Buy a Covid test with brekkie: Customers slam restaurants selling rapid tests
With Australians continuing to struggle to find Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and increasing reports of price gouging, some are getting their hands on them in unusual ways.
Some people have found they can order RAT kits alongside their brekkie as restaurants have begun listing the tests for hefty prices.
Some restaurants have been listing two-packs of the tests for as much as $65 - not including the delivery fee or a tip for the rider - according to news.com.au.
One particular venue that has copped backlash for jumping on the trend is South Australian burger joint The Big Grill after selling tests for $50 a pair on the food delivery app.
Not even a joke. RESTAURANTS buying up RATs and selling them on UBER for x5 of the RRP.
You should be able to buy a 5 pack for roughly $50, not a single test.
Still don’t want to undercut businesses @ScottMorrisonMP when they are PUTTING LIVES AT RISK by this practice? pic.twitter.com/tO32jJ8Cnf— B (@Brodhe) January 4, 2022
After receiving bad reviews online, the business owner shared their own side of the story on social media.
“There has been much confusion in regards to the pricing of our RATs,” the manager wrote on Facebook. “These are priced in accordance to the current market prices.
“We sell a two-pack of rapid antigen tests for $40 in store and we sell a two-pack of rapid antigen tests for $50 through our delivery partners; the price increase is due to their exorbitant fees.
“We are aware of multiple posts being shared with misinformation and in regards to our pricing and requesting people leave poor reviews on our social media and Google.
“We would like to apologise for the confusion caused and hope this resolves any issues and concerns.”
However, customers were left unsatisfied with the explanation, and some questioned why a restaurant would sell tests in the first place.
“You call that an apology/explanation? Pathetic. Regardless of how you try to manipulate it, you’re extorting people in a pandemic,” one customer wrote.
“You should NOT be selling these tests full stop,” another said. “No one should be capitalising in a pandemic.”
In NSW, Crystal Mart Waterloo and Canterbury convenience store Ready To Go were advertising two-packs for $59.99 and $65 on Uber Eats respectively, while EzyMart Cronulla was selling them for $55.
Image: UberEats
Meanwhile, customers have also found the kits in unusual places, such as Canberra Diamond Blade Suppliers, a tool and machinery shop in the ACT. The store listed the tests for $35 a pair on its website, with a discounted price of $1250 (or $25 a pack) if you buy 50 in a single transaction.
As of publication, the tool and machinery store has also run out of stock.
Image: canberradiamondblade.com.au
After receiving more than 100 complaints, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched an investigation into price gouging by retailers, announcing it would “name and shame” retailers doing the wrong thing.
“We are seeking information from suppliers about their costs and the current pricing of rapid antigen tests,” ACCC chair Rod Sims said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We are also contacting major retailers and pharmacies seeking similar information and reminding them that they need to be able to substantiate any claims they make to consumers about the reason for higher prices.”
Mr Sims said suppliers could generally set their own prices for products, but that retailers must not make misleading statements about the reason for high prices.
“We won’t be shy to name and shame suppliers and retailers we consider to be doing the wrong thing,” he said.
I am COVID+, unwittingly saw my 80 YO dad while infected and now I’m trawling UBER fvcking eats for #Rats for him!! he’s been turned away from 3 separate PCR queues today, he’s lifetime LNP voter disillusioned, angry doesn’t describe how I feel today #Scomicron #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/LR94QLwsuS
— patsysydneyhk (@patsysydneyhk) January 4, 2022
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is also expected to propose financial support for low income earners so they can purchase rapid antigen tests when the national cabinet meets on Wednesday.
The cabinet meeting - which will be held less than a week after the previous one - will see premiers and chief ministers meet with Mr Morrison to discuss the vaccine rollout, testing issues, and the capacity of the health system.
It is understood Mr Morrison will propose some kind of support for concessional and low income earners to the states and territories at the meeting, likely to take the form of direct cash payments for up to five tests.
NCA NewsWire also reported that the Prime Minister will offer additional tests to state-run testing clinics, which are to be handed out for free to people with symptoms or who are close contacts.
Image: @Brodhe (Twitter) / Getty Images