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CVS becomes first big US drugstore chain to drop tobacco

Montecresto said:
OMG MMC, I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. That's such bull****. Yes, a lot of handwringing, lost sleep and consultations with the pastor preceded this very hard, "bold" move to put the health of his customers over the bottom line. I doubt the CEO has the unilateral authority to make such a decision, many others with thick skin in this move have determined that the political accolades/attention will result in an offset of any loss in revenue.
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Heya Monte. :2wave: Yes note how Emanuel plays hypocrite......seems he didn't have such lavish praise for those of Hobby Lobby, or Chik Fila, huh.

Emanuel is a joke.....The Chicago Tribune just busted him out on his issue that he put more Cops on the Street since he has been in. Like Obama.....he lied!
 
mak2 said:
Actually stealing cigarettes is a major problem since it is one of the hardest addictions to buck. Recently they lost a truckload from a truckstop between here and Chicago. Which people exactly do you think Obama has made it possible to get rich off sick Americans? We do have the most expensive healthcare system in the world and have for decades, why has it just started bothering the conservatives? Now specifically exactly who are you talking about?
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Who am I talking about?

AARP, CVS, all insurance companies on the health exchange who are enjoying exclusive status as the 'authorized' providers for their states. You do know some states have only one or two choices, don't you?

Where are all those double and triple premiums going? From the pockets of middle class, working Americans to the pockets of big insurance companies AND the federal govt in the form of penalties.

Who gets rich off Obamacare?

Fat cats.

Look for more to jump on that money train... just like CVS is planning to do.

Obama's legacy continues.... the rich get richer, the poor get subsidies -- all from the backs of working folks.
 
As a smoker I applaud CVS's decision...I think it is kind of weird that a store dedicated to health, and wellness sells cigarettes....
 
j-mac said:
As a smoker I applaud CVS's decision...I think it is kind of weird that a store dedicated to health, and wellness sells cigarettes....
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And you know what, there's a Mobil station next door that does sell them, so....there you go. (you're right, and I'm right there with you)
 
rocket88 said:
And you know what, there's a Mobil station next door that does sell them, so....there you go. (you're right, and I'm right there with you)
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Yeah, I never bought mine in a drug store anyway...Too expensive...
 
Smartmouthwoman said:
For-profit corps are out for one thing... profits. Their service to the public comes thru philanthropic organizations that give back to the communities where they make their money. (Walmart Foundation gave $1B in 2012)

CVS is just the first to climb on the Obamacare Wagon. Watch for more choices to be taken away 'for our own good.'
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Cigarettes are one of the lowest profit items a store can sell. I think© that's why stores like CVS, Walgreens, WalMart and grocery stores always seemed to have higher prices than the gas stations or smoke shops. In addition to the crummy margins, cigarettes are easily stolen, time is lost in checking IDs, a mistaken sale by an employee can result in a substantial fine and security requirements put cigarettes in the most visible locations using space that other impulse items with greater markups can be sold.

I also think the presence of cigarettes gives a bad price impression. If the cigarettes are overpriced by comparison with competitors, it gives the impression that everything else is also.

The CVS decision will not result in one less cigarette being smoked anywhere in the country. There are literally thousands of other places to buy cigarettes. If I had any criticism of CVS, it would be that they should offer Ecigs, just as they offer patches and gum, since Ecigs are health-positive compared to tobacco and likely have a higher profit margin.

I don't see how any choices were taken away from anyone by a Corporation changing their product line. If anything, I see more and more Smoke Shops and now I also see the Vaping Shops opening up.

Now, as far as "choices" of where you can smoke - yes, those are being lost increasingly. But that's not new and I doubt that Obama has had much to do with these local laws restricting places that offer smoking.
 
apdst said:
Tobacco and alcohol are just a draw, to get people in the door and purchase products with a higher profit margin.

Tobacco and alcohol are usualy single digit markups, but they create profit with impulse buys that could be as much as a 20% markup.
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Uh, what? I am much more likely to go to our CVS to buy drinks, OTCs, or other things than cigarettes, eventhough I have been known to buy them from there for my husband. Very few people go into CVS to specifically buy their ciggies. And they never have as much of a selection of cigarettes as many other places.

And smoking rates have been declining for decades. Pretty much once people started finding out how bad smoking is for them or for those around them, the fewer people started smoker and the more people quit smoking.

Smoking rate for adults declines

And those who do smoke are also smoking less.

Pack-a-day smokers declining - CNN.com
 
From the OP:

CVS expects the decision to hurt profits initially, along with a $2 billion hit to annual sales. But the company, whose Caremark unit is a pharmacy benefits manager for corporations and the U.S. government's Medicare program, believes the move will boost its appeal as a healthcare provider.
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The future of healthcare in America:

"Hello, Mr. Schultz? This is your neighborhood Minute Clinic with a reminder we've got you down for a triple bypass this Thursday at 9 am. Remember to bring your Obamacare card."

0806_CVS_630x420.jpg
 
You are completely off base with the minute clinic thing. Laughably so. Just sayin...
Smartmouthwoman said:
From the OP:



The future of healthcare in America:

"Hello, Mr. Schultz? This is your neighborhood Minute Clinic with a reminder we've got you down for a triple bypass this Thursday at 9 am. Remember to bring your Obamacare card."

0806_CVS_630x420.jpg
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What do you think the minute clinic is for? It is to healthcare what McDonald's is to fine dining. Where did you come up with this plan to accomplish open hearts in the heartburn meds isle past the stationary. IS this a story in the nutty RW noise machine I have so far missed?
Smartmouthwoman said:
Yeah, LOL on me, huh? Unless I'm right. Then we're all screwed.
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mak2 said:
What do you think the minute clinic is for? It is to healthcare what McDonald's is to fine dining. Where did you come up with this plan to accomplish open hearts in the heartburn meds isle past the stationary. IS this a story in the nutty RW noise machine I have so far missed?
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That in of itself doesn't sound like a bad thing. If someone has a simple problem, like an infected cut or something, than probably someone with basic first aid training would work in most cases. If its a more advanced problem, minute clinic guy do a referral to someone with a higher level of training.

If it helps clear out doctors visits for things that someone cheaper and less well trained can do, it should help healthcare costs overall. For example, if had a bad cold which I thought it could be something else because I felt awful, so I went to the doctor, the doctor told me it was just a bad cold (the way my throat hurt, it felt like strep throat). Minute clinic guy could have just as easily shined a flashlight to look at my lymph nodes and it wouldn't have cost as much. If it turned out to be strep, then he could refer me.

Why are people putting this sort of thing down?
 
That is exactly what they do and I dont know why people put it down except they are completely clueless.
tacomancer said:
That in of itself doesn't sound like a bad thing. If someone has a simple problem, like an infected cut or something, than probably someone with basic first aid training would work in most cases. If its a more advanced problem, minute clinic guy do a referral to someone with a higher level of training.

If it helps clear out doctors visits for things that someone cheaper and less well trained can do, it should help healthcare costs overall. For example, if had a bad cold which I thought it could be something else because I felt awful, so I went to the doctor, the doctor told me it was just a bad cold (the way my throat hurt, it felt like strep throat). Minute clinic guy could have just as easily shined a flashlight to look at my lymph nodes and it wouldn't have cost as much. If it turned out to be strep, then he could refer me.

Why are people putting this sort of thing down?
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This whole thread is just weird.

conservatives complaining about a business making business decisions. Liberals defending capitalism.

wtf is wrong with you people?
 
mak2 said:
That is exactly what they do and I dont know why people put it down except they are completely clueless.
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Boy, those 'they' people sound pretty dumb. They need to sit down and shut up, huh?
 
CVS is just making room for the bongs.
 
tacomancer said:
That in of itself doesn't sound like a bad thing. If someone has a simple problem, like an infected cut or something, than probably someone with basic first aid training would work in most cases. If its a more advanced problem, minute clinic guy do a referral to someone with a higher level of training.

If it helps clear out doctors visits for things that someone cheaper and less well trained can do, it should help healthcare costs overall. For example, if had a bad cold which I thought it could be something else because I felt awful, so I went to the doctor, the doctor told me it was just a bad cold (the way my throat hurt, it felt like strep throat). Minute clinic guy could have just as easily shined a flashlight to look at my lymph nodes and it wouldn't have cost as much. If it turned out to be strep, then he could refer me.

Why are people putting this sort of thing down?
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The Minute Clinic scenario is just one example of how CVS could be planning to make up the cig revenue.

Whatever direction this giant corporation takes will result in profits they could not have made if not for Obamacare.

Big Corp + Big Govt isnt my cup of tea.

You're right... this topic is upside down. ;)
 
So you really dont know and have no evidence, but you just know somehow anything that changes anywhere in healthcare, is somehow Obama and or Obamacare's fault? And it is bad. :roll:
Smartmouthwoman said:
The Minute Clinic scenario is just one example of how CVS could be planning to make up the cig revenue.

Whatever direction this giant corporation takes will result in profits they could not have made if not for Obamacare.

Big Corp + Big Govt isnt my cup of tea.

You're right... this topic is upside down. ;)
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Smartmouthwoman said:
The Minute Clinic scenario is just one example of how CVS could be planning to make up the cig revenue.

Whatever direction this giant corporation takes will result in profits they could not have made if not for Obamacare.

Big Corp + Big Govt isnt my cup of tea.

You're right... this topic is upside down. ;)
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I will hold back my opinion until the results are in in terms of health outcomes versus cost
 
ocean515 said:
CVS plans to open Urgent Care Clinics in their stores. Selling tobacco products could be seen to conflict with this plan I suppose.

CVS plans for six Minute Clinic locations in New Hampshire, including Concord | Concord Monitor

F.A.Q.
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Here's one worse: We have a Children's Hospital with a McDonald's restaurant in the lobby. To me, a huge conflict and irresponsible.

I love a good (cheep) cheeseburger occasionally myself but think it should be separate from any hospital.
 
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