Our customers are counting on us like never before. At every level of our company, we’re working to provide the products and services that our customers and communities need as we face a global pandemic. This includes taking a number of important steps to keep prices fair and protect our customers from those looking to exploit the current crisis.

Amazon has zero tolerance for price gouging and longstanding policies and systems to prevent this harmful practice. We’re working vigorously to combat price gouging by:

  • Making clear to all of our sellers our longstanding policies that ensure fair pricing
  • Monitoring our stores 24/7 though both automated and manual means and aggressively removing bad actors and offers
  • Complying with government price circulars by taking action on violating offers
  • Staying focused on our customers and protecting their interests

Strong, longstanding policies to combat price gouging and false claims

The products on Amazon are offered by third-party sellers who set their own prices. The overwhelming majority are honest sellers who offer Amazon customers a wide array of great products at competitive prices. Amazon strictly prohibits sellers from exploiting an emergency by charging excessively high prices on products and shipping. We have informed our sellers about these longstanding policies, and we are enforcing them aggressively to protect our customers.

Working hard to protect customers from bad actors

Amazon has already removed many offers from our stores due to coronavirus-based price gouging, including suspension of some selling accounts for violating fair pricing policies. We began taking these enforcement actions promptly upon discovering this kind of misconduct.

We are constantly monitoring our stores for unfair prices and listings that make false claims in regards to COVID-19. We have dynamic, automated systems in place that locate and remove unfairly priced items. In addition, we have deployed a dedicated team that’s working continuously to identify and investigate unfairly priced products that are now in high demand, such as protective masks and hand sanitizer. If we find a price that violates our policy, we remove the offer and take swift action against bad actors engaged in demonstrated misconduct, including suspending their selling accounts

Complying with government price circulars by taking action on violating offers

Enforcement of government policies and pricing directives is critical to combating bad actors and protecting our customers. We are actively collaborating internally with relevant stakeholders to remain updated on appropriate policies and circulars on pricing for essential products and review them regularly to act on violating offers. We will continue with our strong processes to ensure unreasonably excessive price increases are acted on a timely basis during this crisis.

Focusing on our customers and protecting their interests

Amazon is and will remain a customer-obsessed company, and our commitment to outstanding customer service has never been stronger. We’re working hard to keep our customers from seeing products listed at unfair or unreasonable prices.

In addition to focusing on our customers, we’re in regular contact with community leaders and government officials around the country in an effort to assist those most affected by the health and social impacts of COVID-19. And we are taking every possible step to increase our inventory of relief supplies, basic-need products and other household staples.

Amazon is humbled by the trust our customers have placed in us during this difficult time. We are fully committed to protecting their interests and rising to the challenges posed by COVID-19.