MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Washington AG Ferguson goes after coronavirus price-gougers

Apr 1, 2020, 9:31 AM | Updated: 10:08 am

Coronavirus price gouging...

(MyNorthwest photo)

(MyNorthwest photo)

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is going after price-gouging businesses selling protective masks and hand sanitizer at exorbitant prices.

Rantz: Coronavirus price gouging concern as WA company email leaks

Cease and desist letters have gone out to five Washington businesses, telling them to stop gouging the public during this health crisis or face some serious fines. These are people, for example, that were selling an eight ounce bottle of hand sanitizer for $3.50 in January and are now charging $25.

Others are selling masks for three times the prices they were before the outbreak. The companies are located out of Spokane, Issaquah, Mill Creek, Seattle, and Gig Harbor. They were selling their overpriced items on Amazon, according to Ferguson’s office.

Amazon has been working to eliminate this price-gouging on its site, working with state Attorney Generals across the country. There are also some reports of Amazon itself actually engaging in some gouging as well.

UW model suggests outbreak could peak around April 19

Ferguson’s letters threaten the companies with up to $2,000 fines for each violation if they don’t stop what they are doing.

“In this time of uncertainty, consumers should not have to worry about being charged excessive prices for goods they need to stay healthy,” he wrote.

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Washington AG Ferguson goes after coronavirus price-gougers