CVS Pharmacy Price gouging sarasota Florida

I posted my gripe just to vent and, hopefully, let a few people know about the shennanigans that CVS engaged in. I never expected to get so much mileage out of this.  Thanks for giving me the opportunity to continue to pound on CVS,  I love you.

That is not exactly the full definition of "price gouging" but even your definition does not apply in this case...

They did NOT "make" someone pay too much for something.  This is not like a gas station in a hurricane area all of the sudden charging $20/gallon for gas because they are the only one still open.  This is not a $60/night Motel all of the sudden charging $500/night because they are the last one with their power still on.   Oh and by the way, yes in both of those cases it is generally considered illegal.

No, this is a store where they give you a price and it is your CHOICE as to if you want to buy it from them or the person down the street.  I mean are you going to write a RipOff report when any store charges more than the store down the street.  So where is your report on the gas station that charges $0.25/gallon more.  Where is your report on the store that sells a 2-Liter bottle of soda for $2.59 when you can get it at a different store for $0.99.  Where is your report on the store that sells a TV for $599 when you can go to a different one right in the same center $499.  After all in EVERY one of those cases the store is charging more than the competition..right?

Oh you don't like those examples?  How come?  Is the price difference is not enough?  Okay..so how much more is a store allowed in your mind to charge than the competition before you consider it gouging?

As for trust..seriously?  They are a BUSINESS are you really going to come here and say that in all of your years you always "assumed" that a business was going to be the lowest? 

By the way if I am correct about this being a "Loss Leader" are you going to write a RipOff report on this new Pharmacy when they have a price that is higher than another store you found?

Gouge: to make (someone) pay too much money for something

You are correct. It's my fault.  Caveat emptor. I'm glad I shopped around.

The other undisputable fact is that CVS violated the trust I placed in them. I won't make that mistake again. Screw me once - shame on you.  Screw me twice - shame on me. Ronald Reagan said; "Trust.  But verify".

I'm old enough to remember when pharmacies used the word "ethical" in their name. CVS may be within their rights to attempt to gouge, yes gouge, me and anybody else they may to prey on, but it doesn't say much about their ethics. Perhaps they should call themselves CVS Legal But Less Than Ethical Pharmacy.

My ethics tell me that as a consumer I have an obligation to bring their business practices to the attention of the public.  In many states gouging constitutes an unfair and deceptive business practice, and it is illegal.

This may be a shock to you but a business is free to charge what ever they want.  It is up to you as a consumer if you want to pay that price or not.  In your case you decided to not.  That is exactly how it is supposed to work, and before you start accusing companies of "price gouging" perhaps you should go take a look at the definition.

Oh and don't be so quick to think the store you got the prescription at is always going to be the cheapest.  Many times a business will price a certain item well below the going "retail" rate.  These are known as "loss leaders" and are designed to do exactly one thing...get you in the store.  Which is exactly what they did.  Their hope is that you now stay a customer.  As such, it is possible that you may find other drugs actually more expensive than CVS(or other pharmacies), as they can not have everything sold at a "loss" now can they?