Cheap Face-Mask Bargains - Should They Be Allowed?

lysp on 19/07/2020 - 15:29
Last edited 19/07/2020 - 15:43

Starting to get a few of these "deals" flow through now.

There were a heap of non-standard / cheap masks created at the beginning of the pandemic and now places are trying to dump all their excess stock.

Most aren't worth the paper they are printed on.

I suggest adding a few rules:

  • Material masks fine
  • Masks that meet Australian standards AS 4381:2015 (Single-use face masks for use in health care)
  • Masks that are sold by an official medical supply company in Australia (this will obviously meet point 2 by default)

I suggest anything that doesn't meet the above rules should be banned.

Places should not be rewarded for both flogging off cheap masks and offloading excess stock. There is also nothing saying they will provide any protection for health purposes which is why people are buying them.

Site Discussion Surgical Mask

Comments

  • Melb69 on 19/07/2020 - 15:41
    +1

    There should just be a separate category for it, so I don't see one every time I refresh new deals. Ppl can make their own choice on if it's a good deal or not. Mods can one be set up just for the current Pandemic. Scrubbed in a few years.

  • Rukiata on 19/07/2020 - 15:41
    +4

    This.
    Cheap, s-it masks are not a bargain. they are a scam.

    Also i dont have any masks, how and where do i get them? i barely go out anyway but i need some in case i do

  • shaybisc on 19/07/2020 - 15:55
    +1

    "Most aren't worth the paper they are printed on." Says who?

    Cloth Masks May Prevent Transmission of COVID-19: An Evidence-Based, Risk-Based Approach

    https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-2567

    • Helmuth on 20/07/2020 - 17:41

      Check some of the Amazon reviews. On some of the cheapies, the ear loops are glued on in a shoddy fashion, and come off as soon as you try and put them on.

  • netjock on 19/07/2020 - 16:39
    +2

    As OP correctly pointed out. There is legit bargains and there is stuff that looks like a bargain but isn't.

  • whooah1979 on 19/07/2020 - 18:23
    -4

    Cheap Face-Mask Bargains - Should They Be Allowed?

    It isn’t unlawful to sell cheap face masks. So yes, we should allow members to post cheap face mask deals.

    • lysp on 19/07/2020 - 18:26
      +1

      I believe it's unlawful to make medical claims about them.

      So they are being sold as a "fashion device" (similar to fashion glasses that are useless).

      • whooah1979 on 19/07/2020 - 19:29
        -1

        Cheap face masks are lawful as long as they're aren't advertised as being approved by <insert government department>. List them as beauty, hygiene, personal care, health care, anti-dust, breathable face masks.

  • AlphaSquid1604 on 04/08/2020 - 21:23
    +3

    After the ZebraIndustries post. I definitely think mask post need more verified information to qualify to be published.

    So many people could be in it for a quick profit rather than actually protecting the community.

    At a bare minimum standards that need to be included in the post and any registered TGA approved certification/accreditation that can be properly traced back.

    All good if the mask are considered non-medical use but that should be in the post and OP needs to be upfront.

  • Sleepycat3 on 07/08/2020 - 10:09

    My comments:

    Material masks fine
    - Yes, I agree with this requirement that the material be of good quality.

    Masks that meet Australian standards AS 4381:2015 (Single-use face masks for use in health care)
    - I disagree with this as we are looking for masks which keep your aerosols from breathing or coughing to yourself. The AS4381:2015 includes fluid resistance which we don't need unless you live in an area where there is a chance that people will spit in your face. Masks in this AS are meant to do 2 things. Keep breathing aerosols to the wearer and prevent accidental spurts of bodily fluid or blood from penetrating the surgeon/doctor/nurse's face. We don't need this 2nd feature and these AS4381:2015 should be reserved for healthcare workers.

    Masks that are sold by an official medical supply company in Australia (this will obviously meet point 2 by default)
    - Same reason as point 2, we don't need to deplete supply of masks which our healthcare workers would need and hospitals would primarily go to official medical supply companies first. If those companies are unable to supply, then they are forced to go for cheap crappy masks, which put healthcare workers at risk.

  • alvian on 13/08/2020 - 17:27

    The mask on the default avatar looks fine.

    • sss333 on 13/08/2020 - 19:45

      Should add it to yours.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/08/2020 - 12:40
    +2

    IMO OzBargain should just blacklist masks at this point, at least for reps with less than a certain number of well received deals. There's up to ten "deals" a day spruiking "TGA approved" masks with no ARTG number, "FDA approved" masks when the FDA doesn't approve or certify face masks, "NIOSH certified" masks with no NIOSH approval number or "CE approved" masks when CE is a self-certification process for low risk goods like face masks. They're just trying to profiteer and dump garbage products on unsuspecting people using trusted organisation names without authorisation to trick people into buying cheaply made junk, often by L or P plate posters.

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