AHF...charitable pharmacy gives to community! "Out of the Closet" bargains galore!

Blair Underwood handsome spokesperson for Pharmacy!

The other day I sauntered into "OUT OF THE CLOSET" to flip through their used-clothing racks.

The  reasons were three-fold, actually.

For starters, the charitable organization is a great shopping outlet for bargains during tough economic times, when expendable cash for a large percentage of the middle-class has stopped up.

Secondly, a purchase at any one of their flourishing outlets, helps fund programs for the needy in the community-at-large.

Also, let’s face it, the gay dudes who donate their cast-offs each season (hardly ever worn) have impeccable taste when it comes to style and bellweather fashion trends.

For a few cents on the dollar, the savvy man-about-town can easily whip a handful of eye-catching array of wardrobe ensembles at a fraction of the cost he’d be forced to fork out at Macy’s or Bloomie’s (Bloomingdale’s).

Style newbies, who don’t have a clue, are welcome to check out a prior post in which I offered up a handful of tips to consider when springing for purchases at second-hand stores such as Goodwill and Out of the Closet.

Post: 01/05/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/01/mens-fashion-tipsthrift-shop-bargains.html

The trip to "Out of the Closet" also introduced me to a helpful service I was totally oblivious to 'til a scant few days ago.

Over the past year, in case you were unaware of it, the charity partnered with AHF Pharmacy.

So, now when you shop at "Out of the Closet", the professional staff at AHF can fill your prescriptions while you're cruising in-between the racks keeping an eagle-eye out for bargains!

AHF (A.I.D.S. Health Foundation) is relatively new on the pharmaceutical scene.

And, unfortunately, there are only a handful of outlets in Florida and California, as I speak.

But, thanks to high-profile individuals such as actor Blair Underwood (who is a spokesperson for their commercials on Bravo TV) their visibility in the community is gaining momentum.

I originally crossed paths with the charismatic actor during a brief stint on LA LAW many moons ago!

And, just recently included the dapper dresser on my prestigious (!) annual Men's Best-Dressed list.

Post:  01/31/09

http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2009/01/julian-ayrs-1st-annual-worst-dressed.html

As to AHF - well - they deliver up a myriad of worthwhile services worth crowing about.

And, at no additional cost to their clients.

Here is a smattering of free services they provide to their client base:


*Prescriptions filled hassle-free.
*Speedy free delivery and shipping (confidential)
*Complimentary handling of paperwork
*Prescription billed to Medicare, Medicaid, Medi-cal & private plans
*Free consultations
*Free bill boxes to ensure clients don’t forget their meds
*Free HIV testing at select sites

Uh-huh!

Clients do not have to be HIV positive (or afflicted with full-blown A.I.D.S.) to take advantage of the services AHF provides free on a daily basis with no strings attached.

Indeed, more often-than-not, AHF staff are at-the-ready to offer up free vitamin samples, gift cards during special promotions (valid at Macy’s, Safeway, etc.) and lots of other freebies.

The day I waltzed in, the staff were not only outgoing and friendly, but anxious to toss a few practical goodies my way.

When I strolled out the door, I was loaded down with a giant container of free muscle-building protein drink, nifty designer water bottle, free vitamin samples, a couple of energy drinks, and - get this - a $25.00 gift card (in exchange for transferring a prescription to their pharmacy).

AHF (in case you were wondering from whence they came) is an affiliate of the non-profit A.I.D.S. Healthcare Foundation.

When you fill a prescription at AHF - 96 cents of every dollar collected - directly funds A.I.D.S. programs and community services domestically and overseas.

The monies generated also help provide cutting-edge HIV medical care regardless of an individual’s ability to pay or not pay.

In a nutshell, the workers at AHF are Angels, in my estimation.

God Bless each and every one!

 

 

http://www.thetattler.biz

CVS...retailer dishonest about sale offers! Staff rude & insulting...

Get ripped off 27/7 at CVS!

One day I trekked down to my regular pharmacy and got a rude awakening.

Much to my chagrin, the corporate giant that runs CVS gobbled up the retail outlet I was loyal to, without so much as a:

"Wham-bam!  Thank you man!"

Like Wal-Mart before it, a CVS invasion into the mainstream marketplace has been making waves across the country .

For the most part, the reaction of consumers has been negative.

Outside one outlet  in Westwood, for example, a posse of activists scrambled to coral  customers as they exited the thriving enterprise with the specific aim of rustling up signatures for a petition seeking to trigger action against CVS (and their evil empire) for allegedly selling confidential medical information gleened from pharmacy records in violation of consumer rights.

Although a lawsuit was also filed against CVS in recent months for allegedly selling expired products on the shelves which posed a potential threat to customers' overall health and well-being (which was quickly settled out-of-court in spite of the fact CVS execs insistered there was no wrong-doing on their part) CVS management has continued to engage in dishonest conduct which may be ripe for litigation, too.

Shopppers have complained to consumer advocates - that after they plucked up sale items from the well-stocked shelves to take advantage of the savings - the original price was charged at the cash register instead of the discounted one advertised.

This past weekend, for instance, I spied two sales I was inclined to act upon.

One, offered regular-size chocolate bars (normally 89 cents each) at the yummy price of two for-a-buck.

Also, ten bottles of vitamin water (which normally retail at $1.69 each) were being offered for a sawbuck.

If  that paper-money jargon has you baffled, just quiz an old-timer at the market for the answer.

Uh-huh!

Ten bucks.

With bargains in hand, I stepped up to the rough 'n tumble line (CVS has the WORST check out system in retail chain hell. The bozo who designed the sucker must have had sh** for brains) snaking down an aisle to await my turn.

The first two items (candy bar snacks) didn't pass muster!

"This one is $1.59," the clerk smirked at me.

I motioned to the counter below where the price (the one I correctly quoted) screamed out in bold black type from a brilliant yellow tag.

"Well, it's a mistake," he responded rudely.

At this juncture, I heard a couple of snickers (no pun intended) from a couple of customers behind me,  who were starting to shift from one leg to another impatiently.

I thought I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, set them aside, and motioned for him to ring up the remaining item.

When he announced the total, I stared back in disbelief.

Something was amiss.

After scannning the receipt, I spied the error right off-the-bat. 

Instead of charging me $1.00 for the Vitmain water, he inputted the sum of $1.99.

When I pointed out the overcharge, he got annoyed with me.

Apparently, a celebrated athlete was tied into a special promotion for the same thirst-quencher.

But, if I recalled correctly, that special was not advertised in the glass refrigerator at the back of the store.

So, I trotted down the aisle and verified that the sale price I was referring to was correct - at which point - I called out for him to check the sale price for himself.

In response, one of his co-workers strode up and took a glance at the offending tag, then retorted:

"We have two sales. You were charged for the other one."

"Well, I want the one that was advertised here," I firmly underscored without batting-an-eye.

Frustrated by the confrontation - and obviously not intelligent or experienced enough to fathom how to resolve the dilemma - he suddenly contradicted himself.

"That sale ended today,"  he replied smugly.

 "So there! Gotcha," he appeared to be saying.

"Sir," (I used the term loosely - after all - he was a seriously overweight twenty-something kid with a spiteful unprofessional attitude) "the law requires that you sell me the item for the avertised price".

Oh, did that get his goat!

To shake things up a bit, I thought I'd throw a little scare in his direction.

"CVS just settled a lawsuit for violating consumer laws. Do you want to be sued again?"

His jaw dropped.

Meanwhile, the line at the counter was bloating-up by the minute.

Boy, were the natives getting  pi**ed.

Suddenly, the little dough-boy yelled out to the cashier in an exasperated tone.

"Give it to him for a buck."

The cashier rang up the charges, I paid, and that was that.

When I headed out the door, I was absolutely floored when I overheard a nasty remark the disgruntled CVS worker uttered up to his co-worke behind my back.

"Because of that a**hole, I have to change all the price tags!"

Well, that was it in a nutshell, wasn't it?

Or, was it?

Why didn't CVS Management instruct staff to strike sale tags as soon as the goods were no longer available at bargain prices?

CVS's failure to inform employees about consumer laws was highly suspicious, too.

After all, pricing errors on advertised sales should be honored without question.

In the case of CVS, it appears that the company is relying on employee igornance (and their failure to disclose) to get them out of a "fix" when they are caught red-handed fudging on sales items to rack up profit.

I was also miffed at the failure of CVS staff to recognize the repercussions of their reprehensible unprofessional conduct, which interrupted the natural flow of things.

For example,when a customer snaps up a sale item and there is an obvious error in price, the clerk is forced to void the charge, then re-calculate the totals, and-so-forth and-so-on (with obvious delays).

In that event - in addition to the purchaser - the customers in line behind are also forced to deal with the frustrations involved, as well.

On the morning in question - boy! - did I face their ire.

The snafu wasn't my fault, but judging from the nasty glances in my direction, you'd think so.

Heck, I just wanted CVS to honor the sale price without having to twist an arm or two.

Fat chance!

Suddenly, something dawned on me today, as I was penning this post.

What does CVS stand for?

It's a secret code, a get-out-of-jail free card, used frequently at the Evil Empire.

Can't Vouch (for) Sale.

http://www.julianayrs.com/

Activate...vitamin drink with new twist!

As I strolled up to the grocery store - a handsome model-type enticed me over to a stand in front of a specialty shop - where an impressive array of beverages in eye-catching colors were laid out.

A hunky guy with a pretty face hawking goods is always a smart marketing idea in a predominantly gay neighborhood; especially in West Hollywood where a bevy of young dudes are constantly on the make!

Worked with me. What can I say, I'm a horn dog!

The healthy drink - "Activate" - has a special twist to it.

Because researchers have allegedly determined that vitamins diminish in strength in liquid water bases over time, the vitamins in "Activate" are tucked away separately in the cap.

As the label notes, ""It's hid in the lid".

After the refreshing water has been iced or refrigerated, a twist of the cap releases the vitamins into the liquid in the container below.

Just shake it up and guzzle it down!

I chose the "Antioxidant" offering - which was not only a thirst quencher - but downright delicious, too.

Just five calories. Imagine that!

Something tells me this little beverage is going to go big around the Nation this summer.

Bottoms up, young man!