COVID-19 Poor business behaviour

If you check the postage calculator Auspost charge by weight or volume, whichever is greater. A 10 x 10 x 10 box from Melbourne to Sydney is $8.95 from the Auspost calculator. Ebay merchants get discounts and it is probably put in a pouch that costs less. Nevertheless, it is probably sent by a cheap courier like Fastway or Couriers Please at less cost. Even so, maybe not as bad as it looks at first glance? I hope the customers can wait for it :wink:

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There are many profiteers on eBay, as we know - this is one of the worst. This thermometer is $99 rrp and is out of stock all over Australia. There’s no proper avenue to report the item or seller on eBay, either (none of the pre-determined reporting fields covers profiteering/price gouging, so I was hesitant reporting it as the wrong reason). I wrote to the seller who replied that he put it up to that price as there was no stock until May and that it stops people buying it at that price. Then promised they’d bring the price down once stock was in. (What???!!!) Yet their listing shows it’s in stock so anyone desperate enough would be charged that price. EBay should be giving us easier ways to report this behaviour immediately!

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Absolutely disgraceful.

Here is an Aussie business selling it for $87 with deliveries in July.

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Good on Bubs n Grubs! Good see honest sellers out there. Opportunists are truly disgusting.

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When I looked at the link yesterday they were $599. Today they are $999.

What a disgusting bottom-feeding grub.

I have just sent the following message to Oricom Australia via the message facility on their website.

"Hi,

Your HFS 1000 is advertised on eBay by GadgetCityAustralia.

Yesterday they were listed at $599 each. Today they are listed at $999 each.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/172567488453?ul_noapp=true

This is the most disgraceful example of price gouging and blatant theiving that the Choice Community has witnessed to date during the coronavirus crisis.

Should you really be suppling this bunch when your ethical retailers like Bubs N Grubs have no stock to supply desperate consumers?"

Perhaps other community members may like to do likewise.

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Good Humour or a Bad Business.

Two days ago we received a phone call from a sales agent for Accor Plus. It’s a pay for annual membership accommodation loyalty/rewards scheme associated with the Accor chain of hotels. No Golden Chain cheapies in the mix. “Save” on nights away from home and a dedicated member booking site.

Just what we all need right now.

P.S. includes member discounts when you eat out at selected Accor chain hotels too!

Nearly forgot to mention they have kept this years price rise under 10%. Possibly not even a good deal looking ahead at half price for twelve months.

The best savings on offer right now - to not join any of these schemes. :slightly_smiling_face:

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The eBay listing has now changed.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/172567488453?ul_noapp=true

" This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available."

And the listing on their website has been “drastically slashed” to a mere $499.

An example of the free market/capitalism at its finest.

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I bought a standard probe type digital thermometer at a local chemist recently for $9 including battery. They are quite accurate and you can take the temperature of an adult, child or baby with one, I am not quite sure why you need to spend hundreds of dollars. Perhaps people are going to scan those entering their house or walking down the street with the IR version.

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The IR non-contact versions only measure skin temperature anyway, which is quite a bit less than core temperature, which is what you really should be measuring. My IR thermometer only cost about $25 from Jaycar a few years ago, I’m sure they are for sale for $imilar now.

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I’m really interested in all the examples being posted - thank you and keep them coming. What I’m also curious about is how much if at all you are surprised by what you’re seeing. I keep thinking I can’t be shocked anymore only to find that there are still new kinds of poor behaviour from businesses and individuals.

I also wonder how we’ll remember and respond once these times are over. Will we forgive and forget, because in these exceptional circumstances, in the face of catastrophe, poor judgment might be expected? Will we shun those who’ve behaved badly? Will we reward corporations who do the right thing?

Just some reflections on where we’re heading, though I fully concede it is far too early to tell.

Thanks again to all who’ve responded - I think this is such a sensible and interesting community of people, supporting one another and now more than ever that’s so important.

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I was shocked to see an Australian Retailer doing such a blatant, cash grab based on the fears over COVID 19. I thought Katies should be ashamed of themselves, especially with the face masks, these are needed by our health professionals

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I was not planning to buy one and Oricon’s RRP is only $114.95, not hundreds of dollars like this scammer is charging.

I was simply trying to put a stop to this disgusting behaviour after @HappyNacho revealed the ripoff.

A petition on Change.org regarding toilet paper ripoffs.

Just received an email from an online shop that sells (predictably) costumes and party supplies. Seems that have ventured into healthcare and are now selling simple antibac wipes for $100. That’s 480 wipes for $100. For context, in normal times, a 350 pack from Coles costs $3.50.

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From the Star Casino Sydney website:

The Star is working closely with government health departments and officials regarding the developing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and we are following all regulations and recommendations from Australian authorities and the World Health Organisation. The safety and wellbeing of our Members and Guests, and our dedicated Team Members, continue as always to be our number one priority.

In accordance with this guidance we are introducing additional social distancing measures including:

  1. Creating dedicated areas across the property that will hold a maximum of 100 people and meet the 4sqm per person requirement
  2. Reducing capacity at table games to three guests per table (down from our previously implemented five guests per table) with no standing players permitted
  3. Further restricting the number of guests across our food and beverage outlets

If safety and wellbeing are top priority why are they still open when so many other entertainment venues are closed?

Here’s a thought, maybe their top priority actually is making money and a compliant State enables that. If your ethics don’t mind fleecing fools 365 days a year 24 hours a day you are not going to worry about something as vague as public health.

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From ABC

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On facebook, dangerous dangerous BS. “Healing Genius”… spotted a post which was in my feed this morning…

These charlatans should be taken out and shot. Alternative medicine is fine. This kind of thing is NOT. Naturally they have deleted my comment which was less than complimentary

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Wow! That’s a shocker. Thanks for sharing and taking screenshots - really appalling behaviour.

Marg

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If any of these charlatans truely believed their own mantra they would find it impossible to ever get close enough to modern technology to promote themselves as noted.

Thinking that predates the Stone Age.

P.S.
Disseminating misinformation on stone tablets is also potentially hazardous to your personal health and well being. P2 dust mask and steel cap footwear recommended during production.

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