Sedgwick County residents concerned about toilet paper in price gouging complaints

Toilet paper has been a concern in price gouging complaints, the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office said.

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office put the Kansas price-gouging law into effect on March 12, less than a week after Kansas’ first novel coronavirus case was announced. Since then the AG’s office has received at least 157 reports, a spokesperson said this week.

Sedgwick County cases had been referred back to it.

Avery Elofsson, Sedgwick County Senior Assistant District Attorney, said Wednesday that the county received 11 complaints. He wouldn’t talk about specific cases but did say “TP seems to be a concern.”

For items in demand because of the virus, the law prohibits price increases of 25% or more from the available price on March 11 or the “price for which the same goods or services are available from other sellers in the trade area,” the attorney general’s office said.

Elofsson said there are a few things people should consider before filing a complaint:

He said people are buying more than they need and name-brand or higher quality substitutes may be higher priced and would not qualify as price gouging.

Commodity prices change because of supply and demand, which can account for some of the price fluctuations, he said.

Additionally, the attorney’s office would not have the jurisdiction to enforce an individual selling their personal products on a social media post because it would not be a business as defined under consumer protection laws, he said.

“In the event a complete and bonafide complaint for price gouging is received, this office will immediately send a cease and desist letter, and depending on the facts, may also issue a subpoena to inquire on the basis for the price increase,” Elofsson said in an email. “If there is egregious conduct this office can file a motion for a restraining order.”

Information about submitting a complaint can be found on at sedgwickcounty.org under the consumer protection division. Complaints to the AG’s office can be made at InYourCornerKansas.org or by calling 800-432-2310 to request a paper complaint form sent by mail.

Contributing: Amy Renee Leiker from The Eagle

This story was originally published April 5, 2020 at 5:01 AM.