Pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS are struggling, according to the 2025 Axios Harris poll. With a slew of locations closing their doors this year, brand reputations are sliding downward. Criticism regarding shortened pharmacy hours, among other complaints, have been bad for these brands. “Consumers are seeking quality for their stretched dollars, and drugstore retail has developed a lot of friction and frustration,” says CEO of The Harris Poll, John Gerzema. The poll, which collects consumer information to create brand reputation scores, shows CVS ranked 57th in reputation, down from 37th last year. Likewise, Walgreens slipped from the 51st spot last year down to 65th in 2025.
This post was updated on June 2, 2025 to include recent polling from Axios Harris.
You Can Shop Local
We have been brainwashed into thinking if we don’t go to the biggest brand that’s out there, then we are somehow less than those who do.
Plenty of non-corporate stores are available in most cities, including local shops. Shopping at a local store is great for the economy and keeping the money circulating among those in your community. The smaller shops have a much greater appreciation for customers. They’ll remember you and you’ll have better customer service. This isn’t to say you won’t get this at Walgreens, but a local store is more likely to go above and beyond.
The Stores Are Dirty
Going into a store should mean you’re confident in how clean it is.
For many shoppers, store cleanliness is a top priority. If a store isn’t well-maintained, there’s a higher risk that the products they sell could be compromised. Shoppers should feel confident that the environment is clean and sanitary. Walgreens has cut back on staffing to reduce costs, which means there aren’t enough workers to consistently clean and manage checkout areas.
They Lack Grocery Variety
It’s weird that Walgreens still hasn’t accepted that having fresh fruits and vegetables on hand would help their business.
If you rely on Walgreens for groceries, you’re going to have to make multiple stops. Walgreens does not have a full grocery selection, often offering only one brand per product. They also do not have a produce section. If you just need a basic item here and there, Walgreens can be just fine. But more often than not, our shopping lists are rather full and it makes more sense to hit the local market.
There Are Better Pharmacies
These days, there are so many other places where you can count on going and getting your prescription filled.
One of the huge reasons people were so obsessed with Walgreens was the ease with which prescriptions were filled. Back in the day, they were one of only a few options that you could trust to get the job done quickly. These days, stores like Target and Walmart offer pharmacy options; these larger stores have a greater variety of products and plenty of aisles to peruse while you wait for your prescription to be filled.
The Prices Have Increased
Going to Walgreens used to be fun because you knew you were going to be getting some excellent deals on whatever you needed to buy.
The prices for goods and medications have increased dramatically over the last few years. While this has been a national trend, Walgreens is often more expensive than other stores.
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