I truly dread the one day every 2 months I have to come here for a prescription but usually it isn't half as bad as I expect. The worst part of using this CVS is getting to the door. This block could benefit from a well marked holding cell. Once you're inside the store it's fairly easy to manage the shopping experience as long as you avoid the front end cashiers and follow the instructions on the scanning machines. Don't. Press. The Wrong. Key. read more

Kinda dirty, which I could forgive in Central Square, but the staff are also rude as heck. I asked a manager to let my little girl use their restroom (she had a kid emergency at Starbucks, and theirs were out of order) and she was a total hosebeast to me about it. She told us that she "couldn't leave what she was doing" (which was putting stickers on items) to escort us, and when I told her it was an emergency she said that I was being so rude that I didn't deserve help. There's reason to put up with that kind of thing; there's plenty of other stores in this area. read more

The people who work here are a mixed of kind and unexperienced. Every time I go in this store, I think it will only take me a 5 minutes maybe 10 but it always takes at least 30. Usually the lines are incredibly long, the machines do not always work, sale items are out of stock, they cashiers do not know how to scan coupons or ring up the wrong price. I rather go to the one on Mass ave in Boston. read more

Rude staff. At least the woman who helped me was. I was scanning my 2 items through the self checkout (I only wanted to buy one of them) and told her I wanted to void the other and she said "the next time you want to check the price, go to the price checker!" In a very rude tone. Well maybe I wouldn't have had to go there if the prices were visibly marked under the item. It's just annoying. But it's CVS nothing special. read more

Pro: 24 hours Cons: Service Understocked It's a CVS. I need CVS, but seriously if I had a closer CVS I'd go. I was here the other morning before I was going to the T to go to class. I just needed to pick up one thing, but it took me about 20 minutes. Only two of the SELF SERVE checkout stations were open. But the lady that was working was checking her friend out and talking. The lady at the other machine was having some trouble so she couldn't finish checking out. But the lady wouldn't stop talking to her friend. Hello, they're self serve for a reason. Basically I was almost late. It was not a great time. CVSes are supposed to have the same thing, but what really makes them stand apart is the service. It really affect whether or not I'll be going to CVS or Walgreens across the street. read more

It's CVS... what can you say. They have everything, except this one does not have some checkout people. The automated systems breakdown on the regular and they use more staff to get those going than they would if they had one or two people checking customers out. Automation is cool, but only if it works... read more

CVS Pharmacy - Drugstores Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'll sum this up in one sentence Forced automatic check out system. Was it really worth it to make a few more bucks to layoff employees.. shows CVS doesn't care about me. read more

I would give this CVS negative 6383 stars if I could. Their pharmacists are rude, unhelpful, and seem to enjoy making the prescription refill experience a miserable one. They have weird policies that I have never heard of for any CVS ever and I watched them turn away about 4 customers in front of me for various reasons when trying to fill a prescription, and then (surprise!) they turned me away. Rude, rude people. Definitely switching to a different CVS. Or better yet, Walgreens. read more

Great, a place where the bums of Central Square can hang out for 24-hours a day. And no humans at the front to shoo them out of the store. I have to be honest, I dig the spacious front part of the store, but despise the awkward corner where you can either peruse the house cleaning supplies, As-Seen-On-TV shite, or shop from a shoddy selection of sympathy cards. Dear CVS, could you have found a more random location for your cards? They may as well share an aisle with the Depends. And to speak to the lack of humans at the front, I think this CVS has increased their humans in the Pharmacy. This is key so they can assign one pharmacist to deal with the angry welfare/medicare patients who are picking drugs up for a friend, another to take on refills, someone to do the filling of the Rx, and the other to check people out (like me who likes to stock up on grocery goods before paying for Rx, hence avoiding use of the always-broken auto-checkout). This is one of the most spacious CVS's around and I like that. Plus, the pharms are phriendly enough and their staff seems slightly more competent than those at Walgreens across the street. And with all the extra bucks I get for all my purchases, at least it feels like I'm getting a deal (even though I've observed cheaper prices on occasion at the place across the street). Note: Pharm only open til 10 PM on weeknights. read more

Why all the hate for CVS? I don't have any horror stories and I shop here more than the Walgreens across the street, where there always seems to be only 1 cashier working if there isn't a line of 10 going on. This one is open 24 hours, sports at least one homeless person asking for change like the CVS in Harvard Square. And when you're puking your guts out after drinking a little too much or have some weird late night craving for pretzels it's convenient having a place that will sell you just about anything at all hours of the evening. Also if you're too lazy to go to the regular supermarket it's always a good alternative for getting a cold sandwich or something from the recently added frozen food section. I've never had the pleasure because I'm never that desperate but the service is fairly decent as well. They do have 4 self service stations but there's always at least 1 cashier in case things get a little too crowded. They aren't afraid to handle a customer or 2. In all I like our small central square CVS. I'd have to go to the slightly more expensive Harvard Square one without it. read more

Worst. CVS. Ever. I'm blind, so have to ask for help to find items, and literally every time I do this, I'm blown away by the incompetence of the staff. Today, the guy didn't know what a pump toothpaste was. It was infuriating to have to buy a regular tube, when I knew there were pumps on the shelf. Sounds like a little thing I know, but I've lived here for almost two years now, and have had enough. read more

For the longest time, my old worn out debit card wouldn't slide through the DIY card-readers, so I had to ask the clerks to run it through their registers. QUE LASTIMA AY DIOS MIO! I know, totally inconveniencing them. That little exchange made it hell on earth for me to make a purchase at CVS for much of 2009, and since the Walgreens across the street skeeves me out... what's a girl to do during work hours? Anyways, I have a new card, and we're moving forward together. I generally feel that CVS is overpriced, and I'll try to buy anything from anywhere else... But what gets this place it's three stars is 1) the Fresh Ink cards, they're further back, beyond all the regular Hallmark dreck - but totally worth it; 2) the Pharmacy is fantastic, whoever is managing that does a bang up job - it's not the hell on earth other branches seem to be, and 3) Ritter Marzipan Chocolate bars - so delicious, so slightly over priced, so not easy to come by, but I love them. read more

Ah~ I place to get chips, makeup, shampoo or smokes late night. Just what I need. I have to say I like this location much more than when they were on the corner of Pearl... But, whatever. I don't get disappointed by CVS as many a person does (it seems) for the organization, the employees, ecc. I figure, I wouldn't want to work at a CVS, and if I did and that was my full-time job, would I really put that much into it? I always take my pictures there to be developed. The guy who works there, after years of seeing me in CVS and around Central, and has now acknowledged the recognition. Now I feel like a dip cause I can't remember his name. Shit! Oh well, I'll be seeing him soon. The other thing about CVS is that for us people getting to work before 8am need a place to get cigarettes and water, or odwalla bars before work, Walgreens across the street isn't open until 7a. Not convenient, though I walk by it on my way to Starbucks everyday. read more

The pharmacy staff is incredibly helpful -- they hold your hand through the entire process! (Lookin' at you, Tasha!) couldn't ask for a better experience. Patient, kind, and discreet. read more

The CVS pharmacy in Central Square Cambridge is the worst I have ever experienced. They are slow, disinterested, and often seem confused. In contrast the Walgreen's pharmacy right across the street as well as the CVS in Harvard Square are fine. Did I mention they are slow? read more

the pharmacy staff there are ridiculous to the fullest extent I ordered Lantus the insulin Pen and I specified the insulin pen and they said it would be all set and when I arrived in the store they didn't have it they thought I said Lantix how could you confuse them when I said Lantus insulin pen I specified it. and when I went it I was told no one even called which is complete crap cause I called them. I am just done with them completely I switched my pharmacy. because this is not the first time they have completely screwed up and all the Guy said was we are busy ok well being busy isn't A worthy excuse for screwing with someone's health.. read more

I'm surprised to see negative reviews of this CVS. The pharmacy is extremely busy and it seems that everyone getting medication has some sort of glitch, insurance or with their prescription. The pharmacy staff is always patient and professional and never seem frustrated or impatient. read more

MAN, I love the Central Square CVS! Never before have these many crazies congregated at a location that's supposed to carry serious business. It's mad sketchy, y'all. Everyone who comes here/works here IS a crazy (this includes myself - I did once entered drunk off my ass yelling "cookie dough!"). From the lady at the counter that used to creep me out, to the dude that hands out the photographs, to the crack lady hanging right outside: I love it! Seriously, just walk in there, buy a soda, a bag of chips and waste your time there long enough and you'll see something fascinating. ACTUALLY, we should have an entry dedicated to that whole block in Central Square. So many stories! My favorite might be this one time I sat on the bus stop bench to chat with 2 homeless dudes and one of them told me: "Careful young lady. They defecated on there. Go home. Wash your clothes, shoes and hair." Priceless! read more

Walgreens isn't stellar but it's vastly better. This CVS has only the location going for it. Otherwise, it is the most unpleasant shopping experience imaginable: shelves so high that you can't find anything or take it down if you do, aisles so narrow that you can't walk by another customer, an automated checkout machine which you feel bad using but usually don't work anyway ... But, hey, at least I didn't almost die like that other reviewer. read more

Liked the experience at the pharmacy. Forgot to bring meds while on travel and the staff at the pharmacy was kind to help and the prescription was filled quickly. read more

short staffed. Dirty and disorganized and get a simple prescription filled is sometimes so stressful. Go to another CVS. Or RiteAid at River Street. I'm going to start going to CVS at Target/watertown. Very friendly and well organized. read more

I went to get photos. The guy, Ron, is a super friendly man. Took my snaps. Didnt like the first take, so he gladly took another. He is a funny guy, sometimes too funny for foreign students like me to not get his joke, or get stressed about his joke :P for example, he printed me a receipt that said I had to pay 65$ for the passport size photos...I was like Oh my god...and then he laughed and joked...and told me the machine does not know about the deals...it is actually 13 bucks! Within less than 20 min, I got 12 photos and walked out of the place. Great! So guys who are writing nasty reviews, if you really had a nasty experience, i get it, but dont be a cry baby, after all it is just a freaking CVS. you get your stuff and leave..simple...any extra charitable behavior is a plus.. I loved it! read more

Ugh, the aisles are so narrow and tall, I can never find what I need, most customers are senile and retarded, they don't even sell HIV home tests, and they still want to call themselves a pharmacy. read more

Today is the last day I ever go to this pharmacy. I called this morning planning to pick up my prescription my doctor called in monday, only to learn they never got a fax..... So I called my doctor to request a prescription renewal be sent in, which when she called back, she said she had already done. This has happened before at this location. After what I assumed was enough time to pass for her to resend the prescription, I called only to be told they didn't have enough. Another one of my medications recently had been denied due to this pharmacy not having enough, which lasted 2 weeks. So I went into the store, leaving work, to ask if they had enough for a partial, which the nice woman at the counter said they did. The head pharmacist, a new face to me, said that was illegal to do on controlled substances. I called BS, saying than that they had broken the law multiple times in the past. After calling the Harvard Sq. location, which also didn't have enough, I left trying to accept I would go without my medication for a day. Than I looked up the law and found this: Question: Is it permissible to dispense a prescription for a quantity less than the face amount prescribed resulting in a greater number of dispensations than the number of refills indicated on the prescription? Answer: Yes. Partial refills of schedules III and IV controlled substance prescriptions are permissible under federal regulations provided that each partial filling is dispensed and recorded in the same manner as a refilling (i.e., date refilled, amount dispensed, initials of dispensing pharmacist, etc.), the total quantity dispensed in all partial fillings does not exceed the total quantity prescribed, and no dispensing occurs after six months past the date of issue. http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/general.htm To double check, since the internet is the internet, I called the Harvard Sq. one and posed the hypothetical question of my present scenario, asking if a partial could be filled, which they replied, yes. I went in, provided my evidence calmly and collected at first, but truth be told lost it. I was than told my doctor would be called and "to have a nice day and god bless". God has nothing to do with this and in my opinion no place in CVS. Ive been on meds since I was 8, im now 26. Im tired of incompetent people like this making me have to do a whole song and dance just to keep my life stable. read more

the staff is knowledgeable and friendly . Every time I come into this cvs I am greeted and asked if I need help finding anything . The store is clean and well stocked . The only thing this cvs needs is a new carpet like the other ones . read more

The people who work here are rude, rude, RUDE!!!! I needed razor blades (which are locked up) and the person on the floor couldn't be bothered to help me get them, and then complained when I needed more time to figure out which ones were the right ones. I will seriously never go in there again, if I can help it. There 's a Walgreen's right across the street. Go there instead, is my recommendation. They take FOREVER, but at least they aren't rude. read more

I do think the layout can make it difficult to find items, but I have found the staff nearly always polite and helpful. Even when I refuse to use the self-checkout because I cannot stand the nagging artificial voice(and I resent the loss of jobs.) As for those who are uncomfortable when confronted with local representatives of the wretched of the earth outside the pharmacy doors, I am appalled at your nasty remarks, your utter lack of compassion. Shades of Dickens...scenes from the 3 Penny Opera... dammit, have you not one ounce of empathy? (And is this misery the fault of the store?) I smell classism and racism in such reviews. read more

Worst CVS that I have been to and I love CVS. *terrible attitudes from the staff. *would not perform an exchange for me because the manager was not there. *yelled at me that "they don't make exchanges without a receipt!" and then admitted it was because they had no manager on site. *no manager on site. *no return policy posted in the store and when I asked for a copy to look at was told "I ain't got one to show you right now". Just because it's a boring job and I here a lot of crazies come in this one doesn't mean sales people should be rude. I can put my money where my mouth is. I used to work a graveyard shift at CVS ten years ago as an 18 year old kid and I was always respectful. read more

Very rude pharmacist Fariza Rahim. Arrived at 9:57 and was given a mouthful about how "we've been here all day." After convincing her to give me my prescription we were done by 10:03 while they close at 10:00. The medicine was just sitting there as it had been called in 3 hours prior to my arrival. I received another mouthful while leaving. I'm really sorry for delaying you by 3 minutes in order for you help me get my medication. read more

The pharmacy is a mess.... they are out of basic meds and have no clue as to when they will come in... wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have the same issue three other times I went in over the past few months... And the staff clearly is not being recruited from the best and the brightest..... same problem in Porter Square as to stocking meds and staff.. This is clearly a corporate problem.... whoever does purchasing for the pharmacy and store sections in this area is simply not up to the job. read more

You'd think that a pharmacy chain would try to have standards. I get a call (for the 7th day in a row) about whether I wanted to refill my perscription. I tell them no thanks, I'll do it later, please leave me alone, for god's sake. About a month later, when I'm ACTUALLY starting to run low on my rx, I call up to refill it. The exchange: "We're sorry, that rx was cancelled." "Cancelled?? Why?" "You must have called and cancelled it." "I most certainly did not." "...sorry. You'll have to get a new rx." What, did they hold a grudge that I didn't want to refill when THEY wanted to me? read more

I think the folks over at CVS must have finally realized that they were, in fact, competing with another major drugstore right across the street, because they have stepped it up. Big time. Now the 24-hour drugstore has another reason to claim they are supreme: totally re-done interior. An actual grocery section, not just one aisle. Self-checkout kiosks (finally!) A security guard. A housewares section. And the place is sparkly clean! read more

The customer service at the pharmacy here is really awful. I do not need misinformation, eye rolls and "b*tch" muttered under the breath at me when I try to get a medication (and no, I was not being a b*tch). I can't even believe that I was treated this way. I will never go back to this location again if I can help it. read more

Undoubtedly the worst pharmacy I've ever been to. Severely understaffed and incredibly slow- took a total of over two hours to get a simple prescription filled, as the pharmacist continuously kept me waiting by saying it would be "15 more minutes". Avoid this place at all costs. read more

As far as cvs goes, this one is super janky. It smells like body odor and urine, like really bad. None of the employees speak English and the register is frequently unstaffed. Not to mention that the corner its on is flooded with hobos and panhandlers. It is so uncomfortable to go there. I would rather go further away to another pharmacy than go here. It's so dirty read more

I must say, this is the better of the 3 CVS in the area. Courteous, helpful and friendly best describe them

Warning-- Get a prescription filled here, and you'll get hounded every day by robocalls to refill your prescription. Never had this problem before with the one inside Target, or any other pharmacy for that matter. I'll never fill another prescription here. read more

Just don't go to central square unless you want to be treated like they're doing you a favor by letting you shop there. I went in and used a coupon 15% off only to have an error come up. The item was buy one get one 50% off. I only bought one at full price so it is not a sales item. I explained this and asked if they understood or should further explain. Some one came over and said we don't have to do this which I thought was putting unnecessary blame on me for simply using a coupon they sent me. Cvs - tell your employees to not shame nonrich people for using the coupons or just don't send out coupons. The woman only took off a dollar amount (which was less than 15 %. ). She ripped me off about 28 cents. When I asked that she put in the discount she again tried to shame me to scare me off and said that she tries to do the right thing (I guess by ripping off customers ). I didn't care about the 28 cents but the principal of it pissed me off. Why do you have to shit on people for frequenting your store ? It's counterintuitive. So be warned, they will take a couple bucks off instead of the actual discount and try to tell you it's over 15 % of the new price which they already subtracted from when it is actually less than the original total price. It's a scam and they try to shame the customer trying to make you seem like the asshole while they are the true assholes. Never go to CENTRAL CVS in Cambridge. read more

A busy store with a bunch of items not available, and be ready to use the self checkout machines.

Exactly what the other comment said...The automated systems are terrible. I once got so frustrated because after waiting 10 minutes in line, every item i scanned required assistance that I walked out and left all my crap there. I went across the street to Walgreens, found everything again and the polite human checkout people had me out in like 2 minutes. It's the time, but it's also degrading to be put through a malfunctioning system...wasn't the first time either. read more