Where are people buying lab coats?
Whatever your needs may be, lab coats are an essential for a long list of STEM professionals. Whether its academic, actual field use, constructions, or something else, the right protective coat goes a long way. And, when it comes to lab coats for professionals, there are several requirements to make sure you get the best lab coat and nothing less.
For instance, in industrial and field use, it’s more important for the lab coat to serve its protective purpose—and that’s true whether you use a designer lab coat, a disposable lab coat, or a specialized one. When it comes to office environments, lab coats are often chosen for their appearances. A professional-looking doctor’s lab coat gives clients and patients a sense of authority.
The question still remains, however—how do you choose the best lab coat for you? And where do you shop for that lab coat?
How to choose the lab coat you need and want?
General purpose
In general, lab coats serve the purpose of protecting the user’s clothing from whatever may come their way at the laboratory or workplace. However, it can get more complicated depending on the working conditions (a plastic waterproof coat might not be good in a humid, hot locale). Also, the specific conditions of the job come into play—is there more dust or liquid that requires greater protection?
Below, you will find lists of specific uses for lab coats that can help you decide on the right one.
What are you doing in it?
A doctor’s lab coat has to be strong, stain resistant, and comfortable since they will be wearing it all day. For various lab and field work, on the other hand, protection from dust or hazardous chemicals might be your main concern.
When buying your labcoat, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the lab coat need to be waterproof?
- Does the lab coat need to be resistant to hazardous chemicals?
- Should the lab coat be flame-retardant?
- How durable does the lab coat need to be?
- Do you expect to get many uses out of the lab coat?
- Do you have the ability to clean dirty lab coats?
After answering these questions, you should be able to decide in a high-level way what type of labcoat is right for you. There are still many style options available, however, and the cost-effective options may be disposable or reusable.
Sizing
A sizing breakdown for lab coats has a few different break-downs: men’s, women’s, and unisex. Unisex and men’s labcoats tend to be easier to size, as they usually go by shoulder measurements. Women’s lab coats sizes are more complex as they often include shoulders, bust, and waist size. Unisex and men’s coats usually have the shoulders measured in inches, so once those measurements are done, you know what to get. Men’s and unisex coats may also be tapered at the waist, but they do vary. However, more fitted coats measure in the following ways:
- Men’s: neck, chest, waist, hips.
- Women’s: bust, waist, and hips
Here is a handy guide for lab coat sizes.
Where to buy lab coats?
The internet has a long list of places where you can get just about anything. You can find them on Amazon, eBay, and various independent lab-wear retailers.
Amazon lab coats and other lab coats you can buy from big online shops can be good quality and low-price. However, some of these coats might come from disreputable sellers, be fakes, or have unexpectedly-long delivery times. It’s generally a safer bet to buy from private lab-wear sellers on Amazon, for instance, especially if you need high-quality. Smaller companies also typically have better customer service and response times to queries as well.
Pros of buying Amazon lab coats
- They can have fast delivery time (just pick the right seller)
- You can get small orders for low prices
- You have a wide variety available to you
Pros of buying from independent retailers
- Custom orders are more likely to be a possibility
- You can often get discounts on bulk purchases
- You have better odds of having questions answered
- Quality is often guaranteed
- So where should you start looking for lab coats?
Naturally, most people might start with an internet search for lab coats.
We’re proud to say that one great option you’ll find is Dr. James. Lab coats from Dr. James are high-quality, reasonably-priced, and come in a variety of styles in unisex, men’s and women’s sizing. Another benefit of using a private company like ours over a bigger one is that Dr. James offers a free returns policy. If a lab coat doesn’t meet your requirements, you can return it to us at no cost.
Dr. James coats are the nexus of utility, versatility and style in designer lab coats. And, believe it or not, it is important for a doctor to have a good lab coat—not just for use, but for patients’ perception. You can read here about the “auxiliary” effect of a doctor’s lab jacket on patients. The lab coat helps make a good first impression and can benefit the over-all experience that patients have. The findings in the study showed that patients found doctors in white lab coats to be more trustworthy, authoritative, knowledgeable, and caring.
Other places to get coats
Retail shops
Although they may not be a first choice, if a doctor needs a new coat immediately, and quality isn’t important, traditional retail shops often stock them. Places like Walmart, Target, and J.C. Penney sometimes stock lab jackets. Be aware that the variety and quality will be much more limited than the variety available online. Additionally, there may be some waiting involved, as a retail shop might need to order a lab coat to get it to you.
So where is the best place to get lab coats?
The best places are usually private, online retailers like Dr. James. These companies know lab coats extremely well, and guarantee variety, quality, and style. Feel free to contact Dr. James today with inquiries about what kind of lab coat you need, and get some help in finding the right coat.