Due to the coronavirus, many retailers are running out of stock of surgical and protective gear. This event has made the healthcare and public struggle to purchase them due to the shortage.
I would like to give a warning to you as there are many out there calling themselves’ brokers at the moment who are trying to make business on the shortages. Please be aware of the following:
- They ask you to send prepayment and not able to give you samples, but claiming they have sold millions before to other organisations.
- In many cases, the products would come from China as they make them, but the big Chinese manufacturers using letter of credit (LC) as a payment and not asking prepayments from any wholesalers. Therefore your so called broker should not ask for prepayment on behalf of the manufacturer.
- They try to sell you stock which has not even been shipped and in many cases not being manufactured yet.
Please be careful with procurement at the moment, specially if you have never dealt with the organisation before.
