Coronavirus send mask, santizer prices soaring. Soap & water may be better.
Orlando-- Climbing on the tram in the Orlando airport, you could see something on the faces of other travelers: concern about Coronavirus. You didn’t even have to look closely: I was seeing more people wearing surgical masks to help block germs than I’ve seen in years.
Now it appears some are trying to cash in on the people’s growing worries by increasing prices and charging enormous shipping charges on Amazon. In one reported case, a $19 case of masks had an additional $150 shipping charge tacked on. In Italy, which has seen the largest outbreak of the disease, Reuters reports authorities are looking into “insane prices”.
“We have decided to open an investigation after media reports of the insane prices fetched up by these products (masks and gels) on online sales websites in the last two days,” Milan deputy chief prosecutor Tiziana Siciliano told Reuters.
According to the report, masks prices have increased nearly 1,000 fold to 10 euros for each individual mask. Similar impacts have been seen on other public health needs like hand sanitizer.
With more than 80,000 cases in the world and 2,704 confirmed deaths people have reason to be concerned. Cases have been confirmed in Germany, Iran, Italy and South Korea. In the United States there are 53 confirmed cases with one caused by person-to-person transmission.
The demand for surgical masks and sanitizer has not peaked with the outbreak likely to spread to the United States according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Still they are not recommending use of face masks in public places, which do little to prevent disease transmission if you aren’t already sick. They can help prevent sick people from spreading germs.
Keepa, an Amazon price tracking service, found one version of the masks cost four times what they did a few weeks ago. In other cases, prices have spiked higher more than three times their original cost prior to the outbreak, and then come back down. Keepa found those masks went for over $600 compared to a price of $200 on February 1. At $354, the prices are still 77% of the price a few weeks ago.
Amazon regularly monitors the prices of a wide range of products to ensure they meet its Fair Pricing Policy, which is designed to prevent price gouging. The policy requires companies to keep their prices in line with “recent prices offered on or off Amazon.” A consultant for sellers, Ed Rosenberg noted that some sellers products had been removed for violating the policy.
The price gouging pattern mirrors other emergencies. Bottled water prices drastically increased during Hurricane Irma, despite Amazon’s efforts.
Its also true that sellers are responding to increase demand and limited supply. Many of the masks are made in China or other parts of Southeast Asia, the epicenter of the outbreak. Those areas have seen high demand for the surgical masks.
There may also be better options to stay healthy. The CDC wants everyone to focus on regular washing of hands with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer if that’s not an option. Make sure to use hot water and soap, scrubbing thoroughly for at least 20 seconds to kill any germs. Their other advice is to make sure your workplace is well stocked with hand sanitizer and tissues.
In addition, if you are sick they recommend staying home and that businesses look at telecommuting options to limit the spread of the virus if it reaches your area.
If you see price gouging as the outbreak continues, please report it to Shep’s team.
