Bloomfield Store Accused Of 'Price Gouging' For Lysol Spray

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A store in Bloomfield has been accused of "price gouging" customers for Lysol spray disinfectant, state officials announced Monday.

The allegations against Super Fresh Pine Tree Supermarket, located at 19 Belleville Avenue, are among a spate of recent consumer protection violations related to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a joint statement from Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA).

State officials said they received a complaint from a customer that Super Fresh Pine Tree Supermarket was selling Lysol spray as a “manager special” on March 11 at a price of $11.99 per 12.5 ounce can.

The same spray was sold for $8.49 per can on March 5, and $4.99 per can on March 7, officials alleged in their complaint.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we made clear that we would take a tough stand on price gouging and other abuses of New Jersey consumers,” Grewal said.

“Most businesses are following the law,” Grewal said. “For those that are not, these actions are a reminder that the penalties for violations are significant.”

New Jersey’s price gouging law, which took effect on March 9 upon Gov. Phil Murphy’s declaration of a state of emergency, prohibits excessive price increases during a declared state of emergency and for 30 days after its termination. A price increase is considered excessive if the new price is more than 10 percent higher than the price charged during the normal course of business prior to the state of emergency, and the increased price is not attributable to additional costs imposed by the seller's supplier or additional costs of providing the product or service during the state of emergency.

As of Monday, the DCA has sent 1,884 cease and desist letters to retailers suspected of price gouging and other unconscionable business practices during the coronavirus pandemic, and issued 110 subpoenas seeking additional information in its investigations of alleged violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

• See related article: 'Pandemic Profiteers': Report Blasts NJ Companies, Billionaires

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