Price Gouging When Nature Strikes
Price Gouging When Nature Strikes
When natural disaster strikes you expect neighbors to help neighbors, communities to help communities, and businesses to not screw people over. Here in Texas after Harvey blew in we had multiple reports of hotels, RV parts, gas stations, retail stores, etc price gouging evacuees. Granted we also had lots of hotels, RV parks, retail stores, gas stations, etc slashing prices or not charging at all the number ripping off the good business owners, franchise owners, or managers was staggering. I worked at a hotel at the time that bumped their room prices up $20 the day before Hurricane Harvey made landfall with the full intent to screw evacuees. It made me absolutely sick and I was thrilled I was just waiting for the paperwork for my new and better job with an ethical company to finish up so I could leave this unethical employer.
Price gouging people after a natural disaster is not only illegal, and immoral, but also beyond unethical. As consumers, it's our job to not only report these places who do this, calling them out but also refuse to do business with them. The only way to really get them to realize we won't tolerate this behavior is by cutting into their bottom line.
Price gouging and discriminatory practices are NOT okay.