thecerwin Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Who the hell do they think they are trying to pass along savings to the poor? Wal-Mart to sell generic drugs for $4 By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO, AP Business Writer2 hours, 39 minutes ago Wal-Mart announced today that it will start a test program in Florida, where it will sell generic prescription drugs for $4 for a 30-day supply. The test will start tomorrow in 65 Tampa Bay-area stores and is to expand to the whole state by January. In a statement, CEO Lee Scott says the world's largest retailer intends to "take the program to as many states as possible next year." On average, generic drugs tend to cost between $10 and $30 for a month-long supply. The world's biggest retailer said Thursday that it will test the program in Florida and it will include 291 generic drugs available for conditions from allergies to high-blood pressure. The plan is available to its employees and customers, including those without insurance. Wal-Mart officials said the reduced price represents a savings to the customer of up to 70 percent on some drugs. "Wal-Mart is taking this step so our customers and associates can get the medicines they need at a cost they can afford," Bill Simon, executive vice president of the company's professional services division, said in announcing the plan at a Tampa, Fla., store. The program will be launched on Friday at 65 Wal-Mart, Neighborhood Market and Sams' Club pharmacies in the Tampa Bay area and will be expanded to the entire state in January. Simon wouldn't be specific about why Florida and specifically the Tampa Bay area was chosen for the rollout of the initiative, saying only that there was a need for it here. The company said it plans to expand the program to as many states as possible next year. Simon said the 291 generic drugs include "the most commonly prescribed drugs for the some of the most common illnesses that face Americans today, including cardiac disease, asthma, diabetes, glaucoma, Parkinson's (disease) and thyroid conditions." Simon wouldn't give details on how much the plan is expected to cost Wal-Mart or the company's dealings with the drug companies involved. "We're able to do this by using one of our greatest strengths as a company — our business model and our ability to drive costs out of the system, and the model that passes those costs savings to our customers," he said. "In this case were applying that business model to health care." The $4 prescriptions are not available by mail order and are being offered online only if picked up in person in the Tampa Bay area. In a conference call with reporters, Simon said that the generic drugs would not be sold at a loss to entice customers into the stores, a strategy that has been used in Wal-Mart's toy business. He said Wal-Mart is working with drugmakers to help them be more efficient, but added, "We are working with them as partners. We are not pressuring them to reduce prices." Tampa Wal-Mart pharmacy customer Pat Sullivan praised the company's initiative. The retired Massachusetts police officer said $4 generic prescriptions are a tremendous help. "I'm on disability and my benefits run out by the end of the month," he said. "It comes down to where do I go for a $100 prescription? I have no outlet other than to break a pill in half and take half today and half tomorrow." The initiative is the fourth since last October that Wal-Mart has moved to improve health benefits. Wal-Mart's recent moves included relaxing eligibility requirements for its part-time employees who want health insurance, and extending coverage for the first time to the children of those employees. Part-time employees, who had to work for Wal-Mart for two years to qualify, now have to work at the company for one year. This year, Wal-Mart also expanded a trial run of in-store clinics, aimed at providing lower cost non-emergency health care to the public. Last October, Wal-Mart offered a new lower-premium insurance aimed at getting more of its work force on company plans. But critics argue that Wal-Mart's coverage calls for a deductible that requires workers to pick up the first $1,000 in medical expenses, and the deductible rises to a maximum of $3,000 for families. Union-backed Wake Up Wal-Mart, one of its most vociferous critics, have called upon Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart to offer better health care coverage and higher pay to employees. Critics contend that the company's benefits are too stingy, forcing taxpayers to absorb more of the cost as the workers lacking coverage turn to state-funded health care programs. This past summer, Wal-Mart won a successful fight against a first-of-its-kind state law that would have required the retailer to spend more on employee health care in Maryland. A federal judge ruled in July that it was invalid under federal law. But other states are considering similar legislation aimed at the company. Its shares fell 17 cents to $48.70 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 According to some of our huddlers here, Wal*Mart is only doing this so that people take more drugs and then die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Wal-Mart is the Debil Bobby, the Debil I say! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 All empires were taken out by hordes of barbarians. Why should we be any different? hmmm i dont htink our goverment wil like that... they like to pay as much as possible for drugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 hmmm i dont htink our goverment wil like that... they like to pay as much as possible for drugs Won't this make the pharmaceutical companies mad? That would make for an interesting matchup, Walmart vs Big Drugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godtomsatan Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I'm not going to complain about the general overview of lowering their prices, but they are starting this program in a major metropolitan area with a gigantic senior population. Presumably, this is a region where they have a lot of competition for pharmacy business. The press release specifically says it's not an across the board thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 But if we keep old people alive, who will support them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 But if we keep old people alive, who will support them? youre dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I think that in 20 years we will have a new political party to choose from... the Wal-Martians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cre8tiff Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I wonder if the drugs are made in China? And at $4 a pop, they should just about be affordable for thier employees. If the employees cut back a bit on food, that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Pls don't burn the wal-marts down. I shudder to think where those people might loiter otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegiebo Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 People around here aren't too happy with Wal-Mart these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 (edited) People around here aren't too happy with Wal-Mart these days. So it is Wal-Marts fault that the dirtwork contractor or the civil engineer for the shopping center didn't do his job correctly? Are people in PA really that stupid? Edited September 21, 2006 by Perchoutofwater Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H8tank Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Oh no!!!!!!!!! What about all those poor mom and pop pharmacy's that are going to go out of business! I say it's better to let them die than to let walmart sell them drugs cheap, its the democrat way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Ok so Wal-Mart is one of the top sellers in natural clothing, soon to be one of the top sellers in alternative fuels, and now is practically giving away medication. What are the commies going to complain about next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 Alright, I haven't really been paying attention because well... because I don't care to be honest with you, but now my curiosity has been piqued. For those of you Wal-Mart haters out there, is it just Wal-Mart that you hate, or is it all big box retailers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 I don't hate Wal-Mart, I refuse to go in their stores because they are dirty, and usually attract the lowest common denominator of society, but do not hate them. I actually think it is probably good for the economy. With regard to the othe bix box retailers, I hate them. Primarily because the people that work at them don't know a damn thing about what they are selling. At Wal-Mart it doesn't matter, because I can pretty much figure out how to drink a gallon of milk, or put a shirt on, and usually can tell the quality of an item by the look of it. With electronics, I don't know crap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skins Posted September 21, 2006 Share Posted September 21, 2006 (edited) I dont hate Wal-Mart, but one thing I dont like about them is that they leverage their US manufacturers--the very few left--to close up shop in the US and move their manufacturing overseas to China. Edited September 22, 2006 by skins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegiebo Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 So it is Wal-Marts fault that the dirtwork contractor or the civil engineer for the shopping center didn't do his job correctly? Are people in PA really that stupid? Your average person anywhere is pretty stupid. But that's beside the point. The PennDOT official went on the news blaming Wal-Mart. And I don't think the idea of putting yet another Wal-Mart there was all that populat to begin with, so, since it wouldn't have happened but for Wal-Mart putting a store there, it's not entire illogical to direct some of the anger that way. For the record, I don't give a rat's butt about this particular incident. But I do hate Wal-Mart for a variety of other reasons, not the least of which is that their stuff sucks ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skippy Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 So it is Wal-Marts fault that the dirtwork contractor or the civil engineer for the shopping center didn't do his job correctly? Are people in PA really that stupid? We must be. We let Wal-Mart in. For those of you Wal-Mart haters out there, is it just Wal-Mart that you hate, or is it all big box retailers? It's mostly just Wal-Mart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtomicCEO Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Oh sure. Walmart sells generics, therefore resulting is less profits for the big drug company, which means less money for researching the next big drug. Then what happens when I get too old to get an erection? I'll tell you what... I get a sub-rock-hard oscar meyer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGrunt Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Oh sure. Walmart sells generics, therefore resulting is less profits for the big drug company, which means less money for researching the next big drug. Then what happens when I get too old to get an erection? I'll tell you what... I get a sub-rock-hard oscar meyer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perchoutofwater Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Your average person anywhere is pretty stupid. But that's beside the point. The PennDOT official went on the news blaming Wal-Mart. And I don't think the idea of putting yet another Wal-Mart there was all that populat to begin with, so, since it wouldn't have happened but for Wal-Mart putting a store there, it's not entire illogical to direct some of the anger that way. For the record, I don't give a rat's butt about this particular incident. But I do hate Wal-Mart for a variety of other reasons, not the least of which is that their stuff sucks ass. Obviosly you know more about it than I do, as the only thing that I have read was what the story posted. However in that story they said the developer was at fault, and not Wal-Mart. It also said that this was a shopping center, which leads me to believe that there were more retailers than just Walmart to go on this site. This may or may not be the case, but shopping center usually refers to more than one store. Normally a developer is not involved in a single store, but in strip centers where some of the outlets are built on speculation. Also Wal-Mart usually buys prime real estate, so it is doubtfult that piece of land would have been left untouched even had Wal-Mart not come into the picture. It is very likely had Wal-Mart not come in that another large retailer would have come in to be the marque store for this shopping center. I honestly can not see where Wal-Mart is at fault based upon what was written in that article. The article said that he developer was responsible for the clean-up. That leads me to believe that the developer either had a sub standard civil engineer (they are out there believe me), a sub standard earthwork contractor, or a sub standard testing lab, as it is obvious that compaction of the earth was not sufficient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squeegiebo Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 Obviosly you know more about it than I do, as the only thing that I have read was what the story posted. However in that story they said the developer was at fault, and not Wal-Mart. It also said that this was a shopping center, which leads me to believe that there were more retailers than just Walmart to go on this site. This may or may not be the case, but shopping center usually refers to more than one store. Normally a developer is not involved in a single store, but in strip centers where some of the outlets are built on speculation. Also Wal-Mart usually buys prime real estate, so it is doubtfult that piece of land would have been left untouched even had Wal-Mart not come into the picture. It is very likely had Wal-Mart not come in that another large retailer would have come in to be the marque store for this shopping center. I honestly can not see where Wal-Mart is at fault based upon what was written in that article. The article said that he developer was responsible for the clean-up. That leads me to believe that the developer either had a sub standard civil engineer (they are out there believe me), a sub standard earthwork contractor, or a sub standard testing lab, as it is obvious that compaction of the earth was not sufficient. I didn't say that they were at fault. I just said that people around here weren't very happy with them because the construction of their store totally f*cked up Route 65. Not really any fault, but guilt by association, Kinda like how Osama's crew flew planes into the World Trade Center, and people we're pissed of at random Muslims in Iraq. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keggerz Posted September 22, 2006 Share Posted September 22, 2006 back in 1992 the city of williamsburg blocked WalMart from building on a tract of land. WalMart took them to court and WalMart lost...for those that remember last Friday my wife and I attended a Cornerstone Ceremony for this DEVELOPMENT where our new store will be located...yep that is where the WalMart would have been fwiw I dont know what the exact lawsuit was about, but williamsburg is very strict on what it lets happen so that it doesnt hurt its image Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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