- CASE warned shoppers to be careful buying masks and air purifiers on social media, because sellers there often cannot be verified.
- Melvin Yong said some N95 masks were out of stock at outlets on Oct 16, but major retailers still have enough stock and are restocking affected stores.
- Consumers were told not to overbuy, to use verified e-commerce sites like Shopee and Lazada, and to watch prices with Price Kaki as Singapore’s haze worsens.
AI generated
SINGAPORE – Consumers should be cautious when buying masks and air purifiers on the secondary market, especially through social media platforms, said Singapore’s consumer watchdog on Oct 17.
In an advisory posted on Facebook, Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) president Melvin Yong said sellers on these platforms often cannot be verified.
His post comes as some retailers face a temporary shortage of N95 masks, while some have also ran out of stock of air purifiers, amid the worsening haze situation in Singapore.
Yong said that CASE officers had found that N95 masks were out of stock at various retail outlets during their visits on Oct 16.
“CASE is concerned about the lack of availability for some haze-related items, such as N95 masks, air purifiers and filters, amidst the worsening haze situation, but notes that major retailers have sufficient stock and are replenishing supplies,” he wrote.
He said that the association has been liaising closely with major retailers, which have sufficient overall stocks of N95 masks.
These retailers are also actively replenishing supplies at affected outlets to meet consumer demand, he added.
“As stocks resume, consumers are advised not to overbuy masks in large quantities.”
He advised those looking to buy such items online to get them only from e-commerce platforms, such as Shopee and Lazada, which have worked with CASE to implement merchant verification measures.
“Avoid deals that are too good to be true on the internet, as these could be scams,” said Yong.
“CASE strongly encourages consumers to use the Price Kaki to monitor and update the prices of haze-related products, including air purifiers, so that users can compare the prices across retailers when making their purchases.”
The Straits Times previously reported that at least two retailers, including Guardian pharmacy and FairPrice Group, have capped purchases on masks amid a surge in demand for them.
Local retailers have seen a spike in air purifier and air-conditioner sales in Singapore.
Since Oct 5, Singapore has been in its longest continuous stretch of poor air quality the country has endured since the 2015 haze crisis. That year, bad air lasted 14 days from Sept 23 to Oct 7.
The hazy conditions continued on Oct 17 with the 24-hour PSI in the “unhealthy” band across the island for most of the day.