[Serious] What Is Considered Scalping?

exit on 24/03/2020 - 20:24

Hi guys,

I am able to source high quality surgical/N95 face masks from a supplier China (not available in or shipped to Australia at all) but I honestly can't be bothered with a full time job. How much would you pay for a single, sealed, N95 mask straight from a factory? I have no plans on price gouging or even selling the masks in the first place but considering the crazy high demand for them, I thought it might be a good opportunity if to provide these at a reasonable/low price (e.g. cheaper than stores before the pandemic)

Thanks, and ready for the roasts?

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • toniyellow on 24/03/2020 - 20:40
    +1

    I last paid 55 cents a mask
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/504510, during a bushfire crisis.
    From a WHS supplier, certified to Australia NZ standards.

    Its a pandemic now, so demand global but fear of counterfeits or scams from an unknown seller, unknown manufacturer also high

    Whats your benchmark for

    cheaper than stores before the pandemic

    ?

    • exit on 24/03/2020 - 20:50

      Will be a legitimate manufacturer. Know someone in Asia who has fluent English and translates medical supplements for his job, who will be able to convey this.

      Edit: Looked at your listing and althought it seems ridiculously cheap (hence 350 upvotes), it seems like everyone has received masks that are already expired or are expiring in a few months. Not sure if that is a valid price comparison…

      • Debuting on 24/03/2020 - 21:38

        Ouch yeah. That's what happens when you go for fulfilled by Amazon products. Sometimes there are even fakes.

      • toniyellow on 24/03/2020 - 23:29

        Mine expire 2022.
        https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/9300/78223/20200324_23…

        That deal got 8304 clicks through to Amazon.

        If less than 1% got old stock and got refunds through live chat - not awful.

      • Zachary on 25/03/2020 - 03:09
        +1

        it seems like everyone has received masks that are already expired or are expiring in a few months

        What?! Pffft, masks don't expire…..how can it even expire??!!

    • markathome on 24/03/2020 - 21:03

      I could be tempted to $2 just for the lulz.

  • kahn on 24/03/2020 - 20:48
    +1

    How much would you pay

    About tree fiddy.

  • ihbh on 24/03/2020 - 20:50

    You probably have 2 customer segments. Asians (and some non Asians) who value wearing masks and the rest.

    The second group wouldn't pay much, but the first might. What the second group thinks is irrelevant to you if you your skin is thick enough.

    I doubt you'll be able to sell to the medical community.

    • exit on 24/03/2020 - 20:53

      Saw an ebay listing who had 45 bulk box sales since 2pm today… demand is there I guess. But I heard of some sellers getting taken down before others.

  • Ughhh on 24/03/2020 - 20:58

    Probably Something similar to the more common ticket scalping

    • exit on 24/03/2020 - 21:00

      Tickets are high cost (hundreds of dollars) so even at 10%, one ticket will earn $20-40…

  • Debuting on 24/03/2020 - 21:36

    A lot of the store owners I know personally are able to import them including shipping costs for around $1.5 for surgical mask, KF94 for $5, 3M-1860 $9.

    What are you able to get supply at?

    I'm seriously concerned the venture you have described. I know you can get it for ~1.8 RMB for a surgical mask in China, that might be N95 but it's getting them out that is the problem. You need to pay someone that is well connected. You could end up getting scammed along the way or having them confiscated as there is a law that allows them to forcibly seize property for the purposes of combating the virus. At least from what I know about in Guangdong.

    I think I missed him before 9PM when I think he must have gone to sleep. Oh well, awaiting your response. I should get more rest to boost my immune system. Off to bed for me too.

  • dscott85 on 24/03/2020 - 22:11
    +3

    Sounds like profiteering - ie. the act or activity of making an unreasonable profit on the sale of essential goods especially during times of emergency…

    • Diji1 on 25/03/2020 - 00:10
      +3

      Sounds like the free market working the way it was meant to and failing.

  • dtxau on 24/03/2020 - 23:05
    +4

    Please do not be like @hellopam2019 for this topic

  • screensaver on 25/03/2020 - 06:28

    Unless you have a way to sell them, dont bother. You will be accused of profiteering and not allowed to sell on usual channels

  • Temjin on 25/03/2020 - 12:12
    +1

    It's crazy. Why is selling imported masks from China is considered "immoral" or "profiteering" from time of crisis? But if you make them yourself and selling them is perfectly ok? (which is impossible in Australia due to lack of raw materials and machines)

    There is enough talk out there that says surgical mask DO HELP to reduce the overall community transmission and flatten the curve. SE Asia countries have been doing it for decades and have proven again that it works with the latest one. Ignore the western medical experts because most of them have NIL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE in dealing with pandemics, experts in SE Asia do because they have faced it several times.

    And what are we doing? Banning selling of surgical masks to the public because it creates fear, it is immoral and it is profiteering from tragedy?

    How are front line staff going to get their PPE supplies if their hospitals wouldn't issue them (or wouldn't let them wear them) and if no one can sell to them?

    I see people keeping arguing here that if you are selling ABOVE NORMAL MARKET VALUE (before the crisis), then you are price gouging. This is absolutely BS. Do you even know the market price for the critical raw material, MELTBLOWN POLYURETHNA FABRIC are going for per ton in China now? And how much they have increased in the past few weeks and why? Mask making factories in China CAN'T HELP to increase their price if the raw material suppliers have increased theirs. And why retailers cannot raise their prices because their input cost has massively increased?

  • screensaver on 25/03/2020 - 12:21
    -2

    And Ebay is making an uneven playing field by allowing some to sell and not others like me who bought them there and pay store fees and have been a reliable and trusted seller. My shipment of 700 3 ply disposable masks has just arrived and although I bought them there I cant sell them there in smaller units. Now I have to come up with some other way to get my money back.

    • Temjin on 25/03/2020 - 12:40
      +1

      And the very moment you try to sell them even at COST price, people will argue you are profiteering in time of crisis? I guess people are expecting them to be given way to health staff for free. (in fact, I bet most are thinking like that atm)

      • screensaver on 25/03/2020 - 12:46

        A lady at the post office asked me where I got mine from and bought 2 off me the other day, $1 each. She was very happy

  • kazuyamishima on 25/03/2020 - 13:31

    Hydrogen peroxide 200ml bottles were $4 each at Woolworths, now I've seen some scalpers selling each bottle for $45 at eBay

    • Temjin on 25/03/2020 - 13:42

      Now that's price gouging, reselling local stock at high price.

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