But on the plus side, this is the refreshing gel type. It’s, well, refreshing.
Posted on 03/08/2020 5:56:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Officials over the weekend put businesses on notice, warning that price gouging on cleaning and sanitizing products would not be tolerated Published 3 hours ago • Updated 43 mins ago
A hardware store in Manhattan was fined for hiking prices on products like hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes, cleaning products popular in recent weeks to prevent or ward off the spread COVID-19.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have both issued warnings to businesses in recent days that price gouging would be severely fined. According to de Blasio's office, stores found to be overcharging consumers will be issued a violation with a fine up to $500.
Scheman and Grant Hardware on W 38th Street in Manhattan was accused of hiking up the prices of disinfecting sprays, wipes and hand sanitizer.
"They have been fined. This is unacceptable," de Blasio said at a press conference Sunday. "Price gouging will be acted upon. This is a crisis, not a time to profit."
Scheman and Grant was closed Sunday, but a list of prices was posted on the store's door. Clorox and Lysol sprays were being sold for $20, while a three pack of wipes posted at nearly $40.
Along with the high prices, the store had a notice posted telling customers to check the prices before buying the products because the hardware store would not be accepting returns.
Cuomo also spoke to the price gouging and the business's efforts, suggesting on Saturday that the retailer tried to charge $80 for a bottle of hand sanitizer.
“I want businesses to be aware that you can lose your license because of price gouging,” the governor said. “Not only is it disrespectful, it’s also illegal. And you will be caught.”
Timeline: Tracking the Spread of COVID-19 in Tri-State
On Friday, Cuomo said he would direct AG Letitia James to investigate instances of price gouging of surgical masks and other materials. And on Saturday, Cuomo made an emergency disaster declaration which, among other things, allows the state to investigate and penalize those price gouging medical and sanitary supplies.
Out on Long Island, government officials condemned reports of widespread price gouging.
"We’ve seen this before with Sandy. Prices were raised astronomically and unfairly. Now we’re seeing this with the resources made to keep people safe from the coronavirus," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.
To report incidents of price gouging to the New York State Attorney General’s office please call 1-800-697-1220.
So now people won’t be able to get the products at any price? (the Devil’s advocate/ Libertarian argument).
Soon we will have shortages everywhere, thanks to idiotic governments trying to protect us from “price gouging.”
Government should let the “invisible hand” do it’s work.
Hopefully customers will have long memories and rectify this issue by shopping elsewhere after this blows over.
And immediately,just like that, there are four intelligent posts on FR about this government intrusion into the market.
NYC has always been the home of the $1.00 5 cent candy bar.
So now the hardware store gets cleared out by one guy who sells them at street side stands with 100% markup.
But on the plus side, this is the refreshing gel type. It’s, well, refreshing.
Some people get it. I suppose some are highly intuitive, others can learn it very easily. If demand for Lysol spray spikes, the price for it will rise. But then producers will ramp up production and increase the supply, and prices will fall back again. It’s really nobody’s business what you want to charge for your own property. If someone wants to pay $20 for a can of Lysol, so be it. I’m sure you can get a 4 pack of Lysol for $5 at Costco or Walmart. But do they even allow those predatory stores to operate in New York?
Of course, $20 is absurd and only a desperate person would pay it, assuming it is extremely scarce. But almost nothing real is produced in Manhattan. They have to import everything. All the hotels and restaurants have to send their laundry out of the city, and have fresh sheets and linens brought in. Nearly all the food has to be imported and much of it from out of state. And they tax the gas to truck everything in and out of the city, they tax the bridge crossings, I think they even have a “congestion tax” for driving during certain hours (if not, they have certainly proposed it). But then the politicians want to grandstand about “price gouging”.
LOL. And that’s being sold by “The Deal Brokers”. Must be an NYC outfit.
It is the nature of sheep to be fleeced.
It could have simply been an ACE Hardware Store. Their everyday prices can easily be mistaken for price gouging.
High Prices. ACE is the Place !
Buy aloevera gel online and a bottle of rubbing alcohol. 1/3 aloe to 2/3rd rubbing alcohol.
??? Drop. In. Bucket.
The best way to deal with people like this is word of mouth. Don't go there.
“Price gouging”, otherwise known as free market.
If you aren’t rewarded for keeping a larger inventory, then you won’t keep a larger inventory, and no one will have the supplies they need when they really need them.
Stupid commies!
You know what would prevent this from happening? RAISING TAXES! Yeah, that's the ticket. That's the best way to help the people of NYC.
This is the kind of crap Schumer would be doing if he wasn’t a politician.
Heck, I may just go ahead with my posting of a bar of soap and a single bottle of water at $1000 a pop...
There are still plenty of price gougers selling on Amazon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.