pharmacy2u.co.uk > Reviews (17)

...shopping on the internet that is! I am trying to achieve the position of most recommended new 'products'! Only joking! But seriously why hasn't anyone else recommended pharmacy2u.co.uk - it is excellent!

I'm not quite sure how I came across it but I have a feeling I am getting myself known as a shopaholic, so spam e-mailers are getting to know me very well! Anyway, back to the site....I first registered (possibly to get extra points somewhere!) about a month ago, had a quick look and didn't return...until last week.

I was on the hunt for some cheapperfumes - my old favourite Ghost and one that I had sniffed (!) in a department store, DKNY. I tried various search engines but got the usual ones already listed on Ciao and these either didn't stock the above, or were as expensive as in the department stores. My last resort was to look on the AOL shopping channel (AOL, my ISP is always my last resort as there is so much junk!). I saw a banner for pharmacy2u.co.uk and noticed that it said 25% off first order...I was there!

Having already registered I wondered if I would still get 25% off my first order (even though I hadn't ordered anything before). So I registered under another e-mail address (very naughty I agree but I was after my 25%!). It was accepted anyway so I went off to do a bit of retail therapy!

This site has so much to offer. Pharmacy2u.co.uk is so much more comprehensive than your average Boots/Superdrug (and it knocks spots off their websites). As the name suggests they also offer a pharmacy complete with a prescription service. How do they do this over the net you may be asking? Well I was curious too so investigated.

Firstly you have to enter basic details about your medical history, just stuff like allergies and current medication. Then it asks you whether you want an NHS or private prescription (obviously for the NHS one you have to already possess a prescription). The site then issues you with a number and you send the prescription to a freepost address. You then go into the checkout area and pay (usual credit/debit cards) and your prescription is sent back to you within one day of them receiving it. I think this is a great service especially for non-urgent items or if the person is housebound or lives a distance from a pharmacy (or if the item is a little embarrassing!!).

I haven't tried that service but probably will as it sounds a very good idea to me. Back to the perfumes. I found both Ghost and DKNY much cheaper than in the shops (even before my 25% discount). I ordered both and went to the checkout to pay...but shock! horror! they hadn't deducted my 25% - even though I had entered my discount code from AOL (ao25 if anyone is interested). I then did a little test, I logged out then shopped again for the same items without using a discount code and found that I had been charged exactly the same amount - I did this just to prove that the items already didn't have 25% already taken off.

On the war path, I e-mailed their customer services.

I was quite shocked to receive a reply a day later with an apology saying that I was right and I should have received 25% off (they admitted they weren't quite sure what had happened) and gave me a freephone number if I had any queries. I decided to ring this number and try and order over the phone. I was greeted by a very pleasant chap only too happy to take my order and immediately deduct 25%. I was told that both products were in stock so I would receive delivery next day! Excellent service!

As promised my goods arrived the following day. So I ended up paying £27.75 for 100ml EDP DKNY and £9.75 for 30ml EDT Ghost - absolute bargains (they are much more than that on other sites and even more in the shops), postage is free if you spend over £30 (£3 otherwise). But again I could have used this 25% discount to purchase anything on their site, I will explain what else is on offer....

Medicines (both OTC and prescription)
Embarrassing problem stuff (don't ask me, take a look!)
Healthcare
Vitamins
Family planning (get your condoms here, take note Piagetclot & Wigggly!)
Personal care
Beauty
Perfumery (my fav. place!)
Mens grooming (for the guys who hate shops!)
Baby & childcare

Their prices are what you would expect from Boots or Superdrug and they also have some great offers usually listed down the right hand side of the screen.

Another useful aspect of this site is that you can contact a pharmacist directly about a problem (either by e-mail or the freephone number). There is advice about numerous common problems. I looked at Haemorrhoids to see the quality of advice they were offering (although I hasten to add I am not suffering from this!). The information is pretty good, explaining likely symptoms, causes, self-treatment and what the doctor can offer - and of course you can always contact the in-house pharmacist.

There, I think I have bored you enough. What else can I say but great site, comprehensive product range and excellent advice. They just need to ensure that the discounts promised actually do work online (although they did mention in their e-mail that even though the 25% didn't appear to be deducted, when they take payment they take 25% off your order - I didn't really like this, I would have liked to see it automatically deducted online). There....now you all know where to buy your condoms from cheaply and discreetly ;-)