Walgreens

Terrible service! Paid for a photo but their system was weird and they wouldn’t give me my photo. Walgreens had sent me a coupon code but apparently their system didn’t recognize it. I showed them proof of my purchase including screenshots, but the staff were completely unhelpful.

Idea location for students. Pretty clean and well stocked despite the large amount of customers wandering around. Great snack selection and was surprised to see a refrigerated section with pre made meals if you’re on the run!
Not to mention, check out was so speedy thanks to a cashier doing double duty with her two open registers. Extremely impressive and the huge line goes by quickly.

Boy, has this Walgreens changed since I was here at Cal as an undergraduate student. In just three years, the place seems to have been significantly updated. The first thing anyone sees as they walk in is a majorly bright light-​up refrigerator screen flashing at you… Of course, it’s a mini-​fridge of Redbulls, for all of those all-​nighters sleep-​deprived college students do. Happy to say that the employees seem much better compared to the ones that used to work here.

Fantastic location, it is right across from campus. Shelves are well stocked and isles are clean. Most items are marked up much higher than Target or Amazon but I suppose that’s the price for convenience. They used to have a red box until it was abruptly removed from the store so I do miss my movie nights. There is a small shelf that is stocked with some imported crackers and snacks — this is easily my favorite little corner in Walgreens.
The reasons this place got only two stars because I don’t ever recall meeting a nice worker or sale associate as they call it at this location. The line, the single line for purchase, is long. And as I mentioned above, the prices are jacked up, I left feeling like I spent a fortune on some products that I could have spent much less if only I ventured outside of Berkeley.

Disclosure: I’m a former Assistant Manager for Walgreens, never worked in the Bay Area though. I know how the stores usually run.
I go here pretty regularly, lines can be long but I find if I ring up in cosmetics I’m out quicker. Prices aren’t that cheap but if you find it on sale and have a manufacturing coupon it’s probably not a bad deal. They generally have a friendly staff but the photo department is terrible. Many times I’ve had photos orders altered by the staff. If I have a few photos I want multiple copies of, they don’t print more than one. Case in point was my sister’s Hawaii vacation pictures with my brother-​in-​law, they wanted multiple prints of certain shots so they could give to family. Came in person and put in the order at the photo kiosk, they were different sizes of various quantities. Photo department only printed one copy of the requested photos and then didn’t print any of the smaller sizes that I ordered. Did I mention I ordered this in store at the photo kiosk? Either way, it was not their authority to alter the order, plus they weren’t professional photos. They could give better ratings if they got the photo department on board with providing basic customer service. I wouldn’t go here if you need photo services, everything else is okay.

Great store, convenient location, and generally has everything you need. Always has friendly people who offer great customer service, and are always willing to help. I especially love when there is a long line and they open up new register to help the process!

Wayyyyyyy better than the one next to downtown Berkeley Bart. It’s a lot less crowded and the workers aren’t rude zombies

The pharmacy department and cashiers look like they don’t give a s*** about their customers. I called pharmacy 2 minutes before the closing, they are gone! the cashier doesn’t know how to accept the electric store credit.

Oh, look. Walgreen$. I don’t have many good things to say about this place; the prices are jacked up, the store looks run down, and the line is always ridiculous.
The workers look like they don’t give a s*** about what the customers think. Once, an employee was bringing stuff in through the rear entrance (which has an alarm), and she didn’t bother to disable it. We could hear the obnoxious alarm going off for a good 10 minutes or so.
Another time, I was trying to return a hoodie that I bought, and after waiting in line, the cashier asked me if I could come back another time because there were too many people in line. I reluctantly agreed, but when I came back the next day, the refund took at most two minutes.
Do yourself a favor and go to the Target Express or any other store that isn’t Walgreen$.

There is always a long line, as it does have ease and proximity to the campus, but the lines doe go by pretty quickly.
Prices are whatever — it isn’t cheaper than other places in the area, but again convenience.
Service is less to be desired:
— I’ve asked workers for directions only to be vaguely pointed in a general direction until I was able to find it myself
— Ordered online for photos to be picked up at a certain time. I went there to be told that the printer was broken. When I asked when I could pick up my order, I was told, «there are other orders in front of you so I don’t know»

I’ve been a regular at this Walgreens since my freshman year at Cal and there’s one thing that hasn’t changed for 3 years: long lines. It doesn’t really matter when you go because there’s always a long line. However, sometimes, if you are lucky that is, you can skip the line and check your stuff at this little table on the side next to the main entrance. If you catch that one old Asian lady covertly heading to that area, make eye contact and make yourself that way as well. If she is indeed heading that way to check out customers, you are in luck as you probably saved yourself 20 minutes waiting in line. If you aren’t very luck and she’s nowhere to be found, you will wait in line forever. Sometimes, they only have like one cashier for some reason even though there are like 30 people lined up.
Other than that, I’ve never had any issues with this Walgreens. All the people that work here are pretty friendly. I’ve never had any issues. In fact, one time I bought a wide-​ruled notebook (why would anyone buy a wide-​ruled notebook???) and still got to return it even though I lost my receipt. I’ve also used this Walgreens to get flu vaccines, photos printed, etc.
Just make sure to bring your Walgreens card or know your phone number for it.

Discovered a spider in my hair at 9:50pm. Called the store to see if they could put lice shampoo on hold for me to run over. Spent 5 min navigating the phone system to speak to someone there. Yes, they had lice shampoo. No, they would not put it on hold past 10pm. I wasn’t asking for a bag of chips, I was asking for an important treatment. Spoke to the manager: no, they would not make exceptions whatsoever. My one shot at getting spiders out of my hair tonight and I was shut down at every turn. Thanks Walgreens.

If I could give 0 stars to this Walgreens, I would.
This Walgreens violates California Civil Code section 1723, and I will be filing a formal complaint. They refused my return WITH RECEIPT for something I bought within 7 days and the sales associate Shaheem insinuated I stole the item and found the same receipt in a trash can. The assistant manager refused to honor their return policy when I had the receipt and item, but wouldn’t let me return it because I bought it from a different Walgreens store. Their return policy SPECIFICALLY states you can return it at any nationwide store in the United States. Ridiculous.
I’m forced to shop at this Walgreens even though:
1. They clearly state they do not honor local weekly Walgreens advertised prices because they are smaller than the average Walgreens
2. They have jacked up prices because it’s the only retail convenience store near campus.
3. Won’t honor gift cards but the one on shattuck works just fine
4. The line is always ridiculously long and their service is terribly slow
5. Doesn’t honor return policy with receipt within 30 days.
6. Sales associate insinuated I stole the item!!! I live in Berkeley and I know it’s a high crime area but seriously? Racial profiling because I’m Asian? I don’t even know.
I will never purchase anything from this Walgreens again. Worst service ever, rude manager, and overpriced.
Go to the newly opened Target express on Shattuck.

PROS:
–The workers are friendly.
–The aisles are usually clean, but it’s common to see workers restocking shelves and blocking aisles. But oh well.
–Prices are clearly marked.
–Generous cosmetic/​make-​up return policy! I called them and a worker told me that make-​up can be returned with original packaging and receipt! Even if it’s used (but only slightly used. Like we tried it and didn’t like it.) Thats awesome, because I’m still trying to find the products I like best.
CONS:
— Long lines. Expect a wait! The earlier you go, the less of a wait.
— Prices are marked up, which makes sense since they’re catering to mostly college students who just shop at their local stores. I’ve seen things on Amazon usually a few dollars cheaper! Heck, my Honey Nut Cheerios box of cereal cost me 5 stinking dollars! For a regular size!
Basically, come here if you need something right away or if you have a coupon or something. Otherwise, just buy it online.

Unfortunately, this is the only convenience store near campus. The lines are always extremely long, and the cashiers are very slow as well. The prices are jacked up because they know they are the only Walgreens in the vicinity. The employees also are very rude, they always seem mad or depressed.

Close to campus, good. line that doesn’t ever end, bad! So small and it surprises me especially in that location. always packed with people and i end up not getting anything and not waiting in line.

Walgreens here always busy, just a block from sather gate, u.c. entrance. aisles by the front door features clothing items and snacks
checked the meds. higher than other walgreens.
just usually get some drink or snack, whatever fits my mood and the pricing of the former.

This Walgreens has pretty much everything you’d expect a Walgreens to have. The location is great (right next to campus on Telegraph Avenue). HOWEVER, I have a few gripes about this place:
— For birthday celebrations: they are almost ALWAYS out of the candles «2» and «1» in the back. This makes sense, of course, but you’d think they would order some extras after all these years of experience. Fortunately, they carry the 24-​pack of single candles… But I certainly would prefer to light 2 candles rather than 21 or 22.
— This store has a very corporate-​style atmosphere compared to the great intimate service I now expect from most shops in Berkeley. Yes, Walgreens is part of a huge chain, but you can tell that most of the employees are obviously unhappy and grumpy, especially by the end of the day.
— As a result of the close-​to-​campus location, there’s often a long line — especially in the late afternoon/​evening after students usually end class for the day (5pm-​7pm). The line usually moves relatively quickly, but if you’re in a hurry, it’s a huge bummer to have to wait in line.
Overall, this place is great in terms of location, but try to come early if you can in order to avoid the huge line.

Smaller than average, but incredibly convenient due to its proximity to campus — they have snacks, emergency calculators/​stationery for midterms, birth control, cold medicine, all the usual things.
Staff all seem tired and weary, and the entire store has a slightly sad, Walmart-​esque feel to it. The line can also get ridiculously long at times. The contact-​less credit card terminals also do not work. Walgreens Rewards are nice and a good way to save a bit of cash though.

If you haven’t registered for a Walgreens Rewards Card… you’re insane.
That’s really my only piece of advice for people who shop at Walgreens (which I assume is everyone since it’s the closest drugstore to campus) — JOIN THE REWARDS PROGRAM.
Quick story: Once I forgot my card and had to pay the regular price and ended up paying $ 22 for something I could have gotten for $ 14. It was a sad day.
The lines get pretty bad sometimes but usually they’ll open up another cashier at the cosmetics counter when that happens. That being said, always go into Walgreens anticipating a 5 – 10 minute wait.
Other services — printing, RedBox movies, pharmacy… good stuff.
This place doesn’t need much of a review since everyone will continue to shop here so all I have to say is apply for that little blue card because it’s free and it will save you so much money.