Could Your Next Drug Store Be In Canada?
Posted: 5:26 p.m. PST February 26, 2003Updated: 7:05 a.m. PST April 3, 2003
One of the latest medical trends could soon be challenging the local corner pharmacy for your business.
It's happening now in Florida where senior citizens have grown to love Earl Turow, owner of Discount Drugs. Turow founded his company in Delray Beach, Fla., but it really does business in Canada, where the exchange rate and socialize medicine makes the American dollar go farther.
Turow takes his elderly customers' often high-priced prescriptions and orders their drugs online from Canadian pharmacies.
"We get an average of 300 customers a day in here," Turow said in his Florida headquarters. "When they found out that our prices are at least 20 to 80 % cheaper than they can get in here in America, they are thrilled to death. "
Just ask Ralph Williams.
"Well because my medications are very high," said Williams of why he shops with Turow. "I take quite a few of the medications and some of them are very expensive."
One drug maker is fighting back. Glaxo-SmithKlein is the first drug giant to cut off Canadian drug wholesalers or retailers who sell to American distributors.
"They haven't asked us, they told us not to ship to these pharmacies or else they will shop shipping to us," said Laurie Gauthier, a Canadian drug wholesaler.
But Turow has promised to fight for his customers' rights.
"They hope that we don't get shut down and if we do they are going to rise up and fight it," he said.
Turow says he's franchised three operations in southern California's Cochella Valley and rumors have a whole chain of such centers opening soon here in the Bay Area.
People here can call them or email Discount Drugs. The company's information is:
Phone: 1-800-999-0598
Fax: 1-888-716-5656
Website: www.discountdrugsofcanada.com
Email: forms@discountdrugsofcanada.com
Turow takes his elderly customers' often high-priced prescriptions and orders their drugs online from Canadian pharmacies.
"We get an average of 300 customers a day in here," Turow said in his Florida headquarters. "When they found out that our prices are at least 20 to 80 % cheaper than they can get in here in America, they are thrilled to death. "
Just ask Ralph Williams.
"Well because my medications are very high," said Williams of why he shops with Turow. "I take quite a few of the medications and some of them are very expensive."
One drug maker is fighting back. Glaxo-SmithKlein is the first drug giant to cut off Canadian drug wholesalers or retailers who sell to American distributors.
"They haven't asked us, they told us not to ship to these pharmacies or else they will shop shipping to us," said Laurie Gauthier, a Canadian drug wholesaler.
But Turow has promised to fight for his customers' rights.
"They hope that we don't get shut down and if we do they are going to rise up and fight it," he said.
Turow says he's franchised three operations in southern California's Cochella Valley and rumors have a whole chain of such centers opening soon here in the Bay Area.
People here can call them or email Discount Drugs. The company's information is:
Phone: 1-800-999-0598 Fax: 1-888-716-5656
Website: www.discountdrugsofcanada.com
Email: forms@discountdrugsofcanada.com
Copyright 2003 by KTVU.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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