Why was a one-dollar "conscience mask" fined 40,000 yuan for "price gouging"?

Masks have also become a precious item during this epidemic. We generally have to make an appointment to buy them in pharmacies. However, there are also some unscrupulous merchants who sell high-priced masks. Disposable medical masks are driven up by them, with prices reaching tens of yuan per piece. But some time ago, we could see something like this in an online video. A one-dollar mask was fined 40,000 yuan by the relevant authorities. The reason given by the relevant departments is because they are driving up prices. Why is this? Let me tell you what I think!

A conscientious mask costing only one yuan has been labeled as price gouging. We really feel disheartened. A mask can be sold for dozens of yuan outside, but it only costs one yuan. Why is it driving up prices? Should the relevant departments rectify their work, find out what happened, and then impose penalties? The purchase price of this kind of mask is 80 cents, and the profit of selling one piece in a pharmacy is only 20 cents. This is really not considered price gouging! And I think the relevant departments saw that masks usually only cost a few cents each, but during the national crisis, there were many unscrupulous businesses accepting high-priced masks, which also made the relevant departments think that they were also selling high-priced masks. Kill them all with one stick. Regardless of whether it is good or bad, as long as you raise prices, I will punish you. The reason for punishing you is to drive up prices.

In this society with developed network information, we the people also have a certain say, and the people will also ask higher authorities to thoroughly investigate this matter. Of course, they will also accept our opinions. In the end, the matter was clearly investigated, and the relevant departments were punished accordingly. In our province, if you book a mask on Alipay and go to a drugstore to buy it, it costs 1.5 yuan. And when the epidemic is in the outbreak, it is natural for people to sell masks for 1 yuan a piece. It is impossible to let others not get a dime. Earn it!

Why was he fined 40,000 yuan for price gouging? The main reason is that there were many masks on the market at that time and the prices were gouged. When the relevant departments saw that the price of this mask was different from the usual price, they punished the pharmacy. Of course, the punishment was eventually revoked. So what do you think is the reason?