I just got back from venturing out to get a few things at the stores. All were out of sanitizing wipes, and sanitizing hand gel. 5 Stores.
I was talking to the cashier and she said she got online yesterday and Purell was 100.00 USD for two 12 oz bottles. I just looked it up. She was right, though I didn't doubt her. I saw the dollar store brand for a 49.00 USD. It was a dollar just three days ago. I see that some states are taking action. This is the first one that popped up -
On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency, allowing the attorney general to go after shady sellers price gouging in person or online.
They can be fined up to $10,000 and face a year in jail. Here is the link. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/hand-sanitizer-for-152-state-cracking-down-on-coronavirus-price-gouging/2248235/
Good! I hope these people go straight to jail!
The other sad part is many elderly cant get out to go get some. Everyone of the store clerks I spoke with said it was people in their 30-40s mostly buying mass quantity. The ones not at the most risk of death.
Then I'll be damned if I didn't drive by packed houses at every single tavern and pub on the way home. That makes no sense at all to me. Or the lady in line that said, 'Its just like the flu, whats the big deal?' I said "And yes the flu kills anywhere from 200,000 -800,000 a year and it has a vaccine. This one doesn't.'. She said " Well that's just your opinion." And that's how this crap spreads. Dumb ass people.
Anyway I hope many more places jump on the band wagon to stop third party price gougers through fines and jail time.