Pennsylvania logs few reports of price gouging related to coronavirus so far

A week after widespread reports of price gouging for hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes as consumers across the nation emptied store shelves as the coronavirus spread, actual consumer complaints remain low in Pennsylvania.

An email to report price gouging (pricegouging@ attorneygeneral.gov) set up Friday by office of Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro had logged 27 complaints as of Monday afternoon, a spokeswoman said.

Officials declined to say where complaints had originated or what, if any, action was taken.

“The most common types of emails we’ve received have been for disinfectant spray, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, bottled water, rubbing alcohol and liquid soap,” said Shapiro spokeswoman Jacklin Rhoads.

Last week, Amazon said it had removed listings for more than 1 million products that falsely claimed to cure or defend against the coronavirus and removed tens of thousands of deals from merchants that it said attempted to price gouge customers, The New York Times reported.

A search on the popular shopping website on Monday revealed a range of options and prices for alcohol-based gel hand sanitizers — from 1.7 ounces for $9.60, a $2 price drop, and shipping of $4.99, to a four-pack of Purell dispenser refills for $75.75, down from $176. Many listings, however, stated those items are “Currently unavailable.”

State and local officials across the country began moving against price gouging last week after reports of grossly inflated prices for such products began to surface.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered officials at the state’s Division of Correctional Industries, which employs incarcerated people, to begin ramping up production of hand sanitizer. NBC reported Monday that Cuomo has announced plans to begin shipping around 100,000 gallons a day of “NYS Clean” hand sanitizer to schools, nonprofits and government agencies around the state.

In Pennsylvania, where documented cases of coronavirus reached 10 on Monday, Shapiro encouraged consumers to reach out to his office anytime they see prices of such items skyrocketing.

“As Pennsylvania continues to manage the spread of the coronavirus, merchants should be put on notice: You cannot use a public health emergency as a business opportunity,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said Gov. Tom Wolf’s emergency declaration triggered price-gouging protections, which prohibit companies and vendors from charging a price for consumer goods or services that exceeds 20% of the average price those goods or services were sold for in the week preceding the date of the declaration.

The attorney general has the authority to move against both online and brick-and-mortar retailers found to be violating prohibitions against price gouging, Rhoads said.

Sales of hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes have soared with reports of the spread of coronavirus.

Market research firm Nielsen reported last week that sales of hand sanitizers in the U.S. were up 73% in the four weeks ending Feb. 22 compared to the same time a year ago.

The alcohol-based gel, while convenient, is not the best way to clean your hands. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a thorough 20-second lather with soap and water, followed by a rinse, as the best protection against disease.