Originally Posted by
BlackPeter
Welcome to the forum ... and you are absolutely right, some (probably most) people will pick the most convenient option for them to buy their medicines but some will pick the (for them) cheaper alternative, which will often be the discounter (e.g. because they are anyway going the mall).
We do have next to our GP a Unichem pharmacy (charges prescription fees and holiday / late hour penalties) with lots of often idle staff. Across the road is a Countdown with pharmacy which doesn't charge a prescription fee nor any penalties for the weekend. Haven't seen their staff idle yet. As well - lots of parking in front of the Countdown and people can use their NZ special waiting time for preparations to do other things than just sit around. Guess, where many people in this area get their medication from?
I think it is blatantly obvious that discounters will eat into GXH's market share for prescriptions, unless they smarten up. I don't think however it would be hard to dispense medication a bit smarter, faster and with less human involvement. It should be much easier for a big chain like GXH to improve their service and make it cheaper, than for a small pharmacy, i.e. I don't think it is a lost cause for them. They just need to smarten up.
As a share holder as well as a consumer I would be delighted if they would just do that.