Shoppers Drug Mart
Reviews and Complaints

I went to Shoppers Drug Mart tonight and spent a leisurely hour picking up some things for my son, grandson, dad and myself. I went up and paid 241.00 for the merchandise. As i was leaving some guy follows me outside, and says he has seen me stealing... i am stunned and say "what" i just paid for all this stuff... he says he seen me put the pair of shoes i just purchased in my pocket, and once again I ask him to offer and explanation of what he is saying.. he then snaps that i need to learn English (I have an honors degree in English as well as about 16 years experience teaching ESL hmm) I then ask him to explain himself again, he snaps my picture and he yells at me that i am banned from the store! We have an audience by now and one gentleman asks what is going on. He then yells he is security and has caught me stealing, the gentleman asks for his ID and he cant produce it. He goes in the store and i follow him, i empty my pockets and the entire contents of my purse with him standing behind me yelling that i am a thief.
I promptly return EVERY single item, i ask for his information and the store information and the number of head office to lodge a formal complaint.
I am deeply disturbed by this event. It was handled incredibly poorly and without any just reason. Shoppers Drug Mart just lost a long term customer who happens to write a lot, they do not need to ban me as i will never step foot in another one.

I am, quite frankly tired of being scammed, in my opinion, by Shopper's Drug Mart for the cost of a shopping bag. The average actual cost of a recycled T-shirt bag is $0.02 or less! Why then, with Eco Fees being redundant is Shopper's Drug Mart charging their customers $0.05? They are making money off the backs of their consumers, at no cost to themselves (business and tax deductions), to be a good corporate citizen. You are not providing your customers with a tax receipt for the money they are donating to your charitable contributions. How equitable is that? Please allow me, the consumer to decide which charity I would like my money to go to and do not pick my pocket to make your company look great by donating money you obtained from your customers. By the way, an employee was quite willing to cheerfully explain that all the money collected from the bags is donated to charity. This company is making an enormous profit, in my opinion, by charging their customers for shopping bags. Seriously, aren't we already paying well above market price for most items contained on the shelves of Shopper's Drug Mart? STOP CHARGING FOR THE BAGS! I feel scammed!

I attended the Shoppers drug mart at393 Portage Place Winnipeg Manitoba on April 19 2012 and purchased a package of sudafed. When I left the store at approx 1:55pm which is the time on my receiptand walking through the mall to leave a security person grabbed me from behindand accused me of shoplifting and began forcing me back to the store. I asked him to let go of me and reluctantly he did while threatening me not to run.When I got back to the store another huge imposing man approached me and saidthey were going to search me. I was feeling humiliated as I was already grabbedin the mall in front of others and now I was being searched at a cash registerin front of everybody and also right in front of the huge glass window into themall. I requested to be taken somewhere private and was refused. Aftersearching me it was determined that the item I had purchased still had thedevice (?) or whatever on it that set off the alarm.

I already suffer from Post TraumaticStress Disorder (PTSD) and spend the majority of my time locked in a room. How am I supposed to heal and feel safe in the community when I can't even attend one of your stores without being physically accosted by your security staff and due to the negligence or poor staff performance of the cashiers needlessly publicly humiliated by your security staff.

I was also accused of "walking fast" after leaving the store. I am also diagnosed with Attention DeficitHyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) personally falling (predominantly) into the"Hyperactivity" sub category of ADHD.I walk fast everywhere I go including into and around the store. Is it the policy of Shoppers Drug Mart or security officers to single out or profile persons who walk fast and accuse them of shoplifting and then take to publicly humiliating them?"

I didn’t want to empty out my pockets at all never mind in front of all those people, but I had already beenphysically grabbed and was then being intimidated so fearing for my safety Icomplied. I did not know what those guards were capable of. It was alreadyclear to me they were willing to assault me. They presented as though there wasnever any doubt to them that I had stolen something and therefore it didn’tmatter what they did to me because they had “caught” me and all focus would beon me “the Thief”.

I “get it”. The alarm went off. That’sno reason to physically assault/accost me from behind, accuse me of stealing, and intimidate and humiliate me in front of the public. What about my dignity and living with a disorder such as Hyperactivity? I get accused of trying to flee with stolen property due to a symptom of my hyperactivity eg: “walkingfast”. A further impingement on the rights of the “Disabled” is the disposition of this security guard(?)( Shoppers Drug Mart Staff member(?)) which implies it’s okay to physically assault/accost a deaf person from behind for not heeding his (the security staff member’s) verbal commands.

That happened on Thursday and I did not sleep at all. Friday night I couldn't sleep and finally fell asleep for a couple of hours sometime after 3am. All day Saturday and even worse today I've been jumpy, nervous, I had to go out and had to get someone to drive me and go with me. I'm supposed to begetting better not worse. The store manager contacted me by phone on Friday and all he did was further upset me. I want to press assault charges against tha tguard(?) for grabbing me from behind like that, but I'm afraid of the police and experience distress when I see them because of the uniform or authority.

It is unfortunate these incidents are happening on your watch. I am hopeful that my willingness to stand up to bullies and those who demonstrate such clear insensitivities to the rights of Canadians and in particular those living with varying degrees of mental and or physical disabilities will be helpful to your Office. That is, the Office that both grants and revokes the licenses of Private Investigators and Security Guards in Manitoba.

Thank you for your attention to what, for me, has been both a devastating incident and significant set back to my recovery.

Respectfully submitted,

B.R.

My wife purchased eye lash product that eretated her eyes, she went back to return it with out receipt even with a store credit but they refused and they were very rood and asked her for receipt. My wife looked every where until we found it in the car. I went my self to return it. The cashier said we can not take it back because it was $59 plus tax even with the receipt now. I asked for the manager. He came. His name was Frank. with the security because there was also another problem before me. The security officers are form the mall (Tecumseh Mall). He refused taking it back because it was open. I told him of course it has to be open. how can she try it and like it or doesn't with out opening it. I tried to convince him that when you purchase any thing and doesn't suit you or affect your health, you should be able to return it specially when you have proof of purchase and less than 30 days. He answer was ( I don't know what country you are coming from but we don't do this in Canada) I don't understand what this has to do with the this issue. but that reflect his racism. I told him I am Canadian and I have been living in Canada for 17 years and I told him I don't believe you if you want to tell me you never purchased something that you didn't like and return it, . That was in front of the mall security and did not do any thing.

Shoppers Drugs Mart is one big FAIL in my opinion. In early November, I received a "gift" package from them with an image of an older women on the front. The gift was selected "just for you" or similar wording. I opened it to find two incontinence pads. I don't use these and, even if I did, would I want something like this is the mail, or would I buy it? The real complaint is with their appalling management/marketing team who, despite THREE letters, one accompanying the returned product, has done NOTHING in terms of communication. No apology. Nothing. When I called, I got some underling in the "Customer Service" department listen to my complaint, then ASK ME TO REPEAT IT while she wrote it down. I said I was too busy. I Tweeted and someone from the same department left a VM asking me to call them back. In this day of Social Media, how very short-sighted this is. Overpriced merchandise as well.

On January 2, 2012 before 11 pm, I asked the only person in the pharmacy, a female in her 30s whom I later found out was named Rupi if they had any Nim Jom cough medicine. She told me that she didn't think the store carried it anymore, and said, "If we have it, it's in aisle 5." When I found it on the shelf and approached the counter, she said in a very abrupt tone, "I'm busy helping someone here". She pointed at me to move back from the counter where no one was standing. I told her, "you're very rude". Because there was someone standing in the waiting area to the side with no one else in sight, she said with a subtley sarcastic tone, "sorry", however I said that she didn't sound sorry at all, but would be when I report her to her manager. The cosmetic female at the front of the store also had an Attitudinal Tone and wasn't helpful either, saying, "There isn't any manager here." When I asked for an Assistant Manager, she said there wasn't one of those either. I didn't get a name or time of any Manager except "Laura" after I asked a third time when she would be in the store and "She'll be in Wednesday", two days later. It's time to Educate your Staff in Communication Skills, as I won't be shopping at Shoppers from now on.

I am a regular at Shoppers and spend $100-$150 per week on an average. I had a horrible experience with the store manager Mr. Maher and other store managers from Yonge & King store (toronto).
The issue is, on August 14, I picked up 2 different varieties of Listerine mouthwash to the cashier and asked the lady to check the prices. After she did so by scanning both the products, I chose the variety with lower price ($8.99) for purchase and asked her to set aside the costlier variety. She did set aside the costlier bottle ($10.99) but she did not remove the product from my bill.
I always act in good faith and never match the receipt. However, I checked the bill accidentally after few months later and immediately went to the store, to the same counter where I was serviced.
The lady did not listen to me at all and asked me to go back to the store when the particular person whose registration no. appears in my receipt will be present.
I again went back next day at the scheduled time but there was some other lady at the counter and she called the cash manager but the cash manager asked me to talk to the store manager over phone.
Next day, I called up the store manager but he was so rude that he started shouting at me over the phone and kept the phone down. Instead of saying sorry, he accused me of framing a story. I tried to explain to him that why would the customer take so much of pain to go back to the store twice or make phone calls, write emails just for a 10 dollar listerine mouthwash had it not been true, but he was not in a mood to listen!
I even raised a compaints in the online feedback section of Shoppers website but no one from Shoppers contacted me or responded back.
I called up the customer service at [protected] but the person said he does not have any way to validate my story! (isn't the customer supposed to be taken at face value!) I even explained him that since they scanned the bar code of the product and it never left the store with me, it is either still present in the shop or have been resold to another customer. A thorough database search must reveal the truth. but they are not interested to investigate even!
Horrible experience!

I purchased some eye makeup remover from Shoppers Drug Mart. It was their own cosmetics brand (Quo) and has the same return policy as the Life brand (satisfaction guaranteed!). It did not work very well and it stung my eyes. I sent an email to the company and told them I would be returning the product. I never did hear back from anyone.

I went to Shoppers to return the makeup remover. The cashier seemed new and was not familiar with the return policy (something I'd assume is part of basic training). She commented that it was used (um, yes, that's how I know it stings my eyes!). The other problem was that I didn't have my receipt.

She called the manager, who was not familiar with the return policy, either. I had to quote from the company's website that I could return a Quo product without a receipt for a full return or exchange. The manager took my word for it but said I would have to come back between 9-5 and do the return with the cosmetics manager!

The experience was completely ridiculous - I threw out the product and never returned (I work between 9-5).

The manager of Shoppers Drug Mart, Store #705, Brampton was extremely rude to me while I was trying to resolve a dispute that involved their Optima card. I had asked to speak to him, since I was not getting any resolution from either the cashier or her supervisor. The manager, Larry Scott, approached me in an extremely confrontational and rude way, in fact he walked up to me yelling. He used foul language and made absolutely no attempt to listen to my complaint. I was absolutely appalled by his rude and unprofessional manner, but after reading similar stories on this website, I realize that this situation is far from unique for Shoppers Drug Mart. I will definitely not be shopping at this store again, and advise SDM, that they have lots of competition, their products can be purchased anywhere, often for less, and if they don't start treating their customers with respect they soon won't have any left!
[Complaint comments]

The manager of Shoppers Drug Mart, Store #705, Brampton was extremely rude to me while I was trying to resolve a dispute that involved their Optima card. I had asked to speak to him, since I was not getting any resolution from either the cashier or her supervisor. The manager, Larry Scott, approached me in an extremely confrontational and rude way, in fact he walked up to me yelling. He used foul language and made absolutely no attempt to listen to my complaint. I was absolutely appalled by his rude and unprofessional manner, but after reading similar stories on this website, I realize that this situation is far from unique for Shoppers Drug Mart. I will definitely not be shopping at this store again, and advise SDM, that they have lots of competition, their products can be purchased anywhere, often for less, and if they don't start treating their customers with respect they soon won't have any left!

This evening (June 14, 2011) at around 6:45pm. Me and my husband went to shoppers drug mart to buy some stuffs. Because our house is just walking distance to the store, my husband decided to wear an open slippers. In the middle of the hallway there is a pallet of bottled water. As we are passing through that hall way with the pallet in the middle, suddenly, my husband who was behind me, stopped and said OUCH! so loud that I turned to look at him. I saw his left pinky toe bleeding vigorously. I asked him what happened and he said he was cut by the dented steel in the pallet. So I called the lady for help. I told her what happened to my husband and I said he needs some antibacterial solution and a bandage. As a store manager, I know that Alberta requires all business establishments to have a FIRST AIDER, so if incase there is an accident or injuries customers or employees they should be the one to handle it. But at shoppers drug mart saddleridge circle HAVE NONE. While waiting, I saw that my husbands cut was continiously bleeding. After waiting for 20 minutes the lady come back, hoping she would bring us somebody to clean my husbands wounds (cut), but came with one band aid and one wiper and handed it to me. She said you can use this. Whatta? they should be the one who clean that! it happened inside their premises. They did not even give my husband a chair to sit on so he relax a bit. I just sit my husband in the case of a bottled water. The second lady (Denise)came with a multi purpose cleaner, bandage and paper towel. Handed me again and said, you can use this. She didn't even give us a hand sanitizer to use ! Health and safety is being practice in Calgary! ehy wake up!what a nice customer service they have. they have a huge pharmacy with a lot of medicines but they did not give my husband even antiseptic to use for his bleeding toe. They also let us clean the blood spills on the floor.

The Pharmacy staff at Shoppers Drug Mart on Lacewood Dr. in Halifax NS treat War Veterans with disresepect and treat them like they're stupid.

I transferred my account from another Shoppers Drug Mart to Lacewood Dr. and after examining my first order it was wrong and incomplete. 1 medication was the wrong dose and the staff refused to listen to me when I told them it was the wrong dosage. The pharmacist mocked me and said "we can change it to 3 100's tid, instead of the dose the I said it really was...3 300's tid.

I went home and brought the bottle into the pharmacy from my last fill and they still treated me with disrespect and like I had no idea what I was talking about. I was forced to go back to my Dr and fix it myself.

When I went to the pharmacy to make a formal complaint the Pharmacist pulled me into a cubical and wouldn't let me leave after 3 attempts... the Pharmacist said that my Dr. was confused and that my complaint was unimportant.

Shoppers Drug Mart on Lacewood Dr. in Halifax treats war veterans with disrespect and treat them like they're stupid... I know exactly what medications that I take and what dossage they are...and my Dr. is NOT confused.

The owner never resolved my complaint and so it's clear his staff learns from the example that he leads.

I am sending this e-mail in the hope of getting the attention of shareholders that manage customer relations for Shoppers Drug Mart. My friends and I live in the northeast section of Edmonton Alberta. We usually deal with the store in that end located on 118 Avenue and 34 street.

We have been "ripped off" so many times from this store. Items that are marked down or advertised at a discounted price are "charged at the normal price" frequently. We try to check our receipts while we are in the store but the counters are usually very busy and the clerk and customers behind us "are not very happy to be kept waiting" so we check the receipt in our vehicle or at home. When the clerk is shown the error, we are then treated "as an irritating customer". How is that for "customer service"?

I also want to mention that I have the optimum card and am sent promotions through my e-mail that the store is running for that week. The clerks fail to mention the promotions and when the customer addressed them, they are questioned as to whether this is correct or not. I don't feel I should have to print and prove that your store is running a particular promotion - the clerk should know it! I also feel it is the clerk's responsibility to tell the customer how many points they have on their optimum card and to indicate how much they are worth and do we want to reimburse any. I have never had any of the clerks do this unless I specifically requested it. What is this card good for anyway?

As your customer service is very bad, I don't expect too much from this e-mail. It would be nice to at least know that you have received it and acknowledge the message herein. As of this date, my friends, my daughter and I will no longer shop at the northeast Edmonton store. We do have a Rexall Drug store just a bit further down the road. A bit inconvenient but better "customer service".

By the number of NEGATIVE complaints within your website it is obvious you do not pay attention to customers with complaints. Well, you should. You have alot of competition in this field. I think it is to your benefit to pay attention to us - we pay your salary and keep you alive!

I could not find a website to send this to so it ends up here. Is there no headquarters website because CEO's don't care?

I have purchased expensive cosmetics from shoppers. Offered no samples, gifts when there were available. An event was coming up, Alexis, the cosmetics "manager" phoned me because she knew of my purchases, told me about Lancome event where I was to receive a gift, which I had been waiting for. She had my phone number, was supposed to phone me to let me know the date and time of event. She was going to put my name on a Lancome gift, to be kept aside for me. She did not phone me -- I call after the fact, she gets defensive, starts making excuses PLUS MY GIFT was GIVEN TO ANOTHER PERSON--THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! not even apologetic, defensive again, I must wait for the next gift! How is my gift, with my name, phone number given to someone else? she insults me, wants to get off the phone very quick.
I told her that because of this unacceptable situation I am returning a purchase which I have not opened or used and she says she WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK!
I could have purchased elsewhere where they had a gift but this youngster --put such a spin on this "event" so I lost out
it is a newer shoppers and the staff there dont have proper training if you want to know about cosmetics ie Lancome Clarins etc --tthey just say they are good BEST TO BUY AT THE BAY IF YOU WANT PROFESSIONALS AND ETHICS
I AM DISGUSTED

On May 5th 2011 at 5.00 pm I visited the shoppers at BCE place - underground path next to longos. Trying out some lip stick, the next thing I know on of the staffers calls another attendant whispers something in his ear, and as I want around the store they have someone following me. I have never felt so humiliated before, did not want to create a scene as I work at the BCE place in a corporate office. maybe because I was brown skinned I have no idea - but I have often experience very rude staff and attendants at all the shoppers, makes me wonder if the corporate does not have some mandatory training for its staff!