Amazon accused of overpricing essential goods during COVID-19 pandemic

A group of observers accused online retailer Amazon of overpricing essential goods it sold directly to consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the company cited spikes in prices from third-party sellers. Writes about it New York Post.

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According to a Public Citizen report, the e-commerce giant raised prices for 10 staples (from cornstarch and flour to hand sanitizer and face masks) by 1010 percent from February to mid-August.

All of the products reviewed were listed as “sold by Amazon,” and not by third-party vendors, according to the consumer protection group's report.

The results, according to Public Citizen, contradict Amazon's claims that external vendors were responsible for the price hikes on its site at the height of the pandemic, when consumers were massively purchasing food and essentials.

“It is troubling that so much effort has been made to blame third-party sellers, but so little effort has been made to stop price increases, including on products sold directly by Amazon,” the Public Citizen report said.

The group has identified price increases ranging from 48 percent to more than 1000 percent for products listed as "sold by Amazon." The largest mark-up was for a 6,5-ounce pack of cornstarch that Amazon sold for $ 8,99, while other retailers charge just 89 cents, the report said.

On the subject: 7 Free Apps to Save Money on Amazon Shopping

According to the report, it was overpriced by 1000% for a package of 50 disposable masks, which are considered important for controlling the spread of coronavirus (they were put up for sale in the spring for $ 39,99. Public Citizen said that before the pandemic, this product cost about $ 4).

Other significant increases include 528%. The price jump was for eight rolls of toilet paper, which were selling for $36,39, compared to $6,89 at other retailers. The price of antibacterial soap jumped by 470% - from $1,49 to $7.

But Amazon said that Public Citizen analyzed only a small number of the hundreds of millions of products sold on the company's website. The retailer said it fixed the issues as soon as they were brought to its attention.

“As we have said, price gouging has no place on Amazon, including products offered directly by Amazon,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. - Our systems are designed to match or offer the best available price among our competitors. And if we see a mistake, we quickly correct it.”

Amazon has previously accused various sellers of overpricing. The company said it has blocked more than 10 accounts for attempting to inflate the cost of products and has sent data from the most serious violators to law enforcement agencies.

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