There is a skin cream that my wife has used ever since her dermatologist gave her a sample several years ago. The cream was very high quality from a dermatological, not just cosmetic, standpoint, so its price was high compared with the lower quality competition. The demand was lower, therefore. Webster's Pharmacy was her source of choice. They always had a few bottles in stock for their custormers who liked the cream, something a Target or Rite Aid would never do.

On her last trip to the Pharmacy she didn't see the cream. She asked and was told their distributor no longer carried it. I did some web research and learned that the manufacturer had slashed their line of products in half -- probably eliminating the lower volume/lower total profit items in order to stay afloat in difficult times. The skin cream was one of the victems.

But now my wife has no reason to visit the Pharmacy regularly! As you know, a visit to any store may have a specific reason to start, but once inside it usually makes sense to pick up a few other things that will save a trip to some other store as well. Indie stores like yours and the Pharmacy always have extra treasures to discover, things one would not make a specific trip to buy, but will take the opportunity to enjoy when the opportunity presents itself. So while we'll certainly need to drop by the Pharmacy from time to time, the main reason that got my wife into the store at regular intervals is gone!

That all said, the good news is I've found something that will get me into YOUR store more frequently! I needed to photocopy some tax documents and visited your store first (because that was where the copiers used to be). I was told that I could have your clerk photocopy the docs for me, but there was a self-service copier at the Pharmacy. Since the docs were personal, fincancial, docs I preferred to do the copying myself next door. In the process of discussing this with your clerk, I noticed that you had printer ink! I have one of those printers that they practically give away to get you to buy overpriced ink. The overpricing of ink is not your fault, and I'm now really glad that I've got a good, speedy, friendly source for it right here in Altadena!!!! I would never have realized this unless I had that initial reason to walk into the store.

PS: Of COURSE I bought some of that delicious chocolate dripped caramel pop corn as well. (see comments in the first paragraph).