Hacker News Reader

Comment by wombatpm | Hacker News Reader

Walgreens is really pushing the AI phone system these days. It lies and says it can handle most requests, which I make and it tries to pawn me off on the website. The website which I had already been to, which recommended I speak with a pharmacist. I swear by the time it’s passed my call through it sounds like exasperated when it says “Just so you know, the pharmacy is open. . . .”

View on HN

You have to say “speak to the pharmacist” and it reminds you it can help so you say it again and it goes through.

I’ll try that next. The flow use to be “pharmacy” “something else” phone answered by pharmacist. Then they threw Pharmacy Technicians into the mix. Then they centralized the pharmacy technicians into a call center.

I hate having to call. I hate having the system be insistent on hearing my problem first. 25 years with the same medications, if I’m calling it’s for something that is not usual. And if the system were truly trying to be helpful it would realize I’m calling about the insulin that is delayed when I specifically requested pickup today, and maybe it could figure out I need to transfer it to a pharmacy that has it in stock.

I just say "speak to a pharmacist", wait until it starts to say something about how it can help and then again "speak to a pharmacist". I only get a controlled medication though so maybe it can be used for others

Reply on news.ycombinator.com