price gouge
Exploit desperate buyers
Price gouge is to charge excessively high prices, especially during emergencies or shortages when buyers have few alternatives.
Sellers who price gouge exploit desperate circumstances—hurricanes, pandemics, supply disruptions: Gas stations were price gouging after the storm.
Many jurisdictions have laws against the practice.
The noun form is price gouging.
Demand excessive payment
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- inflatedExpanded with gas
- sky-highExtremely or excessively elevated
- extortionateUnreasonably high in cost
excessive · exorbitant · unreasonable · outrageous · astronomical · prohibitive · surcharge · premium
Sudden ruinous event
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
pandemic · evacuation · wildfire · flood · earthquake · tsunami · blackout · famine
Exploiting scarcity for gain
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- unethicalViolating moral standards
- swindleDeception for financial gain
fleecing · scam · manipulation · black market · hoarding · monopoly · abuse · corruption
Laws defending purchasers' interests
- attorney generalChief governmental legal officer
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- fineAcceptable in quality
- penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing
prosecution · complaint · hotline · investigation · lawsuit · class action · settlement · injunction
overcharge
Demand excessive payment
extortionate · excessive · exorbitant · unreasonable · outrageous · astronomical · prohibitive · surcharge · premium · overpriced
disaster
Sudden ruinous event
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
hurricane · pandemic · evacuation · wildfire · flood · earthquake · tsunami · blackout · famine · drought
profiteering
Exploiting scarcity for gain
- predatoryExploiting the vulnerable
- opportunismExploiting circumstances for gain
- unethicalViolating moral standards
swindle · fleecing · scam · manipulation · black market · hoarding · monopoly · abuse · corruption · extortion
consumer protection
Laws defending purchasers' interests
- attorney generalChief governmental legal officer
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
- fineAcceptable in quality
penalty · prosecution · complaint · hotline · investigation · lawsuit · class action · settlement · injunction · reporting
- fraudscam, fraud, swindle, con, deceive
- exploitationexploit, predatory, sex trafficking, take advantage, human trafficking
price gougediscount
Reduced price offered
mark down · subsidize · give away · undercharge · fire sale
price gougehelp out
Provide needed support
mutual aid · pay what you can · sliding scale · pro bono · philanthropy
price, gouge, prices, priced, pricing, pricey, priceless, gouges, gouged