I have never written a negative review in my life but I have to say that CVS is the Southwest Airlines of drugstores. The CVS in West Newton MA always has incredibly long lines at the pharmacy no matter what time you go. Today I scheduled a COVID test at the Lexington Street Waltham Store. When I arrived, I found a note at the pharmacy drive in directing everyone to go to the Harvard Street Waltham location. I drove there only to find out that they do not do COVID tests. I then scheduled an appointment for an hour and a half later at the CVS on Mass Ave in Arlington MA and drove 45 minutes to that location. When I arrived for my appointment, I checked in at the drive in and waited for an hour at the window. I had no idea what was going on. Finally I was told that because I scheduled an appointment at CVS Waltham and then scheduled an appointment at the CVS Mass Ave Arlington, they could not do the test. Nothing like doing all of this while sick. Absolutely horrible. read more

The pharmacy decent The store meh The pharmacy staff is generally friendly and pharmacy is well stocked with my medications. The retail section is chronically understaffed. With no one to answer questions, customers sometimes help each other. One self- check outs is usually broken, and usually only one open register. The product selection is good, and I haven't found any dusty or old merchandise. read more

Terrible experience today! I was at the drive-up window in the morning, asked if I could pick up my free home covid tests, and I was told to come back in a hour because they were short staffed. I came back in the afternoon and was told that it wasn't possible to get them. Then they changed their mind and told me to wait 15 minutes for them. While I was waiting, they told me to drive around to the end of the line because I was holding up traffic. I did that. When I got to the front of the line, they told me I was in the wrong lane, because the test kits would not fit in the delivery mechanism in the second lane. Next, a staffer told me to walk up to the main window, so I parked my car, put on my mask, walked over there, and waited. Then a very rude staffer told me I couldn't stand there, because it was obviously a drive-up lane. She was quite insulting and would not listen to me explain that one of her colleagues had just told me to walk up to the window. Then I came home and tried phoning CVS a couple of times. After waiting on hold for a while, someone hung up the phone on me--twice! I While waiting, I heard a message saying that I could order the tests online and have them delivered. They could have told me that this morning! I then looked at the delivery FAQ on the CVS website, and it did not tell the cost for shipping, but I decided to try it anyway. I clicked the link in the text that said my test kits ready, and I got an error message! Now the only option seems to be to drive to CVS a third time and see if they will finally give me the test kits. What service! read more

I actually really like this CVS. I was spoiled when I lived in Brighton because I could just walk on over to the nearest CVS, but this is still a close car ride away, which is great... and probably better for my wallet anyway... since I always go into a CVS knowing what I need, and end up walking away with things that nobody needs. The store itself is large and has everything you could possibly want: an ATM (Capital One 360-friendly... score!), a pharmacy (I got my flu shot here last year, and, yes, they do take insurance), and an expansive candy section (Sour Patch kids were on sale for 2/$2 this past week). They've also got your usual beauty supplies, pain relievers, snack foods, and seasonal ish. Basically, they've got everything. And their employees are usually very friendly and helpful. They're the ones who introduced me to the 'scan your card and get a bunch of coupons' machine... I'm sure that's not the name of the machine, but I also accidentally called an ice cube tray "ice form thingy" the other day. *Smacks forehead* All in all, a good CVS. A bit precarious to enter (the entrance is also the exit and is quite narrow), but it's got plenty of parking in the lot and lots of goodies inside the store. Thumbs up! read more

A horrible pharmacy with inept, nasty people working here that outright lied to me multiple times (swearing my doctor hadn't called when I was with her and knew she had), and effectively held my medication hostage for 4 days due to their complete and utter ineptitude. Been a CVS customer for life, and will never go again. read more

This review is for Christine R. I recently had the pleasure of shopping with her at the Arlington location in the beauty department. She offered to help me without hesitation. She is incredibly knowledgeable of the various product lines CVS carries, and does a great job of adding value to their use by walking the customer through the ethics of each company. I happily spent more dollars than I anticipated today due to her ability to understand and meet my needs. Christine is awesome! read more

For a busy CVS you need capable cashiers. The cashiers here are horrible. They never know what they are doing, even in the pharmacy, and it causes confusion. I may have to drive further to go to a better CVS. I dread coming here read more

I've never been to a more dysfunctional CVS. The cashiers are nasty. CVS should be ashamed of this poor service.

Dear CVS Pharmacy, I started going to you almost 2 years ago. I am finding that the last few months you have been having issues. Do you have the Flu? Have you been tested for any health issues. I hear there is a 24 hour clinic at a CVS in Cambridge. My point is management needs to take a step back and see what the illness is that you have. Oh, you know maybe you have a memory issue. You seem to forget the littlest things. EX: you forget to put on the correct caps on my medicine bottles. Please see what you can do take get health back. Any recommendations on another pharmacy in Arlington? read more

Terrible Pharmacy. The Place can be a mess sometime.They need to hire additional staff in order to Keep Customers Coming Back . I will Never visit this store again read more

I hear that this CVS opened only a couple years ago, and frankly, I don't know how Arlington survived without it. Ya know, considering the one on Broadway is a hole in the wall. This CVS is one of the larger ones I've been to, the layout of the store makes sense and makes it easy to find what you're looking for. In terms of customer service, I've encountered some of the friendliest and most helpful associates here, compared to the CVS on Broadway, where everyone seems to be in a bad mood. It's pretty well stocked, most of the time. Occasionally though, I'll stop by and they just simply won't have something that you'd really expect a drug store to have, which is frustrating. Latest example - they've got a pretty decent and expansive eye care section, a nice variety of glasses frames to choose from...but no cleaning cloths. And yes, I know CVS isn't a vision center, but why sell glasses if you're not going to sell anything to clean them with? I don't know about you, but it don't make no sense to me! read more

The new CVS stores tend to depress me, and this one is no exception. Big, boxy, and rather grim, it is the type of place where I just want to get my items as quickly as possible and leave, which is perhaps what they are hoping customers will do. Pharmacies generally aren't charming, cozy places, but the older ones do have a bit of character, like the old Brattle Drug (now closed) in Arlington. But this place is so impersonal (right down to its self-checkout) that it makes me miserable just walking in. Walgreens down the street may be a bit dirty and dusty and seen its better days, but it has just a bit more of a human touch to it, and feels more like a community drug store. read more

worst pharmacy staff and experience overall. All i wanted is a flu shot. first got in one line then told it was the other line. The unfriendly lady in the line asked me for my insurance and i had my card ready. Told me it would be 15 mins. I waited 25 and then got in line again to ask them when I could get the vaccine only to wait and wait then finally told them to cancel my flu shot as I couldn't wait any longer . No apology or nothing- just stared at me. The whole pharmacy team has no concept of time or any customer service skills. They obviously are miserable and project that. will never return here again! read more

This CVS used to be decent. Sure, it's got the location, size and variety going for it. Compared to the two other CVS in Arlington, they have more products in stock. They also know if they carry something in stock. But, the front part, usually has only one register open. The worst part of this CVS, is the pharmacy. Getting prescriptions here is a mess. Medications were sometimes short. A lot of difficulty filling the same prescriptions Long waits for something that was already called in. Disappearing off of automatic refills. read more

This store barely has staff to help customers. Absolutely understaffed. I keep going there because it's very close to my place, but having to ask for products is always painful. I have just left the store after waiting for help for 10-ish min. read more

The inventory is good and the prices are okay. The service just isn't good though. You really need more than one person up front. The only registers open were the self serve ones with an attendant monitoring them. There was decent line for the self serve. Of course one of the items I was purchasing was a gift card that turned out to be a process unto itself when only the self serve checkout is open. Spend the extra money and have someone at a normal register and someone monitoring the self serve registers. It's just good customer service. read more

Put in my prescrptions with their IPhone app and got an email conformation that they would be ready at 6pm. Got to the drive through at 6:05 and the "slow motion man" said they had no precriptions for me and no record of an order. I had the sneaking suspition this would happen which is why I printed the confirmation email, which I shoved through the drawer at him. He said it would take 15 minutes, which means using the phone app was completely useless! I went in to speak to the store manager who said the at there's nothing he could do; no apologies, unwilling to do anything to speed up getting my prescription, not even a gift card or a reduction of the price. He did say that they were 200 prescriptions behind for the day. If that was the case I should have been notified, or at least they should make sure the on line app isn't making promises they can't keep. I will never enter a CVS store ever again and I will do my best to make sure no one I know does either . read more

The only really good service you get from the pharmacy department is at the drive-in window. Otherwise you never know how long you will have to spend waiting for service from any one of the pharmacy staff. Each employee seems to have their own job to do without a care in the world for helping each other out should things get busy. There's absolutely no cooperation among them. So you wait and wait and wait while one of them just puts prescriptions into bins or while some of them just stand around talking oblivious to a customer who may be sick and/or need immediate attention. It's pathetic because some of the pharmacists are very good but taken altogether the staff should restructure its jobs to be more client-centered instead of being so disrespectful to a waiting customer or fellow-worker who may need help when things get backed up. How I miss Walgreens which was more personal and so much more efficient! read more

I really like this CVS. Staff are friendly, most of the time I find what I need. And they have the self check out machine as well, which at times can be convenient. read more

Hey Yelpers!! Have to tell ya about the new CVS in Arlington. Yes, it's been nearly a year now and not only was I excited about the much needed CVS to the area. Overrall it has been a blessing! It's close to me and encourages me to get my walk in and run errands, but I have to say even though I'm so thankful for the array of products, location and hours I have to say that I have experienced some negative talk by CVS employees. It's funny what you hear in and around town! Little do we know who could be standing in our prescene. Be careful... On one occasion an older woman whom I really enjoyed chatting and I always felt was very upbeat and helpful. She was telling another customer about the drugs, violence and trouble found in Arlington due to the "METCO" students attending Arlington High School!! First of all yes there are HS kids in area cities/towns and unforunately there is arise of drugs. I'm a former METCO graduate who is college educated/professional and I just can't phantom the audacity of this older woman!!! And the second incident occurred today. I used the self check out service and apparently needed assistance. A young HS or 20something year old girl assisted me once and then the second time. The second time around she made an inappropriate comment, "the machine thinks you're taking something!" First, of all grow up!! I paid in cash and used my coupons!!! Think before you speak!! So is this how CVS employees treat their customers!!! Don't think customers are dumb!! Get a real job!!! read more

This is by far the WORST CVS I have been to. Since the snow storm, the parking lot has been beyond ridiculous. I understand fully that it was an unusual amount of snow, but this has to be one of the busiest parking lots in Arlington. I had to complain that the handicap spots were not plowed. I go there frequently for my mom and I watch the elderly struggle around the snow banks and poorly shoveled walkways. They need to actually REMOVE the snow and not try to push it back. Today a large delivery truck got stuck and people were then unable to exit parts of the lot. All due to snow. When I went in the register my concerns I was told by an employee that the cost of snow removal comes out of the store's profits! Are you kidding me? What about the safety of the customers. Totally have no regard for elderly, handicap, or anyone for that matter. Stay away! read more

This is the first time I have written a review like this --I was very perturbed at what happened! I have shopped at the Arlington CVS several times for years, but will no longer shop there after today's experience. I purchased $25+ of items. I gave the cashier two $20 bills (plus the exact change). She put my money into the register and closed it, but didn't give me the $15 owed. When questioned, she said that I gave her a $20 and a $5 bill-- [NO, I know for a fact I did not. I didn't know if she was lying or didn't know what she was doing...] I had put three $20 bills into my wallet this morning... and had three single dollars. I saw the two $20 bills I gave her this afternoon. The manager checked the cash drawer and said she found $5 extra (which is all she gave me). Either they are running a SCAM(!) or the cashier gave the $10 (still owed to me) to another customer... I know I got jipped! Linda G Arlington read more

I have had no end of trouble with getting medication at this CVS. The most glaring example was when I went in to pick up a medication and was told by one clerk they had never received the order. I then sat down and called my doctor. She called over and was told by the clerk that they had the order and had already filled the medication that it was ready to pick up. read more

simply awful. you aren't 'busy' you're lazy. go elsewhere. fellsway cvs in medford wont make excuses go there. arligton cvs is trash

Worst head pharmacist ever. Short version is that SHE IS THE SOUP NAZI of the pharmacy world. My wife's podiatrist (very sweet lady) actually told her "I'm sorry, you are making me so angry right now that I can't talk to you anymore" and ended the phone call. Story is that my wife just had surgery, I walk into pharmacy after surgery to fill her written pain meds from hospital. Two scripts (one for "1 pill, fill immediately" and one "30 quantity") on one printed page. Pharmacist Tears two scripts into separate sections, types on her computer for a minute, THEN says "oh, wait, I can't fill the second script because it doesn't have letterhead on it". I say, "Well if you hadn't torn it, could you use it?" and she gets an attitude and says "NO" in a "protesting too much" way. This is a on a late Friday afternoon, and my wife will soon be in severe pain over the weekend. I call doctor, doctor calls pharmacy, pharmacist gives attitude and is a b***h toward doctor, and refuses to fill script because "MA law makes us refuse to fill 2 scripts for the same drug on the same day" (hospital says this is normal). Pharmacy b***c THEN CALLS 24 hour pharmacy and "warns" that pharmacy that the doctor may try to fill meds. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS PHARMACY. You were warned. She has weird eyes/contacts that look tinted. Nazi. read more

Worst cvs I've ever been to. Will avoid ever returning. After waiting 20 minutes for help I had to leave without my receipt, and no one was able to assist me. I spend so much money in this store and left without all my coupons and am not able to return what I bought, if I had to. Awful. read more

Worst CVS! THe incompetence from the pharmacy to check-out was terrible! I will shop at Walgreens from now on!!!!!! Prices were higher. Help was incompetent. The Parking lot was terrible leaving. It has NOTHING going for it!!! read more

This is a terrible pharmacy that chronically makes mistakes regarding medications. They seem to be short staffed and you get the impression that the employees are cynically doing their jobs at the expense of your health and well-being. The lack of communication is the biggest problem. Please avoid at all costs. read more

I have been using this CVS for about five years now. The only issue I have ever had generated directly from under staffing and should be no reflection of the folks who work there. The pharmacy bends over backwards to help get what I need as soon as they can. The retail manager, the dude with the black pony tail, is excellent at what he does and has helped me find stuff in a manner making it clear he likes and appreciates his job which has become a rarity in all these low paying retail monstrous conglomerations. read more

Worst cvs experience of my life. I've only lived in camb since sept ... In the last three months there has been so much confusion with my prescriptions. I had a missed call from them after getting my prescription filled one time, I called back and told them I missed a call from them ... The women on the other end told me they did not call me and that I get my prescriptions filled in Brighton and that I called the wrong store, I told her that I had just moved and that I now use their location. She told me I had to prescptions to be refilled, and I asked her why they called me then, and she preceded to tell me again that they did not call me, I told her that I got their number from the missed calls in my phone, she again told me I called the wrong store. At this point I was getting irratated so I asked her to look on the computer because something has to be ready for refill if they called me ... She told me yet again that I had no refills, and asked why are you trying to get things filled at different locations? Now I was pissed because you don't accuse someone of that and I told her that and she responded "oh now I see that you got something filled her a few weeks ago and I was reading the computer wrong" really??? Shouldn't she check that before accusing me of doing something illegal and morally wrong?!? That was a month ago ... Now today I was trying to get my prescriptions sent to a stiffener location in Somerville because That whole experience really turned me off. I waited on hold for a total of 35 minutes, once I could finally speak to a pharmacist, I had to get off the phone because my break from work was over. I asked them to call me back so I could talk to someone and not wait on hold again. I never got a call back and had to wait on hold after work for another 7 minutes. And they are never accurate on their pick up times, both times I had to wait an extra 20 mins. Needless to say I am never using this location again. I used to live in Brighton and the pharmacists at cvs on market street are so great and knew me by name ... I considered driving to Brighton just so I don't have to be accused of horrible things when I go to cvs. read more