Grape-Nuts buyers who paid inflated prices on the black market for the cereal during a shortage in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic may soon be reimbursed, the cereal maker said this week.
Post Consumer Brands, the parent company of the brand, said in an announcement on Tuesday that it would ship the cereal in full capacity to stores across the country after saying that some fans had paid inflated prices for the cereal, which it noted “reaching $ 110 per box in the secondary market ”, during a shortage related to the pandemic.
“It became very clear during the shortage that Grape-Nuts fans are ‘Nuts for Grape-Nuts’,” said Kristin DeRock, Grape-Nuts brand manager at Post Consumer Brands, in a statement obtained by The Hill on Wednesday .
“So much so that some of our loyal fans were willing to pay extreme prices just to make sure they wouldn’t be without their favorite crunchy cereal. As a way of showing our appreciation and thanks to these fans for their dedication, we want to return the love by repaying them ”, he added.
Many social media users commented on not knowing about the grain shortage during the pandemic and how third-party retailers took advantage of the lack of supplies.
Was there a shortage of grape nuts AND a black market? https://t.co/3Qat8su9UD pic.twitter.com/KVe8in3i5f
– itsallrealitv (@itsallrealitv) March 24, 2021
I remember when I became a Grape Nuts dealer during the pandemic.
In fact, I was the one who discovered that you could cut them with gravel and no one knew the difference.
scheloouuu, hey yo, I bought these G-nuts. Are you okay? pic.twitter.com/y6ceylTGvH
– Microphone blades (@ MicBlades1) March 24, 2021
The company said buyers who paid at least $ 10 for “a box of Grape-Nuts Original cereal between November 1, 2020 and March 15, 2021 are eligible to send a valid retailer or e-retailer receipt for refund. partial up to $ 115 to help cover the difference between the amount paid and the suggested retail price of the Original Grape-Nuts cereal box purchased. ”
The company is inviting qualified customers to submit their receipts online before April 15.
According to USA Today, the news comes after some third-party sellers posted inflated cereal prices to Walmart, Amazon and eBay amid shortages earlier this year.