Had a bad experience today. A few days ago, Fay Jin experienced hers, and now it is my turn. Being a regular customer at the pharmacy, I didn’t expect that to happen. I left the pharmacy feeling angry and disappointed.
Before I get anyone confused, allow me to explain what is actually going on. This semester, for one of the modules called Management for the Pharmacist, we have a project in which we are to come up with ideas on how to set up a community pharmacy (theoretically, of course). We were divided into groups of 6, and each of us will have to contribute ideas for this project, which carries 60% of the final marks. This project has two parts, namely Project I and Project II. The list of requirements for project I is:
-
Suggest an area/location for opening a community pharmacy
-
Reasons of selection of a particular area
-
Draw, with dimension, the different interior layouts and arrangements of the proposed community pharmacy
-
Name of the pharmacy
-
Company registration and completion of forms
-
Effective ways to promote the pharmacy at community level
For project II, we need to come up with ideas on the selection of a pharmaceutical business venture which is the expansion from the existing business (project I). The requirements for project II is similar to that of project I.
After a few discussions among the members in our group, we divided our tasks and I was to be in charged of merchandising. So I thought: why not visit a few independent pharmacies to get an idea of the range of products to sell at our “pharmacy”? I could also get some idea on how they arrange their products, and even the layout of the pharmacy.
And so, with that in mind, I visited two independent pharmacies this afternoon. The first one was a huge pharmacy located in town, and the second one was located near my housing area. When I went there, I explained that I was a pharmacy student doing this project, and I wanted to have a look around at the products sold, just to get an idea for my project. I even showed them my student ID. People at the first pharmacy were very nice. They told me to take my time, and even allowed me to look at the dangerous drugs displayed behind the pharmacy counter.
The second pharmacy that I went to was the one I regularly frequent. However, the pharmacist in-charged today was someone I haven’t seen before. Anyway, she was in her room, so I asked permission from one of the staff, and showed her my student ID as well. She said it was alright so I proceeded to a shelf where there displayed first aid kits, bandages etc.
Then, all of a sudden, I noticed someone staring at me. Not only 1 person, but 2 staffs were looking at me, including the one (staff #1) which I spoke to earlier.
Staff #2: What are you doing here?
Me: I’m just looking around. (Acknowleding staff #1) I asked her whether it was OK if I had a look around and she said yes (and went on to explain about my project again).
Staff #2: You’ll have to ask the pharmacist. She isn’t quite happy with that. Wait a while. I’ll call her.
It seemed like ages before the pharmacist appeared.
Pharmacist: Yes, you wanted to see me?
Me: (Repeating myself all over again, explaining to her about the project, and showed her my ID)
Pharmacist: You know, opening a pharmacy is a private thing, and I don’t like people coming in here to do that. I won’t stop you if you want to have a look around, I mean, I will just treat you as another customer coming in to look for something to buy, right? I don’t like the idea of people coming into the pharmacy to do that, but I won’t stop you. You can look around, and I can’t stop you (and she repeated that twice).
I was shocked by her attitude. It wasn’t like I was here to steal any ideas or anything. I was just looking at the things arranged on the shelf, like any ordinary customer would. The only difference is that I was doing it more slowly.
Fine, I thought to myself. Since you said you’re not going to stop me, I will have a GOOD look around. I noticed that the staff were looking at me (like I was going to steal something, hello!), but I didn’t care. I proceeded with what I had to do and left the pharmacy when I was done.
Fay Jin’s case was quite different from mine. She went to a Guardian Pharmacy retail outlet to get some ideas for the layout plan. She roughly sketched the layout on a piece of paper, and was about to leave when the staff stopped her. She was asked to hand over the paper before she left. Haha, she was so mad about it that she called me later and related the incident to me.
I really don’t feel that there was anything wrong with me looking around. Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned anything about my project, but I felt it was the right thing to do, because I will be spending quite some time walking around the pharmacy, and I do not want to be questioned about it. I rather explain myself first, so that I would not get confronted later.
4 Comments
August 6, 2007 at 12:47 am
Yeah u did the right thing by telling them coz it shows that u hav no other ulterior intentions. It is not your fault that SOME ppl do not know about basic courtesy despite having learnt proffesionalism. Furthermore, she was once a student wat. Knowledge is there to be shared. U are not that to curi her idea wat T_T
Thank goodness the pharmacist whom I talked to was so nice to share info.
August 17, 2007 at 12:13 am
the 1st thing i see when i saw ur post was my name n my stupid experience at the stupid pharmacy..watla..haha
i finally saw ur new blog but dunno how to navigate..a bit hard to get around it la..
but anyway hope nobody finds out bout this la if not dunno how la
ya!!wat is tat pharmacist’s problem see oni ma they its not like i wan to steal ur idea of ur “canggih” pharmacy la rite?(it feels stg like this rite?)
n i was not stopped by the staff it was a security guard..why the heck they need to have a “security guard” there?they sell diamonds at their “ultra canggih” pharmacy issit??cis
August 17, 2007 at 12:45 am
Re: fj
I don’t think anyone will. Well, I ain’t going to bother anymore whether anyone does.
Haha, probably you’ll just need to get used to it. It ain’t that hard right? Not as hard as gritting your teeth when that guy shouts “shame!” right? Haha.
A security guard? You didn’t say! Oh my, must have been embarassing.
September 15, 2007 at 2:04 pm
[...] of relief. However, I cannot relax just yet. There’re still millions of things to do. Management for the Pharmacist project is one, class test is another, and of course, not forgetting the few remaining PBLs. And yes, [...]