The availability of various pharmaceutical products at the Que-owned Mercury Drug comes at the expense of waiting for several minutes and even poor service.
Ex-politiko and TV host Gilbert Remulla ranted against the popular drugstore chain on X (formerly Twitter) for taking too long to complete his transaction.
“It’s about time Mercury Drug gets some serious competition,” he said. “I hope a businessman, entrepreneur or conglomerate can put something together. Their waiting time and service is so bad.”
It’s about time Mercury Drug gets some serious competition. I hope a businessman, entrepreneur or conglomerate can put something together.
Their waiting time and service is so bad. pic.twitter.com/lKKsuCsdci
— Gilbert C. Remulla (@GilbertCRemulla) January 15, 2024
I agree. Not feeling entitled but most of the time longer pa yung pila ng seniors. Some dont have anyone to send on an errand and arent too mobile to go to other branches. A 15 min. wait is about average. They only have one person taking payments & that's the bottle neck.
— Leonardo 031161 (@panicroast) January 16, 2024
South Star Drugstore is far even better, their price is even lower and crew is very attentive to the needs of the customer, back home in zambales my family prefer them over Mercury
— Aries Cabal (@aries_cabal) January 16, 2024
Ay…agree po…sobrang bagal…at ke susungit ng ibang pharmacist .😈
— Preenz.digi.arts (@twitpreenz) January 15, 2024
Netizens, however, defended Mercury Drug, saying Remulla was simply impatient.
It depends on the branch and time. Feeling entitled ka kasi. New Year na. Change is good. Be a good person.
— 👩🏻💻JustGuinevere! (@guinevere_008) January 15, 2024
Is Watson not giving them a fair competition?
— @thinkingpenoy (@derfliwam) January 15, 2024
Other major drugstore chains in the Philippines include Robinsons Retail Holdings’ Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy, and the local franchise of Watsons, which has several stores in the Sy-blings’ SM Malls.
There's Watsons of the SM group, Southstar and TGP of the Gokongweis and Generika of the Ayalas. If that's not serious competition, what is?
And if there's anything that needs to be done, it's on the distribution (near monopoly) and manufacturing (none) sides. https://t.co/P39zfIc2EJ
— Nicky Franco (@HoR_102) January 16, 2024
I wonder kung gaano sya katagal pumila? What if naghintay ka sa pila dahil maraming bumibili? or maraming kang binibiling gamot at gusto lang siguraduhin na tama ang ibibigay na gamot sayo?
Baka sanay po kasi kayo na pagdating nyo pa lang eh gusto nyo kayo agad ang iniintindi. https://t.co/2sFE2EzjKH
— Arshie Larga (@Arshiethromycin) January 16, 2024
