Those who use costco can please tell whether u pay for prescription meds in Costco @ pharmacy itself and if they ask for membership card. I think, by law (or by their code of conduct), a Pharmacist can't ask you for a membership card or even cannot deny you medication for that reason at pharmacy, but at the general cashers area, its a different story.
If a complaint goes to their respective professional organisation for denying you meds without a valid reason (and membership is not one), they may face disciplinary actions or even lose their license.

If thats the case, then u may need only cash/amex credit card for payment as costco will not accept Visa & MAstercard. Just give the precsription at pharmacy, pay for it there itself and get out. But, costco may prevent you from entering the store without their card, but now a days haven't seen them checking it at entrance. If they do, then go with a person who has the card.

When you buy medicines at costco you pay at the pharmarcy itself. They do ask for the membership card as a matter of routine, but I have bought medicines with no membership before. That time the pharmarcist explained me that you dont need to be a member to buy medicines. He also told me that you should tell the person at the door that you need to buy medicines and he will let you enter. I did have an expired membership card which I showed to enter the store that time.

I guess it all depends on how knowledgeable the person at the counter is. I normally shop at the costco in the heartland business area in mississauga.

- Kishan

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Originally posted by Warrior

Those who use costco can please tell whether u pay for prescription meds in Costco @ pharmacy itself and if they ask for membership card. I think, by law (or by their code of conduct), a Pharmacist can't ask you for a membership card or even cannot deny you medication for that reason at pharmacy, but at the general cashers area, its a different story.
If a complaint goes to their respective professional organisation for denying you meds without a valid reason (and membership is not one), they may face disciplinary actions or even lose their license.

If thats the case, then u may need only cash/amex credit card for payment as costco will not accept Visa & MAstercard. Just give the precsription at pharmacy, pay for it there itself and get out. But, costco may prevent you from entering the store without their card, but now a days haven't seen them checking it at entrance. If they do, then go with a person who has the card.

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Drug prices are based on 3 things:

1. Pharmacy fees ( ranging from $ 4.9-$ 11.99 per prescription)
2. Acquisition Cost ( as per Ontario government regulations)
3. Permissible Mark up ( This is usually competetive)

So the big difference would be the Rx fees.

Below is the link to the website which shows pharmacy by city, area, phone no and what fees they charge.


http://www.algonquincollege.com/humanresources/documents/DispFeesJuly2007.xls

Trust this helps

Rajiv

U dont need a Costco card to enter. At the gate tell them u want to look around and think about getting a membership or have a costco gift card..

Purchasing anyhting needs 1 of 2 things..

1> A costco Member card
Or
2> A costco Gift card. (This can be bought only by a costco member)


Different rules may apply for pharmacy.. But i use the 2nd method to get into costco..