Sometimes people have to pay more than the co-payment for prescriptions. This happens if they choose to use a particular brand of medicine listed on the PBS which costs more than another brand of the same medicine. Generally the price of a medicine produced by different manufacturers is set at the same price.

I think smaller chemist’s charge more as they get less business than chemist warehouse. Although sometimes chemist warehouse has actually been more expensive than smaller chemists for non pbs items. The smaller chemist’s usually have better customer service and the pharmacists will usually give you more time to discuss things if needed.

They can price them however they want. Find a cheap one and stick to it I say. Chemist warehouse is our cheapest one

I guess chemists are just like supermarkets and can price their products to suit themselves

I find this frustrating and shouldn’t be such a variation but I guess it’s like fuel 16cent variation today between 4 petrol stations within 7klms of each other

They’re businesses, and they can charge what people will pay.

You can do online prescriptions at Chemist Warehouse and other such discount chemists. I used to do it. You just need to be a bit organised and allow for delivery time before you run out of what you have in the bathroom cabinet

If they are out of patent anyone and make them and they fix the price

Chemist Warehouse has the best prices definitely!

Would love to know why this is, I save almost $100 and month by going to the discount pharmacy

I find chemist wearhouse the cheapest but poor service

It is all to do with the PBS system and greedy pharmaceutical companies and greedy chemists, I lived in the country for a long time and would get my medications when I was in the city where I could get them cheaper, most of my medications I do not like the generics so I pay the premium price for them, but by shopping around and getting to a cheaper pharmacy it does not actually cost much more, but with online chemists now it is getting easier and cheaper to get drugs online at a better price then you only have to buy adhoc meds from the dearer chemists, unfortunately they are a business and out to make money and us being the customer means that we are the ones that the look to, best thing is to google chemists online as there are so many now that do online and many are no postage.

Some pharmacies as greedy as others. Some are content to make a small profit instead of several million. In one shopping centre I can get a prescription and repeat for what another another pharmacy charges for one pack.The one that charges the extra also delayed reducing the price of one on PBS that the price was reduced on. I now always go to Priceline Unlike the other one, they always have what I need in stock.

unfortunately you have to shop around as they are businesses just like shops so they will put what mark up they want on a product. it is annoying but worth asking prices of prescriptions before you buy.

Depends on what deals they have with suppliers and the more they buy the bigger discounts they get so they can pass on to the customers, I’ve worked for many pharmacies over the years and all depends on deals available and how good the reps are.

yes it is just the different companies-middle men- prices. also get quotes and ring them up and sometimes they will price match. they would rather have that money instead of the competitor

I have noticed this too.
Best to shop around if you can

As far as I was aware on concession card they are same price. maybe ask the pharmacy or Medicare?

Some pharmacies are such a rip off. Yes chemist warehouse online is great. But there is a minimum spend to get free delivery. Otherwise next time you go into your local pharmacy ask them if they can match it with chemiswarehouse. I do this àll the time and they always match it., even on over the counter items. Good luck

Thanks for your great response Jillian.:-)
Chemist Warehouse certainly are a whole lot cheaper with all their products, however the free shipping only applies to orders over $99, so not really worth it for a small script or item.