Clorox has stopped advertising on Amazon because its products have sold out, with shoppers having rushed to grab any disinfectant wipes available during the coronavirus outbreak.
On Wednesday, Clorox confirmed that as stores of its cleaning products dry up online, it has pulled back on advertising—an example of how the COVID-19 pandemic can create ripple effects throughout retail, advertising and beyond.
Clorox also is contending with third-party sellers taking its products and selling them for exorbitant prices, part of a gouging spree that has played out online and in stores ever since consumers began hoarding products like disinfectant wipes, toilet paper, food and other goods.
“We have currently shut down all ad-display activity on most of our disinfecting products on Amazon,” a Clorox spokesman said in an email statement to Ad Age. “Also, we’re actively working with Amazon to address some of the price gouging that is going on. It’s very disappointing to see third-party sellers doing this at a time when people need access to disinfecting products.”