Longs Hawaii

[submariner]

I'll check out the Longs stores here in Hawaii while I'm here..

[storewanderer]

The following are supposedly converted to CVS systems:

* 670 Ponahawai Street, Suite 213, Hilo, HI 96720
* 82 Puuhonu Place, Suite 103, Hilo, HI 96720

One of the (maybe not those two; there are two others) Hilo Stores was run by Payless/Rite Aid up until 1998, a few years longer than the rest of the former HI Pay N Saves.

* 2750 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822
* 848 Ala Lilikoi St., Honolulu, HI 96818
* 30 Aulike St., Suite 104, Kailua, HI 96734
* 590 Farrington Hwy. #300, Kapolei, HI 96707
* 66*150 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa, HI 96712
* 70 Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului, HI 96732
* 1900 Main St., Suite 4, Wailuku, HI 96793

[submariner]

I visited the Woodlawn Longs (and bonus Safeway, that's another topic...), and for contrast, the Longs on S. King St.

The "CVS Operated" Longs on Woodlawn had on ly one noticeable difference, which was that the registers use the CVS-style card readers and use the CVS receipt format. Other than that, both stores feature a limited selection of both CVS and Longs products, and theere's no CVS signage visible anywhere.

Photos are being uploaded as we speak.

[Alpha8472]

In the San Francisco Bay Area, some Longs Drugs have already switched to the CVS computer systems. The receipts say CVS.

Has CVS changed its mind and decided to rebrand the Longs Drugs in Hawaii to CVS?

Hawaiians are very attached to the Longs Drugs name. The store has been in Hawaii a long time and has become a Hawaiian institution. The Longs Drugs stores in Hawaii sell many foods and items that you can only find in Hawaii. There are many Hawaiian foods that the locals must have or else they will be up in arms.

[submariner]

Here's the receipts from the non-CVS operated Longs (Left) and the CVS-operated Longs (right). aside from the receipts, both stores are identical in signage and product lineups (mostly Longs items with a few CVS items)

[storewanderer]

Nothing about the Extra Care card in Hawaii either. Were they offering that?

That is a CVS shelf tag under the Longs item.

[submariner]

Nothing about the Extra Care card in Hawaii either. Were they offering that?

That is a CVS shelf tag under the Longs item.

Nope, no mention of ExtraCare.

Funny about the shelf tags... A CVS tag marking the Longs brand and a Longs tag marking the CVS brand.

[Alpha8472]

CVS probably wants to introduce the rewards card as soon as the name changes. They want it seem like the change to the CVS name will bring fabulous reward card savings.

Also, I believe they are raising the Longs product prices.(Hence the new price tag). They want the CVS products to look cheaper than Longs. That way the CVS brand name will have the appearance of being cheaper.

[storewanderer]

They are signing people up for the Extra Care card here at the stores "operated by CVS/pharmacy."

Also, CVS is temporarily not requiring the card for sale pricing until the transition is over in Longs markets. This also applies at original CVS Stores.

However, I went to (former Sav-On) CVS today and bought five items. One was reg price, two were clearance from a clearance rack with old style price gun price tags on them, and two were clearance from the shelf with a 75% off shelf tag. The 75% off ones scanned at the reduced price without the card. However, in order to obtain the discount on the two items from the clearance rack, I had to use my card.

[norcalriteaidclerk]

I just had the urge to google 'hawaii longs drugs ad' and was rather surprised to find that there are still distinctive weekly ads for the Hawaii Longs stores as well as a distinctive slogan still in use('Make Longs a part of your day').Additionally,it appears that the distinctive regional food selection has been kept intact.Other than the occasional CVS private-label items on some pages,you wouldn't suspect anything has seriously changed with the Longs stores(other than the aforementioned POS system conversions and CVS items on the shelves)...