Desperate shoppers are getting walloped by a blizzard of apparent price gouging, as massive Winter Storm Fern barrels toward New York City and the Northeast.
Retail customers across the U.S. are seeing a particular surge by vendors at online retailer Amazon, where The Post used the site’s own AI-powered “shopping assistant” Rufus to expose price hikes that are sharper than the tip of a 10-foot icicle.
One “Prime” example: If you bought Amazon Essentials Women’s Lace Up Puffer Snow Boots on Tuesday to trudge through the expected six or more inches of snow, you lucked out, paying just $22.85. But the price quickly jumped to $37.10 on Wednesday — a $14.25 increase — and made another leap to $43.70 on Thursday, an additional $6.60 increase.
That $20.85 total spike is an astonishing 91% increase since just Tuesday.
And customers looking to get sidewalk salt in a hurry can still stock up on Petra Pet Safe Ice Melt, but they can expect to pay $64.99 for a one-gallon container, after the price jumped from $44.98 on Tuesday to $49.99 on Wednesday — and then soared to the nearly $65 price tag on Thursday, a 44.5% total increase.
Weather gurus say primary concerns during a winter storm include a loss of heat, power and phone service, as well as a shortage of supplies — especially if the storm continues for more than a day.
When it comes to potential power outages, experts advise being prepared with flashlights and lanterns, as well as spare batteries.
To that end, a four-pack of Lichamp LED Camping Lanterns increased by $10.20 to $29.99 on Thursday. On Wednesday, the price was just $19.79.
And a three-pack of rechargeable flashlights jumped from $35.98 on Sunday to $44.98 on Thursday, a $9 total increase, with $5 of that tacked on since Wednesday.
It appears most battery variety packs have remained stable in price as of now, but since Wednesday night, the best-selling DREO Space Heater saw an increase in price of over $6, going from $32.89 to $38.99.
The price of a 260-Piece OSHA-Compliant First Aid Kit also fluctuated, with its listing increasing to $20.95 by Thursday after starting at $17.91 on Wednesday.
If your kids have grown since the last time they needed winter gear, you can expect a fast price increase for them, too.
Arctix Kids Insulated Snow Bib Overalls jumped by $7 Thursday for a price tag of $48.99; on Wednesday, they were listed at $41.98. Amazon’s best-selling waterproof mittens for children and toddlers were marked at $14.39 on Monday before jumping to $17.99 the following day.
Even diapers have been hit by the price gouging, with the cost of Pampers Swaddlers Diapers leaped from $56.78 Wednesday to $59.77 a day later.
Another pair of women’s snow boots spent four days at $41.39 before jumping to $45.99 on Thursday, a $4.60 leap.
Other ice melts tracked by The Post have seen significant price hikes, too. According to Rufus, Snow Joe Premium Enviro Blend Ice Melt, labeled a No. 1 Bestseller, remained steady at $32.97 through Wednesday, then increased $3 to $35.97 on Thursday.
And a three-pack of ice scrapers for car windows, featuring fleece gloves and a brush, jumped to $26.99 Thursday from a $23.99 price tag the day before.
The Post has reached out to Amazon for comment.
Some states, however — including South Carolina and North Carolina — are enforcing price gouging laws ahead of the snowy onslaught.
New York law already prohibits state vendors, retailers and suppliers from taking unfair advantage of consumers by selling goods or services “that are vital to health, safety, or welfare for an unconscionably excessive price” during emergencies.
“New Yorkers stocking up on necessities before the snowstorm should not have to pay higher prices,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement in December. “New York’s price gouging law is clear that retailers cannot raise prices on necessities during emergencies.”
Those goods and services include food, water, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging and transportation.
