Should Ebay put a stop to price gouging on N95 masks ?

[nostalgicbrewpub]

Due to the Novel Coronavirus, there has been a huge demand for N95 masks. Some unscrupulous sellers are price gouging these masks, asking over 4 times the retail price. Such behavior will cause hoarding , people rushing to brick-n-mortar stores and online suppliers to buy up these masks,  just so they can hawk it on Ebay for absurd markups. This causes problems for the average person who wants to buy a mask for personal use. Ebay takes down auctions that violate certain ethical and or legal guidelines.

Just to be clear, I am not saying Ebay should stop sellers from hawking N95 masks, only to prevent those sellers who engage in price gouging.

Health professions have warned that emptying the shelves of these masks, which is greatly exacerbated when people can figure they can get rich quick by price gouging, is putting health professionals at risk due to shortage of the masks. In Singapore the government has cracked down on price gougers.

I would link to Ebay auctions of sellers price gouging but I don't know if that is allowed.

[ps3575]

Nobody has ever become sick for lack of a beanie baby. These people are the scum of the earth.

[ps3575]

Are you saying it is a good thing if it was a clinic, because now they have the masks they need? Or are you saying the seller is a **bleep** for taking advantage of people who are desperate to protect themselves?
I don't see any scenario here that works for me.

[ps3575]

Ok, this is now becoming interesting. I thought he was calling out scumbags who are trying to get rich on the misery of others.

[ps3575]

They are in the middle of prosecuting 2 brothers in Brooklyn NY for price gouging. They bought up all the available hand sanitizer in a certain area, then tried to sell it at outlandish prices. They are facing 20 years, and that is after they were found out and donated the remaining sanitizer to hospitals or nursing homes, probably on the advice of their lawyer.

[ps3575]

That is a really good point! However, one person being a **bleep** is not justification for another person being a **bleep**.

[ps3575]

Well, do you still think we aren't in a disaster situation?

[phillyphaithful]

I just searched the sold listings. People paying $30-100 PER MASK. I bought a ten pack this summer when hanging insulation for $10.99. This is a crime and shame on eBay for enabling it!

[projectclasp]

If masks don't help, how come doctors, nurses and other health service providers wear them? Do masks just work for them and not for us?

[scheu_kath]

totally should! Our first responders and medical techs are using used mask and need them desperately. Ebay should be on board with this.

[rowrowboat]

Slime is a little too strong I think.  Not that I condone raising prices on need items.  But in this situation there is more to it. 

Why don't the hospitals, doctor's office buy up all the n95 masks on ebay.  The hospitals pays outrageous prices for supplies anyway.   Hospital supply salesmen used to tell me how much they make.  The hospitals and suppliers have agreements so that they both makes lots of money.  

They hospitals charges outrageous prices for procedures.  I had to pay $1800 for a 5 minutes ambulance ride, $1500 for colonoscopy due to family history of pre-existing condition, and more that were not covered by insurance.  Paid $350 for a plastic feeding tube, not much different from aquarium tubing that cost $.50

I understand this particular situation is different because of the emergency and lack of supply, but if the hospitals and doctors can charge basically whatever they think is fair, then why can't others do so, just paid the money and they can have all the masks on ebay.  

Are the hospitals and doctors not charging their patient for this time period?

When I have an emergency will the hospitals go easy on my billing?

US hospitals are not like third world hospitals.  They often have a board to think of ways to maximize profit, not all, but many. 

[rowrowboat]

Is it a crime for hospitals to charge $25,000 per day for intensive care?

[isalesamerica1]

Nobody is putting a gun to their head. If it is not available to them and eBay is, then let them buy. eBay may be killing people by not allowing sales. 

[isalesamerica1]

Is eBay ready to assume responsibility for people contracting corona virus because they stopped the sale of masks.

Peoples live are at risk and nobody is holding a gun to their head to buy them.

Liberals think that everything in this world is free, except for what their selling.

Maybe eBay should stand down on this one and let people make their own decisions instead of eBay making it for them.

[mansons2005]

General Reply:
It appears that some people do not understand that because price gouging is illegal eBay is required by law to stop facilitating it. Why would eBay allow themselves to be prosecuted or fined so someone could make a bundle by withholding a commodity until their price is met?

[mondroid2000]

Do you work for CNN? because this is most definitely a FAKE news story lol , there is no such thing as price gouging in an ebay auction if you start the bid at a buck also if it were not for the ebayers selling these mask many people would have NONE so THANK YOU EBAY SELLERS OF THE N95 MASKS FOR YOUR SERVICE