Price comparisons show best bargains

 By LANEA AUSTIN
Staff Writer

In a comparison of prices between the on-campus Good Neighbor Pharmacy, 32nd Street Market and Ralphs, the local stores most shopped by students for toiletries and other commonly used items, 32nd Street Market proved to be the most affordable.
The comparison consists of such items as deodorant, lotion, shampoo, razors and other items sold in Good Neighbor Pharmacy, which are also available at Ralphs and 32nd Street Market; and the overall opinion of students on their prices and location of places where they are sold.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy, formerly known as USC Pharmacy, is located on the first floor of the Student Union building. It placed second for prices and first for convenience to students, according to the comparison conducted by the Daily Trojan. Ralphs, located on Vermont Avenue and Adams Boulevard is farthest from campus and the most expensive.
"You can't compare us to 32nd Street Market or Ralphs," said Louise Lewis, a retail assistant at Good Neighbor Pharmacy. "We're dealing with chains. They get stuff in bulk quantities at cheaper rates."
"We do try to sell (products) for as little as we can," said Robert Holbrook, director of Good Neighbor Pharmacy. "When I worked at Sav-on (drug store) we could buy thousands of products and sell at cheaper prices, but we just don't have the buying power to do that. We carry a wide selection of generic products (despite) our limited shelf space. Students could shop wisely and buy generic products to save money."
The prices at Ralphs, despite being part of a large supermarket chain, are about 50 cents higher than those at Good Neighbor Pharmacy on items compared. Prices at the 32nd Street Market, which is presumed to be corporately larger than Good Neighbor Pharmacy, are about 25 cents cheaper than items compared.
In the comparison, certain items could not be used due to the fact that each store did not carry the same items. Good Neighbor Pharmacy, for example, only carries Revlon cosmetics.
Julie Beeles, a sophomore majoring in exercise science, considers the pharmacy to be limited in the items it carries. "I only go (to Good Neighbor Pharmacy) to buy stuff like lipstick," she said. "I think the prices are pretty average."
At the pharmacy, Revlon lipstick actually costs $7.25. The 32nd Street Market carries Maybeline brand lipstick for $4.99 and Cover Girl for $4.59. Ralphs offers both brands for $5.59. Neither the pharmacy or Ralphs carry Revlon, but their prices on other lipsticks are almost $2 cheaper than the pharmacy.
Despite cheaper prices at 32nd Street Market, it is not the most convenient for students living on campus, unless the hours are considered. Located in the University Village across Jefferson Boulevard just north of the main campus, it opens from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., which is the longest operating hours of the three stores.
Ralphs is further, and is only convenient for those living in off-campus housing, such as residents of the Menlo Avenue Apartments. It opens at 6 a.m. and closes at midnight.
Good Neighbor Pharmacy rates at the top location wise, regardless of its short-running hours. It opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"I only go to 32nd Street (Market) in case of an emergency," said Elena Carbajal, a junior majoring in business. "(The pharmacy) is more convenient. People say the prices are higher, but its convenience makes up for the prices."
Lewis said, "Our prices are better since we (became) Good Neighbor Pharmacy."
Good Neighbor Pharmacy is just a name established for advertising purposes by the pharmacy wholesaler. "The pharmacy is still owned and operated by USC and the School of Pharmacy," Lewis said.
One factor that differentiates the pharmacy from similar facilities on campus is that students are not exempt from taxes on items sold there except for prescription drugs.
"Teaching pharmacy students is principally why (Good Neighbor is) operating," Lewis said. "When students shop, they are supporting the training of pharmacy students."

Copyright 1998 by the Daily Trojan. All rights reserved.
This article was published in Vol. 135, No. 59 (Wednesday, December 2, 1998), beginning on page 1 and ending on page 6.