Say Goodbye Rite Aid, Hello Walgreens

Walgreens is buying Rite Aid.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/walgreens-confirms-buy-rite-aid-941-billion-34775755

I can not see how that can possibly survuve anti trust review. Especially given other recent rejections.

There is still CVS and DuaneReade

Look for hundreds of store closures to help pass regulatory hurdles.

ArchBroad said:
There is still CVS and DuaneReade

Walgreen owns DR

.

cramer said:
Look for hundreds of store closures to help pass regulatory hurdles.

Closures would not hellp gain approval but sale to another company might. But it will be tough. .

The stock was 85 cents in 2011. It closed up $2.59 today at $8.67. It was one sick company.

eta - There's a lot of competition from supermarket pharmacies, Target, Walmart, Costco, etc. (But CVS is going to operating the Target pharmacies.)

ArchBroad said:
There is still CVS and DuaneReade

Walgreens also owns DuaneReade

I'm not sure the reason, but I don't like CVS. I still like to go to DrugFair - let's admit- it didn't really change much when the signed changed to Walgreen's.

I wonder whether Walgreens will retain the Rite Aid brand as they have with Duane Reade

Duane Reade is a specialty name in NYC. But already some stores are branded Duane Reade by Walmart. Rite Aid is a somewhat tarnished brand. If the merger goes through (and I still think it will not unless there is a large divestiture of stores to another party) the Rite Aid name will likely go away.

If the deal goes through, Rite Aid will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens, operating under its own name (similar to Duane Reade.)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/28/business/dealbook/walgreens-rite-aid-deal.html?src=me

I wonder if they will use the walgreens "rewards" system at check out. You know the one with the "who's line is it anyway?" rules , the points don't matter and no one is keeping score either.

The cvs extrabucks system is 1000x better.

Freeway said:
I wonder if they will use the walgreens "rewards" system at check out. You know the one with the "who's line is it anyway?" rules , the points don't matter and no one is keeping score either.
The cvs extrabucks system is 1000x better.

Not sure I agree- the boa length long receipts at CVS drive me bonker

mod said:

Freeway said:
I wonder if they will use the walgreens "rewards" system at check out. You know the one with the "who's line is it anyway?" rules , the points don't matter and no one is keeping score either.
The cvs extrabucks system is 1000x better.

Not sure I agree- the boa length long receipts at CVS drive me bonker

I just rip off the coupons I want and throw away the rest. I know whether I'm likely to be buying body lotion, toothpaste, razor blades, etc. within the time period before the coupon expires...

Of the three big chains, I like Walgreens best. But I'm against this. It's bad enough that three big chains have replaced so many local businesses. If this merge goes through, there won't even be enough big chains to have true competition. Very bad.

I try to favor CVS because they stopped selling tobacco products.

I thought I heard Walgreens was closing some stores about a month ago....Rite Aids seem to be a little smaller than an average Walgreens...Not that it matters as I only get prescriptions at pharmacies most of the time as their other prices are high...

Quite frankly I do not understand the business model of these types of stores. There are so many of them. Most never look that busy. My insurance company requires we get maintenance medicines by mail so it is not that frequently that we need a prescription from a store like this. And while there may been some items on good sale, I rarely just go to one of these stores to get anything.

mod said:

Freeway said:
I wonder if they will use the walgreens "rewards" system at check out. You know the one with the "who's line is it anyway?" rules , the points don't matter and no one is keeping score either.
The cvs extrabucks system is 1000x better.

Not sure I agree- the boa length long receipts at CVS drive me bonker

I get extrabucks at cvs everytime I shop. I haven't paid for toothpaste, laundry detergent , or shampoo in like 8 years. The reciept could be a mile long, doesnt bother me free stuff.

Walgreens on the other hand, buy everything in the circular earn half a point. I think they've had their system for 3 years and I got $5 in walbucks or whatever they call it. Not worth it at all.

I detest both. The only reason I step foot into Walgreen's is because they have a pretty good assortment of those water flavor packets that I enjoy (mmmmm....Orange Crush!). If possible, I go to the South Orange Pharmacy. Although small, I find his prices competitive with Rite Aid. The staff is super friendly and they have great loofa brushes! 

Tom_Reingold said:
Of the three big chains, I like Walgreens best. But I'm against this. It's bad enough that three big chains have replaced so many local businesses. If this merge goes through, there won't even be enough big chains to have true competition. Very bad.

Yeah, I hate filling and picking up prescriptions on Sunday or at night, something local pharmacies rarely offer.