This was my pharmacy of choice for over a decade so I'm very sorry to have to write an unfavorable review. Bartell merged with another drug store a few years ago and the pharmacy immediately changed to prescription management software no one on staff seemed to have been trained on. Lines for service became 10+ deep and took 30 minutes to reach staff. That turned out to be the highlight of things to come. Since then, all of the long time pharmacy staff who knew customers by name have either quit or been fired. New staff lack basic customer service skills and don't even offer key information if there is an issue with a refill. Most recent problem - 2 weeks ago, my doctor sent a refill order to the 42nd Ave SW Bartell's pharmacy that included a small change in dosing - same strength taking the medication every OTHER day instead of daily. I waited a few days but never received the usual automated call that my Rx was ready OR a call that there was an issue. Upon going in to the store, was told my doctor's office was not returning a request to clarify the prescription and I would need to deal with this. Bartell's refused to make the call and offered no other alternative. I was able to get through to a person in my doctor's office in under 5 minutes; doctor's office agreed to re-fax instructions. Again - 5 days passed, no robo call or text or email my Rx was ready or that there was a problem. Attempts to call the pharmacy resulted in a phone that continued to ring - not even a way to leave a message. Went back in to store yesterday - the same clerk gave me the exact info I had received the previous week. I was not even offered a partial refill until situation could be rectified. I asked what they suggested as I had done all I could and to my knowledge, doctor had cooperated. Ultimately, pharmacist told me it was inefficient for me to expect his staff to call a doctor's office and he could get in trouble for refilling without more clarity. Full stop. Telling him my continuing to do exactly the same thing and expect a different result was the very definition of insanity fell on deaf ears. I suggested a partial refill while I tried to sort things out after explaining all of this red tape had resulted in the patient, who had nothing to do with any of the issues, running out of a prescription for the foreseeable future. He returned with THREE PILLS and told me that was legally all he could do to help. There are so many things Bartell's could have done EVERY STEP OF THE WAY to have solved this problem, including simply contacting ME to let me know what was happening. The absolute kicker for me was having to suggest a partial refill while I attempted to find new ways to solve other people's errors. Today's call back to my doctor included removing Bartell's from my file and having a new prescription sent to a different pharmacy. All accomplished in less time than it is taking to write this review. I was the office manager for a well-loved family practice clinic for 8 years so I have an extremely good idea of what is involved in refilling prescriptions and what can be done if there is an issue. Simply offering to help problem solve goes a very long way. What I just went through with Bartell's, culminating in a very rude encounter that didn't offer even the most basic solutions, is completely inexcusable. It would've taken everyone involved far less time to do their jobs correctly the first, second or even third time. In the meantime, I have run out of a much needed medication. I will not be returning to this store and if you value time, decent service and good health care, I strongly recommend you do the same. read more

Bartell Drugs - Empty shelves at Bartell's - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Occasionally I need medication or cold meds and Bartell never lets me down. I've shopped at this Bartell Drugs for many years. It's great they have parking available and it's a well stocked location. Some of the other amenity's I enjoy is they carry snacks and beer. Nothing better than a 6 pack & medication to go. Plus if you need birthday or holiday cards you can grab that as well.. Last amazing thing I bought here was JP Patches nutcracker during the holidays. And only a local would know who JP Patches is well you shouldn't shop here... Anyways when the need for things comes up may I suggest you shop local vs national chains. read more

Bartell Drugs - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Nice Bartell Drugs in West Seattle with a large parking lot. It's very brightly lit and clean, and there are nice signs above the aisles. No self checkout though, and the line got kind of long when I was there. They do carry some Seattle Chocolates so I bought a bar. read more

This pharmacy doesn't answer their phone. The last time my prescription was sent to the wrong pharmacy they told me "the other pharmacy did all the work" maybe if they had an address on google it wouldn't me the wrong pharmacy. Although the other one is way nicer. Photo is me being in endless hold read more

Bartell Drugs - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Let me begin by saying the staff is super friendly and helpful here, probably this locations best attribute. The store is well kept and clean, especially compared to other locations. This 2-star score is driven entirely by how Bartell's operates it's pharmacy...you know, the primary function for a drug store. It seems like there is always an exorbitant wait to drop off or pick up prescriptions here. To make matters even worse their online platform isn't great (lack of ability to request prescriptions, incorrect data, etc) and their phones often go unanswered because they're under staffed. I'd imagine not having a drive-thru adds to the challenge to churn through prescriptions more quickly. It is such a terrible experience to get meds from this location - I'd recommend going somewhere else until Rite-Aid (Bartell's parent company) makes some improvements. read more

Bartell Drugs - Long pharmacy line - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

All photo printing down with no indication on the website or front of business. Not coming back

This is my local Bartells and have been coming for over 2 years but lately the store looks completely empty - entire shelves and rows missing products, looked like maybe 1/10 of the store was full. If this is a fraud/theft issue a security guard might make a difference read more

Bartell's is absolutely the worst. It was a great pharmacy chain before the merger with Rite-Aid, but now since the merger with Rite-Aid, it has been terrible. Myself and my fiancée have had multiple prescriptions lost, the staff is incompetent, and they are playing with people's lives. I have had prescriptions not ready on time and not exist in their system and all of a sudden "disappear." When a person is on a blood clot medication, but yet you don't have it ready in time even though you ordered it 4 days ahead of time and the staff tells you "oh they are so behind", well that's not my problem. My fiancée is just trying to keep from dying is all, and you are sitting here griping because you can't get someone to cover you for lunch. No biggie. Sighhhh. The staff is so incompetent and customer service in non-existent. We switched to a popular delivery pharmacy in the area who delivers to our home, and we couldn't be happier! I would take this warning and avoid this pharmacy at all costs if you can. It's not worth the headache. read more

The pharmacy staff here has always been nothing but rude and unhelpful. I have pre paid for my Rx twice and have gone in the store just to find they have been put back or not ready after being told they were. They then get defensive asking for proof of payment or texts stating they are ready, or tell me I have to wait all day. I have now gone without very important meds multiple times because of their lack of care. It's absolutely insane how awful this place is. read more

I preferred this pharmacy over others until today, in an emergent situation realizing a med I was supposed to take as part of prep last night was not with my meds (I had three items as I was supposed to, so didn't realize I was missing something), I had a consult with an on-call doctor last night to find out what to do related to timing and to get the prescription called in. I was sure I had picked up everything the pharmacy provided me and thought the error must be on the hospital's end or the insurance end, but I asked the doctor to check and see if the prescription had been sent with the others, to figure out what went wrong. This doctor who had access to my records stated that this prescription had been sent. This wouldn't have really come up, since I would still assume the insurance company might have gotten in the way, but when I called the pharmacist to check on when I could have the needed Rx picked up, and they stated I could not have it till tomorrow (the date of the procedure) and I was trying to get him to understand that this would be too late, he stated that the hospital "never put the order in until last night." I repeated what the hospital had told me, that they had checked the records and had told me this prescription had been sent along with the others. This was not to accuse the pharmacy of wrongdoing but because the pharmacist was giving this as a reason for not filling the prescription--this is the procedure and you didn't follow it and we are just hearing about it for the first time--while my hospital had told me differently. He didn't just tell me that the item was not in stock and was impossible to get that quickly (something I learned from the store manager). The pharmacist then said that "records don't lie" and I started to tell him that the hospital would tell me the same thing if their records showed they had sent the prescription, so this didn't solve the problem, but he said I was arguing with him and would no longer fill any prescriptions for me and hung up on me, in the middle of a medical emergency. They then asked where I would want THAT prescription transferred, and I named another pharmacy that was close by as the probable one but said I would call back tp confirm. Then while I was still trying to deal with this emergency, I started getting notifications from that other pharmacy. It turned out Bartell's was transferring ALL of my prescriptions to that pharmacy without my permission. By all means, if this is the way you want to be treated by your pharmacists, keep coming here. They are overworked, and it looks like they have no compunction about dumping patients in an extremely unprofessional way. I don't know if this was the same pharmacist I usually see in person (who has always been kind, helpful, patient, and professional). but I would suggest Rite Aid Corporate review its policies about allowing or condoning patient abandonment at the whim of one pharmacist in such an egregious manner. Prior to today, I considered Bartell's head and shoulders above other pharmacies. Not anymore. I have reported this to Rite Aid Compliance. read more

Terrible communication at the pharmacy. Had to go back multiple times in one day due to them messing up my prescription

Sadly Bartell's is no longer Bartell's. It's now just as miserable and under-stocked as Rite Aid.

Unfortunately this pharmacy doesn't answer the phone. They attempt to outwait you with endless ringing, but will eventually pick up the phone and hang up on you if you let it ring long enough. It's a scary position to be in when they control your life sustaining medication. read more

I am writing this review while in line. This place is a joke if your picking up a script. Long, slow line with only one pharmacist. Just moved to the area and what a mistake coming to Bartell's was. Should have stuck with Safeway. I thought this was supposed to be a Washington institution!? Just when you think the line is getting shorter you realize that it's just everyone in line coming closer together. Seriously, it together. read more

Bartell Drugs - What I heard ids now the norm when picking up scripts from this chain. - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I called at 1:13pm on Sunday and was on hold for 30 minutes and it just kept ringing. I called the Bartells main store and let them know that I did not have any option to leave a message etc. and that I was very frustrated. I have a prescription every month and have to go through this. The representative that answered said the are under staffed which is what I continually hear. I tried to call again at 5:04pm and have been on hold with the constant ringing and no one picking up. My doctor sent the prescription on 11/18 and it is now 11/24?? Your unability to not staff appropiately should never be the customers problem. Especially with the cost on prescribed medication from doctors??? read more

I picked up a steroid for my 7 year old daughter and it was supposed to be for 5 days. I don't like giving my daughter steroid at all so I was very careful and measured all her doses exactly. I called and let them know that after 3 days of being on it, it didn't look like there was enough for 2 more doses. I told them we didn't spill any and we've been thorough with all doses. The lady was short on the phone but told me to bring it in with the measuring thing they provided. So I came in right away, explained very nicely again what happened and that it didn't look like enough in the first place. The lady helping me instantly gave me attitude and said "well it's not a lot anyways" I kept being nice and agreed but told her I could tell it wasn't enough for the last 2 days and I didn't want my daughter to take part of a prescription without finishing it. She measured it and it was only 10ml. She was still giving me attitude and acting like I was crazy for being there trying to fix THEIR mistake. Every time I come to this pharmacy, the same lady is super rude and doesn't seem like she wants to help anybody. I already had to go back to the pharmacy because of their mistake and I was still nice to them just to be treated poorly and talked down to. 10/10 don't recommend. read more

Bartell Drugs - Prescription - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

never go here so new year , just sent in a script from urgent care and now ive gotta wait 72 hrs before they can fill it this place is a chicken s$&@ company i hate it and you will too . you've have been warned. Oh yeah it's Tuesday after holiday still don't have my medicine but the head person told me that's it's a state law we'll just got of phone with WA health officials say it's no law so ya read more

Listen everyone loves to hate on this pharmacy and I'm not going to really stop that trend. But given that the store manager seems to regularly reply to reviews promising improvements I'm actually going to suggest some actionable tips that will improve this pharmacy's failing performance. First, service is ridiculously slow. There could be a number of good reasons for this, including in depth medical counseling and vaccinations. How can you improve it? Create two lines for pickup: a regular one and a pre-paid one. I should not have to wait on line for twenty minutes (yes that's not an anomaly) if I've paid in advance. Second, stop employees from doing useless tasks. If I've signed up for SMS prescription updates, I DO NOT WANT DAILY CALLS from a staffer reminding me I have 7 more days to pick up my prescription. Now I've not experienced the racism or rudeness that my fellow West Seattleites have here but I think addressing these two small issues will go a long way to resolving the hot mess that is right now. read more

It's 6pm and there are 11 people in front of me in line at the pharmacy. This is how it looked yesterday, too. I would guess this is Rite Aid merger bs? Or is it Omicron? read more

Bartell Drugs - Long line of people - Drugstores Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Not sure what's with all of the negative reviews, this is our primary pharmacy for prescriptions and have never had an issue. Staff are friendly and refills are quick. Sometimes there is a line, but it is clear they are doing the best they can with their staffing. read more

This pharmacy is in dire need of new management. It is always a very long wait, yesterday they didn't even have my prescription ready after 2 days so I waited for nothing, and last month they weren't even able to open in the morning due to a lost key and no staff. Corporate Bartells, please help! read more

We switched here when our former pharmacy became mismanaged and interminably slow. I wanted to keep an open mind about the sale to Rite Aid but it seems to have had a direct impact on the Bartell pharmacy where prescriptions are delayed by hours and hours (told me it would be ready at 2 pm Tuesday, not ready until 9 Am Wednesday), lines of people are stacked up waiting, and even if you are the only person in line, you can be standing there while four (!) people behind the pharmacy counter are doing god-knows-what and studiously avoiding making eye contact. Maybe they will get it together soon, but there's a limit to how long I will deal with the disorganization and just find another pharmacy again. read more

Do not consider this drugstore for your pharmaceutical needs. Without doubt the worst customer service I have ever received. Today I had to wait two hours in line to pick up my prescription and this is not the first time. I've never waited less than 45 minutes. I have complained several times that they only have one person assisting customers at the pharmacy but it does not good. The woman in front of me had come to pick up twice the previous day and twice today and still did not get her prescription or any kind of explanation. read more

NEGLIGENT.....TO THE POINT OF DANGEROUS Location on 85th in Seattle is actually NEGLIGENT! Try to speak to someone in the pharmacy and you're on hold forever! Always! Then you get a recording asking if you want a call back. You agree to the call back and it never comes. My online prescription functions need correcting and they say their screens show something different. They say call Rite-Aid and Rite Aid and Rite-Aid says they can't see my records. If you can't speak to someone and the online function is not working you can't order prescriptions you have to go there. If you have an emergency need for a prescription you are just ignored along with everyone else. STAFFING is also poor. There is always a line to pick up prescriptions. read more

Nice clean store. Good customer service. Large variety of inventory but some things are out of stock. Pharmacy is very responsive and answered all of my questions about my medication. read more

The Bartells on 85th street is deplorable. Never go there. Always a 20-30 minute wait, even if you put your order in prior. Wtf is the point of refilling digitally if you have to stand in line read more

Awful! They gave me 29 day supply because they didn't have 30 but "come back next week and we'll give you the extra day." Went back and they tell me they gave me 30 days (and billed for 30 days) - that I can't prove it. Finally done with these guys...! read more

The most bizarre experience I've ever had at a pharmacy. My partner and I stopped in for a few stocking stuffers and to print out a small photo of us for a Christmas photo ornament. As we were using the kiosk, the app started to act up on my phone and as I was resetting it an older woman came by and told us we can just plug in the phone and go. I did, and was prepared to follow the steps but she insisted on standing by and taking over what we were doing although I said "thanks we've got it from here" several times. She got offended when I insisted we were good and didn't need help, because we didn't lol. We never asked for help - she treated us like we didn't know how to use my own iPhone. I just didn't want a total stranger standing behind us as all 2,000 photos from my phone loaded on the screen.. hence why we were using the app. But what's worse is the older dude behind the counter. He was in a really pissy mood, very blatantly brooding, sighing, acting like he'd rather jump off the building than interact with another human being. He turned around and said "yes????" Like we were idiots for standing by the photo section after getting the kiosk receipt. There were no instructions on the receipt or the kiosk. Sorry if you were having a bad day but don't take it out on a couple people just trying to buy a quick print. No reason to ever shop here again, any one of the other Bartells or other pharmacies in the area is better. read more

I went to pick up my prescription today that was called in exactly seven days ago. They had already reshelved it. The cashier was stating the policy of after ten days it has to be put back. I pointed out it was a week ago when it was called in by my Dr. great way to spend a Saturday waiting in line twice. It is a two hour wait for them to fill it again. So with my drive time double and waiting in line twice, over two hours of my life gone... I have to get a new pharmacy, too many times something goes wrong. read more

The WORST pharmacy staff. Slow, no sense of urgency. No additional help with long lines. No concern for elderly or ill people waiting in long lines. read more

Always understaffed and very very slow ... I've stood in line for my prescriptions at least 30 minutes , four times !!! It's ridiculous to the point I've changed locations to have my doctor send my prescriptions... read more

My prescription was sent to this pharmacy at 7:30 AM. At 9:00 AM I called to inquire about my prescription status. At that time my prescription had not been processed to be filled. Now my prescription should be ready in a few hours. Had I not called who knows how long it would have taken. read more

Dropped Rx off at 9am. Told it would be ready in 3-4 hours and they would text when done. It's now 5pm and no word. In addition they don't answer the phone when you call the pharmacy. Only facts - make your own decision. Disclosure: I have worked in pharmacy for 15 years. read more

Virginia has horrible customer service! This is not my first bad experience with her. I printed some photos from their machine that you hook up to your phone. I specifically chose no boarders on my photos I wanted to print. 60% of my photos came out with boarders and I was frustrated because I had to download 11,000 photos. I asked for help to take the boarder off of these photos and they said come back later, we don't have time now. Fine, then give me a refund of the 9 photos with boarders (.29 each) and I'll keep the ones with boarders. They said no, even though they are shredding them anyways. The manager was useless and Virginia was so rude...again. If you can't help me get a good product that I paid for, just let me keep the bad product at a discounted rate or free. Just bad customer service all around from both people I asked for help. Not just bad, but embarrassing in front of multiple other customers. It's too bad! read more

We've been patient while their pharmacy transitioned but it's way past time for them to deal with their issues. They never have more than one cashier helping and it's not uncommon for the line to be to the front of the store. Time for a change. read more

I would like to give zero stars. My husband is a newly diagnosed diabetic and I needed a new monitor for a different test strip that was prescribed. Seems simple right? Met with rudeness and for some reason I kept trying to be nice when asking about a monitor that they keep behind the counter so I have no choice but to "bother"them. They didn't have the monitor I needed so I make the mistake of asking if they had a system that could check other Bartelldrugs like on admiral. Plus size red head was a total .... I don't even want to get into what all she said but I finally said out loud to the other workers "this person is responsible for creating the culture here" I don't understand why they are so busy when their customer service is the worst ever and borderline abusive to make you go away. I will make sure we never bring our company here again either, which is vulnerable adults. read more

I'm incredibly grateful for the Pharmacy staff, they are always incredibly kind to myself and my pup, they know us like neighbors and last year, when I was suddenly dizzy, their partner kindly walked me to my friends car because I was unable to walk on my own. They always are kind, helpful and authentic. I can't imagine how difficult it has been there in the past year...but I sure count my lucky stars to have a smiling face that knows me when I do have to come in there. read more

Probably the worst pharmacy I've ever used. It doesn't matter when you call in an order it is never ready when you go to pick it up. If there are any problems with insurance they won't call you. The staff is rude! Like they don't realize or care that you need your prescriptions to actually LIVE! One asked me if I was sure I wanted my prescription because it was so expensive. read more

If you like waiting, no having medications and poor service, this is the place for you! Go to Safeway in Northbend to save time. The drive there and back will be a lot faster! read more

I've found this pharmacy location to be slow and inefficient over the years. The other day I had an ear infection that wouldn't go away. I walked into their new Kaiser walk in clinic inside the pharmacy. I asked directly if they took my insurance, which they agreed would be no problem. Fast forward a few months, I've been put into collection for $85. I refused the pay their invoice because I was told it would work with my insurance. Well, it didn't. read more