In a time of tragedy, employees at a Best Buy in Houston decided to exploit those in need. The Best Buy in Cypress, Texas decided to sell bottled water for $42 a pack. They would later lower the price to $29 per pack.
Photos of the price increase went viral and Best Buy’s corporate offices was forced to respond. “The pricing was clearly a mistake on the part of a few employees at a single store.”
However, Best Buy could be fined for their actions. In Texas, price-gouging is illegal during a natural disaster. Violators could face a fine of $250k.
The price-gouging by Best Buy is a horrible example of how a company can take advantage of people during a desperate situation. Best Buy continues to face backlash on social media.
Shame on “BEST BUY” for selling cases of water for $42.96. to Hurricane Harvey victims. I will NEVER shop at Best Buy ever again!
— Connie Aiple (@CAiple) August 30, 2017
The Best Buy price gouging thing just shows how much of a rip off individual bottled water prices are every single day.
— Brandon Florkey (@BrandonFlorkey) August 30, 2017
Aaaaand my crystal ball says Best Buy will be randomly donating a million to Harvey victims shortly. Just a guess. #MAGA
— Sea of Politics 🌊 (@seaofpolitics) August 30, 2017
Best Buy apologized after its Houston store raised the price of bottled water to $43 as Harvey hits the area. They proved geeks were losers.
— Lue Hunt (@huntlue) August 30, 2017
Best Buy sells water for $42 a case to Harvey victims in Houston! Thanks BB
— Tom Brown (@TominAustin) August 30, 2017
@bbfb_bestbuy employees sell cases of water for $42 in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey amid fury at price gouging. #HarveyFlood
— Green Product Junkie (@GreenProdJunkie) August 30, 2017
Disgusting…Shame on you and anyone, that worked to price rise on any product against people in need.
They didn’t raise the price of anything. Best Buy doesn’t normally sell cases of water, just individual bottles. The marked prices are 12x and 24x their standard individual bottle price.
Do you work for Best Buy? Regardless, this company was trying to help by selling the bottles by cases?
If Best Buy really had the thought of helping, they should be out there handing these people free water. Pizza Hut (including a pregnant lady) was out there handing out hot pizza walking thru the waters to serve these people. I will always be a grateful customer of Pizza Hut and will never buy from Best Buy.
Please stop wasting your time trying to convince us that they had no other choices. Best Buy corporates better decide quickly to donate alot of money to help and/or this story will never be forgotten.
Your reporting and journalist integrity is appalling.
Good Job Best Buy! I like how you got someone on here trying to explain the fine print behind your reasoning to sell 42 dollar cases of water in a natural disaster. High Five, you really represent your name!
All we see is blah blah blah in your message. Nothing else.