re: Why are distributors needed?

I’ve been in medical distribution for 15 yrs. Like some said it’s a financial issue and a convenience issue. Even in the liquor business. Most manufacturers don’t want to deal with thousands of small accounts and fight to get paid. We pay the manufacturer in 10 days, we get paid in 45-60 days. We carry products from 500 manufacturers.

We are also cheaper, then when the customer buys direct from the manufacturer, strictly because of volume. We buy $200,000 they buy $2,000.

You really wouldn’t realize that much savings because the manufacturer would have to employ people to do everything we do.