It's getting old Dischem

Dear Dis-Chem Pharmacies. You are a purveyor of medicines and, one would hope, you understand a thing or two about illness. I don't know -- like Covid maybe? So, if you had given the topic even the most casual attention, Dischem, you would have seen that it is MORE LIKELY to affect certain groups severely. Like the aged. Now, I like my old people as much as the next person, but why was the "pharmacist" assisting me at your Dischem Neighbourhood Pharmacy old enough to be my grandfather? And that's an achievement because I ain't that young! Not that I mind grandfathers, but this particular one could not read the printed script attached to the pack-my-meds package despite the glasses perched on the end of his nose. He asked me to check it. Let's get this straight -- I go to a doctor, who decides what type of drugs and what strengths of these drugs I need. I fetch, pay for and take these drugs. That's it. When I was handed the package, I asked Dis-Chem Pharmacies' Granddad -- "Is everything in there? It feels too light." Grandad blinked at me and said: "Yes, it is." Before paying, I ripped the package open -- and as sure as nuts the "keep in the fridge" items were not in the package. So, back into your pharmacy, filled with coughing, sniffing people to wait while the fridge was raided for the items missing from my script. My understanding of many of the official languages of South Africa is poor -- but trust me, I got enough of what the individual fixing the order said to understand that this was not the first fix and that Grandad was "too old" and "too forgetful". Which, Dis-Chem, brings me to the second point of my rant: I have isolated myself pretty spectacularly since Covid first reared its head. You see, I am also one of those people who "may be unduly affected" by Covid. So two questions Dischem: why are you employing people who are clearly beyond any reasonable retirement age? Let's be clear -- people do not go to the dispensary of a pharmacy because they are feeling particularly well. Grandad at Neighbourhoold Dischem probably wouldn't put up the most resilient fight should he have the misfortune of getting an illness while at work. And, second, is this your idea of how to treat customers? I can get in and out of most stores at a speed that is pretty close to that of light. Today I stood in your store for more than half an hour. I am not a fan. And please don't point me to your delivery service -- the last time I used it, it took DAYS to get my package and the driver added a zero to my co-payment..... Do that again and I may need to have more medication to recover!