Jun 11, 2020 19:39:00

Manufacturer's 3M sued Amazon's bad guy who sold the mask at 18 times the price of the past

The problem was that the price of masks in online shops soared due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19). In particular, the price of

N95 masks used by medical staff has increased significantly, usually $ 1.27 (about 136 yen) per piece was $ 23 (about 2462 yen), which was more than 18 times higher. .. The Wall Street Journal reported that the mask manufacturer, 3M, has filed a lawsuit against KMJ Trading, one of the vendors selling N95 masks at such unreasonable prices.

Case 2:20-cv-05049-MWF-JC Document 1 Filed 06/08/20
(PDF file) https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20026410/document_1_.pdf

3M Files Lawsuit Against Merchant Selling Masks on Amazon for 18 Times List Price-WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/articles/3m-files-lawsuit-against-merchant-selling-masks-on-amazon-for-18-times-list-price-11591642637

3M sues price-gougers who used Amazon to sell masks at 1,800% markup | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/06/3m-sues-price-gougers-who-used-amazon-to-sell-masks-at-1800-markup/

The soaring mask prices became a problem immediately after the COVID-19 epidemic, and Amazon issued a warning to Amazon Marketplace operators in February 2020 to solve this kind of price lifting, and on March 11th Limits the sale of hand sanitizers and masks. KMJ Trading will sell 45 types of products using different accounts from around February 24, before Amazon restricts the handling of masks. As a result, N95 masks worth $350,000 (about 37.4 million yen) were sold.

In a complaint, 3M alleged that Amazon's third-party vendors used illegal methods to advertise and sell counterfeit or damaged products to consumers. Even if Amazon is prohibited from selling masks, 3M says that 3M has entered the lawsuit because the illegal marketer will come back and perform illegal acts many times due to the mechanism of Amazon market place. 3M is seeking monetary damages from the vendor, but has revealed that it will donate the money to COVID-19 charities.

``Trial is just one of the tools to follow these activities,'' said Kevin Rhodes, 3M's several similar remedies in recent months, said 3M's deputy legal counsel Kevin Rhodes. I am talking about the coverage of the Street Journal.

In March, more than 30 state prosecutors told online retailers including Amazon, ``The online platform creates and executes a strong policy, rather than hitting the dealer after something happens This should prevent unwarranted price increases,' he said, calling for stronger measures to crack down on price-lifters.