On Sunday, September 28th I visited the Safeway Pharmacy on CC Parkway in Newcastle to pick up a prescription. I waited in line about 20 minutes before getting assistance. There was some kind of problem apparently, so I stood and waited while he was on the computer. The representative apologized for the delay and said he was "a new guy". No worries. We verified all my personal info. as well as health care provider and my insurance details (had my insurance card on me). Eventually he said we're all set, and should be ready in about 30 minutes. I went and purchased something and waited for awhile. When I returned at 30 minutes there were about 8-9 people in line. I had already been standing for nearly an hour and I was looking at another 20 - 30 minutes with nowhere to sit down. I have severe osteoarthritis in both of my knees. I've had a lifetime of knee problems including 3 surgeries, 16 years of hyaluronic injections, physical therapy and every orthopedic treatment you can imagine. I simply cannot stand in line for excessive amounts of time w/o being in pain. I stopped by Safeway Pharmacy 2 days later (in the evening) but there were 11 people in line . . so I was looking at another lengthy wait and gave up. After couple more visits, on October 24th I decided to make one last try. Only 2 people in line! I told the pharmacist briefly about my bad experience the last few weeks. He said it might take about 15 minutes or so but I could sit down nearby (there were chairs) and he'd call me so I wouldn't have to stand in line again. I read some of the info. and sat down to wait. After nearly 30 minutes the pharmacist never returned. None of the other employees was willing to help me and by now there were about 10 people in line. Unbelievable. Multiple trips to Safeway Pharmacy . . hours of waiting, needless time on my feet . . and NEVER RECEIVED my prescription. You would think a pharmacy operation would be especially sensitive to their debilitated or disabled customers? Astonishingly, I ran into this employee on my way out of the store. He had evidently forgotten about me altogether. Was given a phone # and e-mail address from Safeway employees in order to file a complaint. NO response from pharmacy management. Had to go elsewhere finally, to get my prescription filled. Avoid this place at all costs. Lars W. Newcastle resident and Safeway Pharmacy customer for 20+ years read more

The lines here are egregious. I'm currently in line and it's been over 25 minutes, just for me to go up there and get my prescription which should take 1-2 min. the staff are great and friendly, but this seems like upper management understaffing issue. know your prime time hours and have an extra person come in to work a few hours. read more

A great place to go and get your vaccines. You can pre-appointment online and it's fairly painless. Also get a $10 coupon to use for Groceries. read more

Safeway Pharmacy - Getting that booster! Easy in and out. - Drugstores Near Me - Newcastle, Washington

Horrible! Always make customers to wait even alrdy called for refill!!!!!!!!! The line is always 20 minutes wait at least!

Used to love coming here but the service and wait times have gotten so bad I need to switch. I wait in line for over 30 minutes to be told that an RX called in by my doctor 7 hours ago isn't ready. It is an antibiotic that I desperately need to start taking. This isn't an isolated issue. It is Every Single Time I come in. They simply refuse to hire enough pharmacists and techs to support the public's needs. Gary is the best pharmacy tech and he tries so hard but when an RX isn't filled there isn't much he can do about it. What a disappointment, this pharmacy has been going downhill for years and now they are rock bottom. I will have my RX filled at CVS from now on read more

Every time I need something, they always have it! I love that there is a pharmacy inside Safeway, close to home and I can grab my groceries while I'm waiting. One stop shop is always my favorite! read more

It's a handy and local place to be able to pick up my prescriptions. The staff is helpful and quick to serve.

Longest lines of all pharmacies. Why can't they hire more people? Why do we settle for this?

Quite possibly the single worst pharmacy I've ever been. They take forever and the line is always very long. Got a vaccine appointment? Who cares! You still get to wait almost an hour even though they "take walk-ins after appointments." Just don't come here. You're better off anywhere else. read more

I wish I could give less than 1 star to this pharmacy. I called them this afternoon and was trying to change my pharmacy from Bartells to this place as I heard that they are authorized for semaglutide injection drugs that are 100% approved by my insurance. The lady randomly disconnected my call few times and when I started explaining about trying to change my pharmacy, she was very rude to me just from the start not sure if she hated my name or ethnicity, and it was evident that she was not interested in our conversation at all. I was made to think that I am stupid and have no clue where I had called as she was expecting me to go Safeway Pharmacy Bellevue. This kind of rude and unprofessional behavior is very very disappointing. I am clueless why she showed so much attitude to me, she asked for my address when I clarified that I am very well aware that this clinic is in Coalcreek NewCastle and when I asked if she was asking for my home address she showed so much disgust and told I just need to put you on-hold and abruptly put me on hold forever. I am glad I decided to call Safeway Pharmacy located at 1645 140th Ave NE, Bellevue 98005 and they were very well behaved and immediately took my insurance details and set me up and transferred all my prescription details from my old pharmacy. Please don't use this place they have no respect for customers and very rude. read more

Awful service. Long lines. Always grumpy pharmacists. Used to be OK up to recently. I consider switching and would not recommend to anyone read more

Thumbs up for these guys! They're busy because they care and they're good. Never have an issue with vaccines.

This used to such an efficient pharmacy. No longer. They often do not have rx ready when doctors office sent it over 6 hours ago. And then, more often than not, they do not have enough meds to fill my prescription. Really. You're a pharmacy! The cashier gal asked me to come back tomorrow to fill a med my husband needed to take every 3 hours, daily. I had to barter with her to give me a partial fill so my husband could start taking something. Just not customer service oriented. And then, I am still asked to sit on this chair to the side.....it's been over 20 minutes, so I had time to do a Yelp review for you. Be smarter than me. Go elsewhere! read more

I wish there was -10 star. The worst experience. And it's happened more then 5 times. Super slow team and cheap management. Only have one team member. read more

these people are rude unprofessional and some are really hard to understand. when you ask for clarification they get even more upset and rude with you. My medication i pick up there is always wrong or they say it's ready and it's not or sent to another place somehow. I always get treaded badly and I'm never coming back. I really hope the right person sees this and makes changes read more

Scheduled an appt for a flu shot. stood in line for 15 minutes past appt time to get checked in. Nurse arrived late and we were told she was ready but we'd have to wait on the pharmacy staff as they didn't have vaccine drawn up yet. Was told I'd have to stand in line after I received shot to get proof of shot for my work. left without being seen as I had the same trouble 1 yr previously. After waiting in line for receipt and proof of vaccine, was told I'd have to return the following day to pick up receipt as pharmacist was too busy to provide proof. Never returning to this pharmacy again. read more

Horrible horrible service! Each customer takes more then 5 minutes. They are totally incompetent to the job and Corporate not doing anything to improve the service? So sad! read more

This pharmacy is so disorganized lines everywhere and every customer takes a significant amount of time. Had a drop off of some ibuprofen to recover from dental surgery and was told it would take 30+min. Unacceptable and a shame as Safeway pharmacies were always good before. read more

They sign up your number for robocall service without any authorization. I keep getting multiple calls per day every day about coming in and getting flu shot and there is nothing they can do to stop it. I even took all my prescriptions to another pharmacy and thought that robocalls will stop but NO they continue. Isn't it against the law to "sell" your number or sign you up for everyday non-stop calls? I wouldn't recommend using Safeway Pharmacy. Please, go to Fred Meyer. They will never call you unless you want to be notified about your refills. read more

This Safeway is located in a small shopping area. I thought the layout was a bit busy/cramped in the front of the store. Don't forget your Safeway card because a lot of deals need the Safeway card. Parking is ample out front. Some prices are cheaper than those at the Mercer Island QFC, which is nice. read more

The staff does get the job done but they always look so very stressed and unhappy. I wonder if they are understaffed or what are the working conditions. It is very convenient but not pleasant to shop there. The photos on this site of pleasant interactions with the pharmacy staff just are not so. read more

I am writing this review as I stand in line once again at a store that never has enough lanes open and hasn't caught up with the times and is 15 years late to self checkout. Sometimes I want to buy one or two things but get stuck waiting 10 mins or so to check out, even during the slow times. So it's bad enough I'll literally go somewhere else unless I absolutely have to come into this store. Staff is friendly and helpful which is nice. But I hate coming here and would go somewhere else if I could. The prices suck, the selection isn't great unless you love ice cream and alcohol, but better than QFC across the street. The sales often do not make much sense. One sale I've noticed will be buy 4 things get the 5th one free on some large bulk item that you only want to purchase one of. It sucks that someone entered my phone number incorrectly for my savings card and when I don't have my card I can't use my phone number and the only way to fix it is to call some number and talk to customer service. Where is a Kroger when I need one? read more

Free card with no shot. Was told to wait 20 minutes for the COVID vaccine shot. Waited 1 hour before we had to leave. We got the card without the shot. How shameful... read more

Bad customer experience. Impatient staff, especially speak over the phone. They sometimes have good and friendly staff, but not very often. read more

Very friendly staff, clean, good selections. Just added new fast self checkouts. Very nice!

Guaranteed longest, slowest checkout lines EVER. ABSOLUTELY NO SELF-CHECKOUT AVAILABLE HERE (Go to the next Safeway south for reasonable checkout times & self-checkout). QFC across the street has much more reasonable checkout times & self checkout. Unfortunately, it is not the largest, best stocked QFC (I don't understand why, QFC corporate!!) but the employees are so nice and helpful here. I would choose this QFC over the Coal-creek Safeway any day. read more

Ugh!!! The only thing I like about this Safeway is the Starbucks so I can drink a latte while I shop and wait in their atrocious lines. They seem to be understaffed much of the time. I once waited almost 10 minutes for someone to help me at the customer service counter. The checkers don't really do a great job interacting with customers. Not long ago one of them was yelling across the store for someone to bring her change while I stood and waited to be helped...classy. read more

Super busy and extremely long wait. My doctor sent in the prescription at 1pm, I went to pick up my medications at 2pm, they told me to come back at 4pm. I called at 4:30pm, they told me it will be ready in 45 min. I went there at 6pm and waited an hour inside the store to finally get it. So much for being sick... read more

Always a long line and unfriendly staff on the phone line. They change brands of pills really often without letting you know

I called the pharmacy to try to find out some information about getting a prescription filled at the Newcastle Safeway Pharmacy. The person who answered the phone was extremely unhelpful. As a physician, I speak with pharmacists on a regular basis. This was the worst experience I've ever had with a pharmacy. There are plenty of other options. I went to the Lakemont Pharmacy, which is closer to my home, and had excellent customer service. I was in and out in under 10 minutes (including filling a brand new prescription for a patient who'd never been seen there before!). read more

While the pharmacy technician here is friendly the service from the pharmacists is terrible. Quoted wait times are inaccurate. The overall quality and service is awful. read more

If I could put no stars I would. The absolutely worst pharmacy ever. It takes 6 million years just for me to get one script, there's only ever one person (somewhat) available to check anyone out. I ALWAYS have issues refilling my medication, I finally had the last straw recently when they told me they had spoke to my doctor and said they didn't approve my rx... I just saw my doctor early and she said she would approve it if they contact her, this is one medication I CANNOT stop taking! They never spoke to my doctor/ office at all. They're always saying I don't have refills left when I do, then I end up waiting forever for them to call my doctor and they never do. Whenever I try to speak to someone to try to get answers as to wth is going on, they say they filled it and hang up. My doctors office even has trouble with them because they're always making preventable mistakes and turn the blame around on them. All my meds are supposed to be auto refilled and they go back and forth with getting automatically filled and not, wasting my time, and again I CANNOT stop taking some of my meds! I'm a veterinary pharmacist and it baffles me as to how they immensely fuck this up every time, for the last 4 years. My phone number used to be set for my grandparents because I was a teen etc, since I turned 18 and moved out (5 years ago), they still call them even though i ask them to change it every time I am there to pick up and when I call to refill. Pharmacists have to go to school to do this, wtf are they learning there and how do they not better themselves after these mistakes that should not be happening?! This pharmacy will cause you nothing but stress and anxiety. I have complained several times and nothing has been fixed. I don't understand how they are still in business. read more

Decent selection unless you're looking for Arnold Palmer tea. The store is clean and the staff are pleasant. Where this store shines is their butcher block. I am always pleased with the t-bone steaks I pick up and appreciate that they will cut to a custom thickness. read more