Chemist Warehouse is truly one of those feel-good Aussie success stories. From a few pharmacies to a global powerhouse brand, one could be mistaken into thinking they’ve achieved it all.
However, they are celebrating another achievement today after discovering the exact threshold a human being will endure for the promise of a cheaper price on their prescriptions.
Chemist Warehouse are absolute pros when it comes to pushing its customers as close to breaking point as possible with amazing initiatives like: sensory overload on the neon price tags, a small waiting area that makes you constantly feel like you’re in someone’s way, long prescription wait times to force you to venture out into the cattle herding aisles and of course, loud repetitive ads blasting your ears.
We spoke to a consumer behaviour expert who said the discovery was likely worth more than all the medicine they sell. Adding,
“Since the start of commerce, brands have been testing the limits of the human spirit to shop with them – the question on every major retailer’s lips is what circle of consumer hell will we drag ourselves through for $30 off a prescription, well Chemist Warehouse have found that exact upper limit”
Speculation as to why they do this is often a mystery to the consumer but one only has to understand that watching poors squirm is the cornerstone of aggressive capitalism. In short, it’s funny.
We spoke to a bloke who recently went in to get a private script that would’ve cost him close to a $100 at a smaller chemist. He told The Times,
“Normally I wouldn’t step foot in one of those places. Frankly, they are just too much but given the cost of living I thought a $30 saving was worth it. Christ almighty, it was like a fever dream mixed with a bad acid trip”
Other retailers will no doubt be making handsome offers to Chemist Warehouse to obtain some of their data. With IKEA reportedly offering the biggest bucks.
Love that for us.
Documenting the Human Zoo is thirsty work, so if you enjoyed what you read how about buying Belle a beer, ay?