Nothing But Love :: golf blogger

The Walgreen's Experience

I stopped at Walgreen's on the way home the other day. I don't know if there are Walgreen's in other parts of the country; so, I'll say that it's supposed to be a pharmacy and unrelated to Wal-Mart. The pharmacy counter is hidden way in the back of the store, but I go to Walgreen's because the milk is always much cheaper than everywhere else; so, if passing by, I'll stop if we need milk.

I must tell you a brief story. In a recent trial out of town, I needed to get a photo printed -- I had enlarged the digital copy and cropped it so as to show something in the distinctive interior of a vehicle -- so, I went to a Walgreen's right before closing time (it was a small town -- the Walgreen's near us is open all the time) and put my memory stick into the picture ordering thing and ordered a print and asked the lady behind the counter, the "Photo Developing Specialist," if I could get a print before closing, to which she replied that she could get it done. The next morning at the trial, the other attorney called the wife of the guy who had sued to testify that he never had any back or neck problems in his life. And that's how I found out the lady behind the counter was a Photo Developing Specialist, the Photo Developing Specialist, who when asked if she told her husband when she got home that she developed a picture of the distinctive interior of her vehicle for me, she said "no." No further questions, your Honor.

I apologize for the digression. I stopped at Walgreen's for milk after picking up the pizza. Unless the customer at Walgreen's is single-mindedly determined to get only the item intended to be purchased, it's very difficult to defend against the marketing assault on the five senses. Even while paying, the customer cannot let down the shield against the subliminal and liminal threats to security.

The display -- the 15-foot long display immediately adjacent to the line to the cash register -- has an infinite variety of instant stimulants, children's toys, adult toys, candy, food items, National Enquirer, medications and pseudo-meds, probably made by Pfizer, cigars, big and little, pudding, marshmallow circus peanuts, suckers, socks, sock monkeys, and cigarette lighters and flame throwers.

I noticed the Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters. An entire foot of one of the shelves was devoted to Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters; and upon closer examination, there were different kinds of Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters. Oh, there were just plain Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters, but there were Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters with flashlights on the end, Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters with LED's, and Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighters with magical sound in an Ed Hardy Tattoo Lighter extravaganza. And they were on sale! For only $1.99! How could a normal person resist? My hands were getting full, though, what with two gallons of milk, six bottles of Just Lemonade, and a couple or three bags of marshmallow peanuts.

I reached the counter and cascaded my cache onto the counter to the delight of the cashier. The cashiers at Walgreen's are always very friendly; and, if you have ever been there, they always ask if you want the special deal item on display right there at the register. The cashiers get a bonus for sales of that stuff, by the way; so, how could I resist the new OREO Brownie for 99 cents? I bought two.

The new OREO Brownie? Don't waste your money. I threw the one I opened in the dumpster on the way into the garage after one bite. The other one is in the glove box. If you want it,. I can mail it to you.

I'm sure it will still be inedible.

Posted by Bill at September 4, 2009 12:17 PM