NY Attorney General Subpoenas Craigslist For Post-Sandy Price Gougers

TheSync writes "In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the New York State Attorney General has subpoenaed Craigslist, demanding that the site identify more than 100 sellers whose prices on post-Sandy gas, generators and other supplies were of an 'unconscionably excessive price' during an emergency. AG Eric Schneiderman said: 'Our office has zero tolerance for price gouging [and] will do everything we can to stop unscrupulous individuals from taking advantage of New Yorkers trying to rebuild their lives.'"

Re:Cracking Down On Free Enterprise?

[RajivSLK]

Allowing price gouging post disaster can be very dangerous because it exacerbates any shortages. No only are people in need vying for scare resources but price gougers who buy and hold much more than they individually need in an effort to reap a profit on resale. This causes more gouging and hoarding as people become scared that prices will increase. The ultimate result is that people will go without and possibly die while resources go unused.

You know what is unconcionable?

[Anonymous Coward]

The price of textbooks, in any weather.

Its the law - no price gouging during emergencies

[Andy Prough]

As a criminal offense, Florida's law is typical [myfloridalegal.com]. Price gouging [wikipedia.org] may be charged when a supplier of essential goods or services sharply raises the prices asked in anticipation of or during a civil emergency, or when it cancels or dishonors contracts in order to take advantage of an increase in prices related to such an emergency. The model case is a retailer who increases the price of existing stocks of milk and bread when a hurricane is imminent. It is a defense to show that the price increase mostly reflects increased costs, such as running an emergency generator, or hazard pay for workers.

Re:Morons.

[berashith]

apparently they tried to stop shortages by outlawing "hoarding". They arrested a guy and confiscated gasoline because he collected from neighbors and went beyond the gas shortages to bring back gas to them. The big screw up on his side was putting it in non-gas approved containers, but the charge was actually hoarding supplies.

Re:Morons.

[epyT-R]

1. need doesn't translate into entitlement.
2. These last three storms (irene, sandy, and that nor'easter we had) should be convincing americans in general that this march towards centralization of command and control (FEMA, DHS etc) is a BAD idea. we should be moving towards distributed/self sufficiency as much as possible. of course this isn't what the ideologues in DC want..

I sincerely hope that you come out of this unscathed, but perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here as well. don't wait for the next disaster to stock up on gasoline or assume it will be available. Figure out a way to heat at least one room in your home without depending on fossil fuels or electricity. It doesn't have to be comfortable, but it does have to keep you alive.