LAKELAND, Fla. — While critical supplies such as hand sanitizer and N95 masks have become scarce just about everywhere else, a Lakeland vendor has at least one of the two currently in stock and lots more of the other on the way.
- Medi-Healthcare taking pre-orders for N95 masks
- Owner expects to have 8,000 in stock by April 10
- More Polk County stories
At Medi-Healthcare Inc. you can still find hand sanitizer in stock. N95 masks can be pre-ordered.
Owner Robert Slama said he expects to have 8,000 in stock around April 10. He ordered the masks from China.
“We’re getting calls from hospitals. We were getting calls from clinics," Slama explained. "We got calls from doctors, doctors' offices, nurses, health care workers, everyday consumers calling us for masks."
He first sold out of these items at the end of January. It took him all of February to find some more to sell.
“We found a distributor that had some in stock that he could sell us but the prices were astronomical,” said Slama, stating the prices were 1,200 percent more than he typically pays for his product.
He bought them anyway to appease his customers. Those sold out, too.
But for those customers, the store’s sign outside that reads “N95 masks in stock,” evokes the same feeling Floridians have when they find a store with bottled water in stock right before a hurricane hits.
“It’s been a little daunting for everybody," said customer Fred Valdes. "We’re under terrible times and all we can do is try to conform and do the best we can."
Valdes said he pre-ordered some masks at the store, hoping they’ll keep his family safe.
“It feels great to order it. It’d be better if I owned it,” said Valdes.
Slama said he’s never seen such high demand for masks and hand sanitizer in the 35 years he’s been in business.
“It’s exhaustingly crazy, truthfully,” said Slama.
Medi-Healthcare Inc. is located at 401 Bartow Road, in Lakeland, FL.
It’s open Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Slama plans to stay open during the safer at home order.