State of Michigan reports: Attorney General watching Amazon sellers’ price-gouging

Hand sanitizer, which is alway in short supply these days, is being sold at exorbitant prices. But not legally. (Public Domain)

By WKTV Staff

ken@wktv.org

The State of Michigan, like most governmental agencies, puts out press releases to media sources on a wide-range of issues almost daily. Some are important for the public to know; some are just routine governmental business. Some make the news and some do not.

We at WKTV have decided that in these times of COVID-19, of often-filtered news, we’d let the state departments say what they want to say to the pubic a little more directly. Following are links to State of Michigan releases from April 6-7 — with a little emphasis given by our staff on what we found interesting.

Michigan Attorney General warning online sellers about price-gouging

Four online sellers conducting business through Amazon were told to stop taking advantage of consumers by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel after her office found credible reports of price-gouging in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA), according to a State of Michigan press release.

Nessel’s office on Monday sent cease and desist letters to the Amazon storefronts operating under the usernames  Dealz N-KY, Happy Small Hands, HotDealz73 and ZXL Distribution Group.

“As we continue to work through this COVID-19 pandemic together, my office will keep protecting consumers from price-gougers – and that includes online retailers,” Nessel said in supplied material. “This public health emergency is not an excuse for businesses to take advantage of people and profit from fear, and those who try will be held accountable.”

In an example provided by the Attorney General’s office, the Dealz N-KY storefront operator sold a two-pack of hand sanitizer for $89, plus shipping. The same product typically sells for $8.85 at other online retailers.

Read the entire release here.

Other April 6-7 releases, listed by headlines and with links, include:

National Filters retooling to make healthcare masks, respirators for Michigan Strategic Fund

MPSC urges homeowners and contractors to postpone nonessential excavation

State urges Federal government to stop discouraging health care access

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