The old admonition that it pays to shop around is never more true than when it comes to prescription drugs.

A friend of mine takes Carvedilol, a blood pressure medication, twice a day. A one-month supply (60 tablets, 12.5 MG) costs him $4 at Target in Auburn, but he decided to move the prescription closer to home, the CVS Pharmacy on Combie Road.

CVS wanted to charge him $41.19–more than 10 times as much–for the same prescription. When asked for an explanation, CVS said it couldn’t explain Target’s pricing. (Since its nearest competition is 10 miles away, I think I can explain CVS’s pricing.)

Ed kept the prescription at Target.