Unfiltered Story #201569

A couple of months previously to this I’d fractured my ankle and as a result was wearing a huge black boot to protect it and help it heal. A customer calls to say she’s not had her husbands medication and I realised that I had thought it was Monday, when it was Tuesday (I had a day off) and not sent it out. She calls at ten to six and lives in a village twenty minutes away. My pharmacist for the day is already in his coat and half way out the door

Me: I’m really sorry, it got missed on the delivery list today. I can send it out tomorrow.
Customer: I need it. This isn’t good enough. Things have been going down hill since [old pharmacist who was fired two months ago] left. I can come and get it, why can’t I come and get it.
Me: I’m sorry but we close at six.
Customer: Then wait, [old pharmacist] would’ve waited.
Me: I’m very sorry but our pharmacist can’t wait, he lives in [city two hours away] and needs to leave immediately.

At this point I haven’t even asked if he’ll stay. He always moves his car to a spot outside the shop, spends all day obsessing about getting a spot outside the shop so he can make a quick getaway. I don’t need to ask.

Customer: [old pharmacist] would’ve stayed open. Customer: This is a man with a heart condition, this medication is very important.
Me: I’m very sorry. I will send it out tomorrow.
Customer: Why can’t you drive it to me? Or wait for it.
Me: I;m sorry but I don’t drive and my bus leaves just after six. It’s the only one for another hour or I would. But I need a pharmacist here.
Customer: [old pharmacist] would’ve waited. this never happened when [old dispenser whose job I took when she left] did it.
Me: I really am very sorry but there is nothing more I can do. I will send it out tomorrow.
Customer: You better or you’ll be walking here with it.

I look down at my boot and almost tell her that I won’t be walking anywhere for a while. Instead I apologise again and hang up. The next day I send the tray out. The day after I find out that I’m the talk of the village, as she’s complained to all her neighbours about how bad things are at my pharmacy since the old pharmacist left.