Skip to main content

Store offers refund after 'mistakenly' selling packs of face masks for $120 before new Covid restrictions came into force

By

A supermarket has sparked public outrage by 'mistakenly' tripling the price of face masks hours before new coronavirus restrictions were enforced. 

Australian Capital Territory introduced the wearing of mandatory masks outdoors and public indoor settings on Monday in response to a growing outbreak in nearby Sydney.

As Canberrans rushed out to stock up on masks, shoppers were shocked to find packs of 50 selling for $120 at Supabarn Kingston in the city's south.

It didn't take long for locals to express their outrage and share photos of the price hike on social media. 

Supabarn Kingston in the nation's capital were selling packs of 50 masks for $120 on Sunday night. The price has since been slashed to $40

Supabarn Kingston in the nation's capital were selling packs of 50 masks for $120 on Sunday night. The price has since been slashed to $40

'Didn't they make price gouging illegal? I am now boycotting Supabarn and will encourage whoever will listen to do so as well,' one person commented on Reddit.

Other Reddit users shared similar experiences. 

'Friend just forked out $200 for 50 at some pharmacy. F****** insanity,' one wrote.

One Reddit user pointed out it was cheaper to buy 10 packs of five masks selling for $10.99.

Local community Facebook pages in the nation's capital were also flooded with angry comments. 

'That's a ridiculous price,' one woman commented.

'Shameful behaviour,' another added. 

The store (pictured) in Canberra's south later resolved the price hike, claiming it was a mistake

The store in Canberra's south later resolved the price hike, claiming it was a mistake

The store has also been inundated with negative Google reviews.

'How is it appropriate charging $120 for a 50 pack of masks? Other stores are charging $20-30 for the same brand. Exploiting their customers’ desperation at the expense of public health. Absolutely disgusting,' one man wrote.

Another added: 'Price gouging during Covid restrictions and then saying it was a mistake? Don't think so.

The widespread outrage prompted the supermarket chain to slash the price by $80.

'Things just changed so quickly last night and we acknowledge it was our mistake. The price has changed to $39.99 - we will not be making a profit,' a spokeswoman  told the ABC.

'We are doing our best to keep up.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Supabarn for further comment.

The ACT introduced the wearing of mandatory masks in public this week. Pictured are visitors at Parliament House on Monday

The ACT introduced the wearing of mandatory masks in public this week. Pictured are visitors at Parliament House on Monday

Canberrans had until midnight Tuesday to adjust to the new mask rules before fines of up to $8,000 were enforced.

There are no currently active Covid cases in the nation's capital.

'The safety of our community is paramount, so we are bringing in this requirement as a proactive measure to support the strengthened travel restrictions that we have put in place,' the ACT government website states.

'This new requirement means, when people are indoors with people they don’t usually live or work with, or on public transport, they must wear a face mask.'

Canberrans must also wear masks outdoors, despite no current active cases in the ACT. Pictured are locals enjoying the school holidays

Canberrans must also wear masks outdoors, despite no current active cases in the ACT. Pictured are locals enjoying the school holidays

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

By
Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...
Post a Comment
Read more

EXCLUSIVE: From a $US13million mansion to a caravan: How the Australian wife of Il Divo singer has been 'forced' to live in a dodgy trailer park after a wildfire burned down their house during a bitter divorce battle

By
'Forced' into a 'mobile home park': Renee Izambard (nee Murphy) with her estranged husband, the suave Il Divo opera singer Sebastien Izambard An Il Divo opera singer's estranged Australian wife claims she was 'forced' to live in a caravan park after their $US12.95million Malibu mansion burned down in a wildfire days just after she filed for divorce.  Details of one-time Sydney Sony Music executive Renee Izambard's new life after her messy split with French tenor Sebastien Izambard were laid bare in a lawsuit filed with a Californian court this week. Ms Izambard (nee Murphy) is suing insurer State Farm, her estranged husband, an insurance agent and up to 20 others, over an allegedly 'inadequate' policy which covered the couple's destroyed former Malibu home.  Their five bedroom residence - described as a 'no expense spared ... oasis' - and its two guest houses went up in flames on November 8, 2018 during California's devastating Wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Missouri police resume search for body of mother, 28, believed to have been 'suffocated by her husband who wanted to stop her fleeing to her native China with their daughter' a year ago

By
A year after a young Chinese mother living in Missouri with her family vanished without a trace, police have resumed the search for her body.  Mengqi Ji Elledge, 28, was reported missing by her husband, Joseph Elledge, on October 10, 2019. He was charged in February with first-degree murder in her death and has pleaded not guilty. The couple has a young daughter together. Joseph has been accused of suffocating his wife to death and disposing of her body in order to prevent her from returning to her native China with their child and to avoid a costly divorce.    Police in Missouri are renewing their efforts to locate the body of Mengqi Ji Elledge, 28, who went missing last October and is presumed dead. Her husband, Joseph Elledge, was charged in February with first-degree murder in her death Police had searched for Mengqi's remains with divers, sonar and heavy machinery at the Lamine River near Booneville after cadaver dogs hit on a scent there Police had searched for her remains wi...
Post a Comment
Read more