A class action lawsuit accusing Amazon of marking up necessary household items by more than 1,000 percent has been expanded to include a nationwide class of shoppers who allegedly paid more during the coronavirus pandemic.
Filed in Washington federal court last week, lead plaintiffs Alvin Greenberg, Michael Steinberg, and Julie Hanson say that online retail giant Amazon took advantage of consumers following “stay at home” orders and public health guidance. The plaintiffs accuse Amazon of “leveraging a pandemic to profit unfairly off consumers in real need” with “flagrantly unlawful” price increases.
“While Amazon has provided needed services during the pandemic, this does not place it above the law,” states the class action lawsuit. “Like every seller, Amazon has a legal obligation under Washington (and other) laws to ensure that its pricing does not exploit consumers facing emergency conditions.”
The class action lawsuit points to several examples of steep price increases for household items documented on Amazon from before the start of the pandemic until after COVID-19 was declared a nationwide public health emergency:
- Face Masks: Increases up to 1,800 percent, from $4.21 to $79.99
- Disinfectant Wipes: Increases of more than 745 percent, from $20.71 to $174.96
- Cold Remedies: Increases up to 1,523 percent, from $4.65 to $79.00
- Toilet Paper: Increases up to 1,044 percent, from $17.48 to $200
The plaintiffs claim that price gouging occurred on Amazon for food staples as well:
- Black Beans: Increases up to 521 percent, from $3.54 to $21.99
- Baking Soda: Increases of more than 1,500 percent, from $3.08 to $50.00
- Flour: Increases up to 400 percent, from $22.00 to $110.00
- Yeast: Increases up to 625 percent, from $7.02 to $50.95
The class action lawsuit points out that Amazon sales broke records in some categories during the COVID-19 pandemic, skyrocketing the company’s profits. The founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, saw his personal wealth dramatically increase by $205 million per day during 2020.
Amazon’s exponential profits during the pandemic stand in contrast to the majority of American consumers facing emergency financial and health conditions during the same time. The plaintiffs say Amazon’s price gouging during 2020 was not only immoral, it was illegal.
The class action lawsuit alleges that Amazon violated Washington’s anti-price gouging laws. In addition, the plaintiffs say that the international retailer could have better prepared for and dealt with price gouging on its website. Amazon’s failure to do so amounts to negligence and unjust enrichment, they say.
The plaintiffs want to represent other consumers nationwide who paid higher prices on Amazon.com during the pandemic. They are seeking damages and a court order putting a stop to the price gouging.
This is not the first class action lawsuit filed that accuses Amazon of price gouging. The company is fighting a price gouging class action lawsuit in California. In addition, a Florida mother claims Amazon charged her $99 for 36 rolls of toilet paper and $199 for two bottles of hand sanitizer.
Did you pay more during COVID-19? Were you a victim of price gouging on Amazon? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
The plaintiffs are represented by Ben Harrington, Benjamin Siegel, and Steve W. Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.
The Amazon Price Gouging Class Action Lawsuit is Greenberg, et al. v. Amazon.com, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-00898 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle.
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846 thoughts onAmazon COVID-19 Price Gouging Class Action Lawsuit To Represent Shoppers Nationwide
In July 2020, I ordered cloth masks for $11.95. They are now back down to $9.95 each.
In January 2021, I ordered 100 ct disposable masks for $12.99. That was when cases were declining. Now, the same 100 ct is $16.99.
add me
please add me
Amazon has sold open product and refused to refund, credit card companies are refusing to help with disputing the charges and they then recharge credit cards and have over charged my credit cards at 48,000
I paid $63 for a box of masks that were $10 before and $10 now. The machine I purchased to check my mothers oxygen levels was raised to $120 when they were $17!!! Please add me
Yes please add me Amazon was ridiculous with the prices but I was scared to leave my home so I had no choice
Having to be forced to stay at home and little to no choices of where to shop for basic necessities I turned to Amazon. Little did I know they hiked up the prices not just a little but a lot! For toilet paper the prices for unknown brands were just crazy to say the least. Shampoo, soap , razors were just a small percentage of things that went up to atleast twice what they are worth. With my husband having cut hours I could barely make ends meet.
Amazon gave us no choice in purchasing ridiculously priced items such as toilet paper, sanitizer, household appliances, food etc. Unacceptable. I fully shopped on Amazon being that I was stuck at home.
They need to include Instacart as well as many others for this price gouging nonsense especially during a nationwide emergency
long term customer here of Amazon, yes indeed they had us all during the pandemic and no choice but to purchase since we were unable to obtain certain things locally. Toilet paper paid 50.00 for 6 rolls took many weeks to arrive then when it did they were so tiny in size still have them what a joke, that was, Paper towels same thing, so expensive, alcohol rubbing kind, wipes, cleaners, etc., you name it anything you wanted you may find it online with them but you paid dearly for many months and took so long to get here, by the time arrives, we normally would had found the items we needed by then so kept deliveries as back up – hardship as expensive to begin with, very upset with Amazon taking advantage of pp and customers like this during such a time they should have been doing something more for us not less and then charge enormous amounts for those on SSA and VA. Shame on you Amazon, Walmart and all others who did this.