Over the past few decades, the Internet has taken over every aspect of our day-to-day life: from simply ordering food and plane tickets to completing your master’s degree and starting a business online – it is there 24/7, making things simpler, faster and more comfortable for us. It is no wonder that, at some point, even pharmacies decided to go online, wishing to be closer and more accessible to their customers. At first, they were just one-page websites informing visitors of the availability of medicinal products in a particular physical drugstore located nearby. However, they very soon realized they had to be more flexible and multifunctional to accommodate the rapidly changing needs of their clients.
What Does E-pharmacy Business Look Like Today?
E-pharmacies are convenient online platforms where users can shop for and request a door-to-door delivery of various Rx and OTC medications and non-medicinal products. With the uprise of online pharmacies, purchasing the required meds has got a lot easier and stress-free. Locating and ordering any medication today only takes a few quick taps on your smartphone screen and can be done on the go. There is even no need to visit a traditional drugstore to pick up your order; the convenient delivery service will bring it to your doorstep within a short time.
The global E-pharmacy business, which is worth over $33 billion, is booming today. Our shopping patterns are changing all the time, and as people are becoming more tech-savvy, there is an enhanced demand for convenience. Traditional offline pharmacies can no longer meet all the needs and expectations of their customers. We now want to see a wider range of products and services at a more budget-friendly price. We like to have the ability to choose between different drug manufacturers, countries of origin, loyalty programs, shipping terms, etc. We need more accessibility and ease-of-use when we shop for meds. Online pharmacies have it all covered.
Online Canadian Drugstores vs. Brick-and-Mortar Pharmacies
Canada has long welcomed online pharmacies as a convenient, customer-friendly alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar drugstores. More and more people from Canada, the United States, and other countries worldwide are opting to purchase their prescription and over-the-counter meds from online drug retailers registered in CA. Here are a few reasons why this online business is thriving in Canada today:
- Online pharmacies stock a large variety of top-quality generic medications
Apart from branded medications, most online pharmacies provide a vast choice of top-notch non-patented generic meds. Some of the generics sold online can cost up to 90% less than branded medicines purchased in a physical drugstore. For low-income families whose pharmaceutical needs are not covered by insurance, the availability of such affordable alternatives is life-critical. Furthermore, online pharmacies are more likely to have rare and limited-use medicines in stock or be able to access and deliver those quickly to the customer.
- Canadian online pharmacies offer their medicines at very favorable prices
For many people, the greatest benefit and the main attraction point of purchasing drugs from online pharmacies are their competitive prices for prescription-only and over-the-counter medications. Having fewer overhead costs, these pharmacies can distribute the most requested meds at a price, which can sometimes be up to 30% lower compared to what physical pharmacies charge for these same branded drugs.
- Special deals, seasonal sales, and attractive loyalty programs
Online drugstores with a fast-growing clientele can afford to offer their returning and new customers better deals on a variety of medicinal and non-medicinal products. In addition to lower prices, they win customers with promotional deals, seasonal discounts, regular price-cutting offers, and lucrative loyalty programs.
- Customers enjoy more flexibility when purchasing medicines online
In today’s mobile-oriented world where almost everyone has a smart device and a stable Internet connection, it takes one only a few seconds to go online, find a trusted E-pharmacy and order any medications that you might need even if you are on the move. Drugstores operating online offer convenient access to medicinal products and services, along with consultations from qualified health care specialists 24/7, from any device, anywhere in the world. Elderly and disabled people or those who live in remote areas with no physical drugstores around can now easily access any information on diseases and treatments, and order any medicines to be delivered straight to their doorstep.
- Great respect for customers’ privacy and anonymity
If you buy your branded or generic medicines from a trusted and legit online pharmacy, you can be sure your privacy and wish to remain anonymous are respected and duly protected. A reputed pharmacy that does its business on the Internet will never disclose your personal or financial information to any third party. Furthermore, many reputed online drugstores encourage their customers to seek free professional consultation from their online experts before purchasing drugs online. This way, they ensure that people learn all the essential information about a particular medication, its side effects, contraindications, and interactions to make the right choice.
How to Tell a Bona Fide Online Pharmacy from a Fraudulent Drugstore?
The Internet is a highly generous environment for shady drugstore businesses, and it is not always easy to tell whether a particular online pharmacy can be trusted or not. Luckily, there are a few signs that can tell you that you might be dealing with a fake online pharmacy.
So, a reliable and legitimate online pharmacy will always:
- be properly licensed by the country where it is located;
- ask for valid prescriptions for branded prescription-only medications;
- provide all necessary information on the available drugs, manufacturers, shipping terms, additional costs if there are any;
- offer free-of-charge consultations with a licensed health care professional or pharmacist if a customer needs it;
- verify all and any information you provide to it before managing your order;
- keep all and any of their customers’ private and financial information safe and duly protected.
Key Takeaways
The advent of online pharmacies has immensely simplified our lives, relieved us of many time-consuming chores, provided quick access to vital and affordable medicines, and helped us gain more control over the decisions that we make about our health.
Purchasing branded and generic medications from online pharmacies in Canada has many clear advantages; however, there are also a few things to consider if you do not want to get ripped off. Make sure you carefully study all the available information about a particular online drugstore before you place your first order with it.