Dis-Chem Pharmacies
Reviews and Complaints

On the 25 august 2023 I paid for my medication cash even though I am on medical [protected]@ the branch @ westgate, then I later put a request for a reimbursement with my medical aid, whilst still processing my request, dischem put an electronic claim (as explained to me by my medical aid) for the service I paid cash for and they were paid and since 9 nov i've been requesting for my r252,88 but today I don't have my money

Im a first time pregnant women who bought a feeding vest at Discem.

I chose a medium thinking that would suit me. It unfortunatey is too small and I requested a larger size at the store and emailed customer centre. I in turn was told its underwear and not allowed to be returned!

Discem convientely doesnot cater for one to do fit anything on so you have no idea if it will fit. Which works in their favour to not be responable for the sale.

This is discrimination against pregnant women who find it hard to fit into anything while being pregnant!

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention a concerning incident that occurred during my recent visit to your Bryanpark store.

On the 4th of August I visited the Bryanpark store location with the intention of purchasing certain products. I proceeded with the transaction at the checkout counter and made a payment through the send-to-cash method. However, to my dismay, the transaction did not appear on the store system, despite the fact that the money was promptly deducted from my bank account.

I immediately brought this matter to the attention of the store staff, who informed me that I would need to wait for at least 24 hours for the transaction to reflect on their system. Although I understood the situation, I found it concerning that my payment had already been debited from my account, yet I was unable to receive the purchased goods due to the system discrepancy.

Following the store's instructions, I waited for the stipulated 24-hour period, hoping that the issue would be resolved and the transaction would appear on the store's records. Unfortunately, even after the specified time had passed, the transaction still did not reflect on the system.

In light of this situation, I decided to reach out to my bank for assistance in resolving the matter. The bank has requested an authorization letter from the Bryanpark store to assist in their investigation into the missing transaction. I promptly contacted the store once again (Jason the supervisor/store manager), hoping to obtain the necessary authorization letter, and I was informed that the manager was the appropriate person to handle such requests.

Regrettably, my efforts to obtain the authorization letter have been met with challenges. When I emailed the manager to follow up on the letter, He replied back saying that he is a bit busy.

I understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, but I am deeply concerned about the lack of resolution and communication regarding this issue. I believe that it is crucial to address and resolve this matter promptly, as it involves a financial discrepancy and a delay in receiving the products I intended to purchase.

I kindly request your urgent attention to this matter. I urge you to expedite the process of providing the necessary authorization letter to my bank so that they can reverse the transaction from your end.

I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and look forward to a swift resolution. Please feel free to contact me at [protected] should you require any additional information from my end.

Thank you for your understanding and assistance.

On the 17th of May I made the cardinal mistake of trusting this company! At Dischem Baby City in Retreat, I met the most incompetent and unprofessional nurses, who tried to administer a Discovery Vitality health check. Two nurses on duty who were totally incompetent in their administration computer skills. It took them over 35 minutes to load my profile on their computer. They telephoned their supervisor, whilst complaining they did not have enough airtime to make the several call/s, in order to be assisted. Eventually they managed after I complained to them that this was a very stressful process and taking far too long. The actual health check took less than 10 minutes. The nurse confirmed that she could do a pap smear, however she needed a referral from a doctor, or I would need to pay them. I was totally inconvenienced and had to go back the next day only to discover that the referral was not necessary. An additional unnecessary cost at my expense. I also received a call saying I had to pay as they were unsuccessful loading the correct "codes". I called Discovery whilst at Dischem and the Discover consultant was irritated by the fact that they did not understand the procedure let alone have the correct codes. The correct codes were given to them and still they could not get it right! The following day I had to go back for a pap smear, only to discover once again, their lack of administrative skill and lack of training, resulted in further unnecessary delays, whilst having the audacity to complain that their next client had arrived, as if it was I, the client, who had inconvenience them! The results of the pap smear have yet to be send let alone actioned. After querying with Discovery Medical Aid, I was informed that the nurse had not put the paperwork through as is standard protocol. I can only wonder if the pap smear was ever sent to the lab, resulting in further inconvenience and unnecessary stress. On the 29 May, I called Dischem head office at 9.59am and was told someone would call me in 72 hours. I called again today and again, still waiting for someone at Dischem to show some professionalism, let alone apologies and give any customer service to the unnecessary expense and stress their incompetent, unprofessional manner in which their nursing staff conduct themself. If any Discovery Medial Aid clients need to complete their Discovery Vitality health checks, please avoid Dischem, they are totally clueless and will cause you unnecessary inconvenience and stress having to repeat the process.

Ordered meds via email on 18 March 2023 sent to Dischem Benmore Order could not be delivered on Saturday, mailed them on Sunday and was told that they don’t have drivers on Sunday and that meds will be delivered first thing Monday morning, called on Monday at 10h30 and spoke to Porcia only to be told that there is a strike and meds can’t be delivered so I accepted that a strike is beyond anyone’s control and I asked Porcia to reverse the medical aid claim so that I could go to Dischem Blu Bird which is my nearest store, I waited on the line while Porcia reversed the entry and I clearly asked her if I am going to have any issues when I get to Blu Bird and she told me should I have an issue to get them to call her.

Went to Dischem dealt with Arlene, the most incompetent person I have ever dealt with and this is not the first time dealing with her where she has given wrong information about approvals from medical aid.

Today she had a problem whereby she kept on trying to claim meds under my name when I clearly told her that Dischem has linked my profile and my husband’s profile together and that the meds I am claiming now is under my husband’s name, she had a problem with dispensing the meds so I told her to call Porcia at Benmore which she did, I don’t know the conversation as I could only hear Arlene’s side but she came back to me stating that my Medical aid is not allowing the claim as I have already collected the meds on 18 March from another store but she cannot see which store and she cannot do anything, that’s when the problem escalated and I became irate as she was now accusing me of fraud of having collected the meds at another store and coming back to her to collect the same meds, I then had to call Benmore myself to find out what is going on while I am on the phone with Benmore explaining to them what Arlene is telling me, Arlene is screaming at me saying she did not tell me tat the Medical aid is not paying as I had taken the meds from elsewhere (had she not told me that then there would never been an issue why would it have escalated), Benmore then told me to tell Arlene that everything is sorted out and the claim will now go through I then gave my phone to Arlene and the person on the line at Benmore explained to her that everything is sorted and she can dispense the meds, It turned out that the problem was with Dischem and had nothing to do with me collecting the meds at another store that was a false accusation by Arlene and furthermore Arlene then did with not even have the decency to apologise for accusing me of fraud, that is why I asked her as to who is the problem in this whole ordeal because it turns out that the problem is on Dischem side and has nothing to do with me or my med aid the meds was claimed by Arlene and she had it in her hand at which time another lady seated next to her involved herself in the conversation as I was waiting there for almost an hour dealing with this incompetent lady Arlene and wasting my time and money making calls, this other lady then told Arlene not to serve me and to cancel my order and I can go elsewhere and get the meds which is chronic meds, they both then said to me if I don’t apologise to the both of them they will not give me my medication, at which time I had no choice but to apologies for something that I had every right to be irritated about as she accused me of something and then denied everything and refused to dispense my medication, I was made to apologies in front of customers for something that was not my fault and was refused my meds if I don’t apologize, Arlene made me apologize twice to her while she with-held my meds in her hand and refused to give it to me, had she not said that she can’t dispense the meds because I had already collected it then there would have been no issues she was supposed to apologies to me as the problem was with Dischem and not me she has absolutely no common sense what so ever and a competent person would have realised that I could not have taken the meds already had I done that I would not have wasted my time and money going to Blu Bird to pick up meds,

This is not the first incident with Arlene the previous incident was whereby she claimed chronic meds that was approved as chronic meds but she claimed it from my day to day benefits which was over R 800 without even telling me that this is what she is doing when I called her and asked her why did she do that she had the same attitude and told me” ïm trying to help I should never have helped you in the first place ‘, (I have the emails that I sent to her when this happened and I can find it if needed but it is not her job to try and get the medical aid to pay for something using my savings and wasting my savings doing something she should not be doing, this lady Arlene needs to be seriously dealt with and investigated and because of her

I don’t take any meds from Blu Bird but I was forced to due to the strike, she over talks and fidgets with the computer trying to do what is any ones guess shes always confused and punching in on the keyboard she makes customers wait for excessive hours while she is busy clicking on the computer and she always seems like she doesn’t know what she is doing I have instituted a formal complaint against her - ref number [protected], no one in their right mind will remain calm when they are being accused of fraud and threatened in front of a whole long queue of customers to not be given their chronic meds, Arlene and that other lady that involved herself in the incident needs to both be reprimanded as they both are covering for each other’s wrong doing and making the customers look like they are the problem, they both need to go for some kind of training on how to deal with customers the both of them will now take each other’s side and make the customers the problem I am sure Arlene has done this many times before as I myself have had 2 incidents with her, some customers just overlook these kinds of unprofessional behaviour so perhaps shes never been held accountable for her actions. I need a formal enquiry done regarding these 2 individuals and especially Arlene needs to be investigated closely.

My Optometrist recommended I try Systane Ultra for my dry eyes. I purchased a bottle in November, stored in my fridge at home for a more cooling effect on my eyes. However, I needed to use it during work hours and went into your Chatsworth Centre store on the 11 Dec 22. In the isle I looked at a bigger bottle package and with the price varying slightly higher, I felt it more beneficial to purchase. However I was not sure what the contents included as the box shaken sound was different. I asked a staff member to assist and he shook the box, read it and confirmed that it is a bottle dispenser. To my disappointment, when I opened the package it was vials of eyes drops. I went back to your store on the 13 Dec 22, and was advised by the Admin Manager, Desere Brown that she could not exchange my item due to the packaging seal being compromised. I explained my request for assistance and only purchased it once the staff member confirmed contents. She was adamant that she could do nothing about it, and that she would "talk" to the employee. I further questioned that Dischem provides medication to customers and if staff are not competent enough to provide proper advice, why should a customer be penalized. She commented that I should have read the terms and conditions on the back. I retaliated that her staff should be appropriately trained or Dischem should accept accountability. Her answer was a complete no. Her professionalism in dealing with Customer complaints (Her Manager Kevin Govender on leave) is beyond being pathetic. Desere was not even willing to provide me with an Area Managers number, instead insisting that I call the Customer Service number to log a complaint. Further, she should also read the terms and conditions of the company she forefronts, especially where it states: "A repackage charge may be levied on missing or damaged goods". I was not even given this option. Kudos to a Manager that cannot uphold Dischem Customer Service appropriately.

If my item cannot be exchanged, I will gladly return the box of unused single doses, so that Dischem can do their share for Charity in the community and assist someone in need. I work in a strong customer environment and dismal service over a R159 item due to assisted purchase speaks volumes of the low levels of consideration for the people that support your brand.

Ihave using this product for some years but this is the first time that Ihave bought the product that it has no air in the can I have check with the South Coast Shelly Beach shop but the 5 cans on the shelve also do not have any air.

Date bought 5 Dec2022

bar code [protected]

batch no AG21030108881

The batch no is not clear on the bottom of the can but it is AC or AG

The CEO of Dischem, send memorandum to all staff senior , not to promote or employ any white people any more with immediate affect, this is agains our Constitution , and their license must be revoked, with immediate affect... such biasness agains anoter ra e is Racist and can not be tollerated in this day and age ...this is a matter now of public knowledge

I am a pensioner, and do my shopping on Thursdays at DisChem Hazeldean.Of the items I purchase on a weekly base is 2X Iliadin Nose Spray,and if I run low I would purchase a 3rd one every three weeks. I have no issues with any of the present Self Medication Staff except with Tian Opperman who would only provide me with 1X Iliadin Nose Spray per person per week, because he insist that it is DisChem policy that he can only provide me with one item.Tian is not a MD or a Chemist to make such a desicion.

Can you please clear DisChem's policy regarding the sale Iliadin Nose Spray.

Regards,

Christo Engelbrecht.

I was at Dischem in Pinecrest for a refund. I bought a wrong product. I had a till slip with me, item was still sealed but the lady at customer service by the name of Ntombenhle with a help of Mdunge. told me that I could not get my money back, they can only give me a voucher because it has pass 10 days but when we were counting it was exactly 10 days, I was told that you guys count differently. Day 1 is when the item was bought. Please I need clarity on this because to me it doesn't make sense. This voucher I was given I don't need it since I don't know when I will be shopping with you guys again. And the voucher is like a till slip, it might fade,or get lost.

Name is Nothando Mthembu

Cell [protected]

Good day

I have the, dischem driver of Richards Bay dischem has just Been here to deliver a parcel at 10.15am.

A mistake was made according to the driver that someone else paid incorrectly for my parcel. She requested I pay cash so that she could refund the other client.

If I could not do this then she would have to go back to Dischem sort out problem then come bac, but I cannot have my medication.

I refused and eventually she got hold of her manager, left medication, then sometime coming back for payment.

The incompetence again of the dispensary, there is almost every month a problem with my medication.

Last month they decided to charge me for lasix water tablets at 3 times the price instead of my normal Mylon furosomide.

This is absolutely infuriating. A R300 rand difference.

Dischem Richards Bay is incompetent.

Good day,

My wife was discharged last week Thursday (25 Aug 22) and I needed to buy medication for her.I used one of your stores (Stellenbosch - Mediclinic). How did they get to the prices?

I dont mind paying for the medication because its needed. But how did the price for Antibiotics, Pain meds and Movicol come to R 872.39? Pictures attached.

The pain meds ran out yesterday and I bought some more. The exact pain meds were under R 100. I checked the price for Movicol and it was under R 150. Im really shocked where Dischem got the pricing from. Please advise.

Thanks

Dis-chem Mall of the North Limpopo

I order my repeat prescription on Wednesday, 03 August 2022 to collected it on Thursday, 04 August 2022. The medication was ready for collection. Upon my arrival at Dis-chem there was no one to help me and another customer to collect our pre-order medication. I waited for 20 minutes which I then decided to leave and come back later. When I came back there was still no one there. I waited another 10 minutes and as I was looking for someone, a lady finally came from the back to assist me. This is unacceptable! What is the use to pre-order your medication if you just going to wait as long to to collect it as if you were in line? This service is suppose to be quicker, faster and more effective, but only seem to be more time consuming! The overall customer service at Dis-chem Mall of the North are so poor that it is just a pain to go there. Employees are chatting and laughing at each other rather then to help a customer. Worst service I have ever received!

I'm a pensioner. This morning, at 7am, I placed an online order for medication, for infection, diarrhoea and vomiting. I eventually asked a neighbour to fetch it as at 14h00 it still said 'processing order' despite the promise to deliver within 2 hours. Even now at 17h18 the status is still the same, meaning, no one is paying particular interest in online scripts. I expect that if you offer such a great service, please treat it with the same importance as face to face, it could save someone's life.

My granddaughter was born on 20 November 2019. she received all her vaccinations at Dischem in Heidelberg Mall.

We need the records for the crèche. I requested it today but could only get the record of the 18 month vaccination. According to the sister they lost the records when Dischem got a new system. I am sure that these records must be available until the child is at least 6 years old and receives their next injection.

How can we get these records because the school insight on having it.

Firstly I try on the website to book an appointment for green valley shopping center clinic and I cant find the store to make the appointment. When I go there the nurse is so rude and consistently so snappy ...I would like this matter urgently attended to by Dischem

We would like to know the legislation regarding adult shops selling sex toys, we are aware that we must conceal all our shop front windows and front shop door.

Dischem and Clicks have open shelves displaying sex toys, none of these shops is concealing any of the sex toys that are on display.

You are not displaying over 18 only warning signs, I saw a mother and child around 14 years was also looking at the sex toys.

An urgent explanation is required as this is unjustified and discrimination against adult shops.

On 16 april 2022 I bought these imnandi bakery sugar free buttermilk rusks from your dischem shop in mosselbay.

The rusks are so so so salty, it would turn the diabetic into a hypertensive patient.

I think instead of the xylotol or artificial sugar replacement they mixed it up with the salt as it look very similar. It tastes horrible. Please check into it.

There is only a barcode and not a batch number, but this product surely must be removed from the shelves.