With masks in short supply due to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, some Kokumin drugstores were selling masks as part of expensive sets with other items, it was learned Thursday.
Operating company Kokumin Co., which is based in Osaka, has deemed such sets to be inappropriate and suspended their sale. Kokumin has 192 outlets across the nation.
According to the company, items such as cooling sheets to reduce fever and nutritional supplement drinks were sold in these sets this month to customers seeking to buy masks at 16 stores. Normally, one box of masks costs around 500, yen but the sets went for a maximum price of around 9,000 yen.
A comment saying, "A sales method that is liable to lead to misunderstanding was implemented" was posted on the Kokumin homepage.
A public relations official said in an interview: "We indicated that each store should introduce items, such as nutritional drinks, to customers buying masks for the purpose of a speedy recovery, but some of our stores made an error in judgement. There was a lack of proper guidance, and we are reflecting on our mistake."
The company said it will set up a research committee including members of the legal profession and investigate the situation.
The Japan Fair Trade Commission said, "Amid the short supply of masks, selling masks within a more expensive set could be problematic under the Antimonopoly Law. "
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