An Australian traveler has shared some of the most unusual quirks she encountered while visiting a pharmacy in the United States.
Entrepreneur Ali Clarke has been in the United States this week to introduce her Bondi Blades brand to the American market.
The mother went shopping at a CVS pharmacy at 10pm and was amazed at some of the things she found.
“Today I had my first experience in American pharmacy, and let me tell you it was very revealing,” he said in a TikTok video.
“So many cosmetic brands and so many mini samples of things you can try.
“But what I found most strange was that basic things like hair care and body washing were closed.
“You should literally push a button for customer service to help you get those products out.”
In the video, Ali walked down a hallway full of shower gels, body lotions, hair and skin care products, which were locked inside a glass cabinet.
News.com.au understands that the measure is to curb theft. As a spokesman for the US pharmacy Walgreens said in a statement on the use of locked glass cabinets, that the measure was “quite simple: we close things to prevent theft.”
Australian supermarkets have done the same in recent times, but for more serious reasons.
Earlier this year it was reported that some select Coles and Woolworths stores were closing deodorant cans to “minimize damage” and “misuse” the product.
The items can be used to “blow,” which is when cans of aerosols and deodorants are intentionally inhaled, with butane causing a short-term but potentially fatal discharge.
Ali also noted another big difference between pharmacies in Australia and the United States, with CVS with great bulk buying products as well as ice cream and wine.
“They sell oversized products that we don’t have in Australia,” he said.
“It was also strange, they sold clothes and souvenirs. It is also literally a supermarket, selling ice cream and alcohol.
“How good that is! You have to show your ID and they let you go through a gate.
“I literally waited 30 minutes in a queue at 10pm and got wine and tampons.”