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FAQs

Q. Why is your website called www.strandarcadepharmacy.co.nz when your physical place of business is Belmont Pharmacy?

A. Belmont Pharmacy has been owned & operated by NZ Pharmacists Allan & Kathryn Pollock since 1989.
They purchased the online Strand Arcade Pharmacy website in March 2012.
Click here for more information & a photo of us.
For more information about us see us at www.belmontpharmacy.co.nz 

Q. How long has Belmont Pharmacy been in operation?

A. Since 1989 

Q. How long has the www.strandarcadepharmacy.co.nz website been in operation?

A. Since 2002 

Q. Are all your orders delivered freight free?

A. Yes - All shipping is at our expense.
Note - Any additional charges (e.g. Customs Duty) are at your expense 

Q. How are you able to offer free shipping?

A. We use Quantium Solutions Global Mail which is an untracked, international air mail service that we have found to be very reliable for delivering to our overseas customers.

Q. How are our orders delivered?

A. Your order will be delivered by the local Post Service in your Country
NZ - NZ Post
Australia - Australia Post
USA - USPS - United States Postal Service
Great Britain - Royal Mail

Q. How long before I receive my order?

A. New Zealand (via NZ Post) - 1 to 5 days.
Australia (via Australia Post) - 3 to 7 days.
Asian countries - 8 to 11 days.
Canada - 12 to 21 days.
India - 11 - 20 days.
European countries - 7 to 12 days.
United Kingdom (via Royal Mail) - 7 to 12 days
United States of America (via USPS) - 6 to 11 days.

Q. What might my parcel be delayed?

A. Orders can be held up at Customs at the port of entry to your Country.
Parcels must be cleared by your Country's Customs Department BEFORE entering your Country's Postal Service.
Sometimes an interception of your parcel by Customs may FURTHER slow your delivery time down.

If you have not received your parcel within 14 working days from receipt of your order confirming e-mail please contact us @ belmontpharmacy@xtra.co.nz

Q.Can I buy prescription medicines from your pharmacy?

A. No.
We can not provide medicines to you that are designated prescription medicines here in New Zealand. The regulations that we operate under state that we may not dispense New Zealand prescription medicines unless prescribed by a New Zealand registered doctor. If you have a prescription from a New Zealand registered doctor then we can dispense your medications to you. However a medicine requiring a prescription in your country may not require one here in New Zealand.

Q. How will I know if a medicine requires a prescription or not?

A. The easiest way to find out is to send us a short note at info@strandarcadepharmacy.co.nz and we will advise you as soon as possible without obligation. We do not offer prescription medicines for sale without a New Zealand written prescription so anything you see here on this web site does not require a prescription in New Zealand unless we state otherwise.

Q. I've heard of cheaper medicines called “generics”. What are generic medicines?

A. When a medicine first comes to the market it is protected by a patent. This means that no one can copy the medicine for as long as the patent life. Once the patent runs out the medicine can be legally copied. These copied medicines are commonly known as generics. Generically copied medicines are usually cheaper than original branded medicines. eg. RAZENE is a generic copy of ZYRTEC and LORA-TABS is a generic copy of CLARATYNE/CLARATIN. Click here for a table of generic and original medicines available from Strand Arcade Pharmacy.

Q. Are generic medicines just as good as original medicines?

A. In New Zealand the governing regulatory body, Medsafe requires that for a medicine to be registered here it must satisfy a stringent testing process. New Zealand registered generic medicines must be of the same strength and have the same bioavailability profile as the original medicine. The regulation of medicines here in New Zealand is designed to ensure high quality, safe and effective medicines. Every step from manufacture, wholesaler, pharmacy to end user is regulated for safety and quality. You can take New Zealand generic medicines with confidence in their safety and effectiveness.

Q. Will my generic medicine look exactly the same as the original branded medicine I take?

A. No, the outward physical appearance will be different but the content of the generic medicine will be the same as the original branded medicine.

Q. Why are New Zealand medicines so cheap?

A. In New Zealand most medicines are subsidised by the New Zealand government as part of our national health scheme. The tendering process in place here has driven prices down to rock bottom levels and has caused the prices of medicines to be out of alignment with most modern, developed countries.

Q. Some medicines look like our brand at home. Is it the same medicine by another name?

A. Well that depends on what we are talking about. For example the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline market the anti-allergic nasal spray FLONASE in the U.S.A. and FLIXONASE 24 HOUR in New Zealand. These two products from the same company are identical except for the trade name.

If you would like more information and to compare prices please contact us at info@strandarcadepharmacy.co.nz