by Alex Lloyd Gross
Do you think you paid more for hand sanitizer, or face masks? The Pa Attorney General would like to hear from you. While the cost to make sanitizer has gone up and so has the price. Many in the Philadelphia region, including Mayfair, Parkwood, Abington and Mayfair may have paid more than they should have and they are entitled to compensation.
Price gouging is when a merchant charges over 20 percent for an item they charged before a demand has been created. Landmark supply was caught inflating prices . They supply items to drug stores in this region.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with Landmark Supply, Inc. after the Office received a consumer complaint alleging that a Pennsylvania pharmacy was selling hand sanitizer for unlawful prices. In reviewing the chain of distribution of the hand sanitizer, the Office learned that the pharmacy purchased the hand sanitizer from Landmark Supply, Inc. Landmark Supply, Inc. sold 8 oz. bottles of “Purell Hand Sanitizer” to Pennsylvania pharmacies for $7.98 and $9.50 per bottle.
Under the Price Gouging Act, a price increase of more than 20 percent during a declared state of emergency is considered price gouging. The AVC requires Landmark Supply, Inc. to pay $2,150.00 in civil penalties, in addition to restitution of $160.51 for consumers who purchased the hand sanitizer from pharmacies that purchased the hand sanitizer from Landmark. Landmark Supply, Inc. agreed to fully comply with all provisions of the Pennsylvania Consumer Protection Law and Price Gouging Act.
Consumers who purchased 8 oz. bottles of “Purell Hand Sanitizer” from any of the Pennsylvania pharmacies listed below may be eligible for restitution if they paid more than they should have:
In order to be considered for restitution, consumers should file a consumer complaint form and attach a copy of their receipt showing they purchased the hand sanitizer from one of the pharmacies listed above between March 6, 2020 and June 17, 2020. Complaints must be submitted by August 16, 2020 to be considered. |
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