Canadian consumers are slamming the country's largest pharmacy chain this morning for jacking up prices on essential household hygiene items by more than 100 per cent during a global pandemic.
Like many Toronto retailers, Shoppers Drug Mart locations have been slammed over the past 24 hours with people "panic shopping" as confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus rise and offices tell their employees to work from home.
Supplies such as toilet paper (okay, mostly toilet paper) are in short supply at supermarkets all over the city, but Shoppers appears to be the only major chain (so far) capitalizing on this demand.
Shoppers Drug Mart is taking advantage of the unfortunately situation with the Corona virus. The price of toilet paper for $14.45 a package of 12 is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/MEJwovxl32
— Flower (@rosymorena11) March 13, 2020
Customers of the Loblaw Companies Ltd.-owned chain are sharing photos online of outrageously high price tags for disinfectants, hand sanitzer bottles and, of course, disposable paper goods.
Way to go Shoppers Drug Mart! Taking advantage of Corona crisis shamelessly. pic.twitter.com/tI1IiRRUPR
— Feyzi Baban (@feyzibaban) March 13, 2020
Packages of toiler paper containing just 12 rolls are going for as much as $22 by some accounts.
You need to talk about the price gouging that is happening. Some people have seen prices as high as $22 for 12 rolls @ShopprsDrugMart . This is for 8 and 12 rolls. pic.twitter.com/GB8zRQaowi
— Erin (@Limeleopard) March 13, 2020
ROYALE original bathroom tissue, in particular, is priced at $14.99 in multiple Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Toronto.
That's for 12 rolls of paper, mind you, which equates to roughly $1.25 per 253-sheet roll.
Walmart Canada currently has the exact same item listed for $6.97 (though it is, of course, out of stock.)
Every day low price? I don’t think so. Shameful @ShopprsDrugMart pic.twitter.com/HjZez74JpY
— Krista Robinson (@lilmisslibrary) March 13, 2020
Shoppers has responded to some of the dozens of complaints about this particular item and how it is priced on Twitter by asking customers to send them a direct message with the UPC of the product.
"No. Sorry. I didn't buy," replied one customer in response to the corporation. "I went next door to another store and paid $5."
Hi Helder, Could you please send us a DM with the UPC/Barcode number of the toilet paper? We will look into this for you!
— Shoppers Drug Mart (@ShopprsDrugMart) March 12, 2020
A widely-shared photo of hand sanitizer bottles being sold for $8.99 also elicited a reply from the company's Twitter account.
"This product is not a centrally listed item but was brought in by the store to meet demand," explained the company's corporate office.
"Looking at the cost of the product, the pricing is still aligned with our price structure. We understand the concern and are committed to providing the same value-for-money as we always do."
Dear @ShopprsDrugMart, you guys are fucking trash! Way to price gouge during the time of panic. I know your prices are high because of convenience but this is bullshit. Fuck YOU #BloorRunnymedeShoppers @JohnTory @gordperks @BhutilaKarpoche #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/7W8L6kZgJP
— Collin Ng (@c_snapper) March 12, 2020
Patrons aren't buying it. Literally — some are walking straight out the door without purchasing anything and planning to boycott Shopper's Drug Mart in light of what they see as blatant price gouging.
Boycott @ShoppersDrugMart #Covid_19 capitalism pic.twitter.com/YhudgybHbs
— Just call me J (@JC4vr) March 12, 2020
"Your #pricegouging has not gone unnoticed. Notified head office," wrote one customer to Shoppers on Twitter. "This will pass and once it does your ethics will not be forgotten. This goes for all price gouging companies. Shame on you all!"
"Galen Weston is one of the richest men in Canada," commented another Twitter user of the company's extremely wealthy owner.
"People quarantined are not going to be able to pay their bills and maybe even not be able to eat. One man's wealth would help a lot of people if we just took it."
by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO
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