OK, I'm over 30 and look every bit my age so, when I was carded for cigarettes last week, I kind of took it as a compliment. I do not, however, often carry my ID on me; I lost it once, it was a pain in the ass to replace and I usually keep it at home unless I think that I'll meed it. Anyway, it seems that Walgreen's has implemented a "We-Card-Anyone-Who-Appears-To-Be-Under-40" policy and I became a victim of policy vs. common sense. When I told the teller that I didn't have my ID with me, she told me that she wouldn't let me buy cigarettes. I was running late and would not have a chance to smoke before work if I didn't buy cigarettes right then, so I pointed out my very receded hairline and five o'clock shadow and asked her if she honestly believed that I was really underage to buy cigarettes. With a whining Asian accent, she started to squeal "You Have To Be Over 40! You Have To Be Over 40!" then, like a chorus of all of the nicotine-addiction banshees of Hell, the other counter help stopped their transactions and began to parrot "You Have To Be Over 40!" "Why You Don't Have ID?!" while customers waiting in line stared and snickered at me. Really, it felt like the scene from "The Christmas Story" when all of the children begin chanting "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" to the boy who just wants a BB gun for Christmas. The supervisor stepped in at that moment and asked me why I wasn't carrying an ID with me. I told him that I usually didn't carry it with me and that I didn't realise that the legal smoking age had more than doubled. He advised me that this was store policy, to which I countered, "Why 40 and not 30, 58 or 26? I'm very, very obviously of age to purchase this product and have been for quite a long time." He rolled his eyes at me but relented and entered my birthdate, although with an air of suspicion, instructing me that this is a one-time break. Seriously, y'all; What The Fuck?! This is what happens when a corporate policy replaces actual common sense. There's no way in Hell that I'm ever going to visit that Walgreen's ever again. Fuckers..... ************************************ Update 28April, 2008 I just got this response from management after voicing my concerns on the Walgreen's Satisfaction Website I was very concerned to learn of your unpleasant experience at my store at 459 Powell Street in San Francisco with our cashier. I will review your comments with the District Manager, XXXXXXX, and I assure you we will meet with the entire staff to discuss our cigarette policies toward you and other customers as well. I am deeply concerned about the apparent lack of good judement and common sense you have received as we certainly do not want customers to have to endure an unpleasant atmosphere while shopping in my store. I apologize to you and I assure you the number one priority of the Walgreen Company is excellent customer service. We are keenly aware that our successes in the past are a result of the patronage of customers such as yourself. I am confident we can correct this behavior for the future and I hope you will view this as an isolated problem which will not be repeated. Our Company does have strong policies on selling cigarettes to minors. If our employees are caught selling cigarettes to minors, they would be subject to fines and termination. But in this case my employee should of used better judgement and common sense. Again, on behalf of the Walgreen Company I apologize to you. Correspondence such as yours informing me of problems helps to put the emphasis where its is needed. We appreciate your business and I hope we can continue to count you as one of our valued customers. If you have any future problems please do not hesitate to contact me immediately and give me the specifics of the incident and I assure you the problem will be investigated and rectified. Thank you again for informing me of the problem and for shopping at Walgreens. Thank you, Walgreen's, for taking the time to respond to my comcerns. Plus one star. read more

What's not to like about this Walgreens, I stopped by here a few times to get water and snacks while we stayed at the Westin. It's essentially 1 block away on Powell and each time I've gone it was clean, reasonably well organized, larger than I thought with a 2nd floor and though the lines can be long, the workers have a good attitude and are quick/efficient as can be. Prices are slightly inflated but hey, you're paying for inconvenience and it's also SF. read more

There are some things that I didn't understand about San Francisco. For example, why did the Walgreens next to my hotel close so early at 8pm while this one three blocks away was open 24 hours? A three block uphill walk was absolutely worth it to avoid paying five times as much from the hotel minibar. They have these funny handbaskets that you can carry or roll around. Even though it was close to midnight the place was really crowded. I thought it was strange that a lot of items that you would normally not see locked up were locked up. They have buttons by the items where you can summon an employee to come unlock the case for you. I can see this being quite a pain when the store is busy. I appreciated that they had several packaged options for fresh fruit. Because it was Walgreens they accept Apple Pay and I didn't even have to get my wallet out when I was ready to leave. As a few other reviewers have mentioned this is NOT the fancy two story Walgreens located near here. This is a small, regular Walgreens. read more

85degrees on Monday in Union Square...so I bought ice-cream bars for an office-run. They sell boxes and individually-wrapped said goodies. Juice bars? yep. Choco-choco variety? Dibs? You bet. The Haagen-Daz Vanilla Choco-Fudge cones were pretty good. The check-out was fraught with funny complications...bar-scan no workey, questions about why so many ice-cream bars (really? that personal? how ridiculous!), checking to see if I am okay with the ten-cent shopping bag fee (hehe). I kept thinking that at this rate, this ice-cream purchase is going to melt before I leave the store. Finally, I swipe my credit-card and was on my way out. As I left the store, some dude/tourist was doing his rendition of PSY's Oppa-Gangnam Style horse-dance. I started cringing. read more

I understand it's Walgreens and their customer service skills are not the best but wow I had the worst service here! I was told I could go to a Walgreens to get a clipper card. Since I'm not from the area and a ways from the nearest station I thought I'd stop and get a clipper card while visiting my friends. I asked an employee where I can purchase a clipper card for Bart and Muni and he walked me over to the little kiosk instead of pointing which was nice. A young lady came over and I told her I wanted a Clipper Card. She asked how many days do I want. I told her I wanted 7 days since I'll be here for a week. She goes over their terms and conditions about it only being good for 7 consecutive days and it's cash only (which is stupid) and there are no refunds. I says ok since that makes sense and I just need a card to get around the city. Upon paying her I get card and and she tells me to scratch the days. I'm about to scratch the days and I notice it says Muni on the card. I ask her if this is good for Bart as well. She, in a sassy tone says "No, they are for Muni only." A little confused I was like but I wanted a Clipper card since I will be taking the Bart as well. She continues with her sass and says "well you didn't ask if it was for Bart." I was like well your sign clearly says Clipper card and from my experience they are good for Bart, Muni, and Cable Car. She tells me that no prepaid pass is good for all of those, just Muni. I was still confused because I clearly stated I wanted a Clipper Card and what she sold me was not what I wanted even though I clearly stated I wanted a clipper card and the other employee that walked me over to the kiosk heard me say I wanted it for Bart and Muni. I became a little upset and I told her that I was upset with the situation and now I cannot get a refund for a service I'm not going to fully use and I'd have to spend even more money to use Bart. She didn't appear to acknowledge my frustration and align with me. She just kept saying I didn't ask if I wanted to use Bart. This is true I didn't ask because the sign clearly showed clipper cards. I ask to speak to a manager. When the manager comes over I tell her I'm frustrated with the situation and and I was given the wrong expectation of what I was being sold. She also didn't acknowledge my frustration. I told her I'm not from the area and that I was sold something I don't want because it wasn't what I was expected. She didn't appear to care at all and immediately became defensive. She questioned if I asked if the card was good for Bart and Muni and I said no because how would I know since I'm not from here and from the past Clipper Cards are good for both. She tells me they don't sell Clipper Cards to which I pointed to the sign and said well this says differently. I asked for a refund and she said they don't give refunds. I understood the terms and condition which are just guidelines. I wanted my money back because I wasn't given the proper expectation and I felt the employee should have set these expectations. This Walgreens is in the heart of downtown with tourists. This situation could have been easily avoided if there was proper training by asking simple open ended or closed ended questions. For example: Where are you from? Do you plan on taking Bart, Muni, and Cable cars? To which I could have responded "I'm from out of town, yes I plan on riding all of those for transportation." She could then respond with "As it turns out we only sell cards that work with Muni. But I can refer you to the local Bart Station where you can purchase what you're looking for." It's not that difficult to ask the questions and it can really make the customer experience that much better. I work in customer service and I know how difficult it can be. However, for a manager to verbally attack me and for me to be accused of something should have never happened. That's very basic customer service. I may return to this location on my next visit but for my remaining visit I wont be returning. The managers and staff need to go through further training in customer service and understand how to acknowledge and align with customers while also providing solutions and not arguments. read more

watch out for the midget asian with some serious attitude behind the counter. you obviously can tell shes short, but she also standing on a BOX! NINJA! read more

BAD CUSTOMERS SERVICE!!!!! specialy at the parmacy register thy are always gaving attitude to elderly. If i can gave them zero I would...

Had to pick up a photo order from here recently because the Broadway Walgreens was not an available option for whatever reason. Took off a star because they couldn't find my order and I had to reorder. At least I didn't have to pay for the lost order since I chose to pay during pickup. As for the rest of the store, it's your typical Walgreens (clean, relatively quick service). read more

I was given very bad service two days ago. Seems like the employees here don't give a damn about the patrons. Employee attitude needs to change. Do I smell a turnover coming? read more

This one time, I came here late at night (open 24 hours) thanks to my drunk best friend and upon exiting, we were confronted with a homeless guy beating it out front. At least it wasn't in the store. Ah, San Francisco! read more

Has a good selection of fresh fruit and some produce. It's small, messy, and crowded, but conveniently located near several hotels.

This store is totally staffed with Chinese people who don't speak or understand English! I'm serious! I asked a woman where the light bulbs were while shopping on the magazine isle and she pointed to People Magazine, I asked again and she pointed to a different magazine, she finally went and got a guy from the back to help me. On another day I asked another Chinese lady where the toothpaste was, she sent me on a wild goose chase down to where there was just sandwiches to go! Aren't there some American kids or people that would love to have a job like this and can at least speak English? How did these people fill out their applications or get through an interview, I find it had to believe that they are even here legally. read more

I went to this pharmacy to fill a prescription and the pharmacy staff were rude and un helpful. This is the third time i have been there as it is closest to my doctor. each time I have gone there they were superior and nasty not just to me but to other customers. I kept going back because of the convenience. Never againThey were soooo rude especially the female Asian pharmacist. I drove across town to the Walgreens on 18th and Castro and had my script filled in 20 minutes. By polite and helpful staff. if you can avoid this Walgreens you will save yourself some headache. I like Walgreens I use them all the time., but I will never go to this one again. I will bring all my scripts too the 18th and Castro store. read more

I went into this godforsaken DRUGSTORE, in hopes of finding a "particular medication". Walked up and down the medicine aisle and couldn't find it. Decided to ask one of the reps, thinking 'they work here, they must know where it's located." WRONG. Asked one guy, who's never heard of it. Asked a second guy, who also didn't know. Asked the assistant manager, who was just as useless as the other two. Finally, I gave up, concluding that I shouldn't have expected non-pharmacists to know about pharmaceuticals, and opted to wait in line to talk to one of the pharmacists. Got to the front of the line and asked the "pharmacist" about the location of my desired drug. She had to ask her coworker, who looked up something on her computer. She then pointed me to the same aisle that I had been walking up and down for the past fifteen minutes, claiming "it's somewhere in that aisle." NO SHIT, dimwit. I walked back to the aisle. She saw that I was looking frustrated. She got on the intercom and called a customer service rep to come assist me @ Aisle 5. I saw coming down the opposite end the same assistant manager who wasn't of any help in the first place. He hesitantly approached me and didn't say anything, knowing that Walgreens should've promoted someone more competent. I said to him, "Do you have it or do you not have it?" He replied, "I don't know." Well, that's how we operate the world these days, huh? NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING and NO ONE CARES TO FIND OUT. The reps referred me to the pharmacists and the pharmacists told me to go ask the reps. JESUS CHRIST. Walgreens, in other matters, I don't mind you, but in the drugs department, I LOATHE YOU. You shouldn't have called yourself a drugstore, but rather the I-don't-know-store. read more

The people at this Walgreens really goes out of their ways to make it obvious that they do not like you and do not want to help you. Even the cashiers, when you walk up to them to pay, they make it known that you are bothering them from chit chatting with each other. I guess they rather people just walk out with the stuff without paying, then they wouldn't have to work and can just chit chat all day. If they are so unhappy with their job, they should just quit. read more

24 hours, great for tourists, drunks, and lovers - have refrigerated drinks, snacks, toiletries, medicine, toothbrushes, condoms and extra underwear. but ICEE machine for the win! read more

I am happy to have something open 24 hours in the neighborhood besides Cala Foods. Because you can't get all the necessities at a grocery store. They have everything I need. The pharmacy is wonderful. That's all folks. read more

Must love the 24 hr convenience shopping! Needed some cough mixture and I knew this location would be open. There was a line but it moved fairly quickly and I have my slight cough relief. read more

Always a ton of people in this Walgreens but exactly what you'd expect for the location.

Typical store set up. They have what you need from this type of store. But if you've been to the one down the street the this store is boring in comparison. The location is extremely convenient though with all the hotels around. read more

The Walgreens pharmacy here is awesome!! I needed to buy supplies for subcutaneous fluids to give my cat (he has chronic renal failure). It's so much cheaper than getting it from the vet, and the pharmacists were really helpful in accommodating an out-of-the-ordinary request. They even went out of their way to follow up with other stores to get me the most up-to-date info, and were really pleasant, helpful, and fast. Huge thanks to Alice and everyone there! read more

Four stars because: - it's a block and a half from my apartment - it's 24/7 !!! I used to live on top of a convenience store in Tokyo, which was open 24 hours too - it's amazing how often you need stuff at odd hours of the night. Because of the proximity to Union Square, the lines can get long with tourists trying to stock up on essentials. Fortunately for me, I'm usually there late when it's less of a problem (except weekend nights). read more

I second Brittainie. Teenagers manning the registers need some customer service training. But more than made up for the store's location and number of merchandise. Clean store. Liked it! :-) read more

Most amazing walgreens I've ever seen! Huge!!! their cosmetics department - upstairs - has everything, while downstairs has groceries, etc.

This store has no concept of customer service skills if you go here your just a number!

The staff at this Walgreen's is great! On Sun. afternoon Aug. 21,2011 there was a heavy set black gentleman panhandling on the Sutter ST. side of the establishment . He is frequently out there with his Street Sheets and asking spare change please. On this occasion he was by the garbage can on Sutter ST. urinating in the can. He was doing this while there were people walking by on the street with their children. This srt f thing does not reflect well upon tourism. I telephonically contacted the manager who said he would expeditiously take care of the matter. Mark read more

I go here nearly every day to buy two bananas and candy. Sometimes I buy other accouterments but always I see Cecilia at the register nearest the door and she's smiling and looking lovely at 8 in the morning! She makes my day! The pharmacist who's there weekday mornings is such a kind and helpful person as well. Sometimes I need puppy pads which require assistance from a staff member because they are stocked up high. I always am able to find someone quickly to get what I need. Love this Walgreens; I am spoiled for any other. read more

This Walgreens deserves 0 stars, but unfortunately Yelp requires you to choose a rating from 1-5. I have been a regular customer at this Walgreens for some time now since its the closest convenient store to my place. That was the only reason I went to this Walgreens. I will not go back ever again. On three separate occasions, I ordered printed photos online and went to this store to pick them up. Every single time I ordered my photos online, I was disappointed each time when I came into the store because my photos were never ready. When I asked the employees to print my photos, I was treated horribly. The employees here are extremely rude and unprofessional. They need to go to a customer service class or just not work in customer service at all. The last straw for me was when I came into the store to pick up my photos today, the cashier was talking about me in front of me to her co-worker! I refuse to go back to this store and will be going to the Walgreens on Polk Street or Pine Street from now on, even though this Walgreens is closer to where I live. Note to Walgreens Management: Send your employees to an etiquette school and basic customer service course. read more

Is this Walgreens, for real? It's got to be my favorite Walgreens since it serves frozen yogurt, rich desserts and baked goods, pre-packaged & sliced fruits, ICEE, has a neat check out counter, and a variety of liquors. Since when did Walgreens become more than a healthcare store w/ a pharmacy? Dat variety doe. It was a little trivial finding things upstairs because of the layout. Was it just me, or was their an entire aisle dedicated to chocolate? Cashiers did not waste time and checked us in, and out we went. For downtown tourists in need of emergency vitamins, contraceptives, snacks, munchies, candy, water, or healthcare products, thank goodness Walgreens is conveniently located downtown...which is why Walgreens deserves a review. I'm also real impressed with it being 24 hours in one hectic area of one hectic city. Don't forget to bring your own bag, or keep your receipt for the door. SF's no-bag law read more

Awesome Walgreens!! It's a one stop shop. Whatever you're looking for they have. I was working down the street from them so I ended up stopping by to get some snacks and drinks for my long 2hr drive back to Modesto. They had plenty selection to choose from; iced teas, energy drinks, sodas, lemonades, powerades, water, sparkling water, orange juices, and more. For snacks they had it all too!; Cookies, chocolate covered almonds, peanuts, chips, crackers, fruits, granola bars and more. Another convenient thing they have their is clothing. Since I work in construction, one night I was forced to work overnight and was scheduled to work early the very next day. I was in need of new change of clothes something to relax in before another dirty shift at work. Thank god Walgreens had nice shirts at a good price and sweats. I was able to relax on my time off. Customer service here is great too, very helpful. Two thumbs up for this location. read more

This Walgreens is convenient for me while en route to my bus home from work, that is the ONE AND ONLY reason I go in there. On the last few visits I have experienced horrific customer service, I can't even describe how awful it is in there. There are always massive lines and never enough staff to deal with the growing lines. When somebody is called for help out at the register, they rarely come on time. My first complaint is about the day I went to buy a clipper card, I asked an employee and was sent to the front registers where I stood in line for some time, only to be told to go o ver to the Photograph area to get it there, The way I was told went like this: 'yeah, go over there, photo, next please' as I was kinda waved out of the next persons way. So a person was called to the photo counter, who never came btw, after about 10 minutes we took our other items back to the front registers to pay and leave, It had quietened down at this stage and the 3 people behind the counter were having a chat and were not concerned 1. that I had been waiting at the photo counter nor 2. that I wanted to be served with what I had still left. Again the girl who served me was extremely rude and talked to her co-workers while I tried to complain about waiting for my clipper card. She completely ignored me, she then tore a packet of m&ms (by accident) and blamed me and then proceeded to shout at me. That's when I shouted back at her about waiting for the clipper card, when I asked to speak to the manager I was told he was not there. I RARELY if ever get angry but I felt really crappy and was treated so terribly in there that I felt like I had to raise my voice to get her attention. My next awful experience was last night, I was waiting for my bus and dashed in to grab a snack and a magazine. There was a rough looking woman outside who followed me in and around the shop which made me kinda nervous and appeared to be taking things, she eventually left my side thank god but a bit of help from the staff would have been great. Found what I wanted and went to pay, My total was exactly $11.90, so as I get tipped in my job I decided to use some change to pay the 1.90 while the woman was having a chat with her co-worker. She turned around to kinda hiss and tut at me and said you are not giving me 90c in pennies, I wasn't I didn't have that many of them! I gave her 20c in pennies! So she continued to give out about me paying in change for the 1.90 over and over again while simultaneously talking to her co-worker, completely ignoring my existence. At this point I decided to give her $6.90 in change and put $5 on my card. SHE WAS NOT HAPPY AND SHE HAD NO PROBLEM LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT IT. I was not aware that a walgreens do not accept change? It is still legal tender and I believe I have every right to pay however I want once the whole amount is paid? I don't mean to sound racist or anything but on all occasions where have been treated badly it was always a chinese girl or woman. These 2 complaints were just 2 particularly bad days for me. read more

This store is not 24 hours! The Starbucks on the corner is, but not the drug store to get a pain reliever on a business trip.