Henrico convenience store caught price gouging bottled water during state of emergency, water crisis
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Thousands have been left without running water for days, making cases of water at the store a hot commodity. But how much would you be willing to pay for a case of bottled water? 8News is taking action on alleged price gouging for water in Central Virginia. The state has been under a state of emergency since Friday, Jan. 3, making it illegal for stores to charge customers inflated prices for "necessity items" -- but 8News found a convenience store in Henrico County doing just that. ALL COVERAGE: Richmond Area Water Crisis Rocketts Market Cafe on Old Main Street in Henrico has a stack of water cases right by the cash register -- but no price tag in sight. When 8News reporter Allison Williams asked the single employee manning the store how much the 24-packs of water were going for, he replied "$20." "That's kind of a lot for a case of water," Williams said in reply. A 24-pack of water typically retails between four and seven dollars. The employee said the store had recently "hiked up the price." Susanne Harris lives near the store and went to get a pack on Monday, Jan. 6 after hearing about the boil water advisory in Richmond, which has since extended to Henrico. "So, I bought a case of water, put it on the counter -- and it was $16.95," Harris said. "And I thought, 'Wow, that's a lot of money for a case of water.'" RELATED: What is ‘water production’ and where is my water? Bridging gap between rhetoric and what Richmonders are actually seeing She said that, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, she took the water back to the store wanting a refund. But the manager she spoke to said they don't do refunds. "I said, 'This is price gouging,'" Harris said. "We're in a crisis right now and this is ridiculous to charge this much money." Her sister, Jane Moore, was with her at the time. She called the non-emergency police line to report the store's prices. "To me, it's a horrible, horrible crime -- because you're taking advantage of people who can't afford that price for water," Moore said. "Who can't get out to grocery stores." During a news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed concerns about price gouging after a member of the media asked about inflated water prices. MORE: ‘We are in this together’: Youngkin provides updates on water crisis, winter storm response "That's illegal," he said. "And the Attorney General has stated boldly that they will prosecute price gouging during a state of emergency ... This is not allowed. It's not right. And it's not the way we do things in Virginia." 8News called the number of the store to get a response from management rather than from an employee. They denied they were increasing the prices for water cases. If you see price gouging, you can report it through the Office of the Attorney General. Get more information on how to do so here.
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Thousands have been left without running water for days, making cases of water at the store a hot commodity. But how much would you be willing to pay for a case of bottled water?
8News is taking action on alleged price gouging for water in Central Virginia.
The state has been under a state of emergency since Friday, Jan. 3, making it illegal for stores to charge customers inflated prices for "necessity items" -- but 8News found a convenience store in Henrico County doing just that.
ALL COVERAGE: Richmond Area Water Crisis
Rocketts Market Cafe on Old Main Street in Henrico has a stack of water cases right by the cash register -- but no price tag in sight. When 8News reporter Allison Williams asked the single employee manning the store how much the 24-packs of water were going for, he replied "$20."
"That's kind of a lot for a case of water," Williams said in reply.
A 24-pack of water typically retails between four and seven dollars. The employee said the store had recently "hiked up the price."
Susanne Harris lives near the store and went to get a pack on Monday, Jan. 6 after hearing about the boil water advisory in Richmond, which has since extended to Henrico.
"So, I bought a case of water, put it on the counter -- and it was $16.95," Harris said. "And I thought, 'Wow, that's a lot of money for a case of water.'"
She said that, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, she took the water back to the store wanting a refund. But the manager she spoke to said they don't do refunds.
"I said, 'This is price gouging,'" Harris said. "We're in a crisis right now and this is ridiculous to charge this much money."
Her sister, Jane Moore, was with her at the time. She called the non-emergency police line to report the store's prices.
"To me, it's a horrible, horrible crime -- because you're taking advantage of people who can't afford that price for water," Moore said. "Who can't get out to grocery stores."
During a news conference on Wednesday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed concerns about price gouging after a member of the media asked about inflated water prices.
MORE: ‘We are in this together’: Youngkin provides updates on water crisis, winter storm response
"That's illegal," he said. "And the Attorney General has stated boldly that they will prosecute price gouging during a state of emergency ... This is not allowed. It's not right. And it's not the way we do things in Virginia."
8News called the number of the store to get a response from management rather than from an employee. They denied they were increasing the prices for water cases.
If you see price gouging, you can report it through the Office of the Attorney General. Get more information on how to do so here.
