Buying diapers at pharmacies?

EdwardTheDL1998

EdwardTheDL1998

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  1. Diaper Lover
Hey there, people.
How many of you buy diapers at pharmacies, and how do you go about it?

Personally, I've bought pull-ups n' stuff from standard convenience stores- But never have I ever bought diapers in a pharmacy.
I don't wear for medical reasons, so I am not sure if I should buy in a pharmacy.
(I usually buy online, but my options for that are limited for the next bit of time.)
 
I can't really advise it anymore unless you can find a non-chain pharmacy with some better products than the chains carry. Once upon a time, you could conceivably get adequate diapers that way but you're not likely to find anything very satisfying. There are many more delivery options than were once available. You can often get products sent to be held at shipping stores or at some retail stores. It's worth checking into.
 
Trevor said:
I can't really advise it anymore unless you can find a non-chain pharmacy with some better products than the chains carry. Once upon a time, you could conceivably get adequate diapers that way but you're not likely to find anything very satisfying. There are many more delivery options than were once available. You can often get products sent to be held at shipping stores or at some retail stores. It's worth checking into.
Click to expand...

Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your answer.
Currently, I am just having issues with ordering online, as it's harder to conceal large packages from those who I live with.
When I once in a while buy some cheap pull-ups from convenience stores, it's much easier to hide them as I'd just use my backpack, and go buy them after school or something.
To me, my question is more about the actual process of buying diapers, than if I can find something that has great value, etc. I have seen Tena slips, etc. In pharmacies before, so that'd do fine I suppose.
Would you say it's "weird" buying diapers in pharmacies? Have you tried doing so, and if so- How did you go about it? I usually get stupid nervous when buying in stores, so I don't know if there are any good tips against that?

Anyhow, thanks for your insight, it is much appreciated.
 
I read your post last night but didn't get to respond until now. I'd wondered if that was the crux of your question!

Yes, it's obviously a more intimate environment. But I bought my very first diapers at a CVS and went on to buy Depends (when they were still half respectable) at various pharmacies when they were on sale. For me, it helped if the person behind the counter was an older woman. Guess I figured she'd be less judgmental. I was also very conscious of the number of people in the store, as I preferred to be the only person in line. If you have 24-hour pharmacies, shopping late at night or early in the morning would do the trick. Otherwise, just take a deep breath and do it. Tell yourself you're buying test strips for your glucose meter. Or condoms. Or extra strength headache medicine. They are all health aids and one wasn't made superior to the others. Trust me, over time your comfort level will improve. I recently bought a bag of Depends Real Fit Maximum pull-ups at a grocery store with people all around me, and have been buying Assurance Belted Shields at Wal-Mart for years. I also regularly bought Rite-Aid's really excellent store brand unisex pull-ups...until they got redesigned. Grr.

Hope that helps.
 
Pharmacy and medical supply stores are the preferred method vs. Online for me. I travel about a 100 mile radius for work and have found some really good spots that are *just far enough* away from home.

I'd rather confront one person in a store that doesn't know/doesn't care about me versus the possibility of discreet packaging tear on display for my local shipping person and whole neighborhood. I walk in confidently and don't go out of my way to make up stories nor say they're for me. They can make their own assumptions or not, don't care. I have a strong presence of Tranquility in my area but have scored major finds over the years in Molicare, Abena Abriform and other "premium" brands.
 
If I need them, I just go buy them. Even though most of them are awful. XD

The people working there really don't care at all. It's just another purchase.

I've only had one checkout person comment on something I was buying and the only one of us embarrassed was her. (I was getting MLP figures and she assumed they were for a gift for a kid and I said "Oh, no. They're mine. I still have all of the ones I had when I was a kid in the 80's.")
 
I usually buy my Diapers at pharmacies since I really can't order online. They are passable quality for a decent price, so I just go in and get them. I've never had any problems. One memorable experience was when I was standing in line with 3 other people in front of me and 2 of them each had packs of baby diapers. What are the chances, lol
 
I used to order at my local pharmacie but they're really expensive. Then I switched brands and bought them from the factory, but they quickly reduced quality and were not tat cheap as they let people believe either.
So now I order them online, it's crazy to order online from germany to get them cheaper than get them here locally....
 
EdwardTheDL1998 said:
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your answer.
Currently, I am just having issues with ordering online, as it's harder to conceal large packages from those who I live with.
When I once in a while buy some cheap pull-ups from convenience stores, it's much easier to hide them as I'd just use my backpack, and go buy them after school or something.
To me, my question is more about the actual process of buying diapers, than if I can find something that has great value, etc. I have seen Tena slips, etc. In pharmacies before, so that'd do fine I suppose.
Would you say it's "weird" buying diapers in pharmacies? Have you tried doing so, and if so- How did you go about it? I usually get stupid nervous when buying in stores, so I don't know if there are any good tips against that?

Anyhow, thanks for your insight, it is much appreciated.
Click to expand...
I understand your question better now. Thanks for the clarification! It is not weird at all to buy diapers (adult or otherwise) at a pharmacy. However, it can feel weird. I started buying as a kid and there were times I would go with that intent that in just couldn't make myself do it.

Even as an adult, there were a few times when I'd go to buy and people would be in that aisle and I'd wander and come back to find someone else there. Then I'd feel like I was in the store too long buying nothing and I'd leave in frustration. I understand that anxiety but maybe it would have helped to have someone tell me I was being ridiculous. They want people to buy diapers or whatever they sell. Unless the person in your way is someone you know, it is of no consequence.

It took me years to reach this level of indifference but I hope you can get there sooner. It's a fear with no reasonable basis.
 
EdwardTheDL1998 said:
Firstly, I'd like to thank you for your answer.
Currently, I am just having issues with ordering online, as it's harder to conceal large packages from those who I live with.
When I once in a while buy some cheap pull-ups from convenience stores, it's much easier to hide them as I'd just use my backpack, and go buy them after school or something.
To me, my question is more about the actual process of buying diapers, than if I can find something that has great value, etc. I have seen Tena slips, etc. In pharmacies before, so that'd do fine I suppose.
Would you say it's "weird" buying diapers in pharmacies? Have you tried doing so, and if so- How did you go about it? I usually get stupid nervous when buying in stores, so I don't know if there are any good tips against that?

Anyhow, thanks for your insight, it is much appreciated.
Click to expand...


hmm, kinda missed that one, since you're also from EU, things might be more like in my country, so I'll go ove rthe process how i had to do.
Over here you go either to a norma local pharmacy, or a "bandagist", which is a more specialised orthopedic and incontinence shop.
With both you have to go and ask what you want atthe counter, since I was and still am too shy to ask this outloud (especially when people from my village are there too for non IC related products), I just place a note with the required item.
The person at the counter takes it then and with a normal pharmacy they usually have to order it. This can take from 12h (for items that are sold more frequent) to 3 days (for brands like abena that are uncommon). For Abena however I also have to buy per box, not per bag. If this quantity is too much for you its best to ask which brand you can get per bag.

When picking the order up, I always bring a duffel bag since it's large enough.
Sinc there are many people in the shop they prefer to give the order in the side area, since its easier for big stuff and more discrete, this differs with every pharmacy of course, and with orthopedic shops they just give it over the counter.
Nowadays a lot of pharmacies have the option to order online and have you pick it up at their shop when it's there.
 
a large chine pharmacy store in my town has a self service checkout so I used them but I have gone into a smaller pharmacy and brought some. just try to act as you normally would
 
I’ve been buying diapers and related supplies in pharmacies since 1999. Initially, I only went to places away from home late at night. Now? I don’t much care. I buy my diapers at a wonderful local independent pharmacy. I was leaving Target one evening with a big box of Pampers wipes. I ran into my sister; who naturally asked “why are you buying baby wipes?” I told her “we’re buying stuff for a young and struggling single mom at work.”
 
i buy my diapers at pharmacies here in norway and i have did it before and after medical reasons but when i order then they ship it home to me for free and discret and i paying almost nothing because i have reciept from my doctor, i pay just a little a year and i pay only up to about 277 us dollar or 2369 norwegian kroner (NOK) then all is free for rest of year
 
Former times - maybe 30 year ago, when I used diapers just for fun, I bought also my first diapers I a pharmacy for one simple reason: this was the only place to get them. How ever - I was really happy when the first online suppliers opened there internet shops for a couple of reason. First of all they where much cheaper then a pharmacy and more over I don’t get a consulting if I don’t want ones (I really had some funny experiences over the time with these pharmacist...).

Meanwhile I need diapers and pads and get them from an supplier of the health insurance. How ever, I’m traveling a lot. So I have buy them again from time to time somewhere, if I don’t wont to carry them with me. But luckily you will get them meanwhile also in a drugstore or a supermarket and don’t have to pay the phantasie prices that some pharmacy still have anymore ...
 
Tbh i have never brought from a pharmacy. But if you find it difficult to buy nappies online this would be the only option. I don't really ware that much now due to the fact i have gone through that stage it was nice at the time but never could go 24/7.
 
That's how I bought my first adult diapers, in the Nineties, when there were no other options available. At first I'd go to ordinary drugstores like Walgreens, but I wouldn't use the one in my neighborhood - I'd use one several miles away where I was unlikely to run into anyone I knew. Upon arrival I'd do a quick walk-through of the aisles, scanning to be sure no one I knew was there, before going to the incontinence section. I'd then buy a bag of Attends or Depends or Walgreens store brand - none of these are any good but it's all we had at the time - and head for for the cashier. I had prepared a cover story - these are for my grandmother who recently had a stroke - but no one ever asked so I never used it. I'd ask the cashier for a bag, which was usually just thin plastic, but it provided a little bit of concealment, enough to get the product to my car where I would put it in the trunk. Then I'd smuggle it into my apartment building (where most of the neighbors knew me) in either a gym bag or a thick black Hefty bag.

Later, I started going to specialist drugstores. Walgreens had "Walgreens Home Medical" shops at three or four locations around Chicago which had a much better selection of products intended for long-term care, and this included a much better incontinence selection. I was able to get some better brands of disposable diapers (I don't remember which), and also plastic pants and cloth diapers that resembled the ones I'd used in childhood. At one point an employee offered assistance as I was standing by the shelves making selection, but I managed to get out of that without too much embarrassment and without having to say who the product was for. Eventually, though, I was getting used to it, and just told another cashier that I was a lifelong bed-wetter.

Walgreens eventually closed their "home medical" shops, after which I used small independent drugstores, in the 2000s. These had even better selection, brands like Molicare and Tranquility and Tena. The staff were always helpful and cheerful, obviously used to dealing with people with medical needs and seeing nothing odd about a young man purchasing diapers. Although I was paying cash they wanted a name and email address for the receipt, so I made something up and used it consistently.

These days I don't bother with drugstores, though; their products are inferior to what I can get in the mail from ABU and Northshore and Tykables.
 
The chain pharmacies (Walgreen, CVS, etc...) only tend to carry Depend and their store brand. The fitted briefs are passable in these at best.
Some independent pharmacies might actually stock some better brands (Tena or the like). You can always call around and ask. Many will be willing to special order what they can get.
 
I buy mine in a pharmacy i go with the attend plastic back
 
The cashiers don't care. They see people buy them everyday from all different walks of life. Buy them wherever you want and trust me, they really don't care.
 
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One time I bought from smaller pharmacy and the thing wouldn't scan. Cashier yells across the store to the pharmacist in the back holding them up asking how much they were. Talk about major embarrassing. At least the store was empty besides me and the staff.
 
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