Duncansville Pharmacy

Dear Revdex.com & Customer: 04/28/2020

Great question and glad you asked ! (Couldn't agree more that this appears to be a ridiculous price). Simply put, l'll be happy to comply with whatever decision the Revdex.com determines, if a refund is deemed necessary between the price paid and the "normal" price, The problem was trying to obtain these facemasks from a reputable source at a normal price, in a timely manner. (Let me remind all who are reading this, there is nothing "normal" about this situation we're all in!) My normal wholesaler had been out of stock for weeks and nothing on the horizon. Gov. Wolf declared everyone must don a facemask, beginning Sunday, April 19th (8pm). Finally, very late in the day on Wednesday, April 15, I received an email from a local wholesaler, stating they had received a shipment of 3 ply, disposable medical masks. I also, had to pay a ridiculous price and contemplated several things:

1.. Would a consumer pay a ridiculous price?

2. What would the retail price need to be to cover my overhead? (pickup, deliveries, repackaging, donations of free masks, extra manpower, etc)?

3. lf I don't purchase these, will my patients be forced to seek other means, which could entail going to the internet, being promised a better price, but shipping not occurring for weeks, into June or never. (That does zero good when trying to flatten this curve and offer yet another measure to afford protection, if needing to go grocery shopping, for instance).

So I decided to take a risk and supply a necessary product. As quoted in the local newspaper article, written mid-week following the mask mandate, "l decided to make a medical decision over a business one."

For the overwhelming majority, individuals were happy to purchase the masks. On Monday, April 20th, I was able to lower the price to $90/box of 50 (this was after checking with the PA Dept of Revenue that these are tax exempt, because my invoice was reflectinga 6% higher price, which eventually got waived by the wholesaler). I also asked my local Senator's office if my retail price (based on what I had to pay) was considered price gouging. ln an email received back from their office, they stated I was well below the acceptable price per mask. (They were told a $1 per mask profit was acceptable. I was making $.30 per mask (which is 70% below the gouging threshold, from the attorney general's office).

I was informed (by 2 patrons) that a local business had these same masks, and were retailing them for $2.00 per mask. Also, I received this pic from another person. Giant Eagle (in Waynesburg, PA) had this sign in their store. The pic was taken, a few days prior (to this consumer questioning our price), purchasing a box from my establishment. These are just a few examples of what appear to be "the new normal"

Back to the matter at hand, my only relativity point with THESE masks and THIS wholesaler was the current ridiculous price, which I ended up paying in order to provide a necessary product for these unprecedented times. I understand completely (almost unimaginable) to pay this kind of money for a face mask. But who would have ever thought we would all be in this situation !!!

On the positive side, as more supplies become available from manufacturers and distributors, it usually pushes the wholesale and retail price downward. This has been evident with the past couple of purchases l've been able to obtain. (i.e. the price for a box of 50 is now S48.00). And a final comment to the consumer who filed this, you didn't and don't have to purchase an entire box. We have them broken down into 10 packs AND we give single masks away at NO CHARGE to individuals who need, if they enter the pharmacy without a mask (for whatever reason).

We have donated numerous masks, hand sanitizers, food, etc... and have made several deliveries in an effort to do our part, in doing the right thing, throughout this nightmare. As further commitment to our role as providers to our neighborhood and society (By the way, my employees have been so dedicated, putting themselves and families at risk on a daily basis), I will be donating a box of facemasks to a local charity and business to help encourage the safety of their staff and this community!

I sincerely hope this clears the air for everyone. After all, we are all in this togetherl! Thanks again for asking. I look forward to hearing back from the Revdex.com what they consider to be a normal retail price on Apri 171h,2020.

Ronald *. D, R.Ph., owner Duncansville Pharmacy L328 3'd Ave Duncansville, PA 16635

ps. We made good on our 2 boxes of donations. The business we donated to was Allegheny Township Municipal & Police Dept. (Duncansville, PA). The charity organization was Appalachian Youth Service in Ebensburg, PA.