Yesterday, when I went to pick Hobbs up from boarding, I was waiting at the counter for the young lady to bring him to the front. When she arrived, she had his medicines, his bedding, and of course, Mr. Hobbs. However, she held a broken vial of insulin in her hand.
She apologized profusely saying that she had dropped the vial when she removed it from the refrigerator. I told her that it was no problem, but that it would need to be replaced. It was a fresh vial of insulin that I had bought the day that I had boarded him, costing $77. The lady at the desk assured me that the manager, Dave, would take care of it, but he was out at the moment. She took my number. As I was about to leave, Dave came in and we discussed what happened and he agreed that he would replace the vial. He asked how much I had paid and I told him.
He got a rather shocked look on his face and asked: How much??? I repeated: $77. The rest of the conversation went something like this:
Paul: $77 – from CVS Pharmacy.
Dave: Well, my wife knows where to get it cheaper.
Paul: Fine by me. I just need to replaced.
Dave:(After calling his wife) – Paul. They sell this at Walmart for $24.88.
Paul:(WTF????) Really – Humulin-N by Eli Lilly?
Dave: Yep. One in the same.
Paul: Ummmm, OK.
Dave: I’ll call you when I get it and bring it to you.
Paul: OK – Thanks.
I drove home, a bit bewildered, and quite unbelieving that I could get something for $52 less than I had been paying for it, but decided to investigate when I got home. I had done what I thought was a thorough search for the least expensive option several months ago.
Sure enough, on a forum, I found that Walmart had made a deal with Eli Lilly to sell under the ReliOn brand, that same insulin, made by the same manufacturer for $24.88! Damn! Now, why didn’t the vet tell me this? Maybe she didn’t know. I’ll have to let them know.
Further, imagine my surprise when it came in the exact same packaging, with no mention of ReliOn – the same bottle, slightly smaller/narrower packaging, identical printing as what I had been paying 309% more for at CVS. Damn, again!
Now, my cost is only 32% of what it was, a savings of 68%. Walmart – You’re my hero! 
I’m so glad that she dropped that vial – it was a truly lucky break! I made a request to Dave that she not be punished in any way, after all it was a mistake. He promised that he wouldn’t and allowed that he’d dropped a vial or two in his day. We both agreed that it worked out all around!
Related Posts :
The sale that got away I thought the title of this post fitting. During my conversation wit ...
Today was a long day for Mr. Hobbs. I noticed that for the past couple of weeks, he's been e ...
Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the tr ...
Great story Paul, lucky break indeed
Cedric Canard recently posted..In the light room
The “Force” was with me!
If that young lady didn’t broken the vile you might still continue to pay more than you need too. I know some people are very critical of Walmart, but they certainly know what their customers want.
ken bello recently posted..BLUE MONDAY 7 – and some questions answered
Yes. There are some who are very critical; however, I have to give Walmart their props on this one. They didn’t have to do that, but they did it’s a good thing. I have no idea what the motivation was, I’m just glad that they did it.
Yes, it was a lucky break for you. Yet, it is frustrating to know there is that much markup on the same product. What else do we pay over 300% markup on? There is way too much greed in our world.
Monte Stevens recently posted..One of my neighbors
Agreed, Monte. You just never know how much you are being ‘jacked’ for. When I see things like this, it really makes me wonder.
The real story here is Eli Lilly (aka Big Pharma) gouging customers. Yes, WalMart is a huge retailer and could make a deal like that, but I cannot believe that Eli Lilly need to sell it at the regular drug store for that price. No wonder people go without their medicine…
Eric Jeschke recently posted..Ferns in Lava
Eric: I’m all for the ability of a company to make a profit. I have no issue with it. It is confusing though, why certain medicines, even after being on the market for years and years are so very expensive here. When I didn’t have a drug prescription card, I would order my Nasonex from Canada. Here, it was $125 for small bottle that lasted 1 month. From Canada, same manufacturer, same bottle, $25. Insanity. Of course, they’ve tried to have legislation put in place to disallow such things, but thankfully, it has been defeated. Then, they try the scare tactics of “It’s not the same”. Let’s face it, a $100 is a $100! Why is it cheaper in Canada and world wide? Perhaps not as many damned lawyers and people wanting to get rich quick. Who knows???
Great find. Let’s face it, healthcare is bug business, and all the wackiness that occurs in all businesses occurs in healthcare. It’s just that we attach more emotion to our healthcare for obvious reasons.
Chris Klug recently posted..From Darkness into Light
Very true and the object of any business, save for non-profits, is to make money for their investors, whether they be public or private investors. Period.
Sure, absolutely no problem with that. The purpose of a buisness is to return a profit. But I certainly cannot agree with the tendency to forget even the last shred of decency and moral standards over it. It’s simply that a lot of buisnesses have forgotten that there is more to a company than money.
Or to put it simply: profit is necessary, but insufficient alone. Talk e.g. corporate responsibility…
Thomas recently posted..Duncansby stacks in pink