10 Reasons Walgreens Is Largely Regarded as the Worst Drugstore Ever

Walgreens used to be one of the most trusted names in drugstores. Founded in 1901, the chain has been hugely successful, but lately, it seems like it's constantly in the news — and it's not good news. Even loyal shoppers who enjoyed saving money on essentials are jumping ship in search of better service and fewer headaches.

Walgreens might still have some convenient locations and satisfied customers, but these days, the compliments are outweighed by the complaints. Sure, no drugstore is perfect. But when basic services like prescriptions and store hours aren't reliable, it's hard to stay loyal.

Here are some of the top reasons Walgreens is losing customers' trust.

Waiting for a prescription at Walgreens can test your patience. Many customers report long lines and delays of hours or even days due to understaffing or lack of supply. That's frustrating enough, but when you're sick or in pain, whether it's short-lived or a chronic condition, delays aren't just inconvenient. They're unacceptable.

Retail theft is a serious issue. Walgreens, however, has locked up so many ordinary items like shampoo, laundry detergent, and even toothpaste that it feels like shopping in a prison. If an employee were nearby, it wouldn't be so bad. But forcing customers to find staff to unlock products makes you want to ditch the cart and head over to Target — or just order from Amazon.

How can anyone trust a drugstore that has been accused of contributing to the opioid epidemic? Walgreens agreed to pay $350 million in a settlement for illegally dispensing millions of invalid opioid prescriptions and other drugs. The company allegedly ignored internal "red flags" and overbilled government programs, which brought on federal scrutiny and legal consequences. A pharmacy should value people's health over anything else, including profit.

Consumers frequently complain about the lack of decent customer service at Walgreens. In reviews, shoppers mention rude employees, lack of help, and trouble resolving even basic issues. Employees complain about poor staff training and dismissive behavior from management.

With undertrained staff and low morale, good customer service is hit or miss. And when you're sick or stressed, the last thing you need is disrespectful staff or confusion at the counter.

Multiple customers report harassment by cashiers asking them to apply for credit cards, join donation drives, and sign up for rewards programs. One customer complained about seven attempts in one transaction, which slowed down the line and had everyone griping.

On the employee side, a staff member in training said it was "painful" to watch an employee from another store "bait" customers to sign up for a credit card.

Walk into a Walgreens and you might find a lone cashier trying to do everything: running the register, handling customer questions, and stocking shelves. Employees are stretched thin, and it shows in the long lines. One pharmacist said he works straight through 8-hour shifts with barely time to eat. The result? An environment where nobody, not even the staff, wants to stick around.

You know your neighborhood pharmacy is open, so you head to the store only to find the doors locked. Lately, Walgreens stores have been closing early due to staffing problems, which could be a health risk for customers relying on 24-hour service or late-night prescription pickups.

Closing early isn't the only problem. Walgreens announced late last year they were closing around 1,200 stores across the U.S., leaving some communities without nearby pharmacy access.

Some Walgreens customers report spending hours in drive-thru lines. Some say they've waited three hours with no updates, sitting in silence and frustration. Others complain that some customers aren't just picking up prescriptions and have large orders of groceries and other items, which take time and hold up everyone in the line.

Walgreens' website and mobile app have had numerous complaints, including refills failing to update, multiple bank account charges for a single order, prescriptions disappearing overnight, and reward points vanishing with no explanation. Many customers say they end up visiting the store anyway, which defeats the whole convenience advantage. That's especially frustrating for older adults or those managing multiple prescriptions.

Employees report being overworked and undertrained, with pharmacy workflows focused on speed rather than safety. Following a $1 billion cost-cutting strategy back in 2023, stores rely on minimal staffing. It's a perfect storm for burnout, errors, and unhappy customers.

Walgreens isn't the only pharmacy chain facing complaints, but it might be catching the most heat. Corporate cost-cutting, technical glitches, and low staff morale have made the customer experience seem like an afterthought.

Walgreens isn't irredeemable — far from it. In April 2025, the company launched a new PharmStart program to help pharmacy technicians earn PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) degrees, which shows a commitment to strengthening staffing and expertise. It has also pledged to improve customer experience by reducing wait times and automating tasks.

It's too early to know if these changes will improve current issues, but at least they're making an effort despite their current financial stress. If they stick with it, Walgreens could make a turnaround that both customers and investors desperately want to see.