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There is no law against businesses putting prices up, but Consumer NZ head of communications Gemma Rasmussen told Newshub taking advantage of the pandemic to increase profits is an ethical issue.
Consumers who come across what appear to be inflated face mask prices could contact the seller and ask them for the reason behind the pricing.
“Consumers can try and price monitor…if they’re seeing examples of extremely high prices, they can contact the seller and ask them [to justify] this,” Rasmussen said.
Under the Fair Trading Act, misleading and deceptive conduct and false representations are prohibited.
“A business needs to have a justifiable reason for a price increase, otherwise they could be breaking the law,” Rasmussen added.
Head of Retail NZ Greg Harford told Newshub many businesses are working hard to keep prices constant throughout COVID-19, but demand and supply do have an impact.
“As demand increases, the price will often go up, but that provides an opportunity for others to come into the market,” Harford said.
Although unfamiliar with NXP and its practices, Harford said globally, there are issues with product availability, putting pressure on prices.
“It is always a good idea to shop around for the best deal…if people are able to hold off, they may see prices start to come back,” Harford added.
Businesses wanting to stock up on face masks could consider buying the cheaper, medical-grade masks which are more widely available, as opposed to respirator masks, he said.
Shoppers concerned about retailer price gouging, including inflated face mask prices, can register a complaint online at Price Watch.
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