How soon will the changeover from Eckerd to CVS occur??
A. It will take months. The sale is not expected to be completed until late June. CVS does not intend to change the Eckerd name until stores are remodeled. In Florida that job begins this summer but is not expected to be completed until next winter. In other states, the transition will take up to two years. Q. Are prices higher or lower at Eckerd vs. CVS, for drugs and/or other items? A. It depends on what you buy and what your insurance covers. In food and general merchandise at the front of the store, CVS will be switching Eckerd’s pricing strategy away from using promotional loss leaders to attract a crowd while lowering prices on other items. CVS has a loyalty card program that enables shoppers to take advantage of coupon deals without having to clip them and present them at stores. Q. Who are some of the winners and losers in the deal? A. CVS and Coutu acquired the Eckerd stores at a deep discount. Over the past decade, the average drugstore sold for 70 percent of its average sale
