Coronavirus
Midtown hardware store gouged sanitizer shoppers
BY GABE HERMAN
As part of New
York’s effort to
crack down on
price gouging related to
the spread of coronavirus
(COVID-19), State
Attorney General Letitia
James announced on
Tuesday afternoon that
two merchants in New
York City were given
cease and desist orders
for charging excessive
prices for hand sanitizers
and disinfectant sprays.
The Offi ce of the Attorney
General (OAG)
confi rmed on March 7,
after a referral from Mayor
Bill de Blasio’s offi ce,
that Scheman & Grant
Hardware, d/b/a Ace
Hardware, in Midtown
Manhattan, was charging
$79.99 for 1200mL,
or just over 40 ounces,
of hand sanitizer, according
to OAG.
Then on March 9,
OAG investigators confi
rmed that City Fresh
PHOTO VIA PROPERTYSHARK/CHRISTOPHER BRIDE
A 2017 photo of the exterior of
Scheman & Grant Hardware on
8th Avenue in Midtown, which was
punished last week for price gouging
during the coronavirus outbreak.
Market in Astoria was
charging $14.99 for a
19-ounce bottle of disinfectant
spray during the
same period of market
disruption, OAG said.
This past weekend, city
offi cials issued fi nes to
Scheman & Grant Hardware
for price gouging on
face masks, according to
OAG, which noted that it
would continue monitoring
potential violations of
the state’s price gouging
statute. That statute prohibits
the sale of goods
and services needed for
the health, safety and
welfare of consumers at
unconscionably excessive
prices during any
Attorney General Letitia James
abnormal disruption of
the market, OAG noted.
“On my watch, we
will not tolerate schemes
or frauds designed to
turn large profi ts by exploiting
people’s health
concerns,” said Attorney
General James in a
statement. “While there
remains no cause for
widespread panic, some
people are looking to
prey on others’ anxiety
and line their own pockets.”
James added that her
offi ce will remain vigilant
against unlawful
activity, and asked the
public to report any suspected
scams or price
gouging to James’ offi
ce. James also thanked
Mayor de Blasio’s offi ce
for referring the Manhattan
price gouging case to
OAG.
“It is imperative that
all levels of government
work in very close coordination
during all
coronavirus response efforts,”
said James, “and I
am grateful that we have
such a dedicated group
of local and state offi -
cials, healthcare workers,
PHOTO BY MARK HALLUM
and emergency responders
working around the
clock to protect New
Yorkers.”
“We are in the middle
of a crisis, and we need
to help our fellow New
Yorkers,” said Mayor de
Blasio. “Now is not the
time to try and profi t.
Not only is price gouging
immoral, it is also illegal.
I thank the Attorney
General for working with
us to stop this practice in
its tracks.”
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