The owners of a longstanding variety store in Manhasset are defending themselves against violations of price gouging during the coronavirus pandemic.
In the past several weeks, Raindew Family Center has received three violations from Nassau County’s Department of Consumer Affairs. The first said the store was selling hand sanitizer at a premium, the second that face masks were being sold individually, and the third that the store was selling disinfectant wipes at a premium.
Gloria Bordeman operates Raindew Family Center’s 465 Plandome Road location with her husband, owner Kevin. The store has departments that include food, plumbing equipment, surgical supplies, party supplies and a pharmacy, among others.
“We’re not price gouging,” Bordeman said. “It’s that small businesses are being charged more for merchandise. What makes people think that we aren’t having to pay a higher price?”
Invoices provided by the Bordemans show that Raindew paid $2.50 for bottles of hand sanitizer that was then sold for $3.99.
Raindew also paid $85 for a box of 50 surgical face masks, or $1.70 apiece. When customers were not interested in paying $129 for the box, the store opted to sell them separately at $3.49, with nowhere on the box claiming it was not allowed.
Lastly, the store paid $4.13 apiece for containers of Lysol wipes, retailing them for $5.99.
“The Lysols came off the truck in the morning, and by 1 p.m. that day we were being handed a violation,” Bordeman said. “We understand that these are needed items and that people are being warned about pricing. We’re watching the same news, reading the same things in the paper. But the price goes up more every week, and our vendors are requiring [cash on delivery] payment.”
The store has been fined $5,000 for the first two violations, with the third penalty currently unknown. It is not known who originally reported the store to the Department of Consumer Affairs.
“We have no idea who’s making these accusations, they don’t tell you,” Bordeman said. “People are upset they’re paying more, but I don’t think they realize that when they make an accusation, it prevents us from continuing to sell these things.”
The owner said the store has been “gunshy” recently and the owners are afraid to put out items in fear of being given another violation.
“We’re not getting as much as we used to, but our vendors are saying whatever we can get, we’ll give you,” Bordeman said. “We can get them, but now we’re not buying them because we’re afraid, and meanwhile people want these things. What are we to do?”
Bordeman said she and her husband have even kept their invoices for years.
“What other business would have to ever do that?” Bordeman said. “We would never ever, ever think of price gouging. This is our bread and butter, why would we gouge the community that we support?”
Bordeman pointed out the store’s longtime policy of donating money and goods to local causes, including hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and other necessary products to first responders in recent weeks.
The Bordemans have since written to County Legislature Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello (R-New Hyde Park) over the matter, and encourage any patrons upset with their prices to talk to them directly.
“We’re invested in this community,” Bordeman said. “We’re so appreciative when our employees get a kind word. They’ve all been great throughout this. This community has been so wonderful in supporting us, and if they have an issue, then all that we ask is that they please come and speak to us before making a report. We’ll give you your money back, whatever you want to do. We do so much for the community that it breaks our hearts that people turn around and do this. We’re just asking people to have a little compassion.”
