Ferguson calls out price gouging by online sellers

A Mill Creek woman was selling N95 masks at six times regular price, says a cease-and-desist letter.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson is taking aim at five businesses, including one in Mill Creek, for selling sought-after products like protective masks and hand sanitizer at exorbitant prices through Amazon.com.

Ferguson sent letters last week to each of the independent sellers with a warning to cease-and-desist charging unreasonably high prices for items in high demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak, or else they could be sued and face hefty fines.

“Price-gouging during an emergency is morally wrong, and a violation of the Consumer Protection Act,” Ferguson said in a statement Tuesday. “These businesses are charging exorbitant prices on products that are essential for the health and well-being of Washingtonians. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to prevent price-gouging during this public health emergency.”

Meanwhile, thousands of residents are urging the state to investigate businesses they think are operating in violation of Gov. Jay Inslee’s stay home directive.

Inslee announced a new web page Monday allowing people to lodge complaints online. Within minutes of it going live, a thousand complaints had been received, said David Postman, the governor’s chief of staff. The number had swelled to 4,000 by Tuesday morning.

“It’s more than I anticipated,” he told reporters.

Postman said they’ll need to figure out the best means of following up and educating owners of non-essential businesses about the restrictions and why they are in place. They don’t have the people to knock on doors of 4,000 businesses, he said.

Regarding price-gouging, there is no state law which specifically addresses such behavior. It would be considered an unfair or deceptive practice under the the state’s Consumer Protection Act, according to Ferguson’s office.

Ferguson sent a cease-and-desist letter March 26 to JoAnn Chan of Mill Creek. In it, he said he received information from Amazon that she had been selling 3M N95 masks “at an excessive price during the public health emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

She was reportedly selling the masks on her storefront, Unaffiliated Nature, for $41.24 between Feb. 10 and March 16 compared to $6.98 before the emergency, according to the attorney general’s office.

If she did not stop, she could be sued and face fines up to $2,000 per violation, Ferguson wrote.

“In this time of uncertainty, consumers should not have to worry about being charged excessive prices for goods they need to stay healthy. My office will hold sellers accountable for price gouging during this emergency,” Ferguson wrote in the letter.

The attorney general sent similar letters March 26 to businesses in Spokane, Seattle, Gig Harbor and Issaquah.

Other businesses found to be price-gouging during the crisis can expect to get cease-and-desist letters, too, according to Ferguson’s office.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@herald net.com. Twitter: @dospueblos.

Talk to us

More in Local News

Funko mascots Freddy Funko roll past on a conveyor belt in the Pop! Factory of the company's new flagship store on Aug. 18, 2017.  (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Lawsuit: Funko misled investors about Arizona move

A shareholder claims Funko’s decision to relocate its distribution center from Everett to Arizona was “disastrous.”

Lynnwood
1 stabbed at apartment in Lynnwood

The man, 26, was taken to an Everett hospital with “serious injuries.”

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. Highway 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Red flag fire warning issued west of Cascades

There are “critical fire weather” conditions due to humidity and wind in the Cascades, according to the National Weather Service.

A house fire damaged two homes around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 6, 2023 in Marysville, Washington. (Photo provided by Marysville Fire District)
Fire burns 2 homes in Marysville, killing 2 dogs

Firefighters responded to a report of a fire north of Lakewood Crossing early Tuesday, finding two houses engulfed in flames.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Mountlake Terrace in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Mountlake Terrace eyes one-time projects for $2.4M in federal funds

Staff recommended $750,000 for a new roof and HVAC at the library, $250,000 toward a nonprofit facility in Lynnwood and more.

The Snohomish River turns along the edge of the Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve at Thomas’ Eddy on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
To build a healthier Snohomish River, more log jams

About $2.8M in grants will help engineer log jams, tear down levees and promote salmon restoration at Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve.

Dave "Bronco" Erickson stands next to the pink-and-purple 1991 Subaru Justy hatchback “Pork Chop Express” car that he is seeking to re-home for $500. The car has been on Whidbey Island for years, mainly as yard art. (Andrea Brown / The Herald)
For sale: Whidbey’s fabled ‘Pork Chop Express’ gets great smileage

Asking price is $500 for the 1991 Subaru Justy, a three-cylinder econobox with 65K miles and a transmission as rare as hen’s teeth.

People begin parading down First Street with a giant balloon “PRIDE” during Snohomish’s inaugural Pride celebration on Saturday, June 3, 2023, in downtown Snohomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Your guide to Pride in Snohomish County

Mark your calendars; Pride Month is upon us.

Twin sisters Lyndsay Lamb (left) and Leslie Davis (right), co-hosts of HGTV's Unsellable Houses. (Photo provided)
Meet and greet HGTV’s ‘Unsellable Houses’ twin sister stars in Snohomish on Friday

Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis have made Lamb & Co. a #twinwin home-selling, home-goods brand.

Most Read