Best Buy has apologized after a picture of a case of water selling for almost $43 at one of their locations in storm-ridden Texas went viral.
On Tuesday, Aug. 29, journalist Ken Klippenstein tweeted a photo of a Best Buy about 25 miles northwest of Houston in Cypress, Texas, selling 24-pack cases of Dasani water for $42.96, and 12-pack cases of Smartwater for $29.98.
A 24-pack of Dasani usually costs between $15 and $25, even online, Business Insider reported.
Just four days before the picture was tweeted, the Texas attorney general opened a consumer protection hotline for people to report price gouging, a common form of profiteering during natural disasters.
“During declared disasters, state law prohibits businesses from charging exorbitant prices for necessities such as gas, food, drinking water, clothing, and lodging,” Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. “Texans affected by Hurricane Harvey should take steps to protect themselves and report any alleged price gouging or scam contractors.”
