Columnist Muriel Stevens: Making the rounds of drugstores

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 1999 | 9:26 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' shopping column appears Wednesdays. Her dining column appears Fridays. Reach her at muriel@vegas.com or 259-4080.

There was a time in Las Vegas when drugstores were as scarce as hen's teeth. Now the number grows almost daily.

Except for White Cross drugs at Oakey and Las Vegas Boulevard, few of the longtime independents remain. This traditional drugstore still boasts a lunch counter and 24-hour service. The pharmacy closes at midnight, but still offers home delivery.

Of all the chains, Sav-On, formerly Osco, has probably been around the longest. Wal-Mart has made its mark here, and so has a relative newcomer, Long's from Hawaii. Wal-Mart frequently offers the lowest prices, but has only a few locations.

For sheer numbers and convenient locations, Walgreens and Rite Aid have no peers.

Lately it seems as if there is a Walgreens or Rite Aid on every corner. Sometimes they're just across the street from each other.

Not all of these choices are created equal. Service can vary from store to store in the same chain. Prices and merchandise may differ slightly, too, depending on the location. The more upscale neighborhoods include some pricier products.

Just recently I shopped at a Walgreens and a Rite Aid on the same day. I'm always looking for best buys on items I use regularly. Using the sales inserts that come with the Sunday paper, I've managed to get some excellent buys. But even the most savvy shopper can be taken in by what appears to be a bargain, but is really not.

Rite Aid advertised a vitamin supplement at a greatly reduced price. It was the brand and the strength I prefer. Walgreens had a number of items I wanted, so I chose to shop at the store on Maryland Parkway and Vegas Valley Drive, just across the street from Rite Aid.

What could be easier? -- I'd shop at one and then the other. My first stop was Rite Aid. I know these stores. They all have pretty much the same layout. So, I headed for the supplement section. I searched and searched without any luck. No one offered to help when I couldn't find what I was looking for. They pointed me in the general direction, but I was on my own.

Finally I requested and got assistance. My helper didn't know the brand or the product I was seeking, but she did know that the store had more than one section devoted to vitamins. It wasn't in any of the expected places, but we eventually found it at the end of a nearby aisle.

When I went to check out nary a soul was at a cash register, but there was a bell with a sign saying to ring it to get a cashier. I rang it once -- no response; I rang it again, harder -- still no response; I rang it a third time and got a less than pleasant response. "I'm coming," said the voice. The tone said it all.

Why doesn't Rite Aid have at least one register open at all times? I don't know. I tried to get someone to respond, but was unsuccessful. On the other hand the young women at the pharmacy counter couldn't have been more helpful. Rite Aid offers what at first glance is a vitamin club card that offers a 10 percent discount every Tuesday (read the small print), so I asked for one at the pharmacy. There was quite a to-do as they tried to find the membership cards.

They did try and they were all very pleasant, but I ended up with a card that belonged to one of the sales people. There were no new ones to be found.

By now I'd spent so much time and accomplished so little I didn't get to Walgreens until the next day. What a difference.

My list for Walgreens was much longer, yet I was out of there in record time. Almost everything I wanted was easily found. The few items I couldn't find were located for me by a person who, without asking, accompanied me. When I passed the vitamin counter I decided to check the price of the supplement I had purchased the previous day at Rite Aid.

Rite Aid's price without the discount was $17.99; Walgreens' everyday price was $14.99. The actual amount of savings with the sale price was so small that had I checked first, I would have done all of my shopping at Walgreens. What's more, the employees were all well-informed and friendly.

I took the time to call the manager to tell her how pleased I was with the service and the prices. She was thrilled to hear it. Most customers only call her when there's a complaint, she said.

Except for the higher price at Rite Aid none of this is terribly important, but when you shop as much as I do, any extra courtesies become a big deal. And, to someone on a fixed income, an additional $3 when a supplement isn't on sale is also a big deal.

Philadelphians, take note: Walgreens stocks those longtime Philly favorites, TastyKakes. Yes, they still taste the same and the peanut butter TandyKakes will make you feel like a kid again.