There is a box in front of the pharmacy department to take back old/expired medication! Thank you for doing this, Duane Reade. Taking stars off because the store is sometimes messy and things are out of stock. The checkout line is usually slow, not sure if they are under staffed. read more

Miserable and rude staff. Maybe the staff is rude because they're tired of the constant shoplifting, but the business would do better if they treated those shoplifters as the criminals and not the ever day shoppers who just want a tube of tooth paste without having to call in security to unlock a bin. If its a weekday, walk across the street to 79th st pharmacy, they'll have better prices and treat you like a valued customer. read more

Melissa behind the pharmacy counter was so rude and unfriendly that I was visibly stunned. Less than two minute interaction and she was abrasive rude and dismissive. Will not use this pharmacy again. read more

Pick any other pharmacy but this one!! I wish I could give it negative stars. I've used Walgreens/Duane Reade for 20 years and I have never encountered as much rudeness as I have at this particular pharmacy. They are also incompetent, but that wouldn't bother me so much if they were actually kind and apologetic and showed some human decency. I moved to this neighborhood only 3 months ago. Since then all of this has happened: 1. I've been told they've just "lost" my prescription on TWO separate occasions when I arrived to pick them up. No "sorry we can't find it" just "it's lost come back in a few days" in the absolute rudest tone and manner possible. 3. I went to pick up another prescription because it was supposed to be ready and she told me it wasn't in the computer and that "I DIDN'T EVEN TAKE THAT MEDICATION"!!! I said "yes I do, and it's supposed to be ready." She said "well then clearly you sent it to the wrong location" so then I checked the website and showed her it was the right location. So then she looks at the computer again and says "well it's not here you'll have to come back." I promptly received a text from Walgreens that the prescription was cancelled. 3. When I went back to pick up the same prescription after what happened in #2 above, she told me my order had been put back because I waited too long to pick it up. It had been 5 days since SHE cancelled it and told me I needed to come back (this was Xmas and I was out of town for a few days). She said that it had now been past time since the FIRST TIME I filled it and that's the date they went by. I was told I needed to come back AGAIN 3. For a separate prescription, I showed up because I got a text a day or two earlier that my prescription was ready, but the girl behind the counter said I WAS WRONG and it wouldn't be ready until the next day. I said "oh but see it shows on the site that it's ready and I got a text" and all I got in response was the rudest "NO" I have ever heard. Another cancellation text from Walgreens came through moments later. As ridiculous as it sounds, every time I went to this pharmacy it literally ruined my mood for the whole day. Avoid it and use any other pharmacy. I've since switched to a local pharmacy. read more

Pharmacy can be aggressively rude, and woman in charge sets the tone that some employees follow. If you get one of the nice ones you feel lucky. So bad today, I couldn't tell what she was asking, 2 prescriptions were involved and I left eventually for another appointment without either of them, one a crucial eye medication, so now I'm losing a day of treatment, and trying to figure out how to pick up my prescriptions without another ugly encounter. Otherwise hoping to move them to Columbus Avenue read more

Awful. They are rude and not helpful. They are providing medications to people and could not be more useless. Never again at Duane Reade!

Went in for some Diet Or Zero Sugar soda they didn't have any. Was looking for Zero Sugar Sunkist or Zero Sugar Ginger Ale So I didn't buy anything. read more

The worst. Absolute pits. Things are locked up, like body wash. Disorganized. No yellow rubber gloves. Makeup is cheaper at CVS. Limited selection. And most of it is locked to the holders. When you ring the bell, no one shows up to help. Associates are surly. I was on line for the cash register, and the man manning one shouted, "Go over there" and abruptly departed, so I had to wait for the next cashier, a woman with dark hair who was the only pleasant person that I encountered. A very unpleasant experience. Worth it to walk two blocks south to CVS. You'll save money, too. read more

This is the worst in store experience on the Upper West Side.I am referring to the pharmacy.It takes days to get a refill,you can't get anyone on the phone except to say"please hold" and never get back to you,you get texts asking you if you want to refill something when you already have a request in or after it has just been refilled but the real issue is customer service.You just get the crappiest attitude possible each and every time.I get ill when I go in there knowing how passive aggressive they are. Never a thank you or how can I help you.There is a new store manager who is really nice but everyone in the pharmacy needs to be transferred and they need to start over.If you have high blood pressure get ready for it to shoot up.I never write reviews but this pharmacy is terrible. read more

The RUDEST most unprofessional staff and manager. when you can get someone to pick up the phone, they tell you misinformation. they have the absolute worst customer service and am shocked this location is still in business. they also never mailed meds i paid for so now i have to take this up with my cc company. never go here and walgreens corp should shut this location down. read more

I just tried to pick up a prescription for my daughter from this pharmacy and had a surreal experience. She required antibiotics. After waiting 30 min, I was checking out the prescription when I was informed that this was only a fraction of the medication and I would have to get the rest at another location, on the eve of thanksgiving. Obviously it was relevant to communicate this to me at the onset. I communicated this. But instead of an explanation or apology, the pharmacist came out from behind the desk and started shouting at me. How my questions were distracting her from mixing my daughter's medication (which was already mixed). But I still needed the antibiotics for my daughter. Then they said they needed the insurance company to call them to "reverse" the transaction. After another 20 min (50 min total wait), without any call, they gave me the initial dose. It was clearly a delay tactic, although this is speculation I suppose. At the end, the desk attendant ended apologizing to me. I appreciated that. But I remain appalled at her manager, the actual pharmacist, who exhibited a show of emotion and vitriol that was incredibly unprofessional, to such an extent that I question what she did to the medication during the wait. She is truly a piece of work. It goes without saying that I have changed my pharmacy at my doctors office and will never return. Beware. read more

this place sucks. they let dogs in and two large dogs were barking and growling jumping on each other. this is such a liability lawsuit. the young girl who waited on me barely spoke. hire qualified people or get robots, AI and self checkout, not this person. read more

the pharmacist is always yelling and frustrated and asks personal medical questions loudly enough for other customers to hear... other than that the rest of the staff is great.... but the pharmacist with her mask... read more

This place is both Excellent & Horrible. 1. THE EXCELLENT PHARMACIST: The morning pharmacist deserves a "10+" rating -- she helped me fill scripts that were from my Austin, TX home & she battled a reluctant insurance company. PLEASE, PLEASE THANK THAT PHARMACIST!!!! 2. BAD FRONT REGISTER CHECK-OUT LADY: OUCH!!! I encountered a terrible, awful check-out lady .... I am handicapped, it is painful to move, BUT I was going to buy over $100 in items ... but her attitude was so rude. She never said "please" ... Instead, it was just: "put the card in now," "pull it out," "give me that bag if you aren't going to buy it." OUCH!! So I decided NOT to BUY my goods from her -- I just bought my prescriptions, I left & I bought my items from the grocer at a lower price. I don't want to get her in trouble -- maybe she just needs training. BUT she ruined all the good feelings I had about that great pharmacist... I looked to see the gal's name, but she had 80% of her name tag covered up AND I didn't see her name on the receipt. 3. DENIED EMERGENCY RESTROOM: I'm handicapped & was having a sudden "urgent liquid issue," but I was told "company policy: customers can not use our restroom. I was in pain. 4. HARD TO CARRY GOODS TO FRONT: I tried to carry my $100+ worth of items to the front register using my walker, but they kept falling -- no one helped. AND my legs were aching. WHEN I FINALLY did get all items to the front, I encounter that grumpy sales lady. Also, no one helped me get my heavy items outside to the taxi. IN SUMMARY: Please try better training--thanks!! read more

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Kind of a cramped location and I don't like how when the line gets long, it goes down the aisle so if you're looking for something there, you have to dodge a lot of people. However, when I bought a candy bar I put in my # for my Duane Reade rewards and the friendly cashier said "Oh, you can buy one and get one half price if you like". So I did exactly that, thereby obtaining two candy bars at a discounted price. I like candy bars, although these were not Fifth Avenues, unfortunately. Three stars for the helpful service. read more

Duane Reade - Big ass tic tacs - Drugstores Near Me - New York, New York

The worst! The woman behind Rx counter couldn't be more unpleasant if she tried. She also failed to look closely into my ins claiming there is no coverage. The result: I switched to CVS and will avoid duene reade all together! read more

They changed their pharmacy hours without updating their website. So of course I call the store only to find out it closed 5 hours earlier than the website stated and I just... won't be able to get my meds till tomorrow. Not cool. Also, for months at a time they only stock Dr. Peppers that are half Dr. Pepper and half root beer. I mention this not because I care (it's my husband who drinks Dr. Pepper) but because it proves that this store makes unreasonable choices in every situation, not just this one. read more

I needed a medication and they said id have to wait until friday to get it. The pharmacy was randomly closed friday, and they did nothing to make it so I could have access to my medication. read more

Had back surgery and called to check on my prescription. Called four times, was hung up on three, waited on hold for 40 minutes before limping up to the store in person. Naturally when I got there, there was a problem with the prescription. This is what happens when stores think human jobs can all be outsourced to automated systems. It also doesn't help when the humans ignore calls and dodge their jobs as customer service. read more

this store is the worst duane reade in new york city. a lot stuff is out of stock. avoid.

If you need an Rx, AVOID THIS PLACE. Totally unreliable. Their system says drug is ready, you go, they don't have it in stock at all! No one called me. Do they give a horse's ass? Nope. They call another pharmacy 30 blocks away and tell me to go up there. I'm upset cuz their system screwed up, I'm an old lady, they look at me like I'm a lunatic. I guess expecting people to do their jobs, maybe with a little respect and compassion, is a vain hope these days. How can dealing with meds so irresponsibly even be legal? Shut these @$%$%@$%$ down! read more

I was in NYC because of a family emergency. I had just requested a refill for a prescription at my customary pharmacy, Walgreens, here in Phoenix. When I knew I needed to go to NYC, I contacted my Walgreens who assured me that I could pick it up at Duane Reade. Attempted to do so at the DR on Amsterdam. I was told by pharmacy staff that I needed to first contact my Walgreens in Phoenix to have them take the prescription out of the bag and put it back in stock or they wouldn't fill it. As I am on the phone explaining this to Walgreens in Phoenix, the DR pharmacy staff told me they would go ahead and fill it. I waited for over one hour. Luckily there were chairs where I could sit and observe. Not only was the pharmacy staff unhelpful, they were rude. Rarely did they make any type of eye contact with customers and appeared to be very annoyed that they were to help in any way. My prescription was only filled when the head pharmacist happened to come out of the office and inquired as to why I had been sitting for so long. My prescription was filled within 5 minutes! But only part of my dose. So I had to wait an additional 4 days before I could pick up the remainder. I needed another prescription filled and I was continually given the wrong medication (shampoo vs. cream). I finally gave up. My main issue is the staff. They were horribly rude and bordering on incompetent. read more

This place is abysmal. Rude and unfriendly staff, very poor patient communication--in the word of my doctor--"disgraceful." I had covid and my doctor called the pharmacy to prescribe paxlovid. They didn't didn't tell him it was out of stock. My daughter went to pick up the prescription--they told her to return without telling her that it was out of stock. 24 hours later they finally left me a message that they had no paxlovid. Nothing about where to get it, no support, zero. I immediately filled the prescription at the CVS at 86 and Amsterdam. NEVER AGAIN. read more

Came here to use the Citi ATM (located to the left of all the cash registers). The ATM is also right next to all the beers they sell, that are locked up for some reason. read more

This is indeed the worst Duane Reade in the city. Even the worst, absolute bottom CVS is a hundred times better. Why is it bad? 1) the manager is not intelligent and does not have good sense. The shelves and aisles are always a mess, and she arranges things so that at peak customer hours, the staff are shelving things. They are therefore a) blocking the aisles and b) using up both of the only 2 carts available. 2) the staff is rude. No one knows where anything is, and no one is willing to help. -- Oh, correction: the one man on duty at the pharmacy left his station to help a woman find bandaids, leaving me to wait 17 minutes before he got my prescription. This is place is a Total Disaster. WALGREEN's: fire this manager! Customers: go to the CVS on Broadway and 76th; it's much better read more

Do not ever go here. The pharmacy manager here, Malaak, is wonderful. Other than that, this is hands down the worst pharmacy I have ever been to and has consistently had completely incompetent employees for over 5 years. They might has well rename it McDonald's, then when you order at the counter they couldn't give you any food because it's not a fast food restaurant, but it would be just as effective a business. Separately, this store is dirty, the milk is kept like a chicken farm, and the lines are terrible. Go to CVS on Broadway and 77th if you need a pharmacy. Or stop taking medicine entirely. read more

Cramped, crowded, somewhat dingy. I had to start using this location's pharmacy after the 325 Columbus location closed (why oh why couldn't this one have closed instead?) and it took me three separate trips to finally be able to pick up my same old prescription I have been getting every month. Obviously this place gets the job done, but if you have options on locations, I'd pick a different one. read more

Very glad to see that I wasn't the only person to have a very negative experience here. The place is always a mess, and have never had a cashier that wasn't outwardly rude. I get to the counter and am ordered to flip all of my goods around so she could scan them, and she yells at me to do this as if it's somehow intuitive. Gets annoyed at me when she couldn't scan the items. Doesn't say another word except to say that they are out of bags and out of receipts. It looks like this employee has been mentioned a few times with similar frustrations. Very weak management here. Strongly advise against visiting this location if you want to leave the establishment in a somewhat good mood. read more

I give in the pharmaceutical store so many times to correct their problems and today was the day... goodbye! This drugstore is the worst of the worst of the upper West side always making a mistake and giving me other peoples drugs and not updating my information into their system (taking out the old information and updating the records with the new information from my doctor)....and orders never ready when they say they're ready always a few days late. This is the worst drug store I've ever shopped at. Mind you I'm talking about the pharmaceutical department. Walgreens has taken this store over and has cleared out many of the better things we used to buy and now I buy on Amazon. Nothing in that storm moves off the shelves. I know everybody has agreed with me on Facebook about the store at 79th St. and Amsterdam Avenue. Stay away! read more

One of the nicer/cleaner DRs I've been to... but still not a place I like to shop. I come here for the $5 off coupon I get when I spend $100... and that really isn't much now that I think about it but... I just can't stop! It's also very convenient and open 24 hrs, and most of the little stores near me are not 24 hrs. Service - the same people have been working here since I started shopping here - usually friendly, quick (there are gigantic lines when everyones off from work), helpful, the pharmacy staff is nice but slow. Products - for some reason they are ALWAYS sold out of milk, which really irritates me. If they know they always sell out, why don't they get more? I don't know how this stuff works, maybe it's not that easy :P Maybe I just go at the wrong times. They are also often sold out of bread. Okay selection of chips and cookies. I pretty much just come to DR for my unhealthy snacking. And shampoo. and the occasional birthday card. I should be supporting the smaller pharmacies/groceries though! read more

Great location if you're looking for a card covered in cans, dirty water and flies. Other key features of this Duane Reade include consistent long lines, waits and bad customer service. read more

Duane Reade - Card section. Covered in cans, bugs, and flies - Drugstores Near Me - New York, New York

Bad for the environment. I went to pick up some paper towels and a packet of gum and the cashier bagged it without asking if I needed it bagged. I proceeded to take my purchase out of the bag to prevent waste of another plastic bag and she crumbles it up and throws the plastic bag in the garbage. I then told her that was why I did not want it and then another cashier chimes in to say that's what they do. WHAT?!! I think they need to be educated on how bad plastic is to the environment. Next time I will just go to CVS so I can check myself out and not be so wasteful read more

Had to get a quick umbrella here in the middle of a rain storm. This spot is well lit and has the classic DR goodies. It took a surprisingly long time to check out, but I think that's because a slew of people had just entered the store looking for umbrellas. read more

I don't often leave reviews on here but this place is so bad I have to say something. This is the closest pharmacy/convenience store to me, but I have started going a bit further to the CVS on 77th and broadway to avoid this mess of a place. Things are often out of stock, the card aisle is covered in literal garbage (a bunch of empty cans in bags), and one lady that works there is so incredibly rude I was shocked. I understand working long hours in retail sucks, and I don't expect amazing customer service, but I do expect people to do their job, instead of making me turn my items barcode out and essentially scan them myself while she holds the scanner gun out and bosses me around. Meanwhile she's staring at her phone in her other hand, and getting annoyed at me when I was confused at first. If there were a self checkout there I would certainly prefer that over this. :/ read more

This DR does not enforce the mask regulations. Even the manager ignored me when I called his attention to a customer who was not wearing a mask. I have lived in this neighborhood for 30 years and will begin going out of my way to shop elsewhere. read more

It's a 24/7 location and the pharmacy staff are always nice. The AC is frequently broken so the temperature varies wildly. The store is very cramped and the main checkout lines are often quite long. read more

In all my experiences going to Duane Reade, I have not once been, in any way disappointed with the quality of the service or products I received. I often view Dwane Reade as a good place to get a variety of snacks, medicines and other necessary items like Birthday Cards and Stationary. After only a few visits, I am already recognizable by the staff and am truely treated like a regular (which is unusual for such a large chain). My only true complaint is that the checkout lines/cashiers tend to take excessively long, which is unacceptable for a place that is supposed to be "in and out." Otherwise, I look to Dwane Reade to fulfill my basic needs for everyday life, and will continue going there in the future. read more

Duane Reade - Duane read Amsterdam - Drugstores Near Me - New York, New York

I made a flu shot appointment on Duane Reade website, received confirmation, arrived at the store at my appointment time and was told they are no longer providing flu shots today. Come back tomorrow. read more

At some point, when you pay $22 for a bottle of over the counter cough syrup and a 12 pack of Coke, you start rethinking your life choices.

The pharmacy counter at this Duane Reade is a busy place. Fairly frequent visits have borne out to me that pretty much everyone who works there is mentally retarded and incapable of even the most basic, routine, commonsense functions that it would be normal to expect from a person employed in such a capacity.. Even if you go with absolutely no expectations of customer satisfaction, you will be severely disappointed by the level of service you will receive. You will find only a sorry crew of fumbling, bumbling dimwits. But they're nice folks, at least. read more