64.107.165.131 / March 31, 2009

FYI, as you clearly need it, an ultra plush mattress of any kind is designed for your body to sink into. The fact that you bought a posturepedic ultra plush, a cheap one at that, without knowing what you were getting really shows what a walking contradiction you are. You love to recommend that people learn their facts before opening their mouths, I suggest you do the same ;) Oh and I am sure you wont publish this or my previous comment in your guest book, since of course I highly doubt you like to be proven wrong. That and the fact that your blog is really pointless. Later!
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REPLY:
My blog is hardly pointless when idiots such as yourself write in, isn't that right? The entire point of the expose about the Sealy "Posturpedic scam" is that there are no quantitative data provided - only phony baloney salesman names for each mattress.

The truth and usefulness of my expose can be epitomized with this actual event on March 31, coincidentally the same day you wrote in.

FACT:
On March 31, 2009 I was online at Costco's returns counter to renew my annual membership. In the line to my right was a man with a Sealy Posturpedic mattress on a cart - he was returning it. "Are you returning that mattress?" I inquired.

"Yeah, it gives me a terrible back ache!" he told me. His complaint was that it was just springs that sagged into the center. This curved his back and every morning he woke up with a backache. He was disgusted with the poor quality of the Sealy Posturpedic. "You can't flip it over" he explained. "You used to be able to flip a mattress but now these are only for one side. I can't sleep on this!" He told me he had had the mattress for 2 years."

Thus you can see the usefulness, truthfulness, and continued need for my website expose of this scam.

CONCLUSION:
My exposes are truthful and the Sealy Posturepedic scam in particular is significant.
• Sealy does not rate the spring rate of mattresses to provide any quantitative knowledge of what body weight/height they are designed to support. All they do is make up "plush" sounding mattress names.

What all mattresses should contain is a diagram/chart showing the effect of a 100 lb., 150 lb., 200 lb., 300 lb. person of 5' height, 5' 4", 5' 6", 5' 8", 6', 6' 2", and 6' 4" laying on the bed.
• Such illustration in side view would reveal the degree of dip (slump or whatever one would call it) resulting.

Quantitative data such as I propose would clearly show that these so called "Posturepedic" mattresses cannot allow a short, stout person to sleep with their spine held reasonably straight. Such weak spring rate beds are comfortable for light weight skinny people only and should be marketed as such. Short heavy people can't even roll over!

Until that day arrives I will continue to see Sealy Posturepedic mattresses being returned at Costco by people waking up with painful morning backaches caused by these beds.

BELOW: No quantitative measurements or data related to weight/height of user

98.77.67.226 / March 14, 2009

The pharmacist is a Pharm D (Doctor in Pharmacy) and he/she has to follow the Federal Narcotic laws DEA, and their local state laws as well. He or she is dispensing the prescription with their own license, and not with the physician's license. The dispenser has full authority to refuse, decline or reject prescriptions that could cause harm.

Take for example: If you take 6 Lorcet 10/750mg in a 24 hours period (1 tablet every 4 hours) you will put in your body 4,500 mg of Acetaminophen and 600mg or Hydrocodone. The 600mg of Hydrocodone will not kill you , but 4,500mg of Acetaminophen will.(max. dose in 24 hr is 4,000 mg), and in this case the toxicity will produce liver necrosis irreversible.

-----------
REPLY:
I crossed out your mistake ridden, stupid comments. 6 x 10mg = 60mg, NOT 600mg! Your statement that "600mg of Hydrocodone will not kill you" is idiotic. 120mg is only for "opiate-tolerant patients" and "such levels must be monitored very carefully." Your remark that it's safe to take 5 times that dose is truly idiotic.

KIRKLAND Signature Non-Aspirin ACETAMINOPHEN WARNING! 8 of these could kill you! LIVER TOXICITY!! (above) Example of warning Costco could add if they were extremely concerned. If you are so concerned about generic Tylenol and liver toxicity why don't you contact Costco and complain? Recommend they place a large warning on the front of the bottle, instead of in small print on the side?

But thank you so much for your know-it-all contribution to the comments section.

72.194.197.216 / January 14, 2009

Re: The Sealy Fenway mattress we bought at Costco in August 2004. I didn't know I could return it, or else we would have done so in the 1st year. We have suffered on ours for over 4 years, but the backaches, shoulder aches and elbow aches are so bad we can't take it any more. It IS like sleeping on 2 hammocks, side by side. I literally have to "climb" up onto the "ridge" in the middle and balance there to get a decent night's sleep. I admit that when we bought it we were only concerned with lowest price. In hind site, a $500 mattress that lasts only 1 year, or worst case if you suffer like we did, even 4 years, is FAR more expensive than a good mattress with a 20 year warranty. No more! [promo line for competing brand of mattress deleted] Live and learn.
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The line I deleted makes your entire comment suspect as being placed here only to promote another manufacturer. Such advertising misuse of online forums, blogs, guest books, etc. is all too common.

69.159.10.197

September 07, 2008

The correct spelling is LIAR, if you can't spell a four letter word how can we expect you to be able to count to 50?

24.151.67.208

July 27, 2008

Costco Pharmacy has been great for my anal itch. Saves us having to drive to Walgreens. Just wish they had Walmart prices.

24.129.106.219 / June 23, 2008

FOR MISTER ...[Posts in all capital letters are deleted. Please use lower case]

To comment on the Vicodin person, You wernt shorted. Maybe one of your crackhead friends took one. or you just cant count. Costco keeps an exact record of all narcotics. YOU ARE JUST A CRACKHEAD.

Watch how long someone has to sit on hold..then after that have to listen to a dumb ghetto ass operator answer the phoned reads off a manual just like at Dell crappy support. On top of all that...crazy crack heads and inpatient ass morons walking up every 5 seconds asking if its done yet, after giving them a 20 minute wait time and getting into line in 5. If 25 minutes is too long, go to a competitor. they say come back tomorrow or in two hours minimum. Until you know the structure of our shitty healthcare system in the U.S., Go FUCK YOURSELF!!!! Pharmacy is not as easy as you think.

Work in a pharmacy and tell me that it takes forever to get a prescription. The biggest complaint is time. If physicians would write the damn prescription legilably and correctly, we wouldnt have to constantly call them to figure out there chinese, indian, or just lame ass handwriting. Or how about strengths? They love to write for shit that doesnt exist! Insurance companies. Ask for a rejection print out next time your stupid insurance doesnt want to pay!!!

Talk about crappy service. This site only allows 1000 characters in a post

67.82.39.79 / April 25, 2008

They have shorted me on Vicoden many times before. Last wednesday they did it again Instead of getting 50 pills I got 48.

Called a pharmacist when I got home,and he insisted that he double counted them and when I left store, I left with 50 pills! They essentially called me a lier.

This happened many times before. I know for sure-someone in their staff is stealing.Costco prices are cheapest ones-that I must admit and that' why I stay with them. But bother me so much-the worst part is -nowhere one can complain about and they know it.

It's not just a price of those 2 pills-but it's the principle of it. I bet that most of people there do not count their pills-I bet they would be shocked to do so. Especially drugs like this Vicodin, Percoset or any of these painkillers. It takes the lowest form of life on earth to steal from disabled elderly person. New Jersey April 08

68.164.148.87 / March 25, 2008

First, my apologies for not sticking to the subject - I have never used the Costco's web pharmacy, only those located in-store. But I wanted to clear up a couple of things I read in earlier posts. I just wanted to note, for those who canceled their memberships because of the pharmacy, that I have lived in a number of states, and no where has membership been needed to use the pharmacy at either Costco or Sam's Club. Although I have found at times that some of their generic medications seem to be of lesser quality overall than those found at other pharmacies (they use different, or their own manufacturers, I was told), I have usually been able to at least use their prices to get a better deal at a different pharmacy (if they price-match). With fewer pharmacies price-matching nowadays, however, I am thankful for Costco's pharmacy, as I have to pay cash for my prescriptions.

64.166.30.104 / March 17, 2008

The Costco pharmacy sucks. That is the best word to describe the industry.

72.86.16.157 / February 28, 2008

Part I My wife is a Pharmacist, so I happen to know many friends who are in the field as well.

Instead of talking about rather Costco is better or worst than others, I will leave this for you to decide.

However, I have witnessed many hard working pharmacists, and I think I need to speak out for them. Especially in a retail pharmacy setting: I know many that have to stand all day for 12 hours. No lunch break, unless there is overlap, which usually mean very busy store.

Very few potty breaks because you are so busy all the time.

You have to ask for vacations dates a year ahead.

You can hardly call in for sick, since they can find anyone else to cover your shift. (My wife only miss 1 day of work in 7 years)

Many of them developed work related health related issues like neck/back pain.

The stress levels is high, it happen quite often that, doctors write the prescription wrong. Wrong name, or wrong dosage.

It's funny how people hardly complaint about wait time when they are at the Doctor office, but will complaint big time when waiting for their medications at the pharmacy.

Then, when dealing with errors on the prescriptions, customers may think the wait time is too long, but then the nurse/DR the pharmacy try to reach are putting them on hold, or leave message, but DR doesn't back. Obviously, it is the pharmacist that get blame again.

Somehow, I think people are usually good with the DRs or the nurses, but show little respects to the pharmacists.

Also for your own info. Most of the time, beside the pharmacist, the other people who work in a retail pharmacy are called Pharmacy Technician A, and Pharmacy Technician B.

The A tech requires extra education and training just like many other professionals.

The B tech, while know a lot less, but they are the people who don't normally handle your prescriptions. They are usually there to handle cash, insurance problems, etc.

Also, at least for the retail pharmacies in WA. I know many other big names are more expensive than Costco, because people usually go to those big hames, and ask for price matching with Costco.

BTW, one of the main reason why your medications are so expensive is because of the DRUGS COMPANies! They are the one who make BIG BIG BIG money!

213.146.135.126 / February 15, 2008

My doctor actually warned me about using the Costco pharmacy, after he saw my pill bottles. This should make any one wary. Although, I had it with Costco. If it wasn't losing my insurance information, to the gutter customer service in the store in general, it was one disappoinment after another. Life is too short to put up with this outfit.

211.140.192.186 / January 23, 2008

My local costco pharmacies are horrible. It takes them forever fill a simple prescription. If you ask a question, they roll their eyes in disgust in an attempt to disguise their lack of knowledge. Their customer service is unbelievably bad at the store level, too. Thankfully, I canceled my membership a few days ago. No one should have to put up with this poor excuse for a business.

4.234.6.34 / January 17, 2008

Keep up the good work.

I am surprised this website has't been attacked by the boys at IT at costco. I heard they had a reputation for posting crap about thier competition, and putting themeelves in a good light. I guess since your website exposes the truth-and you limit it to the pharmacy-about this trashy outfit, they got nothing to say, or do. Keep up the good work.

199.91.34.33 / January 17, 2008

To all of those complaining about the cost of medications and health care. How about turning off the cable, cancelling the cell phones and getting a second job? That's what it'll take if middleman leeches keep sucking off your healthcare dollars! Health insurance is NOT worth the money, even if you have health problems--because all insurance companies MAKE A PROFIT!!

Why are healthcare professionals overpaid? Because doctors get $500,000/year in cardiology and plastic surgery! All they did was let mommy tell them to make a lot of money so they hung out in school for 4-10 years to learn how to cut people open. You can't balme everyone for complaining about how much the insurance companies and for-profit hospitals rip off. And the gov't try to take it over and send health care back to the stone age. In Great Britain and Canada, once you reach 65, you are treated better than young patients are in the USA. It costs nothing to get for live saving treatment, because you are so old.

The people on this site need to start suing these health care profiteers in court to prevent pure greed from forcing this country down the tubes.

199.91.34.33 / January 17, 2008

Sealy mattress

to the original guy who had problems with the sealy mattress. there are some things that should not buy at a discount store. Mattresses are one of those things. What kind of quality do you expect from a $500 mattress. I paid $1200 for a $2000 sealy posturpedic crown jewel double pillowtop king size mattress and it has been worth every penny. Sounds like you are an overweight person (said so yourself), so a good quality mattress is even more important).

4.234.33.107 / January 15, 2008

The pharmacy sucks worst than the store. That's hard to believe!

4.234.42.232 / January 15, 2008

When I was member of Costco, their pharmacy would always short me on pills. Their prices would go up and down like a merry-go-round like the prices in the store. So, I said the hell with it and canceled my membership. I can honestly say I haven't regreted the decision one bit.

Why leave it just at the pharmacy, SCUMCO-I mean Costco-sucks in general.

69.225.236.194 / June 15, 2007

Buy the loss leaders

Costco is a ripoff on expensive items but carries a shitload of loss leaders...so buy the later and not the former.

69.232.45.68 / December 19, 2007

My wife and I bought the Sealy Fenway California King. About a year later I started getting backaches. A few months ago, my back aches got so bad, I couldn't bend or or walk properly. I was diagnosed by my doctor with "sciatica", which is a condition resulting in severe pain when the lower back muscles or spinal discs press against the sciatic nerve in the back. Extreme and excruciating pain.

It finally dawned on me that it might be the mattress that has been causing me this back pain. I did a search, and I found this site with all these other people having the same problem. Maybe I can sue Sealy.

[If I were you--I'd do a return to Costco. Get my money back. Then go to several mattress showrooms and try out firmer mattresses. Do not buy anything from them, only try out mattresses, sales people will rip you off for highest retail price.

Find the model that feels best to you--then do a web search for the best price. Make phone calls and ask only to talk to the sales manager or owner--make him an offer for what you want based on the best price you found on a web search. Write down his offer and call more mattress places. You can save hundreds to a thousand dollars or more!

By the way, once I got the right mattress my morning backache disappeared!]

75.24.109.245 / September 20, 2007

Dear Costco Pharmacy, I have many many times been lied to by the staff that answers the phone at the Costco Pharmacy in Santa Cruz also there are quit a few that are very very rude and slam the phone down hanging up on you before you can ask a question.

Im sorry I cannot remember one the was very rude, her name Cinnimon, or some different kind of name but, very rude. I hope this can be resolved because for the most part of going to Costco its a very nice place to shop. Very truly yours,

[Comment: I think state law requires a licensed pharmacist on staff--but all the rest are, I believe, just clerks with high school education. From my personal experience they are even worse in person than what you describe on the phone.

In fact, I had one freaking out right in front of the so-called pharmacy manager. He wasn't a pharmacist--just some Costco manager--and knew nothing about pharmacy. When he called a person from the pharmacy to come over and answer my questions it quickly became clear she was so math challenged that 4 pills/day in 90 day quantity was not, to her, a simple 4x9=36--therefore 4x90=360 solution. She could not understand. Discussing 3 pills/day in 90 day quantity is a simple 3x9=27--therefore a 3x90=270 solution. Yet this "pharmacy person" freaked out! She could not agree my "facts were correct".

The so called manager was useless. What is the point? Simply that Costco keeps costs down by hiring morons. Knowing this is the case be forewarned and take the items that are a good deal, shop around for the rest, and never expect anyone in the pharmacy, except a licensed pharmacist, have an IQ higher than a moron.]

75.24.109.245 / September 20, 2007

Dear Costco Pharmacy, I have many many times been lied to by the staff that answers the phone at the Costco Pharmacy in Santa Cruz also there are quit a few that are very very rude and slam the phone down hanging up on you before you can ask a question.

Im sorry I cannot remember one the was very rude, her name Cinnimon, or some different kind of name but, very rude. I hope this can be resolved because for the most part of going to Costco its a very nice place to shop. Very truly yours,

70.244.164.36 / June 22, 2007

Whoever is running this page is a genius.... No one anywhere on the web is bringing this problem to the front--to make it a public shame. Why would Costco have outsourced such an important function as supplying medication? Why did Costco give up control--was it to rush into the "hot internet sales" band wagon? Such idiotic pharmacists should be prevented from practicing--their certificates or whatever should be taken just as that idiot D.A. Nifong was recently disbarred. In the case you documented so
brilliantly in your 5-page PDF letter it is clear that pharmacies had to learn to stop counting pills with mail order refills! But they had not because it was so new--the Internet wasn't even in existence when those clowns went to college. Withholding a mail-order refill of Serzone (not a narcotic, etc.) when only 1-week supply remained is virtually criminal. The person said it right; they wanted people to run out of gas on the freeway before Costco allowed them to buy more gasoline. Obviously an idiotic way to control medicine. Mail order pharmacies have to adjust refill dates to allow for shipping times--or even to provide refills in advance for a person going away on a trip, etc. Pharmacists should fill pill orders and not try to second guess doctors or their patients. If they think someone is a pill popper that should be communicated
only IN WRITING to the prescribing physician as a "suspicion" for that M.D. to look into. Your doctor has the right to prescribe several months of pain medication for a non-insured patient-- as opposed to HMO limitations that limit prescriptions to 30 day quantities. But a mere pill filler has NO RIGHT to question the Physician's instructions or play games as that in-house Costco pharmacist did when he metered out 30 day quantities of a 270 quantity prescription to see when the customer would refill. Costco was in the right to fire that pharmacist! I hope more people document these pharmacist abuses in writing to their doctors, and to the employers, etc. After all, what we really need is the automation of pill machines that fill prescriptions via "Doctor's Secure Internet" and automatically mail them same day! Let the USPS and UPS deliver medicine to take cars off the road (why are we still driving to the pharmacy every month to get refills?) Bravo to you for documenting all this as a public record.

64.12.116.209 / June 13, 2007

your excellent website showed me exactly what I seem to be looking for

76.167.41.151 / June 08, 2007

Thanks for your website forum where we can compare notes and hear about abuses.

This is a great service you have rendered to us all!! - Mercure, Redondo Beach, CA

76.3.216.39 / June 01, 2007

It is good advice to shop around for generics.

I learned that the same generic drug can cost more or less depending on the vending company the drug store bys its meds from.

So what I have started doing is when I get a new prescription, I call every pharmacy in the yellow pages and ask the pharmacist or pharmacy tech how much would this generic drug cost me if I didn't have insurance? You will soon see that the same generic can vary at each pharmacy chain.

I have been finding that Kerr Drug carries my generics cheaper than both Walgreens and Walmart.(for what I am taking at the present)

172.129.66.153 / March 16, 2007

I bought a Sealy mattress, paid big bucks and never got the warranty information. Guess what? It had only a year warranty! Imagine that. And my mattress is "hammocking" and Sealy admits that I bought the "bottom of the barrel mattress" and won't do a thing about it.

DON'T BUY SEALY! Buy [deleted] instead. I had one for 18 years that was wonderful. When it's time was up, I stupidly bought an IKEA round bed. No warranty there either. I really got burned and twice to boot. Be careful out there. BTW, the mattress from Sealy is finished on one side only which means it can't be flipped over to get more life out of it. Sorry, I ever bought SEALY. Don't make the same mistake. Those North Carolina-ers are rude too and none too helpful. Who in their right mind would make a one year warranty mattress?! Don't get burned like me. Be smarter than I was. I'm reading the fine print from now on...

72.79.107.134 / March 13, 2007

I should get a life.... obviously people like you take time to document this stuff for the benefit of others...and I do nothing but watch TV because I have waay too much time on my hands and no clue what to do with it.

78.237.225.6 / March 06, 2007

I also bought a mattress that is described as "Ultra Plush" and was as surprised as you were that it is way too soft!!! Guess what, there is no scientific definition of support! It is not the same from one person to another, or the person sitting next to me. Next time, I'll try actually sleeping on a mattress instead of buying it. There should be a federal law about definitions--some kind of standards like there are for automobiles, medical devices, etc.

71.223.188.253 / March 01, 2007

Its very simple. I don't like Costco Pharmacy, so I don't use Costco Pharmacy. Walgreens and Drugstore.com are far superior. Amazingly simple.

69.253.115.219 / February 26, 2007

can't get into the website & can't get thru on phone to check status of prescription. I switched from Humana. What a mistake. Daniel [name and address deleted]

75.82.43.7 / January 19, 2007

Hey everybody's griping about the Sealy mattresses.

welllllllllll you can add the bs re: the ORTHO AND SIMMONS too! they suck! one night on them, center indents, edges around bed much higher than center area.

I'm a female, 130 pds. sleep alone. got my money back on the ORTHO I bitched so much to President! get yours back too on any mattress, don't take the bs from them.

Just got a Simmons beauty rest......same damn problems! dealing with Simmons right now.....

24.64.223.203 / November 16, 2006

There is much useful information on this site. You are right to expose the huge price gouging that has gone on too long. I love your home page that shows the incredible differences in price for the same drug from 2 different online pharmacies!

Everyone has to wake up and stop trusting that a particular pharmacy's prices are the best you can do. Shop around! This is our health we are talking about and the bottom line is that we don't have to get ripped off for life sustaining medications while making drug companies and chain pharmacies rich.

Your excellent editorial made me start comparing prices. It is shameful that Costco actually banned you from the online site, and that your local costco pharmacist violated your doctor's prescriptions by trying to meter out your pills to see how many pain killers you were using! That is unbelievable! Good for your doctor for cutting that pharmacist down to size. Damn self-important pill counters. The sooner they get replaced with computerized dispensing machines the better!

It is precisely that sort of parental attitude from medical people that has to be slapped in the face. Thank you for this inspirational site. It is incredible that costco has not apologized to you, etc.

68.85.157.25 / November 16, 2006

Your information regarding Sealy and their products makes an excellent point! The phony mattress names tell the consumer nothing about the physical attributes of the mattress in any quantitative manner. Your points are well taken! What weight does a mattress support? Is a particular Sealy meant for a 5 foot, 120 pound woman or a 300 pound man 6 feet 4 inches tall? I am not a doctor--just a joint cracker (Chiropractor) with 7 years of experience who knows plenty about bedding, spinal support, and back health. The bottom line: Everyone is different. So why is Sealy making beds that are ostensibly for anyone? Shouldn't they be licensed by the State of California to certify for whom a particular mattress is suited for? It seems that the desire to sell products leaves the public without any objective guidelines--any mattress is supposedly "good enough" for anyone. But that is wrong.

The plan is that most people will simply be suckered in by the sales language...then get used to a mattress, even if it isn't right for them, and not want to go through the hassle of taking it out of their home and hauling it back to the store for a refund. 

Your website is a real public service and you must be blessed with more than the usual amount of free time on your hands to create this forum. Thank you.

152.163.101.7 / November 15, 2006

I don't know anything about the web pharmacy...I constantly call all of the pharmacies around me ...As far as Wal Mart, they do not offer all drugs for $4...most of my prescriptions ended up costing me less to pay cash than to use the co-pay. Check this out even if you have insurance.

72.179.14.25 / November 08, 2006

Walmart ...lowered the 300 cheapest drugs to $4. If your drug is on the $4 list -- great! But don't fill your other prescriptions there -- you'll be paying too much. Always shop around. There are some real hero's in the world of pharmacy -- independent pharmacies that do mainly generics. They actually try to help people and run an ethical business. ....

71.93.82.45 / October 30, 2006

THere is talk that this website has, over the last 6 years shamed the big discount stores into lowering prices. Good job!

Exposng cost rip-offs like this was needed and you can now see the results by $4 generics at walmart, etc. THis webiste may have saved lives. when i think of the money greedy scum... i hope they fucking die those worthless pieces of shitcock fucking retardedness!!!! they shoud get a fucking brain before they talk shit about something they know absolutely NOTHING about. drug profiting stores are fucktards.

they kill our parents and grandparents by denying them access to medication they can afford. Go walmart!

drug companies that profit off the elderly and the sick got to be the dumbest mother fuckers i've ever had the misfortune of stumbling across. I'd like to choke them on a goat dick.

67.154.169.82 / October 16, 2006

i have a solution to everyone's complaint/gripe on this page...i'll stop going to costco pharmacy!!! then you wont have to wait in line behind a whiney little asshole like me who has nothing better to do with their time than bitch about costco's terrible online pharmacy!!! Have a nice day :)

PS: fuck costco and the money grubbing pig they rode in on

69.225.85.191 / October 07, 2006

Walgreens is better and Walmart has really cheap generics now!

69.225.185.236 / October 07, 2006

Walgreens is better and Walmart has really cheap generics now! Walmart is now selling many generics at almost give away prices! Costco pharmacy sucks now except for pill filling/insurance like any old pharmacy. now that this is competitive, finally, costco will not be able to make a profit off the poor and elderly anymore.

24.14.95.162 / May 10, 2006

Little do customers know

Little do customers know but reason why prescripton pills cost so much ...You have to pay these researchers to develop a Viagra pill...pay for the many variations of the Viagra pill ...paying doctors to do the research. ...dozens of different variations...tested on 50 monkeys, rats, etc. and find out, it's to toxic....have to convince the FDA it's safe ...more clinical trials and paying extra money over more years of testing, it finally hits the market. ...pay consultants to sell it, pay the legal team, pay the researchers and developers, someone is going to sue...

----------------
["Little do customers know"? You think we are morons? Everyone knows this. what we don't understand is why pharmacies charge 10 times the cost for essential medications that have been generic for many years. What we don't understand is the pure human greed that allows the young business executives that set such pricing--who have nothing to do with medical research-- to screw every last social security dollar out of seniors. Sort of an like killing off ones parents and grandparents for profit and inheritance!]

68.7.85.101 / April 28, 2006

PosturePedic Scam? Sealy sells the Posturepedic in 4 levels of firmness. Ultraplush, plush, cushion firm, and firm....

[Consumer Reports also found this entire bed scam a morass of misinformation and sales hype such as Ultraplush, plush, eurotop, etc.. Consumer Reports noted that there is a difference between firmness and support. Their article stressed that a mattress could have a soft top but offer firm support. The scam is that the mattress manufacturers offer no quantifiable specifications. The problem is that sales hype needs to be replaced with factual information--exactly as outlined in the article.]

71.31.213.94 / April 25, 2006

Should the "Government" hand out free medical care?

can someone please tell me how to find the online costco? i need asthma medication every month and have no insurance. my advare cost me almost $200 at wal mart pharmacy for a one month prescription! it outrages me so badly. my parents just have medicare and pay over $1200 between the two of them for their monthly prescriptions. they live on social security and live with my just so they can afford to stay alive. it so unbelievable. i mean really the way our government treats the poor when it comes to health care makes me so mad. the doctors and pharmacy's just get rich and of course the insurence company's! while i sit unable to pay my bills, and always being sued over medical bills. and they are so heartless. they will call and harrass you about paying and when i say so then i just won't buy food for my kids this week, fine they say then you will be paying this bill this week? i work for nothing putting in 50 hours per week watching a couple of kids, and my husband does construction. we are both self employed so would have to pay over $400 per month for family insurence. we tried it once but couldn't afford it and then the part about that was that came with a $5000 deductable. we said well if we are going to pay for all dr visits and prescription anyway we should save the $400 per month to pay the bills. but again we did not have the $400 to begin with. crap! this country makes be so mad! the rich get richer and the poor get screwed!

RE: "this country makes be so mad! the rich get richer and the poor get screwed!"
That is right! The rich get richer because they work hard and create value--which is how/why they earn money. Why do you resent them? Why not resent the poor who "get screwed" by themselves? It is the "poor" who make more babies and use up community services without pulling their weight. The poor screw themselves by being too lazy to study in school to achieve an education.

Why do the rich have higher levels of education? Ever hear about "studying hard in school?"
Why do the rich have fewer babies? "Poor" is a spiritual state of mind.

RE: "they will call and harass you about paying"
Buy a called ID device.
Purchase a $30 answering machine.
Set the answering machine to pick up on 1-ring.
Outgoing message = "Please leave a message and we'll get back to you." (message lasts 3 seconds)
Set volume = low so you can't hear bill collector messages.

Then - never pick up the phone unless the called ID indicates a call from someone you want to talk to. Let the bill collectors leave messages for the rest of your life. NEVER, ever talk to them.

RE: "the way our government treats the poor when it comes to health care makes me so mad"
First realize that these is no "Government"--it is you and your parents, etc. Everything that seems to be external is really internal. In this democracy you are the Government. You vote, right? You pay taxes, right? Well, the taxes you pay provide a local library. Use it! Read books, take out audio books, etc and educate yourself. Do you really think that our society is a "Santa Clause machine" for people with no education, no job skills, who want to make babies and get free hand outs from the "Government"?

It is not some external "Government" that is mistreating you it is your own family. Why did your parents have children if they lacked the education to attain a professional career that would allow them to earn enough money to care for children? Now they are living with you! Your own parents are parasitic dead beats! Do you have an education? How many hours a week do you study, read, learn?

I had to quit drugs and alcohol at age 33 and go back to school in Community College to earn a degree in electronics. Then and only then I could achieve a decent job and make enough money to care for myself. But I can't afford children.  At 56 years old I have no children. So are you still drinking? Still haven't earned at least an Associates Degree in a career field? If not then you have nothing to offer society and thus will die. Why would the "Government" shell out other people's tax dollars to keep you and your parents alive?

Everyone has to die. Before you think that your lack of access to medical care is cruel keep in mind that before the 1940s there were no antibiotics. People--both rich and poor-- died of simple infections that today are completely treatable. When I was in High School there was no such thing as "open heart surgery" and cancer was a death sentence. Today many forms of cancer are survivable and open heart surgery is commonplace.

In the past--in my lifetime--the medical care you want for free did not even exist to anyone no matter how much money they had. Point is that the more medicine advances the more people with nothing to offer society will want to have their lives prolonged. Why should society endlessly patch up old people with each new medical advance?

The life expectancy was 65 when the Social Security System was implemented. Today men 85 years old want Viagra paid for by Medicare!

Yes, you are right. The rich get richer and poor get screwed. And the law of gravity is unfair.

71.133.180.133 / April 15, 2006

fucking great site! Thanks!

69.139.68.201 / March 12, 2006

Hello I heard that a person does not have to be a member of Costco to use your pharmacy is this true?

68.186.61.190 / March 08, 2006

i am so that bored with my life that i have to express my misery on the internet! we all know that healthcare stinks in this country but instead of waisting my little life with that fact and going out and reaching the people who can change the healthcare system I’d rather just bitch about it! oh by the way, your comment on the "posturepedic scam" is on target as this crap has gone on too long! if i’m going to tell the truth about the "web rx" you won’t waste the time printing it! no one is asking me to shop through the web pharmacy, just like no one asked me to be a member of Costco.

68.8.99.174 / February 20, 2006

If costco is ripping you off, shop at another pharmacy that offers better savings. when you find one post on your website

68.54.102.232 / January 25, 2006

This post pertains to all pharmacies. People without prescription insurance coverage need to be aware that they are subsidizing the insurance companies, the pharmacies and all the folks who do have prescription insurance coverage. All insurance companies negotiate with every pharmacy to get reduced prices for drugs. This *group price reduction* can be turned on its head and perceived as a *group price increase* for those least able to pay, namely the uninsured or underinsured.

When I had prescription insurance coverage, the pharmacy stapled a receipt on the bag showing the actual price of the drug ($68) and the price the insurance company paid ($40). I paid a $5.00 co-pay, so the pharmacy got $45 for a $68 prescription. When I lost my insurance coverage I was charged the full $68, precisely when I could least afford it, because I was out of work. If any one thing about medication cost is unfair, this is it. Prescription drug prices should be the same for everyone, whether insured or not, based on the drug prescribed and the pharmacy where the drug is purchased, not based on insurance coverage or lack thereof.

66.191.69.30 / February 09, 2006

The manufacturer sends my meds to my doctor who then gives them to me.

I am disabled and on medicare but I get too much in benefits to qualify for medicaid help or the new part D medicare. What I do qualify for is a drug-help program through my clinic where most of my medications are provided to me for free from the manufacturer.

The manufacturer sends my meds to my doctor who then gives them to me. Some doctors are aware of these programs and some are not. So I urge all of you to ask your doctor/health care team about it. My doctor didn't know about the program. It wasn't until he sent me to the diabetic educator and she told me about the program called: South Central Adult Services Perscrition Assistance Program, sponsred by Dakota Medical Foundation. Orki1960

[thank you! yes, such programs exist and they are vital to get free medications to people who need them but can't afford them. I know that this is done with Actos --the $2,000/year diabetes drug]

216.211.177.80 / February 03, 2006

I think the people getting rich on the medical & health care industry all are pathetic and have too much money in their hands

64.12.117.13 / January 27, 2006

I found Costco in Winchester Va to be cheaper than any one else around. [cheaper on what item? bandaids?]

I have no prerscription drug coverage [what medication do you buy from Costco and what does it cost? what does it cost elsewhere? how many pharmacies have you compared prices with? in short, you are telling us nothing of any use to anyone. Costco is cheaper on some drugs and higher price on others--it is the specifics that we are interested in].......... From West Virginia [well that explains a lot]

219.102.122.36 / January 18, 2006

My life is an abomination. I sit on my high horse complaining and belittling everything ---and I know effectually nothing about anything. My doctor is the one prescribing the serzone for me--SHE should have informed me of the risks involved. When a "BLACK BOX" warning was issued --the pharmacist, and the drug manufacturer had an obligation to inform me! They did not do that! The pharmacy is supposed to warn a person if a medication is suddenly added to the BLACK BOX list! The people who sell the drugs should warn a person when a study finds out a medication is so dangerous that the FDA issues a BLACK BOX warning.

The pharmacy's have to charge more to the cash paying customers because the insurance industry, Medicaid, & Medicare have negotiated discounts. I can do the math. How much profit do I have to make on 200 prescriptions to run a pharmacy with 2 overpriced pharmacists, 1 overpriced technician, & 1 dimwit cashier( that's a conservative labor team). I try to do it on McDonalds wages so I make the most money. Get REAL!! Why did I go to college for 7 years to take this kind of CRAP? Maybe I should look at things from a different point of view. But I doubt I have ever had an unselfish thought; my mother wanted me to be a highly paid doctor. I couldn't hack medical school and thought I could make a lot of money with a pharmacy degree until this damn Internet blew that all away! I'm still paying off college loans for the 7 years of education I got and now have to save for my kids education!

Its not fair! Now I learn that computer controlled robotic pill dispensers will eliminate most pharmacists! It will be one pharmacist to simply certify that the pill dispensers are working properly. Labeling and patient billing, etc. is all done by the computer. A doctor can issue a prescription and the pill machine dispenses, labels, and mails the bottle to the patients home! This will drop the cost of medicines below what it takes to pay me to live in a $850,000 house and drive a car like the doctors do. Do you know what insurance is on a Lexus?!

This damn automation will eliminate my job and pharmacy schools will fade into memory. Your desire to have affordable health care will mean that some day my college, Pharmacy University, will become some veterinarian college. And all so you people can have affordable medicine? I choke on the thought.

207.200.116.67 / January 17, 2006

I would like to know where the closest Costco pharmacy is in Kentucky.

63.164.209.170 / January 07, 2006

I order my drugs from India. That is the cheapest way to buy drugs. Canadian prices are just a little cheaper. I have pretty good insurance through the state of Illinois but the indian drugs are cheaper than my co-pays.

68.101.173.217 / January 06, 2006

This site really did it's homework.

It's funny how poeple just don't get it. WEB pharmacy. NOT COSTCO.

66.134.54.18 / November 28, 2005

I only want to make a comment about the posting from J.L. Wolfe in Ankeny. He is and probably always will be, an ass-hole. C.Troop

67.2.244.129 / October 31, 2005

would like the 1-800 number for Costco pharmacy. thanks

204.251.230.39 / August 25, 2005

The Santa Cruz Costco Pharmacy is so horrible. They are beyond rude. Customer service is apparently a missed concept to them. They are incompetent, lazy, and not worth any discount offered!

68.221.142.170 / June 08, 2005

I have read some of your comments. While I am not personally familiar with Cosco's policies or prices since, since I am not on any medications, I did notice many seemed to be complaining about healthcare costs. Many people blame doctors, pharmacists, drug companies, HMO, or whatever I did not see two main reasons healthcare costs are so expensive. First is the lifestyle and dietary habits of the individual. Fast food and junk food is the primary diet of a very large percentage of Americans. Fewer people eat fruits and vegitables and over 50% of the country is dehdrated from drink primarly sodas instead of water. Second is lawyers. Not too many people link the historical rise in healthcare costs (which include medical malpractice) to the change in teh law that allowed lawyers to advertise. When lawyers began to advertise, the medical malpractice claims escalated dramitaclly, which in turn raised doctors malpractice insurance. These people did not invest years or academic preperation and litterally hundreds of thosands of dollars as well as high cost of very scientific and presise equiptment to break even.

70.58.183.209 / June 16, 2005

No i am very pleased with the service i recieved at the costco in Iowa i am a new member and my normal presciption for tazorac a acne creame would run me 100 dollors roughly and a few others from 50 to 75 but i recieved all three for under 80 dollers so i will continue to use costco pharmacy. JL. Wolfe Ankeny, IA

[this site is not about the pharmacy in the Costco store. you may need glasses or a reading comprehension course in addition to your pimple problem.]

207.200.116.196 / May 09, 2005

I am a "cash Payment" customer....(no insurance) I looked up the COSTCO Pharmacy prices for my 3 medications, and the total price was half of what I pay through another on-line pharmacy. But, after reading this web-site, I've decided I'd rather not take the chance. Since the on-line pharmacy I've been using for the last 2 years provides great service I think I'll pass on COSTCO. Thank you so much for this web-site.

[I think your comments are insincere; what other pharmacy is twice as expensive? WHICH MEDICATIONS? how much money are you talking about; 3 prescriptions for under $10 you refill once a year--or 3 prescriptions you refill monthly that cost $200? without such specifics you really have not said anything of use to anyone else. this site was created 5 years ago and the info about their service may no longer be accurate.]

69.225.85.144 / April 28, 2005

Diabetic? Glucophage costs a fortune on prescription in the USA (Costco charged me $200) but now I buy it generic as metformin from Europe for $13/box of 50 (500mg). It does not require a prescription in Europe. People need to wake up and think about this drug cost rip off!

69.225.85.144 / 2005-04-26

Costco is cool, sorry the webpharmacy thing sucked so badly!

170.167.4.210, August 01, 2004

"I want medical insurance" actually says "I want medical care even if it means making profits for a middleman (the insurance company) that raises the cost of medical care (to pay their profits) so that other people can't afford it.

Web pharmacies mark-up drug prices, doctors incorporate themselves and drive Mercedes, Pharmacists make high salaries, Drug companies make huge profits, HMOs are for-profit corporations just as Hospitals are for-profit. Yet Americans allow politicians (mainly for-profit individuals) to manipulate them with the "health insurance for everyone" mantra. What people should hear (when politicians promise "health care reform) is "health insurance is how my biggest contributors continue to get wealthy off your stupidity"!

Doctors can and should be replaced with computerized medical databases employed by peer groups of health advisors (senior nurses, EMTs, PAs, lab techs, etc.) who could easily be authorized to treat and prescribe. After all, once a disease is properly diagnosed the treatment is literally "by the book" anyway--doctors are rarely needed. Drugs should be sold at wholesale prices directly to consumers--cutting out the profits of HMOs, pharmacists, hospitals, etc. That way the cost of health care would drop to a fraction of what it is now. Everyone would have better health care and the middlemen would scream bloody murder as their fat money lifestyles evaporate. Doctors would no longer be able to afford luxury cars.

OK, now go back to sleep and let your politicians screw you as they always have done. After all, the rich have to stay in control of all you sheep. "Sheep were meant to be shorn, you know?"

Sleep, sleep...little sheep...sleep...let the politicians lead your lambs to the slaughter...

  24.4.254.15, July 30, 2004

...I slipped on a piece of meat, and and fell. [deleted. content not about the web pharmacy]

68.123.33.57, July 17, 2004

Its true that pharmacies, HMOs, etc. are all sources of price "mark-up" for drugs. The much lower costs of medications from Canada proves that!

66.159.249.146 / July 15, 2004

Costco stock is currently at $41.32 a share. Finally it has climbed back to where it was 2 years ago!

67.124.140.158 / July 12, 2004

Good site; web Nazi who give rotten service while hiding behind the anonymous nature of the Internet truly suck! But the pharmacies are scared because consumers are finally able to shop outside the narrow confines of their "pharmacist on Main Street"--and discovering that prices are all over the spectrum. Drug prices will rapidly become like commodity prices. Many seniors are learning that their medication is often available in a higher dose at the same price; cutting the pills in half thus cuts the actual medication cost by 1/2! look at this one: http://thecanadiandrugstore.com/pricelist.asp?qquery=celexa -- Celexa 20mg and 40mg are the same price! DUH! My doctor writes me scripts for the higher size and knows I cut them in 2. If you want to save money you have to get off medical insurance/HMOs so that your doctor can have the freedom to prescribe this way.

170.167.4.210 / July 09, 2004

Nice job Mr. Robinson... How did you know from that other IP# that it was actually from me? Well, I guess this post from the 170.167.4.nnn IP range (that you traced in the past: http://www.pearyhenson.org/costcosucks/costcoSTATS.htm) was the "proof of the pudding", eh? Why can't I get back at you in my petty little manner by making up comments that serve my interests? Do you work for Drugstore.com? Or www.thecanadiandrugstore.com? No? Then you really do this out of your sincere personal convictions? Well, I suppose Freedom of speech does not include the private property of another person...perhaps I should rant about you on my corporate website to exercise my so called right to "freedom of speech, huh?" What I did by making phony posts was wrong...I think the term for it is "malicious mischief". One can only expect such things from a corporation without morals or conscience. It is amazing that after the horrible experiences you went through with the people sub-contracted to run the Internet pharmacy both banned you from filling prescriptions AND never apologized. But I am glad to hear that you were a hero to certain others "who shall not be named!" It would be nice if you were to receive a formal apology as you certainly deserve one.

68.111.134.225 / July 08, 2004

My brother needs meds for diabetes and kidney transplant meds. The meds are called in almost a week ahead of time. Many times, it's not usually ready. They forgot some of the order or request. There's one girl that has blamed it on the doctors office. When the doctor has even been nice enough to call it in personally while waiting at the doctors office. The point of this all is, no matter what job you have, and you have to look someone in the face, do it well. It's quite interesting how someone serving you in the food service has to kiss ass and "the costumer is always right!" Is o.k. But, if you pay money for your health no matter what insurance, or none at all. You get treated like shit! If we were all here on green cards maybe we will be treated better.

68.119.7.47 / July 07, 2004

Interesting perspectives you all seem to have. I am a pharmacist and have been fired from many pharmacies. If you think you are getting a raw deal you're right! Pharmacies mark up drugs so much that people would kill us if they found out the actual wholesale cost of the pills. Who said it was Costco's job to run an online pharmacy as good as drugstore.com? Or to offer medicine at the dirt cheap prices of www.thecanadiandrugstore.com? People are too focused on the "I have insurance" crap to realize that drugs are actually so cheap they could pay for them out of their pocket change! Insurance companies and pharmacies and drug companies all make huge profits on the stupidity of the consumer. Wake up! If you want inexpensive prescriptions then stop crying about insurance all the time. If you want 5 minute service go to McDonalds. Ordering from Drugstore.com, or from Canada, or even Europe (cheapest diabetes meds) then you have to plan ahead--wait two weeks for delivery. But you'll save a fortune. Most people would rather keep buying little bottles of 30 tablets at a time, wait in line, etc. All a waste of time and a huge waste of money. But who said the public had an average IQ above 100? Sheep were meant to be shorn.

67.124.140.158 / July 06, 2004

No one writing here seems to understand the title of this website! It is not anti-Costco--what a bunch of "knee-jerk" reactionary morons!!! The site points out the horrible things about the Internet Costco Pharmacy -- that was NOT COSTCO! It was a company that Costco contracted to run the web pharmacy. This site forced Costco to change the web pharmacy to be comparable to the gold standard: drugstore.com. Good job!

209.112.140.106 / July 05, 2004

Oh Stop my side hurts.. this site is hilarious..  very amusing.. I disagree with most the other ppl who think this is about the store or the pharmacy in the store... if you dont use the INTERNET PHARMACY then you have no clue what you are saying! Keep up the comments.. they are the best I've seen in some time.

24.19.145.141 / July 05, 2004

We haven't had any problems with the Costco Pharmacy in Tukwila Wa. But then this site is not about that, is it? We don't use a computer and can't understand the Internet...so have no idea how bad the web pharmacy was. We need the cheapest prices because my husband never saved up for retirement. He kept buying new cars and playing golf. Now the old fool has cancer from smoking cigars and can't afford the treatments. Where can you get free medical help?

206.72.83.197 / July 02, 2004

By chance I came upon this site thar says COSTCO web pharmacy sucks!! but I never used it before costco fixed it. it was really horrible, eh?

81.137.32.121 / July 02, 2004

This site seems like the handiwork of a talented person who exposed the web pharmacy to shame. If it has now been fixed as they claim then this site creator deserves a medal!

82.42.100.88 / July 01, 2004

Does anyone force you to shop at the Costco online web pharmacy? If you don`t like it try drugstore.com or buy meds from thecanadiandrugstore.com -- those are great!

205.188.116.136 / July 01, 2004

you guys are brilliant! every single internet web business out there has dumbasses and idiots working for them and you cannot get away from that.. the people that work at the web pharmacy are not pharmacists -- they are just capitalists

66.126.66.167 / June 25, 2004

Wow, they sound horrible!

216.82.156.190 / June 23, 2004

My wife decided to fill my script at Costco the other day as a matter of convenience because she was returning something defective. She dropped off my script (which I normally fill at Walgreens or our local hospital pharmacy) and was told it would be 45 minutes! It was one script..nothing too complicated. Later when she went to pick up the meds, the idiot behind the counter told my wife (who by the way is an ICU RN for 12 years and has local family insurance through the town's major hospital employee's plan) that our insurance card was "invalid". Since we use it constantly for refills and doctor visits, she told the idiot that this was simply not true. The idiot didn't care and told my wife that if she wanted the meds, she'd have to pay for it and Costco would not honor our insurance card because again...it was "invalid". Instead of having to drive with our 2 1/2 year old and 10 month old to another pharmacy after one hour of B.S., she just paid for the meds and left. We will never shop at Costco again. They just lost two Executive members.

24.233.166.181 / June 22, 2004

Humana Health Care Plans Suck.

4.240.132.141 / June 17, 2004

67.176.33.4 / June 16, 2004

216.85.160.229 / May 26, 2004

63.192.33.59 / February 20, 2004

24.18.25.216 / February 11, 2004

151.200.109.48 / February 05, 2004

206.135.38.243 / January 01, 2004

206.135.38.243 / January 01, 2004