New York sues wholesaler for price-gouging disinfectant at 60 Queens shops

Attorney General Letitia James. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

By David Brand

New York State is forcing a major disinfectant wholesaler to clean up its act.

In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday, New York Attorney General Letitia James charged Quality King Distributors, Inc. and company CEO Glenn Nussdorf with more the doubling the price of Lysol disinfectant spray during the COVID-19 pandemic. Quality King sold the price-gouged items to dozens of local stores, including more than 60 in Queens. 

“Quality King’s profiteering during this time of crisis is appalling,” James said. “Quality King chose to prey on a global pandemic to line its own pockets.”

The corporation raised the price of the Lysol spray from $4.25 per 19-ounce can to up to $9.15 per can, according to the complaint. Stores passed that cost on to consumers who ponied up as much as $16.99 for the surface cleaner said to kill the coronavirus.