AMAZON PRIME GOUGER?
Portable shower price soars after Mass. gas blasts
A Lawrence city councilor says he suspects that an Amazon retailer is profiteering off of much-needed portable camping showers in the wake of the Merrimack Valley gas explosions that have left thousands of households without hot water.
City Councilor Marc Laplante said he noticed a 50 percent spike in the price of portable showers sold on Amazon after he had reached out to the electronic commerce company about the need for the product. In response, Laplante tweeted yesterday that it was “shameful” for them to profit off of a disaster.
Laplante said he plans to follow up with Amazon today to get some answers. Amazon didn’t respond to the Herald’s request for comment yesterday.
“It’s hard for me to know what exactly is going on,” Laplante said, “but this smacks of profiteering.”
The battery-powered portable camp showers, which Laplante said went up in price from $19.99 to $29.99, are extremely useful to residents who don’t have hot water and have been forced to shower in public facilities, the councilor said.
“It’s very simple, if you don’t have hot water, you want one of these,” Laplante said.
“For those who don’t have these yet, once they find out, they’ll realize it’s a big deal. But, I’m concerned if the prices are being raised, how are we going to be able to use them if people can’t afford them? I’m a capitalist, just like anyone else. This is not a charity. But, to jack prices and take advantage of a disaster is unconscionable.”
Laplante said he is just looking to get some answers on the price increase.
“Where I am going forward is that I’m going to follow up and find out, is this lawful?” he said. “Should this be happening? Should they be making profits on the backs of people in need?”
Meanwhile, Columbia Gas has sent liaisons in each community to find out what residents need, according to the latest update on restoration efforts from the town of Andover. About 25 Andover restaurants remain closed, and hot showers are available at Pomp’s Pond until at least today. The Andover claims center is open from noon to 8 p.m., today to Friday this week. The use of propane has been prohibited by the Andover Fire Department.
A U.S. Senate hearing to look into the explosions will be held in Merrimack Valley by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, a spokesman for Sen. Edward J. Markey said last week. The hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in a letter to Columbia Gas, again asked for more information about the company’s recovery plans and asked about hot plates and space heaters that were given to residents who remain without gas.
“There is an inherent safety risk in these products,” the letter read. “All families that have or will receive these electric hot plates and space heaters need to be extra cautious.”