Local pharmacy in Westfield has P2 masks 20 for $150 or $8 each. What a scam! Not too long ago on Amazon they had 20 masks for $11.11
Pharmacy P2 Mask Scam Prices
watwatwat on 02/03/2020 - 13:39
Last edited 02/03/2020 - 14:36 by 1 other user
Last edited 02/03/2020 - 14:36 by 1 other user
Comments
- 1
- 2
Hardl0y a scam. $11 was amazingly cheap. $150 is slightly overpriced. Normal price would be in the $80-$100 range for pharmacys etc for this type
Why is this a scam when you knew exactly the pricing that had been advertised? If it was too expensive and you didn’t buy it then it wasn’t a scam. If you still bought it that means you thought it was worth it. Again that was not a scam.
There was a great, recent episode of Economic Update, with Richard Wolff where he addresses this very situation. Basically, this practice is, in a nutshell, the result of living in a capitalist market based economy, and so as a result whomever has the most money shall get the masks. The other issue, that Richard also addresses in that episode is that suppliers can limit, or restrict their supply in times of acute demand, which also drives up the prices. As Richard argues, it’s not morally right, it’s not fair, but it’s the way things work in our economy.
Spot on.
If OP doesn't like our capitalist economy, he would probably enjoy a communist economy, where everyone will get only one mask each or nobody (except the ones who are more equal than others).
Not calling OP a communist, just saying this mask-overpricing-phenomena is just a small disadvantage of the lesser evil. We will just have to live with it.if they had put them on the shelves cheaper, then someone would have bought the entire stock and relisted on ebay or mailed them home to china.
at least there were some on the shelves for someone who really needed one.
ideal pricing strategy would be to initially put them on the shelves at a high price. slowly reduce the price (say $1 per week) so that you sell the last one the day before the next delivery of stock arrives. high price is a decent alternative though especially if you cant guarantee replacement stock.
surge pricing - a la Uber
meanwhile today I saw three family groups standing outside the security entrance of a block of units - all thumbing their phone trying to contact their airbnb 'host' to gain access to the accommodation they've already paid for … one family just off a 16 hour flight from the USA - standing with their bags while it's raining …
there's a share economy for you - you give me your money, and I give you the runaround while you try to work out how to get in …
Not a scam. At my pharmacy we were offered 170 for a box of 20 p2 masks from a supplier… That is 8.50 cost price ex GST. If I had sold them for $10 I would have made just over 50 cents and people like you would still treat me like a crook
I saw a fax the other week from a supplier offering P2 masks $25 EACH wholesale. Not kidding.
Pharmacy could resell them at cost and still be harassed by OP for profiteering.
Can confirm the same in the pharmacy where I work…wholesale prices have skyrocketed as they search for new suppliers and try to rush stock through.
Most pharmacies are not making much money on these masks!!
Capitalism in its rawest form
I hope this wakes people up and teach them that regulation is a good thing.
Capitalism brought to you by enron, ponzi schemes and sub prime loaners. Greed is always good lol
I asked the price at Terry Whites at the Central Market in Adelaide. $20 each. While I understand that they can charge what they like, I am also free to not shop there - for anything…. Is anyone aware of a list anywhere of businesses that are doing this that we can remind ourselves about when all of this settles down?
you are making the massive assumption that it is Terry Whites ripping you off. Most likely they are just passing on the cost they are being charged for these. wholesalers have been hiking prices, also depending on brand some of them were already expensive before this.
Well based off the information given it would seem that the end retailer isn't the one jacking the 'normal' price of the items, it's someone further down the supply chain from the, likely the distributor/wholesaler/importer.
S&D is an explanation of market dynamics its NOT a justification for taking an item that still has the exact same base cost price (based on whoever is the one multiplying the base cost many, many times). i.e lets assume it's the importer who's increasing prices dramatically - they know demand is incredibly strong, they're selling everything they can - and so they do what 'good' capitalists do - maximise their profits by increasing the price by as much as they think they can to maximise return.
This person in the chain is taking advantage of the situation to profit - thats clear cut, it's just that some seem to feel this is fine as technically it's 100% legal and also somewhat encouraged by our 'make money' mentality.
Others might feel they're gratuitously profiting from a public health crisis and if nothing else it's extremely poor moral behaviour. I fall in this category - I wouldn't begrudge them increasing their base price a moderate level e.g 10-20% - but when it appears it's been increased several hundred % plus - thats a bit much.
As mentioned before in this thread, which I received no reply on - I'd welcome an explanation on why the behaviour of whoever in the mask supply chain is massively increasing their prices is any different from the retailers during the recent bushfires that were charging massively increased prices on items to people stuck in their areas e.g $10 for 2L milk.
Again let me be clear I am ONLY against whoever in the chain is taking advantage of the situation - and that appears not to be the poor end retailing pharmacist. A quick bit of looking makes it appear this is likely WAY back maybe at the factory level etc as prices in the USA etc are pretty much the same as here - so suffice to say some fat cat is definitely going to look back on the Covid-19 outbreak fondly from the deck of their super yacht it paid for ;-)
Apparently a local Bunnings allowed one person to purchase a freshly stocked ENTIRE PALLET of masks a couple of days ago. Only after the fact when they've all gone are they implementing quantity limits. There is big money to be made so the daigou are on the prowl and they will fight you for it. Literally, ALL OF IT.
This is why pharmacies shouldn't be afforded any other benefit over supermarkets.
As per government officials recommendations, Aussies shouldn't need to wear masks in public anyway. So as an intelligent ozBargainer, can't see why a price hike on something you don't need would concern you.
I am never paying the $20 for a single use mask that Terry White is asking, but there are folk around that area not so savvy,, including homeless.. Also, while wearing a mask at the moment is useless, in parts of the world with high COVID 19 masks are required for people to go out in public. So it may be worth having a few around the home at the moment. Online is probably the only way, and sadly the target group for Terry seems to be those that don’t have that option. If the outcome of our financial system is a fair go for those that exploit the vulnerable in our community I don’t feel particularly proud of that.
I work in the Sydney CBD. Never seen any homeless people wear face masks…
Most 'normal' commuters that I am seeing don't as well.
A local pharmacy near my place was selling two different types of P2/N95 masks, $10 and $15 dollars each. They were individually handled and put into snap-lock bags. And the advertising for them said only good for 8 hours, and things about limited supply etc etc.
I've decided I'm never giving that place another dollar of my money. Same as I asked for an OTC medication, the guy who runs the place immediately skipped over the cheaper generics of the med, and gave me the brand name. Final nail in the coffin for that place, for me.
Some Bunnings stores now have stock of made in USA 3M N95/P2 masks for $6ea in packs of 5, or $5.50ea in packs of 10. I'm reluctant to say which stores have these as I'm sure some turkey will run out, grab them all, and stick them on eBay for $15ea (with free post!!11!)
If a chemist is charging $10+, just say no.
I guess now's the time when we find out who saw the example set by Martin Shkreli and thought 'Hey! That's awesome!'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli
Daraprim price hike controversy
Never go full Shkreli
- 1
- 2
You can charge stupid people any amount, that's what makes them stupid people