Police catch a man selling toilet paper for $60, but his family insist it's a 'fair' price to charge

Coronavirus has seen basic things we took for granted, such as hand sanitiser and toilet roll, become sought-after commodities.

Remember the man who stockpiled 17,000 bottles of hand sanitiser and had to end up donating them? Well according to local news outlets in Michigan, a man has found himself in hot water with police for selling toilet roll for $60.

The reports say that a 64-year-old man is accused of selling the toilet paper in a parking lot from his car. He could potentially be charged with misdemeanour counts of “soliciting, canvassing and peddling” during an arraignment scheduled for 5 May.

Mike Arcuragi originally spotted the man selling the toilet paper and couldn’t believe what he saw. Arcuragi posted a photoof the alleged toilet paper profiteer on Facebook, and it was shared nearly 4,000 times.

He told Detroit’s Metro Times:

I was in awe, I was shocked, I was mad.

I feel that it is people like this that gives a bad name to all mankind.

I wish people that do go into the stores would buy what they need and not hoard. They are not thinking of the next person but only of themselves.

But the man's family told the same publication that he wasn't hoarding supplies for profit. They say he works for a cleaning company, which is where he acquired the stock. In a plot twist few saw coming, they also claim that $60 is actually the standard rate for the large packages he was selling.

In a statement to Metro Times, they write:

Not aware of solicitation laws, my father-in-law went to the Meijer parking lot to sell toilet paper at retail price. As can be seen from pictures, he was selling a case that contained 80 Georgia Pacific toilet paper rolls that cost $63 after tax at Walmart, to provide just one example.

He intended to make up for the well-known shortage of toilet paper throughout the state and country. He was not hoarding; the cases are stock from his business and he wanted to make them available to the public at fair market value.

Those individuals and media outlets who have accused him of "price-gouging" should be ashamed, and we are disgusted with those who have threatened him. These threats have caused much anxiety and worry in our family. His actions were a fair response to people's needs.

This tale might be a reminder that viral social media stories are often more complicated than they seem.

But the news comes as Michigan attorney general Dan Nessel announced her office received more than 2,000 complaints of “price-gouging”. Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed an order for tougher restrictions on businesses trying to price gouge shoppers during the coronavirus outbreak.