Sunday, February 9, 2014
CVS stops selling tobacco products
CVS plans to stop selling cigarettes in October 2014. Read this article for more information: http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/05/health/cvs-cigarettes/index.html. What seems to be their rationale for that? How do you think it might impact their business? Do you think other pharmacies will follow? Does it indicate social responsibility?
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I have not read the article yet but my first thoughts were...what? First we have the president telling us we have to buy insurance we don't want, next we have CVS not selling us what we do want, what is happening? I understand the concept and it was a good thought, for a second. In the end I feel the consumer will actually stand with the smokers on this one it's more about us feeling like we are pushed into thinking like the next guy and losing our choices one by one. I bet their shelves are full of chocolates for Valentines day, obesity kills everyday, wonder when they will stop selling that crap. I personally think it is a bad move.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely see both your points. I don't really agree with cvs not selling cigarettes because to me as a customer you should be able to stop by your local cvs and get whatever you want. Than I see and can understand that they are not your local Wal-Mart. I personally don't smoke so it will not effect me either way but if it is about not selling something because it is unhealthy they got a lot more items that are just as unhealthy and have high health risk .I will look forward to seeing how this plays out Maybe CVS will change more things in their store to benefit our health. I don't think every store will follow because it will to much of a risk.
ReplyDeleteBeing a pharmacy chain selling tobacco products really doesn't seem to be a health conscious decision in the first place. I am a smoker and was surprised to be able to purchase at a pharmacy. I do believe that other pharmacies such as CVS will follow. I don't believe that Walmart will share in this action. Even though they have a pharmacy in the store it seems so separate from the major food chain they represent. Not selling tobacco products should not impact their business at all. I think it is just an added bonus for customers to buy them their. I don't believe that their intention when they shop at CVS is to make that kind of purchase. This action shows social responsibility as they are looked at in relation to the health care industry. The products they sell should promote good health. I think this was a wise decision on their part. One other company comes to mind is Walgreens. They sell tobacco products. They may decide to follow this social responsibility way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteWhile CVS has a pharmacy, it is in no way different from Kroger, Walmart, or Walgreens. They all offer pharmacy services alongside convenience items, groceries, home supplies, and photo development. According to recent calculations, they stand to lose 2 million dollars a year in revenue from a loss of tobacco sales. While this decision may be socially responsible, I am not sure that it will be a permanent change. They may decide to sell tobacco again depending on what happens after they discontinue selling. Not only do they stand to lose 2 billion from tobacco, but also all of the revenue gained from other products purchased by the tobacco consumer. The tobacco consumer will go else where to purchase all of their items so that they do not have to shop several places to obtain all that they need.
ReplyDeleteMaybe CVS wants to be more than just a pharmacy!
ReplyDeleteOne of the hardest things to do as an individual, let alone a well known business and company, is to promote and maintain a set of values. As Jon Stewart once said, "If you don't stick to your values when they're being tested, they're not values. They're hobbies."
ReplyDeleteI am not a smoker and I never will be. The issue at hand is not making cigarettes illegal, if it was then this would be an entirely different discussion. As others have pointed out, you can still easily purchase cigarettes elsewhere.
This is CVS making the conscious decision that they don't wish to sell cigarettes, products that have long since been proven to have no real positive health value at all, alongside the various products and medication they sell. It's not so much a business decision as one about their personal integrity as a company.
I support their decision. Not just because I don't personally agree or like smoking, but because they have as much of a right to not sell cigarettes as other people have to smoke them in the first place.
Cvs is showing that just because they are a business that it can be health over profit. That or cigarettes where their bottom product and did it to cut cost. Either way good for them.
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