When is something considered profiteering in the big business of filling the essential needs generated by the WutangCurse for critical supplies such as the N95 mask?
Comes now the story of the SEIU — the Service Employees International Union, a powerful trade union that supports a number of leftist causes — which reports it has located 39,000,000 N95 masks, the type of mask that is in hot pursuit by everyone.
“Bravo,” said I, until I got a whiff of the backstory.
This little jewel is made by 3M which is currently producing 35,000,000 of these babies a month. The SEIU says they have identified a supplier for the 39,000,000 who can also produce 20,000,000 per week.
They routinely sell in places like Home Depot for $23.97/box of 20. If you do the maths, that is $1.20/each.
Our friends at SEIU are proposing to sell them for $5/mask.
Normal cost N95 mask pre-pandemic at Home Depot = $1.20/each
SEIU pandemic pricing N95 mask = $5.00/each
Pre-pandemic v pandemic pricing increase = $3.80/mask, 316% markup
Potential profit = $3.80/each x 39,000,000 = $148,200,000
Dear readers, the Big Red Car asks you: Is that profiteering? Price gouging? Is that right?
What do you think, Big Red Car?
I think it’s disgusting. But, hey, what the Hell do I really know anyway? I’m just a Big Red Car. Be safe out there. Do not infect Grandma.
