4 ms·

Clarifying question...the "strong indications" are that the best explanation of how Blue Flame Medical acquired the inventory it boasts of is that it must be co

Clarifying question...the "strong indications" are that the best explanation of how Blue Flame Medical acquired the inventory it boasts of is that it must be conspiring with the feds?

throwaway5752 7y ago
They seem to have little prior experience, ramped up quickly in a competitive sector, and have had extraordinary success. Perhaps they are much better than their competitors, perhaps it's just luck, or perhaps they are less successful than they are presenting. There are other explanations, but you still have to account for the federal seizures of private orders and where they are going.
- makomk 7y ago
  It's very likely that they're less successful than they're claiming. There have been a lot of really shady businesses set up claiming to be able to provide large quantities of PPE and ripping off desperate hospital systems. If they're new to the business, most likely they're either one of those companies or are being ripped off by another supplier doing the same scam. Has anyone confirmed actual, successful purchases from them?
- edge17 7y ago
  Prior little experience in what exactly? This is the sort of situation where those with deep rolodexes and lots of connections are able to find opportunity.
  - soneil 7y ago
    I must admit it’s never a good look when a week-old company receives a sizeable federal contract. Especially when the founders are political insiders. There could indeed be perfectly innocent reasons - but it smells funny.
    - derefr 7y ago
      > I must admit it’s never a good look when a week-old company receives a sizeable federal contract. Especially when the founders are political insiders. I don’t see why. A politically well-connected person (previously well-known in their circles for other successful ventures) wants to help get something done; the obvious thing for them to do is to create a new company (for legal reasons, to separate it from their other ventures) and then get people to put money / contracts into it. See also: Herbert Hoover with Belgium (https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/17/book-review-hoover/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/17/book-review-hoover/). Which may have more parallels here than it seems.

Clarifying question...the "strong indications" are that the best explanation of how Blue Flame Medical acquired the inventory it boasts of is that it must be conspiring with the feds?

throwaway5752 7y ago

They seem to have little prior experience, ramped up quickly in a competitive sector, and have had extraordinary success. Perhaps they are much better than their competitors, perhaps it's just luck, or perhaps they are less successful than they are presenting. There are other explanations, but you still have to account for the federal seizures of private orders and where they are going.

makomk 7y ago
It's very likely that they're less successful than they're claiming. There have been a lot of really shady businesses set up claiming to be able to provide large quantities of PPE and ripping off desperate hospital systems. If they're new to the business, most likely they're either one of those companies or are being ripped off by another supplier doing the same scam. Has anyone confirmed actual, successful purchases from them?
edge17 7y ago
Prior little experience in what exactly? This is the sort of situation where those with deep rolodexes and lots of connections are able to find opportunity.
- soneil 7y ago
  I must admit it’s never a good look when a week-old company receives a sizeable federal contract. Especially when the founders are political insiders. There could indeed be perfectly innocent reasons - but it smells funny.
  - derefr 7y ago
    > I must admit it’s never a good look when a week-old company receives a sizeable federal contract. Especially when the founders are political insiders. I don’t see why. A politically well-connected person (previously well-known in their circles for other successful ventures) wants to help get something done; the obvious thing for them to do is to create a new company (for legal reasons, to separate it from their other ventures) and then get people to put money / contracts into it. See also: Herbert Hoover with Belgium (https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/17/book-review-hoover/ https://slatestarcodex.com/2020/03/17/book-review-hoover/). Which may have more parallels here than it seems.