A MELBOURNE woman has been inundated with abusive comments on Facebook for attempting to flog a batch of sought-after infant formula at inflated prices.

The woman, who news.com.au has chosen not to name, posted an offer to sell 18 cans of Aptimal Gold and S-26 formula on a baby and children’s buy, swap and sell Facebook group on Wednesday.

“Baby formula individually or the lot,” she wrote on the popular page, which is used by nearly 3000 mothers and parents. “All unused, original seal. Preferably cash only.”

The woman initially asked for $600 for the lot or $35 per tin — representing a $10 mark-up on the normal shelf price — but was forced to lower her price to $450/$25 after a storm of abuse, saying “negative comments are not appreciated”.

“You do realise it’s against the law to profiteer from formula?” wrote one woman. “Secondly it’s extremely unethical. I would be ashamed to be your friend or family. You are just trying to make a quick buck.

“You being a mother, would make me think you have some compassion and sympathy towards other mothers that are struggling to get their babies [sic] necessities. You are a disgrace of a person plain and simple ... You should be horrified by your actions.”

Another wrote: “I can completely understand the need for money, though inflating the price of formula in the hope to make money off desperate parents is pretty poor form!”

Some described the offer as “disgraceful”, “so wrong”, “insulting to mothers” and “profiteering off desperate mums”, while others called for the post to be removed by the page administrators.

“This post makes me sick!” wrote one. “Regardless of who bought them they should be in the shops for people to buy! Obviously you don’t get the struggle of trying to find formula when you need it ASAP.”

In response, the seller said she had two kids. “Don’t talk about struggling mothers, the reason why I’m selling this formula is to hopefully not struggle as much,” she said.

“You do not know me or my situation so [opinions] are not wanted. I just wanted to sell this without negative comments hindering the success of sale.”

The woman explained that her mother had brought them “from another state for me”. “She brought them for her grandchild and I no longer need them,” she wrote.

“Making a little profit isn’t illegal. On other sites it’s selling for more than that. As I said you don’t know me or my situation so as it stands, $450 for the lot.”

In reply, another mum chimed in: “Sadly, that’s the problem. That it’s NOT illegal to profit on an essential item like baby formula. It’s only immoral and unethical.

“I doubt anyone is going to buy it from you when they can pay less for it at the supermarket or the same price at a chemist,” said another mum. “Maybe you should consider selling for less than the shops do.”

Some mocked her post. “No worries,” wrote one woman. “I’m heading out to buy all the tampons and toilet paper in the area. If anyone needs these, you now have the privilege to buy them off me for the low, low price of $10 per pack. Don’t worry, they’re completely new and sealed.”

One member of the group told news.com.au. “This behaviour is a disgrace. It’s an essential item, parents shouldn’t have to resort to paying blown-out prices in our own backyard.”

ASIAN SHOPPERS DEMAND APOLOGY

It comes as a group of Asian-Australians band together to lodge a formal complaint with the Human Rights Commission against Woolworths over alleged discrimination.

The Asian Australian Alliance is demanding an apology from the supermarket for a number of customers who it claims were discriminated against while trying to buy formula.

Adrian Cheng, Reginald Dong and Sarah Kong all claimed to have had their online orders for infant formula cancelled with no explanation.

Erin Chew, convener for the Asian Australian Alliance, said the group had received numerous reports of “unfair targeting” since news.com.au broke the story last week.

Her group has enlisted The People’s Solicitors to take their case to the HRC, and if necessary the Federal Court level, potentially under Section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act.

“We’re only asking for a formal apology,” Ms Chew said. “This is an issue that has to be rectified. It impacts on the entire Australian Asian community. Why are these people being targeted? It’s because of their last names.”

The infant formula shortage, caused in part by resellers purchasing formula in bulk from supermarket and chemist shelves for shipment to the Chinese market, has caused outrage among many mothers.

In a statement, a Woolworths spokesman said: “Woolworths is trying to manage our supplies of baby formula for our online customers given the issues with supply and high demand. We have seen multiple examples of customers trying to breach the limits we have in place in our stores. In some cases we suspend accounts pending a confirmation that the order fits within our terms and conditions.

“Orders are automatically flagged when they fit a pattern associated with breaching terms and conditions. Customer names are not checked. Customers can then contact Woolworths if they believe their order has been cancelled in error at the call centre on 1800 000 610.

“A very small proportion of orders that are cancelled subsequently turn out to be legitimate and those orders are reinstated. Woolworths apologises to those customers that are cancelled in error. We believe this process is assisting in keeping sufficient supplies of baby formula available for our customers who choose to buy their baby formula from our Australian stores.”

frank.chung@news.com.au