I work for a big pharmacist as a delivery driver for urgent medications. In front of the shop, only our working cars are allowed. At the moment, there is construction, so we have to drive further down the street where usually no cars are allowed.

I park in front of a shop and a lady who works there comes out.

Lady: “You cannot park here.”

Me: “I know, but because of the construction, we are allowed today.”

Lady: “But you cannot park your private car here. There is parking space down the street.”

Me: “It’s not my private car; I have a license for parking here.”

Lady: “Even I’m not allowed to park my private car here!”

Me: “That’s right, but I am working for the pharmacist right there, so we are allowed to park here.”

Lady: “Only the pharmacist is allowed to park here. Move your car or I’ll call the police!”

I point at the big-a** special parking license on my windshield.

Me: “That’s what I just said; I am working for the pharmacist.”

Lady: “So, this is not your private car? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?! You’re wasting my time!” *Storms off*

We had a customer come in with two vials of ibuprofen tablets, and she asked to speak to the pharmacist. She refused to say anything to me (a tech) about what was going on besides “these pills are wrong,” but luckily for her, it was a slow night and the pharmacist was available. Since our space is very small, I couldn’t help but overhear their conversation.

Customer: “I’ve been taking this 800-mg dosage for over ten years. This last batch you gave me made me feel funny. I gave some to my husband and my cousin, and they agreed it made them feel funny, too!”

At this point, my jaw had dropped and I hid behind my computer screen. The pharmacist was staring at her.

Customer: “My cousin takes the same strength ibuprofen but uses [Other Chain], so she’d know. [Other Chain]’s pharmacist told her that the manufacturer of her pills had experimented with adding hydrocodone to ibuprofen. She immediately informed me about it. So, you guys gave me hydrocodone ibuprofen!”

This was one of our pharmacist’s last days on the job, as he was retiring, so I think he was a little more willing to just openly stare at this woman, and I can’t say I blame him. To appease the customers worry — as she was not aggressive or upset, just very convinced that she’d just been given hydrocodone — the pharmacist and I looked up this information, as well as her NDC (National Drug Code). Not only was this not the NDC that had said experiment, but said experiment was also definitely not released to consumers without their knowledge or consent. 

The customer went back and forth with the pharmacist, insisting that we give her an exchange for the “IP377 ones!” Those had been discontinued. We knew she wasn’t searching for free pills as she had the drug disposal bin drawer open, about to throw the old ones in so she could get her “normal ibuprofens”. 

Forty-five minutes later, the customer realized that the pills looked (and apparently felt?) different because she had picked them up from [Other Chain] while on vacation. With a quick thanks, she went off, presumably to demand that [Other Chain] exchange her hydrocodone pills.

I don’t think any of my coworkers believe me when I tell this story, and I can’t blame them. Imagine! Free hydrocodone!

Props to the lady, though; she stepped out of the way for any customers that came by and was never rude or insistent to me or the pharmacist. I’d rather have this very strange complaint from this type of person rather than an easy case with a rude customer!

Many years ago, when I first got Internet service, I suddenly stopped getting emails. I called the ISP (a local outfit), and after some digging around, they found that someone with a first name similar to mine (e.g., Joan versus Joanne) and the same last name had called them. She thought her customers were using the wrong email and asked that all emails going to jmurphy@(ISP) be redirected to her. That, of course, was my email. I had not gotten anything that should have gone to her, so I don’t know why she decided she needed to redirect my email, but it was all sorted out, and I hope the person who mindlessly went along with her request got educated on being a bit more careful.

Back then, Joanne lived in a town about thirty miles from me. Now, it seems she’s moved quite a bit closer. I got a message confirming an appointment with my dentist that I never made. The office finally realized that they had a Joan and Joanne with the same last name and said they were going to straighten it out, but I got a text asking me to update my information for her appointment a couple of days ago.

Yesterday, I got a phone call from my pharmacy saying my prescription was ready. I was not expecting any prescriptions. I know they never answer their phone, so I trekked down there first thing this morning to find out what was going on. The pharmacist told me which doctor had prescribed it as if that would jog my memory. I had never heard of that doctor. Several minutes at the computer later, she finally realized that the prescription for Joanne had been put in the system for Joan, complete with my phone number and date of birth.

I can’t wait to see what mess-up happens next.

My cat has Cholangiohepatitis, a chronic liver disease. She is currently on three medications: two in pill form and one in liquid. The liquid is purchased at a specialty pharmacy.

I called for a refill so I could pick it up on my Friday off. I ran some errands and then went to the pharmacy. When I arrived, they looked for it and eventually found that the form for the refill was stuck to the back of a different person’s order. They apologized profusely and suggested that I run some errands if I had any. I said I’d just wait.

After a twenty-minute or so wait, where I entertained myself by looking at all the vitamins, supplements, and knickknacks around the waiting area, the lady behind the counter brought out the medication. As I pulled out my credit card to pay, she said:

Receptionist: “Because we messed up, but also because you didn’t yell at us for our error, I’m giving you a 10% discount.” 

And that’s how being patient and nice earned me a discount for my cat’s normally $45 liquid meds. Thank you, kind pharmacy lady!

The first part of this conversation happens over the phone, so I only hear half of it.

Pharmacist: “Hi, I am calling from [Pharmacy] concerning medication for the patient [Patient]. It’s about his warfarin order.”

For those who don’t know, warfarin is an anticoagulant that comes in an oral tablet.

Pharmacist: “The order says to place it in the eyes; it needs to say to place it in the mouth.”

I can barely keep from laughing as the pharmacist finishes the call and hangs up.

Me: “Really? They wrote it for eyes?”

Pharmacist: “Yeah, it says to place 3 mg in each eye.”

Me: “That sounds… totally effective. And definitely accurate.”

Pharmacist: “You do not want to be on that phone call. ‘Yeah, so I put the tablets in his eyes. Now what?’”