Pharmacy ****s sick and confused patients - but legally, so it's fine!

I went to this pharmacy for nausea medication, to assist with side effects that I am dealing with from another very intense medication.

I asked the pharmacist the cost, which she read out to me in single digits - leaving me to believe the medication was just over a hundred rand (R105.67). She said, "It's one zero five six seven). I paid, exited the store and as I left I realised the medication was actually R1056.70, and far more than I could afford for five days worth of medication. Had she said it cost ONE THOUSAND AND FIVE RAND I would have called my doctor and asked for an alternative.

I went back in, apologised for not having checked the slip properly - but the medication I'm on makes me confused and I really had misunderstood her. She took the medication and the slip from me, telling me that the manager would refund my money when he was in store the next day. I have had many pharmacies perform this kind of reverse transaction, due to till slip mistakes or double scanning. I really didn't think this would be a problem.

Constant calling and e-mailing the next day, and the manager didn't call me back even though he said he would. They literally hung the phone up once, and another time answered without saying anything.

When I called again and eventually got through the pharmacist said she was busy. I asked when I can expect a return call, since I'd been waiting five hours already to hear from the manager. She rudely retorted with, "When I'm done."

I drove to the store to deal with the issue, because apparently the pharmacist is never "done". The manager left, rather than dealing with a customer issue and refused to come back for another two hours.

This store took a confused patient's money AND medication and refused to refund me - on the basis that I took a step outside the door. I understand this law, but the package was returned minutes after purchase completely sealed. I never left the premises.

Not to mention, while I was in store trying to resolve this, the pharmacist was blatantly talking about me in another language to a colleague in front of me.

I have never experienced such ********** service in my life, despite being completely friendly and polite throughout this process. I was given the owner's contact details, Charlie - who was just as rude.

I hope the sale was worth it! A chemist on the way home to my house that I probably would have frequented (and I'm a VERY sickly individual who buys medication constantly) will never see me again. Best of luck with their current business model. I sincerely hope that they don't **** anyone else like this. PLEASE BE CAREFUL.