Buying a Fake Respirator Online
Buying a Fake Respirator Online happened more often then you thing. If you are not carful, you could be a victim to. You have to remember what your parents told you when you were a kid. “You get what you pay for”. With that being said, I give you a perfect example.
The 3M 6800 series Full Face Respirator sold online from various different retailers. One is sold right from Amazon Online Sales. Another is sold online at TEMU. A 3rd option comes from Staples Online Sales, and finals my last example comes from my own supplier Assure First Aid and Safety.
Pricing Fake Respirators from Real
One thing you'll notice right off is the pricing. You’re probably asking yourself, “Why are some selling for $250 to $300 and others are selling for $32 to $39 bucks. They’re the same damn mask. Are they? Take a very good look and tell me if you can spot the difference. I’ll give you a hint. It’s the reason why as a Professional Respirator Fit Tester I am unable to conduct a fit test on the cheaper ones. Did you find the difference. Allow me to blow up the one from Amazon and the one from Assure.
This one to the left is sold on Amazon for $39 bucks and change and the one to the right is from my supplier, Assure First Aid and Safety. A brick and Mortar operation. Theirs is retailing for $270.00, and I would rather pay that amount over the one for 39 every day of the week. Why?
How to tell a Fake Respirator for a Real Respirator
How to tell a Fake Respirator for a Real Respirator? The more expensive 3M 6800 Series Full Face Respirator has the Brand Name “3M” right on the exhaust port cover. I can also tell you from my professional experience the real 3M respirator also has the model number on the top part of the respirator. Located on the seal section past the front face, where the arrow is pointing on the image below. 
What really scares me about Buying a Fake Respirator Online and the people doing this is, they never asked for the advice of an expert. If they did, the narrative of the ad would have been pointed out.
If you read the sales bio on the TEMU ad, they claim the respirator come with the filters. What they actually say is “Mask with Filter 60921/60923”
What’s shown in the ad for “filter” as they describe it, are a set of P100 Organic Vapour HEPA Filters. In reality, a genuine set of these are priced more then the whole kit is sold for on Amazon and TEMU. These combination filters retail for $35 to as high as $65 as sold on ULINE.ca
Why is Amazon selling Fake Respirators
Why is Amazon selling Fake Respirators is the question I can not understand. They are by far one of the worlds biggest online sales companies and they are putting peoples lives at risk. According to a Google search Amazon has 2 corporate head offices. One being in Seattle, Washington and the second is located in Arlington, Virginia. So then my next question would be, "How is it that the American governments both federal and state are allowing this. In addition, where is OSHA in all of this?
2 Huge Problems with Fake Respirators
Buying a fake respirator online will cause you 2 huge problems. Other then just waiting your money for nothing, the following will cause you potentially loos sleep.
Respirator Fit Testing
You have read in my past articles a lot of information on respirator Fit testing and how its conducted. Yet right at the beginning of this procedure, as a professional fit tester I need to know what the client is being fit tested for. I need to see a manufacturing companies name and model number along with the size of the respirator being fit tested.
If there is no information on the respirator, no identifying numbers and manufacturing name, then how can that respirator be identified. Fit tests are conducted for one specific respirator and that respirator only. No way to identify what it is, no fit test can be conducted.
Materials Used for Manufacturing a Fake Respirator and Filters
It seems every year there is a health advisory about children’s toys coming from China with excessive amounts of LEAD in the paint, plastics and other components. Where do you think these fake respirators are coming from? If not from China, then where? And who ever manufactured them, do you honestly think they care what raw materials are being used to manufacture this garbage?
The answer would be NO. Even if it seems the mask part fits your face structure perfectly, the P100/OV filter cartridges will not be offering any protection from the deadly hazards requiring your use of this specially PPE in the first place. In other words, you’re no more protected then in the beginning of Covid-19, an extremely sick person was to violently sneeze right in your face from 1 foot away and all you’re wearing is a surgical mask. At least that surgical mask, if legit, has some protection.
Ask a Respirator Fit Testing Expert
Remember, if your ever in doubt, Ask a Respirator Fit Testing Expert. If not myself, then somebody. Theirs are plenty of my colleagues that are experts with a vast amount of knowledge. And at the end of the day, none of us what to see anybody get hurt from Buying a Fake Respirator Online. Because it can be a life or death decision.
So if you dont know, don't make it alone
If you require fit testing or advice, start at the beginning and contact us.
