How do entrepreneurs make money from the flood? The prices of these products are skyrocketing
Some entrepreneurs are dishonestly profiting from the flood by raising the prices of essential products. Others, such as Leroy Merlin, are denying the rumors of price increases and are offering support.
Helping flood victims has motivated many people to act selflessly, but not everyone is guided by good intentions. Some entrepreneurs have seen this difficult situation as an opportunity to make money, significantly increasing the prices of products that are key in combating the effects of flooding. The costs of goods such as sandbags, shovels and dehumidifiers, necessary for removing damage after flooding, have drastically increased.
Damian Zawrotniak, known on social media as “pandocieliwy”, published examples of such behavior on the internet, which were later quoted by “Gazeta Wyborcza”. In one case, before the flood, a ton of sand cost 15 PLN. However, during the cataclysm, the price changed dramatically – now 15 PLN is the cost of just a bag of sand weighing 10 kilograms.
Dehumidifiers have also become a subject of speculation. Zawrotniak gave the example of a Climative device, which was initially sold for PLN 1,599. Shortly afterwards, the price rose to PLN 2,599, and a few hours later it reached PLN 2,899. The seller explained that this was the result of selling out a cheaper pool of devices on the Allegro platform, but Zawrotniak disputed these claims, claiming that such a pool may not have existed at all.
Zawrotniak also noted that the price increases are not limited to sand or equipment. He has heard reports of rising prices for food, water, and even renting apartments in flooded areas. The crisis is therefore becoming an opportunity for unfair practices that additionally burden flood victims.
However, not all information about price increases turns out to be true. Rumors began circulating on social media that the Leroy Merlin chain of stores had raised the prices of sandbags from PLN 4 to PLN 7.50. The company quickly denied these reports. In a statement sent to the editorial office of WP Finanse, Leroy Merlin assured that the prices of the bags had not changed for several months and were not the result of the flood crisis.
Magdalena Kołodziejska, spokeswoman for Leroy Merlin Polska, explained that the company not only did not raise prices, but also decided to temporarily freeze them on the most sought-after products. In some cases, these products may even be available at reduced prices, thanks to promotions, to help those affected.
