Amazon sellers to pay penalties in New York for price gouging hand sanitizers amid COVID-19 pandemic

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hand sanitizer price gouging Amazon sellers
Credits: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

The New York Attorney General’s Office stopped three Amazon sellers from price gouging hand sanitizers amid the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered them to pay penalties and reimburse consumers.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Letitia James identified the Amazon sellers as Yvette Chaya d/b/a Northwest-Lux, Mobile Rush, Inc. d/b/a Best_Deals_27 (Mobile Rush), and EMC Group, Inc. d/b/a Supreme Suppliers (EMC).

These Amazon sellers will pay more than $52,000 in penalties to the state of New York and will reimburse nearly $23,000 to consumers who paid the extra-high price for hand sanitizer during the pandemic.

New York Attorney General will not tolerate price gouging

In a statement, Attorney General James said, “Price gouging on necessary consumer supplies during an unprecedented public health emergency is absolutely unconscionable and will not be tolerated.”

“Instead of ensuring individuals could protect themselves from the coronavirus, these businesses operated with dirty hands by charging exorbitant prices on hand sanitizer and other cleansing products. My office will continue to clean up this unlawful practice by using all of the tools at our disposal to prevent price gouging during this pandemic,’ she added.