A Melbourne Airport retailer is facing a barrage of complaints from travellers over its “predatory” pricing of essential period products, with costs soaring far beyond typical supermarket rates.
WHSmith has come under fire after one stunned traveller spotted it selling tampons, liners and pads at almost three times their usual price at its store in the Virgin terminal.
A photo, shared to Reddit, shows a 16-pack of Libra Super Tampons priced at $14.79 – 195.8 per cent more than what large Australian supermarket chains would sell the product at full price.
Meanwhile, a 20-pack of Stayfree Ultra Thin Super pads has a price tag of $19.99 – a hike of 233 per cent.
Other products include a 30-pack of Ultra Designer Liners sold for $10.49 and a 14-pack of By Kotex Ultra Thin pads priced at $16.79.
Some of these products can be found as cheap as $2.50 when on sale at major supermarkets and chemists.
The astonished customer said they expected airport prices to be higher, but not three times the usual retail rate.
“I was genuinely shocked when I saw the price. I absolutely expected to pay more at the airport, but I wasn’t expecting a basic packet of period products that is usually around $5 or less on offer at Woolies to cost $16.79 for my preferred brand,” she told news.com.au.
“My period had unexpectedly come early while I was travelling, and unfortunately I had packed my period products in my checked luggage.
“Yes, I do realise that it was my fault for not packing extras in my hand luggage. But I had a long journey ahead of me, so I did end up purchasing the $16.79 packet because I needed it.”
While the customer, who wished to remain anonymous, understood airport retailers “charged a premium”, she said there was a difference between “a reasonable airport mark-up and charging more than three times the usual supermarket price for an essential hygiene product”.
“When someone unexpectedly gets their period while travelling, they don’t necessarily have the option to shop around or simply go without it,” she said.
The post, which attracted more than 60 comments, left viewers in a fit of rage, with one commenter sharing it “pisses me off” because the products are “essential” items.
“No one is buying these for laughs (are they?) and if you’re buying them at an upcharge it is because you need them even more,” they said.
“That price is predatory. They aren’t a box of Smarties you can have or not. No one wants to have to do the toilet paper fold with the 1/2 ply in the loos, and they shouldn’t have to.
“It is price gouging, plain and simple.”
Another viewer labelled the pricing as “just plain disgusting”.
“(It’s) taking advantage of women in a situation where it’s needed and there is no other option, for a health essential item,” they said.
“This boils my blood.”
A third added: “this is absolutely f**ked pricing taking advantage of people in a vulnerable situation.”
In December last year, the Albanese government introduced new regulations to stop supermarkets from price gouging.
The ban, which came into effect on July 1, prohibits very large retailers from charging prices that are excessive when compared to the cost of the supply plus a reasonable margin.
It’s understood only large-scale supermarket chains are subject to these laws, leaving a loophole for a retailer such as WHSmith to continue selling products at prices determined by the company.
But if the major supermarkets were caught flouting these new price gouging regulations, the maximum penalty per contravention is the greater of: $10 million; three times the value of the benefit derived, or, if that value cannot be determined, 10 per cent of the company’s turnover during the preceding 12 months.
This is not the first instance of WHSmith facing criticism for its pricing, with travellers having previously voiced concerns over other products deemed unreasonably expensive.
News.com.au has contacted the Department of Treasury seeking clarification on the regulations that permit WHSmith to charge such rates for its products.
Both WHSmith and Melbourne Airport have also been approached for comment.
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