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Comment by jedberg | Hacker News Reader

This is true in the real world again (still?) too. We're currently stocking up on disinfecting wipes to donate to the school when they open next month. We've been told that the teachers only want brand name Clorox wipes, because they don't trust any other brand to actually disinfect safely.

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Unfortunately, even this approach isn’t foolproof. Fake brand-name products make it into supply chains all the time, especially on sites like Amazon via third-party sellers. In China for example, “fake alcohol” (where brand-name bottles are refilled with cheaper, sometimes dangerous off-brand liquors) has been a big problem:

https://www.mersolluo.com/china-cracking-down-on-counterfeit...

I can’t imagine that the rubbing alcohol wipe industry is that much more resistant to counterfeiting.

(Edit: It’s not- https://wjla.com/features/7-on-your-side/scammers-promise-cl...)

Yeah that is true. I'm hoping Costco has their supply chain down well enough that it's not an issue, but at least there is a slightly higher chance it's legit if it says Clorox on the side.

Yeah, we've gone back to having to trust the brand name of the distributor - if it says it came from Amazon it is basically assumed to be counterfeit chinese crap; Costco and Home Depot (and even Walmart in store) are a bit more secure there.

Does Walmart (online) co-mingle their inventory with third party inventory like Amazon?

Amazon doesn't co-mingle their inventory with 3Ps, they do co-mingle 3Ps that don't opt to avoid it. This is one of the reasons I look for the "sold and shipped by Amazon" for important purchases.

Unfortunately, I've never seen information about how Walmart handles this. Given their massive shift to 3Ps providing most of their products online...I'd imagine they use a similar strategy (it improves same/next day availability and lowers cost). I follow the same strategy with Walmart (try to only buy directly).

It is a sad time for online purchasing :(

I'd heard that they DO mingle their 1st party inventory, but that you have an easy return when it turns out to be fake; but perhaps the story changes.

absolutely, I've been shifting my purchases to in store, leaning heavily towards Costco because whoever their buyers are have a good eye for quality. Also with their incredibly generous return policy I don't really worry about buying things from Costco and will buy by default because I know I can change my mind later if things don't work out.

Surely buying a brand name disinfectant by the gallon and paper towels and a spray bottle are orders of magnitude cheaper. And probably orders of magnitude better for the environment?

Not to mention it isn't really necessary. It's pretty clear now that surface contact is not a major vector for COVID transmission.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-si...

When dealing with teachers understand that when presented with a career choice they are the folks who self selected into the job with summers off and the easiest course load. They will use the smallest excuse not to have to show up for work.

Covid isn't the only reason to disinfect surfaces. Proper disinfecting surfaces does prevent a large number of diseases. Covid we now know isn't one of them, but the others are still a worry.

Teachers have been using disinfecting wipes for decades, not just for COVID. Kids spread lots of germs.

If you're an engineer, and when you get back to your job you're told that you are now responsible for wiping down your workstation every hour, your first response will probably be, "I'm an engineer that's not my job" and your second response will be, "ok fine but make it as easy as possible".

Teachers are not supposed to be cleaning their classroom or teaching your kids about hygiene, but they have to now because parents don't and there is no budget for staff. There needs to be a tradeoff there. Spend a little more on supplies to save time so you don't have to hire a janitor to come around every hour and wipe down the classroom.

Teachers already might have a flower spray can with soap and a cloth for the board.

One-use prewet papertowelsheets might be overengineering the issue.

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