“What does the middleman do but add to the price of goods in the shops?” Such remarks are aimed at the intermediate operation between manufacturers and the final customers. This practice attracts a lot of attention from the public and the press and the operation. Most talked about is often called wholesaling.
The wholesaler buys goods in large quantities from the manufacturers and sells them in smaller parcels to retailers, and for this service his selling price to the retailer is raised several percent higher. But his job is made difficult because retail demand is not necessarily running level with manufacturers’ production. Because he controls the flow of goods by holding stock until required, he shifts the effect the manufacturers have on production of changing demand and having to bear the whole risk, to some extent.
The manufacturers can then keep up a steady production flow, and the retail has no need to hold heavy stocks, who can call on the wholesaler for suppliers any time. This wholesale function is like that of a valve in a water pipe. The middleman also bears part of the risk that would otherwise fall on the manufacturers and also the retailer.
The wholesaler provides a purely commercial service, for which he is too well rewarded.
But the point that is missed by many people is that the wholesaler is not just someone adding to the cost of goods. It is true one could eliminate the wholesaler but one would still be left his function: that of making sure that goods find their way to the people who want them.
The author quite possibly believes that the function of the wholesaler is _______________.

A good but too costly

B necessary but harmful

C removable but necessary

D acceptable but unnecessary