In a previous post, Wal-Mart’s $4 generics: A great deal for Wal-Mart, I talked about how Wal-Mart’s $4 prescription plan is nothing more than clever marketing gimmick aimed at getting consumers in the door — although Wal-Mart executives aren’t willing to admit this.
Now Meijer Pharmacy, a competing chain of big-box superstores headquartered in Michigan, has one-upped the Wal-Mart plan, announcing it will give away antibiotics commonly prescribed to children. Meijer, however, is honest with its motives.
From All Spin Zone:
Meijer said the seven generic antibiotics, which are commonly prescribed to children for colds, ear infections, strep throat and other illnesses, would assist families dealing with health care and prescription drug costs, the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday.
Fourteen-day supplies of the drugs — amoxicillin, cephalexin, SMZ-TMP, ciprofloxacin, penicillin-VK, ampicillin and erythromycin — will be given free of charge to any person with a prescription, regardless of insurance status, the retail chain said.
Meijer said about 500,000 of the medications, which generally cost between $8 and $30, are sold by the store every year. Meijer President Mark Murray said he expects the store to make back lost prescription revenues with the added traffic of new shoppers seeking to use the program.
The move follows announcements from Wal-Mart and Target retail chains that some generic drugs would be made available at their stores for $4.
Honesty — it’s so refreshing. Wal-Mart, you ought to try it once in a while.
1 response so far ↓
1 eDrugSearch Blog » Blog Archive » Unlike small drug retailers, banks escape Wal-Mart’s death grip — for now // Mar 16, 2007 at 1:19 pm
[...] Unlike small drug retailers, banks escape Wal-Mart’s death grip — for now I’ve posted previously about Wal-Mart’s $4 drug plan, and how this has put considerable competitive pressure on smaller drug retailers. Apparently, Wal-Mart won’t get to try the same strategy in the banking business. [...]
Leave a Comment