Supplies of everything Corona Virus related

[Joelonghair]

Evening chaps,

My ex gf from China who is very much an entrepreneurial spirit asked me if I would be able to sell ventilators to our hospitals here.

I quickly said no.

I am sure there are approved suppliers etc.

She also offered boxes of masks, paper suits, covid tests etc that they can supply in bulk.

I am very much against any type of profiteering, but if we need things here, and I have a connect I would like to help.

I used to work in purchasing so am sure the NHS is not infallible.

If there is any organisations here looking for equipment I am happy to organise for free. Any oversight of pricing is welcome.

I am not wishing to make any money whatsoever. I just know I can get supplies and am happy to spend my time to do so.

It is my information that China has over capacity in this area.

I am waiting until the morning to find out freight times and charges.

If this could be helpful to you please let me know.

Otherwise I will just be getting a box of masks etc for my cousin to distribute at her hospital.

[dickbastardly]

I would imagine even if you had anyone interested it would take 8 weeks to get here!!

[skwdenyer]

dickbdly said:

I would imagine even if you had anyone interested it would take 8 weeks to get here!!

Air freight is still operating.

[Joelonghair]

Yep air freight is still going. I regularly send bikes to Asia and the cost is circa £250 for a 120x20x80cm box. I am sure you could pack a few masks in that volume and they would be here in a few days.

If there is no need or interest that is no problem.

Cheers,

Joe

[Joelonghair]

Received quotes direct from the factory today. Let's just say current markups on PPE suppliers websites and Ebay are eye watering.

[Seventy]

Profiteering. Been around since the time of the dinosaurs.

[Joelonghair]

If my guesstimates of freight and taxes are correct, we're talking a conservative 1000%.

[khushy]

Joelonghair said:

Received quotes direct from the factory today. Let's just say current markups on PPE suppliers websites and Ebay are eye watering.

Look at UK flour and yeast and mini eggs on the bay - all those sellers should be hung out to dry

[NorthDave]

Maybe we could do a ph group buy of a load of gear and donate it to the NHS? I know they are running short in some areas.

[skwdenyer]

France has reported being gazumped for PPE by the USA twice. If the OP has access to stock, why not contact the NHS directly? They claim to want to order!

[Simpo Two]

Joelonghair said:

My ex gf from China who is very much an entrepreneurial spirit asked me if I would be able to sell ventilators to our hospitals here...

She also offered boxes of masks, paper suits, covid tests etc that they can supply in bulk.

You could ask her to supply them at a fair rate and not at an 'eye-watering' mark-up'. Entrepreneurship is one thing, but at this time morals are another.

[joshcowin]

Simpo Two said:

You could ask her to supply them at a fair rate and not at an 'eye-watering' mark-up'. Entrepreneurship is one thing, but at this time morals are another.

I think that is what he is suggesting!!

[Joelonghair]

I have no idea what her mark-up is. I am sure it is not zero, but that is not where the price gouging is happening.

I can get supply at much lower costs than I see at the moment in the market, but I have no reference to what these should cost in a normal market, and no history with the NHS, so I am sure they will not buy through me. It may also be that they can get much better rates than I can as they buy in bulk. The prices I have seen ratchet down depending upon the order of magnitude that you buy in (beginning at 1000 pcs, then 10,000).

I'm ordering a small number to see if they arrive and are as described etc.

Edited by Joelonghair on Tuesday 7th April 22:52

[eltawater]

You might be better off talking to some of the care homes, nursing homes and hospices in your area. I get the impression that a significant number feel like they're lower down the queue for receiving PPE than the NHS and will probably welcome additional supplies.

You're also more likely to be able to quickly talk to the person in charge for purchasing than having to negotiate the monolith that is the NHS.

[wilksy61]

The NHS use external outsourcing companies so you would need to find one of them, some of them will charge a fee to be put on their database .