8 Reasons CVS Is the Worst Drugstore Ever

Choosing a drugstore to fill your prescriptions may seem mundane, but it's a larger decision than you think. Even selecting a chain to shop at for miscellaneous goods can determine how much you can stretch your grocery budget.

CVS, one of the biggest pharmacy chains in the U.S., has been going through a struggle, with its stock falling by 14% in January 2026 after the news of possibly needing to close 134 stores in Tennessee due to upcoming changes in the state's laws. It is also one of the most frowned upon by many consumers.

See some of the most notorious reasons why many shoppers dislike the experience of shopping at this drugstore.

High prices

Consumers also complain about CVS's high prices on over-the-counter drugs. For example, a 90-count bottle of Zyrtec at CVS is regularly $48.59, compared to a 90-count bottle at Target that costs $39.99.

There's no official statement from CVS on the issue, but many people cite the cost of convenience, meaning the chain takes advantage of people who need the medicine immediately and charges more than online or less accessible retailers.

The pharmacy is slow

One of the biggest problems consumers have with CVS is the long wait times. This isn't just anecdotal, either. The company has been penalized for it.

In March of 2024, CVS was issued $1.5 million in penalties from the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. The fines were issued for several safety violations, many of which are credited to understaffed stores and include delayed refills and not enough staff to efficiently fill the number of prescriptions.

After this fact, CVS stated it is improving staffing, enhancing workflows, and hiring more technicians to better support its pharmacy teams.

Expensive prescriptions

It's not just the floor inventory that people say is too expensive, prescriptions can also be pricey at CVS. The chain has addressed this issue in the past.

In response, they announced plans to enact a "cost-based" pricing policy. Previously, CVS followed the same protocol as most drugstores, called "cross-subsidization," where they priced some drugs higher than necessary to account for others that failed. Instead, CVS now bases prices on what they paid for them.

Shady ethics

CVS has faced criticism for its role in the opioid crisis. In 2022, CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart were ordered to pay a combined $650.6 million to Lake County and Trumbull County in Ohio. However, the Ohio Supreme Court overturned the judgment in 2024.

Since then, CVS has expanded efforts to combat opioid misuse, including installing medication disposal kiosks, improving community education, increasing access to naloxone, and implementing prescription monitoring measures. Still, the company has faced additional legal scrutiny, including a $315 million settlement in October 2026 over federal allegations involving improperly filled opioid and other controlled-substance prescriptions.

Unsafe prescriptions

CVS pharmacies all over the country have also been known to give out the wrong prescription medications, in some cases resulting in injuries and even potential fatalities.

This is largely due to understaffing and is one of the reasons CVS has been penalized so heavily by state boards in the past.

Dirty stores

Similarly, understaffing has led to several documented cases of dirty stores. Not only is this gross and unpleasant for customers, but it's also a safety hazard.

Aside from dirty stores, there were some reports of loose pills on the floors of the pharmacy, as well as room-temperature vaccines, old prescriptions, and more concerning hygiene and maintenance issues.

Poor customer service

Some shoppers have also complained about poor and downright rude customer service interactions, including being redirected to chatbots, having trouble reaching local management, and even being hung up on mid-sentence.

While this could speak to a larger issue of understaffing or CVS' corporate climate, there is no concrete evidence that the issue is unique to CVS or that it speaks to a larger issue regarding the current state of retail work.

Bad-quality photo centers and services

Aside from pharmaceutical services, CVS is also known for its photo center. While it's a convenient service, many shoppers take issue with the quality.

Customers have complained about the quality of printed pictures at CVS, especially the saturation and clarity of images. While this varies store by store, it could be a symptom of a larger issue of quality control throughout all locations. So, you might want to avoid wasting money and go elsewhere.

Bottom line

CVS, despite being one of the more popular and accessible drugstores, is considered not the best by many consumers. Public opinion aside, the company has been involved in multiple lawsuits and received several penalties for serious issues.

You might want to keep more cash in your wallet and shop at other pharmacies and drugstores, preferably local shops.

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