Is It Immoral to Increase the Price of Goods During a Crisis?

Does high demand for items like hand sanitizer and masks during a public health crisis justify higher prices? Are resellers who stockpile supplies and then sell them at a higher price providing a service? Or, are they taking advantage of people? Do you think what Mr Colvin did is immoral?

This pandemic requires us to stay hygienic as to not spread the illness anymore. This means hygiene products are more important than ever. The increase for demands in hand sanitizers and masks is a great business opportunity for anyone trying to make a fast amount of money in a short time.

But ultimately it is taking advantage of people. Those people like Mr Colvin who hoard those products they bought from service stations and pharmacies are taking them before people who need them. Selling them at a higher price is immoral as people are losing their jobs and not earning the same amount of money because of no work. Spending a lot of unnecessary money can be dangerous for them in the future as we don’t know how long we will be in this situation.

I don’t see those people thinking about how they are doing a good thing by giving easier access to those goods online, because of the profits they are going to make, they will be the ones who get the most out of it.