7-Eleven Sends Free Water To Florida After Price-Gouging Accusations

Clean, safe water is a necessity, but some Florida residents got a nasty surprise in the form of some very high prices last week when they bought supplies before the arrival of Hurricane Irma. Multiple people accused some 7-Eleven stores there of price-gouging before the hurricane. Now the company has responded by sending cases of free water to people in Florida.

According to ABC Action News, several 7-Eleven stores in Tampa Bay were accused of charging up to $30 for a case of water before Hurricane Irma. That's a lot more than a case would normally cost, and residents were furious. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi called the alleged price increases "shameful."

7-Eleven responded to the accusations by sending 4,800 free cases of water to give away to people in Florida.

According to the Huffington Post, 7-Eleven said the water pricing was the work of individual franchisees, and the company did not approve of it.

"We are disappointed that the small minority of Franchisees have chosen to do this and will harshly deal with any offenders," the company said in a statement. "The majority of 7-Eleven Franchisees stand ready to serve their communities during this difficult time."

Starting Saturday at 8 a.m., three 7-Eleven stores in Orlando, Port Orange, and Oldsmar handed out 1,600 cases of free water each. 7-Eleven also says it will be donating $150,000 to the Red Cross to aid Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

Click here to see the 15 Worst Foods You Can Eat (or Drink) at 7-Eleven.