bit ridiculous (the red and yellow everywhere, the excessive amounts of non-pharmaceutical goods on sale…etc.), but I would argue that the industry was already moving towards this direction - Terry White, Star, Priceline…etc. are all arguably following a very similar model (just without the ridiculous "in your face" marketing that Chemist Warehouse has).

        • gakko on 28/10/2024 - 12:41
          +1

          I appreciate that you have a great depth of knowledge and desire to help others but frankly if I could put my scrip into a machine and it serves up the tablets I would do so in a flash.

          Interaction effects can be identified pretty easily by a database. Not sure what else I'd want to know about.

          • greatlamp on 29/10/2024 - 23:40
            +1

            @gakko:

            Interaction effects can be identified pretty easily by a database. Not sure what else I'd want to know about.

            Yes a machine picks up interactions. Many interactions, dozens. The problem isn't picking them up, you don't know which can be ignored - that is why you need to have someone to ask. And the person you ask should have credentials.

            Hence the pharmacist's job is always going to be necessary.

    • RogerLoger on 26/10/2024 - 06:25
      +6

      I know someone who left community pharmacy, as well. B Pharm qualified. The wage is not at all attractive in relation to effort to obtain a degree.

      All three pharmacies in my local area are owned by a single company but they have differrent names on the door. Before they were bought out, we had a great pharmacist who gave advice with each prescription and was a respected part of the community. Now the pharmacists sit in their Faraday cage and don't interact unless you ask a question. The large business model (profit first and foremost) is downgrading healthcare (not just pharmacy).

      I wonder how many patients taking multiple prescription medications and its-only-herbal medicne are now properly reviewed by their pharmacist.

      People who think 'cheap' is all that matters in a pharmacy don't understand the role of pharmacists. Pharmacists need to be more political to get the care back into the pharmacy or it may as well be run by the supermarket giants. Realistically, they are divided in different different stores and would rarely intereact, so that's unlikely to happen. "Left the field" was a good decision, I suspect.

      • greatlamp on 27/10/2024 - 01:48
        +3

        Pharmacists need to be more political to get the care back into the pharmacy or it may as well be run by the supermarket giants.

        At this stage supermarkes running pharmacy is an improvement, it is too far gone. The profession is entirely captured by the non working pharmacist owners and their pharmacy guild - one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the country.

        The have ensured the legislation that prevents non pharmacists operating stores doesn't change, while at the same time all liability is shifted to the pharmacist employee and employee wages are suppressed.

        The elderly used to be checked in on by their local pharmacist and assisted to remain independent. Now we have people who cannot even concieve that a pharmacist would more that the bare minimum of correctly labelling their pill box asking 'why do we even need pharmacists'

        Even though Australia graduates around 2000 pharmacists per year, the pharmacy guild's adjusted workforce forecasts show figures increasing only around 600 per year, because so many are leaving the profession. The pharmacy guild uses these workforce projections to keep pharmacists on the skilled occupation visa list, while simultaneously successfully lobbying to cut wage growth and working conditions for employees. There is no CPI adjustment per year, night penalties now begin 7pm instead of 6pm, and Sunday penalty cut by 50% recently.

        The pharmacy guild successfully convinced the fair work ombudsman that their employees are NOT at "elevated risk of infection" from COVID and blocked pandemic leave being added to the award. Employee unions are completely ineffective.

        While the supermarkets are heavily scrutinised by the ACCC, the pharmacy guild is given the red carpet treatment

      • Ughhh on 27/10/2024 - 09:52

        I think those that want and appreciate the pharmacist checking up on them will go to their local mum and dad type of store. Most people these days think they are (armchair) doctors, thanks to google, they who know what they want, and they want it cheap and quick. The demand sets the market. The fact that CW is so successful shows what people want.

        • RogerLoger on 27/10/2024 - 14:45
          +1

          The problem there is even multiple corner pharmacies are owned by single owners. The owners pays peanuts likewise pay peanuts for staff. When you pay peanuts, what performance do you expect (and if the owners are getting good profit, are they really interested).

          To be fair, pharmacists are more likely worked harder than they would have been 25-30 years ago and don't get as much time to interact with patients. The one we now use, we are lucky to get our prescription done in 15-30 minutes. Before our local pharmacy sold out ("they offered too much money to refuse"), everybody used to be greeted by the pharmacist. The days of personal service are long gone.

          People may as well buy their drugs over the internet. {Don't do that, by the way. Internet ordered drugs can come from anywhere and if they come from outside Australia, will not have been subjected to the same stringent quality controls to ensure correct ingredients and mixing consistency}.

    • ihbh on 26/10/2024 - 09:19
      +1

      ChemistWarehouse has ruined the pharmacy industry

      Just like supermarkets have ruined corner mom and pop stores and Bunnings have ruined hardware stores and big format stores/chains have ruined small independents.

      That's progress that the general customer base want (price, range, standardization, convenience, etc.) and support.

      • CalmLemons on 26/10/2024 - 13:02
        +8

        Now you pay more for groceries because the majors corner the market - look what happened in new zealand.

        And you definitely pay a lot more at Bunnings. Their margins are huge, and they have zero competition due to sheer size of logistics distribution.

        Just wait till Chemist Warehouse consolidate their IPO and over night have an extra 1000 pharmacies.

        This is what the ACCC is meant to protect customers from but they are gutless.

        A box of screws are $15 from Bunnings, equivalent you can get for $4 at the screw supplier.

        People just don't know it because everything is hidden between the we'll beat it by 10%, yeah, no worries people are going to travel half way across the city but you get what I mean.

        • ihbh on 26/10/2024 - 18:41
          -1

          Now you pay more for groceries because the majors corner the market

          Please don't talk out of your arse. Check what net profit margin they make - around 2.5% out of every dollar of revenue, on average per annum. And their costs are much lower than say mom and pop stores, so no way mom and pop stores would be cheaper.

          • CalmLemons on 26/10/2024 - 22:00
            +1

            @ihbh: Net profit is different from gross profit.

            They are that way because of inefficiencies at scale and they can afford to pay extreme rents in order to dominate the market and prevent other entrants.

            Their costs are factors more than mom and pop stores.

            Go read the annual reports and PLs

            I'm not saying have just mom and pop stores, I'm saying don't allow just one or two large corporations to control the market. They will fk u. Go ask new zealand how have 2 super market chains/2 super market owners has gone for them

            • ihbh on 27/10/2024 - 10:11
              -1

              @CalmLemons:

              Net profit is different from gross profit.

              Of course. Net profit is what shareholders get to keep, not gross profit. And it's tiny per $ of revenue.

              I'm saying don't allow just one or two large corporations to control the market

              There's Aldi and IGA and locat specialists. Where aren't their prices lower than the big 2 to win market share?

        • RogerLoger on 27/10/2024 - 09:14
          +4

          Bunnings forced our local hardware out of business years ago. No more walking to get the little things at an inflated price to cover his narrow margins on high quality tools. A packet of screws now costs a long road trip on top of the price of the screws. Ironically, that makes the packet of screws far more expensive than our old hardware's high markup, both financially and environmentally.

          More recently, Bunnings effectively forced our local landscape supplier to close. I'd done my research. His prices were better than Bunnings. I was able to get the quantities needed when I needed it and not have to store things in bulk at home. The owner told me people were travelling to Bunnings to pay more, then coming to him when they ran a little short of something (Bunnings got the big sales, he got their scraps). He also explained how his treated pine sleepers were cut 'properly' and were structurally stronger than Bunnings offerings for high retaining wall use. Builders doing some repairs on my house expressed a similar opinion of the 'quality' of Bunnings timber. They bought from a couple of timber yards. "Cost is a little more, but quality is better". Another builder I know has the same opinion. Better quality and lower prices don't compete with the advertising industry.

          Most of my project is done, including driving very long Bugle Batten screws through sleepers. I now need some shorter bugle screws to go ino treated pine. Boxes of 100 in varying length to 150mm would fill the need. How do I find a screw supplier who sells that type of screw at competitive price without buying in the thousands? The answer after an internet search seems to be, "you don't". When buying timber, I already checked and know the nearest timber yard's screw prices are ridiculous. By the time I drive to the now nearest landscaping place to check their prices, even if they are less expensive, the saving is probably minimal. Add 'Bugle Batten Screws' to the Bunnings list and pick them up with other things on the list next time I pass is as efficient as it gets now. Sometime the-Devil-you-know shopping is a valid option.

  • hoxyz on 25/10/2024 - 21:42

    Yes for me on prescription

  • R4 on 25/10/2024 - 22:09

    Actually cheaper. I get 3 regular generic medicines and they are at least 30% cheaper at CW.

  • shortgum on 25/10/2024 - 22:44

    Thank you CW whatever they are doing. sure without this cheaper line it will pretty much a guarantee all other pharmacy to operate like colesworths

    • dabbberboi on 26/10/2024 - 05:22
      +4

      They are selling below cost price to drive out the competition and become a monopoly… what do you think happens to those "cheaper lines" when they're the only pharmacy outlet in town?

      • CalmLemons on 26/10/2024 - 22:03
        +1

        They actually sell the cheaper lines because they make more profit.

        Medicine A Branded, Cost $8, Sells for $11.
        Medicine A Generic CWH, Cost $0.2 Sells for $7

        Which ones makes more money?

  • dabbberboi on 26/10/2024 - 05:45
    +1

    From my experience (have to shop for my elderly parents at times, do my homework on where to shop in true ozbargainer style)

    Vitamins/herbal products - they'll have a larger range compared to most other pharmacies, but I find most of it junk e.g. they started stocking kangaroo meat?https://old.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/1g5lknz/what_kind_of_snake_oil_is_this/ . The actually useful stuff, is competitive or cheaper elsewhere. For example, I can grab a bottle of Vit D from Amazon and get it delivered easypeasy, or I wait for a sale on fish oil from Woolies.

    Pharmacist medications - some cheaper, some more expensive. That's a do your own homework. Some pharmacies price match CWH and that's a best of both worlds for you as the consumer, but I don't mind coughing up an extra few dollars if it means I don't have to wait in line to speak to the overworked pharmacists at CWH who don't give half a shit about me since there's another 10 people behind me.

    Prescription only items - I found other pharmacies to be competitive as well. My parents are on concession and that means that they only get charged $6.70 for the medications ($0 now since they've hit safety net). If I'm paying $0 no matter where I go, I am not going to wait 15-30 minutes at CWH for the meds when I can easily get them elsewhere in 5-10. If it's non-concession prices (which is the case when I have to buy my own meds), most of the time the difference is a few dollars, but it's reasonable.

    Basically, most of it is marketing and really depends what you value as the customer. Even if all that you value is the absolute lowest price, CWH isn't always the cheapest anyway. When it comes to Pharmacist only+ range, I found the pharmacists at independents to be much more helpful and knowledgeable compared to CWH.

  • Topdog on 26/10/2024 - 06:40

    Prescription meds generally cheaper sometimes by $10 for me. Everything else is the same. If it’s not on sale at chemist warehouse it will be at Priceline

  • MrThing on 26/10/2024 - 06:50
    -1

    Chemist warehouse always cheaper

    And if not cheaper the same

    But never more expensive

    • nicksinternet on 29/10/2024 - 09:42

      My prescription medicine (generic) was $3 (10%) cheaper at Priceline.

  • drprox on 26/10/2024 - 08:20
    +1

    Marketing, just like Bunnings (if you can find a competitor..)

  • Mugsy on 26/10/2024 - 08:31

    My blood pressure meds is usually $15+ at all other pharmacies. Chemist Warehouse is $9.

  • 2ForTheMoney on 26/10/2024 - 08:36

    Much cheaper than the rest for prescriptions. They also are very transparent with prescription prices advertised online.

  • Ughhh on 26/10/2024 - 08:55
    +1

    Another thing I've noticed is that you get fresher products with longer expiry dates at CW than smaller pharmacies, Star and Terry included.

  • IndigoHarlequin on 26/10/2024 - 08:57

    I have expensive non PBS scripts and they are significantly cheaper for those. Like $20 to $30 a month. If it wasn't for CW, I'm not sure I could afford those meds.

    If you get escripts, you can text them directly to your local CW and pick them up when they're filled. No waiting around.

  • ozbargainer888 on 26/10/2024 - 09:01
    +1

    My experience when comparing has been CW is usually cheaper. Terry White is usually the most expensive. Priceline isn’t too bad and in many cases has been the same as CW so when that’s the case I buy there since it’s more convenient for me.

    • bohn on 26/10/2024 - 09:18
      +2

      prices are definitely not the same everywhere
      our priceline is a rip off

  • hazzad on 26/10/2024 - 09:17

    Depends which pharmacy you compare to. I can say for certain they are cheaper than slades who I would never deal with again. Daughter had wisdom teeth out at hospital in Richmond where slades is attached to. Hospital only does scripts so had no option but to get script done there. Cost me at least double the price than if I'd had the option to go to CW.

  • wabster on 26/10/2024 - 09:18

    Like many others my experience with CW for scripts is they are usually cheaper by a significant amount over my nearby suburban pharmacy. I have to get 5 scripts filled at once… and that sure adds up, I'm not on any subsidy except for PBS of course.

    I regularly check prices of other stuff, and recently I had occasion to buy my annual sunscreen supply (NIVEA Sun Protect & Moisture SPF50+ Sunscreen Lotion Pump 1L, $25.69, $17.31 Off RRP ) and exact same product is $33.95 at my local Woolies.

    Like all good Ozbargainers I keep an eye on pricing and never shop on impulse or for convenience.

  • BigBirdy on 26/10/2024 - 09:32

    CW for cheaper scripts. For ‘off the shelf’ items, CW ditched a lot of the generic/home-brand products, now only selling expensive known brands, like Telfast, Caneston, etc

  • Dslrfirst on 26/10/2024 - 10:04

    Try Cincotta Chemist if in your area.

  • susannetsv on 26/10/2024 - 10:42

    I may be wrong but I think Chemist Warehouse has done some sort of deals with the pharma companies to buy and sell short dated medicines and vitamins . From my experience all the scripts have an expiry date much sooner than when you buy from other chemists, same with the vitamins , I think this must be their business model, has anybody else noticed this?

  • hamroll on 26/10/2024 - 11:16

    Yeah I find prescriptions are always cheaper at chemist warehouse, actually they list their prescription medicine prices online too, I dunno if it’s still available but I haven’t ever gotten a prescription cheaper elsewhere.

    I also take advantage of their price beat for their in store items, so usually everything is cheaper

    • hamroll on 26/10/2024 - 11:20

      https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/prescriptions

      I found the link for prescription prices, usually I would just Google “”medication” chemist warehouse”

      So I guess apart from the off the shelf generic brands you might be able to get elsewhere, most things should be cheaper with the price beat

  • mousie on 26/10/2024 - 11:20
    +1

    I can't browse in chemist warehouse because the aisles are too small and I had benefitted from too many kfc deals.

    For scripts, no cheaper for my very expensive meds which most pharmacies have to order in anyway.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 26/10/2024 - 11:40
    +3

    I avoid CW like the plague.

    Sensory overload for me.

    • MrThing on 27/10/2024 - 17:04
      +1

      Its like JB Hifi, its like someone is yelling in your face the moment you walk into the shop

    • gakko on 28/10/2024 - 12:45

      It's an absolutely awful environment. I guess it was initially for that Warehouse feel, and now it's full of advertising too so it's a fluorescent hell.

      • greatlamp on 30/10/2024 - 00:13

        The warehouse feel is part of the marketing, based on the results of behavioural psychology experiments. They intentionally leave the stores with unfinished floors and ceilings, every price ticket is an oversized 'sale' ticket. Even the colour yellow was specifically chosen for its association with 'cheap'.

        The only competition they were ever worried about was the discount drug store franchise - it didn't matter that they weren't as cheap, they copied all the same marketing strategies and the average customer assumed they were the same as chemist warehouse.

        So chemist warehouse bought sigma, which owns the franchise for discount drug stores.

        • gakko on 30/10/2024 - 08:47

          Haha really? They bought that franchise which straight up copied their branding? I always figured they'd sue them.

  • Cyphar on 26/10/2024 - 11:49
    +3

    My town has a Terry White and the prices for my meds (Janumet & Ozempic) are the exact same as Chemist Warehouse so I go there. Their discretionary products may be a bit more expensive, which is how I gather they make back the money, but I still get them there anyway because (profanity) CW

  • Blargman2001 on 26/10/2024 - 12:16

    If you're only buying scripts, probably. They don't really make a lot of money off of prescriptions. That's why it's a pain to get in and out of the store, finding things is difficult, theres usually a wait, and you're bombarded by marketing on the way in and out. It's all manufactured to keep you in the store as long as possible so you're likely to buy something else. It's your total spend while in store that matters to them. It's retailing diluted to its most basic form.

  • HelpMeiCantSee on 26/10/2024 - 12:36
    +3

    Take it with a grain of salt, but I for one am grateful that our medicine costs are what they are, and that I stuck with my local chemist. I’m pretty sure anywhere else in the world would have cost us much, much more.

    My wife fought bowel cancer for 3 years. We were on a butt ton of meds, but despite blowing the safety net by March (38yr old/non- pensioners), I do not feel we overpaid at all, and our pharmacist knowing us and actually interacting with us was unspeakably helpful (even if just psychologically).

    Our sons even happened to be on the same soccer team! Local community care really does produce genuine care.

    I guess my point is script’s are healthcare, so I’d rather not “cheap out”. Pharmacists really are quite clever, especially when it comes to managing multiple complex medicines/conditions. Other stuff- panadols, vitamins etc, I’m happy to get wherever is cheapest and most convenient.

    • Blargman2001 on 26/10/2024 - 12:43
      +4

      That's the thing with pharmacies. You don't know you need a good one until you need one. Medicine is just a commodity until it literally becomes life and death and then getting the bare minimum service isn't going to cut it anymore.

      • gakko on 28/10/2024 - 12:47

        Nothing about his story says that simply getting the medicine wouldn't cut it though. Just that it was nice to have a friendly local pharmacist.

        • Blargman2001 on 28/10/2024 - 13:29

          He said he'd rather not cheap out, appreciated the interaction provided by the pharmacist, the managing of multiple complex medicines/conditions. If you don't need that then CWH is fine for most. Just don't be surprised that when you do need more, all the local chemist around you have been put out of business.

          • gakko on 28/10/2024 - 14:21

            @Blargman2001: Chemist Warehouse still has pharmacists. They still manage medicines. The solution to my mind will be pharmacies integrated into other mega corps providing competition. Don't get me wrong I love small business. But I've never cared for small pharmacies and they're wait times and prices. Doctors have always given me any advice I need. Acknowledge it matters more for complex cases but not into supporting a massive inefficient system just to meet a targeted need which could be done efficiently some other way.

            • Blargman2001 on 28/10/2024 - 15:17

              @gakko: I'm a pharmacist and I think the way CWH does things is probably as cheap as you'll get with our current system. Even their owner admits that CWH is not everything for everyone and the reality is not everyone has the same experience at their doctor as you. Tech bros and visionaries have been trying to disrupt the sector for decades and this is what we have. Sure it's inefficient but there's a lot of lobby groups and money involved. Even AI hasn't really been able to make any inroads into the industry so far.

              • gakko on 28/10/2024 - 18:41

                @Blargman2001: Yeah. Well I think, as you say, there will always be a market for the non gross (ie not cwh) chemists. Unsure if we are still in a transition of independents disappearing or if what we have now is our ongoing normal.

  • CMH on 26/10/2024 - 13:50
    +1

    Yep.

    I think if CW model gets more successful than it already is the whole pharmacy landscape will change.

    As it is, it has already changed. A lot of services previously rendered has been cut back or now requires a fee (statutory declarations anyone?).

    In the future it could be very possible that the public pay extra to speak to a pharmacist for advice. Right now some pharmacies won't provide advice on a prescription medication unless they dispense it due to the number of people calling for advice but going to CW to get it dispensed.

  • mirz on 26/10/2024 - 14:41
    +1

    I prefer to support my local chemist as they are open 24/7.

    Also, never noticed much price difference in prescription medicines.

    Yes, CW is cheaper to buy multivitamins when on sale.

  • BluebirdV on 26/10/2024 - 18:18

    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? Do Terry White price match Chemist Warehouse?

    • RogerLoger on 27/10/2024 - 09:23
      +1

      The answer may depend on the freedom of the managers to make pricing decisions, so the best answer about your Terry White would come via walking in there and asking.

    • Junkyard on 27/10/2024 - 16:48
      +1

      Chemist warehouse do online prescriptions, pay online and then you can mail your prescription to chemist warehouse and they send it to you with free shipping.

      https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/prescriptions

  • JaymeRyan on 27/10/2024 - 11:00

    I find the cost of medications cheaper at Chemist Warerhouse than their compeititors, particular medications for long term management (chronic disease). Some medications, such as Mometasone lotion, are roughly the same price.

  • SlartiBartFozz on 27/10/2024 - 13:24

    CW is operated like a monopoly business, they buy out their competitors and make exclusive deals with suppliers to ensure they get your business, for example Ozempic if it's in short supply will go first to CW before being delivered to other pharmacy stores. As a workplace it's the most unpleasant pharrmacy to work for. As a customer, it follows some of the JBhifi and Casino design psychology, such as blacked out windows, big ads, high shelves, narrow aisles, so it's a truly oppressive space to be in, the only store that's not like that is the Chadstone SC store which is now open plan.
    CW recently bought out Sigma which owned several chains including Pharmasave. The owners of those pharmacies have almost entirely ditched the option to become part of CW, and gone independent since then. They aren't allowed to use the Pharmasave name any more though. In majority of cases you will get scripts far cheaper from those pharmacies than CW but it varies according to your prescription, and whether you can use generic brands meds or not.
    CW do have cheaper OTC, non-prescription products however.

  • capslock janitor on 27/10/2024 - 15:03
    +1

    they are the maccas of pharmacy..

    would be great if we had a online competitor like mark's venture
    https://x.com/costplusdrugs

  • bigbadboogieman on 27/10/2024 - 22:46

    Last 2 years 100% of the time I have had to price match Gaviscon. I have no way to find out pricing for scripts otherwise I would try to match that price too. I find other stuff cheaper on Amazon. I reckon it is purely marketing.

  • rvsure on 28/10/2024 - 07:59

    For me personally Healthylife is always cheaper for my prescriptions. I always compare Healthylife and CW prices and place my order on whichever is cheaper. Both offer free delivery for prescriptions, although CW's delivery is faster. I just make sure I order at least a week ahead at Healthylife. Also, as some others suggested get your GP to give you eScripts for two months refills at a time. One of my prescription costs the same whether you get one month refill or two months. You can't just order two one months refills and pay two months refill price unfortunately.

  • iridiumstem on 28/10/2024 - 10:04
    +1

    I think I previously paid 30 dollars for one of the non PBS meds from Chemist Warehouse vs 50 from the chemist down the road. I cannot remember for life of me whether it was melatonin or agomelatine though.

    Since that is for a month supply, I kinda went, Chemist Warehouse all the way.

  • ytthr on 28/10/2024 - 12:28

    They are often cheaper - the Bunnings of chemists.
    If they busy you can wait a bit, if they are quiet you wont.

    I can't say that for Priceline. The last time I used them my wife came out of hospital, I needed to get her the prescribed pain killers while she waited in pain in the car. Price line was empty and I waited over 25 mins while she froze in the car (it was winter). I suspect they do this on purpose in the hope that you buy some make-up while you wait, a busy CW would have been cheaper and faster.

  • JimB on 28/10/2024 - 13:45

    Reasons why I go to CW:
    - can be far cheaper for scripts. One time I went, their generic antibiotics was dirt cheap, like $7.
    - Not always the cheapest but generally not expensive, I prefer not to get a surprise and I'm not price checking.
    - open later

    I prefer not to purchase any non-script items there but their QV cleanser is cheaper than other places. Half the store is snake oil. There should be a ban on selling soft drinks in pharmacies.

    After reading this posts, I now know they list their medicine prices only, so I'll try to find a local pharmacy that will price match.

  • chefdillu on 28/10/2024 - 19:18

    Terry White Aintree & Sydenham in Victoria refuse to price match , So we support CW in the area there are actually 3 of them
    you have to beg with terry white to price match and they make faces as if they are doing you a big favour.

  • payless69 on 29/10/2024 - 03:50

    One TW store price matched a CW bottle.
    As long as Gerry does not step in, no issue

  • techno2000 on 29/10/2024 - 10:06

    I always get shocked when I purchase medicines at any chemist other than Chemist Warehouse. Its double the cost sometimes for the exact same thing.So I stick to Chemist Warehouse as far as possible.

  • pformag on 29/10/2024 - 10:47

    CW is cheaper, but other pharmacists will have more specialised stock and can also compound.

  • whitepuma on 29/10/2024 - 11:12

    For my medication, it's definitely cheaper. the amount is varied, sometimes its a big difference, sometimes tiny, but its almost always cheaper.

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