Neither gold jewellery nor the latest model of mobile phones. The most wanted items across the twin townships today are masks and hand sanitizers. The novel coronavirus scare has sent residents into a tizzy and medicine shops are falling over backwards coping with the surge in demand.
“Every third customer is asking for masks and sanitisers,” said Indradeep Banerjee of Lake Medicine Centre in DA Block. “This includes people who cannot even pronounce ‘sanitiser’, let alone know how to use them. I won’t be surprised if they smear sanitiser on their hands and then wash it off with soap!”
The sales figures are astronomical and shops would have sold even more if they had any more to sell. “The high quality N95 masks sold out long back and we’re down to our last 25 cloth masks now. Suppliers say they have no more to send,” said Arun Saha Roy of BE Block’s Sree Nandan Medical Stores on Monday. By 11am that morning they had already had 100 customers coming for the same.
People have been seeking pocket-sized sanitisers (priced at about Rs 70 for 60ml) but they only have the larger 500ml bottles left (priced at about Rs 600). People are lapping up whatever they find. Demand for liquid soaps of companies like Dettol and Lifebuoy, that market themselves as being the most safe and hygienic, have risen too.
Last week Comprass utility store next to New Town’s Snehodiya, procured 35 bottles of sanitisers and they flew off the shelves in half a day. “Now customers are asking for liquid soaps. I’ve sent my staff to the wholesalers’ to get more stock but let’s see what they can get,” said Atanu Basu of the store.
BG Block’s Medica Pharmacy got a carton of 50 to 60 bottles of 100ml sanitisers on Saturday night. By noon on Sunday, they were all sold. “We are left with a bottle each of Bactorub and Microshield handrubs (both priced at around Rs 200) but will sell them only to customers who make purchases of over Rs 1,000,” said Biplab Bhattacharya on Monday, himself wearing a mask.
Customers are asking to buy 10 masks at a time but the shop isn’t allowing that either. “Masks are in short supply and we want everyone to get a chance so we’re selling at most four masks per customer,” Bhattacharya added.
Staff members at BE Block’s Sree Nandan Medical Stores put on masks Picture by Brinda Sarkar
Mask thieves
Samaresh Gayen of Lifezest medicine shop, next to New Town’s Snehodiya, is overcome with frustration and fury at the mention of masks. “Previously we had about 150 customers calling a day. Now we have 150 coming for masks and sanitisers alone,” he says. Needless to day, they are out of stock.
“On Sunday I sent a chap to buy about Rs 20,000 worth of masks and sanitisers from the wholesaler. He made the purchase but before he could leave the place someone stole the masks from him!” he says, showing a long list of customers who have booked masks from him. “What am I supposed to tell these people now? They have been trying to give advance payment for masks but we are refusing, in fear of cases like these.”
In the 15 minutes that The Telegraph Salt Lake spent there, four customers came in search of the elusive items, including one who simply popped his head out of his car, made the enquiry and drove off.
“I want at least one sanitiser and five masks for my family. I’ve searched three shops and even online but stocks are out everywhere,” said Siva Nrusingha of New Town’s BD Block, one of the customers at the shop.
(The Telegraph)
Inflated prices
The surge in demand has shot up prices of masks to such an extent that some shops are themselves feeling uneasy about quoting them.
“Previously the cost price of 100 masks was Rs 300 but wholesalers are now demanding Rs 900. Shops that would previously sell masks at Rs 9 a piece are now charging Rs 40!” said Banerjee of the medicine shop in DA Block. “I don’t have the heart to charge customers such exorbitant rates. This would amount to cheating so I have stopped selling masks altogether.”
Dipjit Das of Raj Chemists & Druggists in HA Block is on the same boat. “For a week, we’ve had zero stock of masks. Four out of five customers are asking for them but I refuse to stock them till prices rationalise. It’s unethical to exploit customers this way,” he said. “As for N95 masks, dubious suppliers have been coming to offer them at Rs 400 a piece. This price is too high and their easy availability makes me wonder if they’re fake. I’m refusing them.”
Fashion stop
So desperate are people about wearing masks that they are ready to knock on whichsoever door. Artland Collection, situated next to a medicine shop in HA Block sells bags, body sprays, sunglasses and masks.
“Actually we are a fashion store and sell biker masks, not surgical masks,” said Punam Singh from behind the counter. These are masks worn under the helmet to cover the ears, nose and mouth. But that’s enough for panic-stricken residents and even these masks are now out of stock!
“In winter we bought enough biker masks to last the entire summer but that whole stock finished in 15 days,” says Singh. “Parents at our shop would wonder out loud about whether schools would allow their children to wear masks with funky designs of skulls and flags but then beggars can’t be choosers. They bought whatever we had.”
The store is scared to procure new biker masks now as they have to be imported from China, where the coronavirus originated.
