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Are You Hoarding Twinkies To Make Easy Money?
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 18, 2012
Modified Nov 18, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 18, 2012
Modified Nov 18, 2012
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While there may be hope that the owner of Pabst Blue Ribbon will save Hostess, people have been freaking out about the snack brand's demise after it filed for permission to liquidate. And as a result, there are now Twinkies for sale on eBay—someone just bought "5 Boxes of 10 Individually Packaged Sponge Cakes" for $74.17 (a 10-pack is usually around $3.29).
A spokesman for the Minnesota company that owns stores like Jewel-Osco, Albertsons and Shoppers confirmed to Bloomberg News, "We are definitely seeing an increase in customers purchasing Hostess products and expect this will continue as news about the company spreads." There's already been a shortage, caused by the company's decision to shut down bakeries during its protracted disagreement with union workers over pension and wage concessions.
Hostess' problems set off a bunch of opportunists. The AP describes:
John Stansel of Tampa, Fla. blanches at the thought of eating a Twinkie. He's a self-described health nut.
Yet he, too, rummaged shelves late Friday at a neighborhood Walgreens and then again early Saturday at Target and a grocery store. He spent about $100 for 20 boxes of Twinkies and Ding Dongs. His goal: sell them for about $1,000 and put the money to good use.
"Maybe I will hire a personal trainer for myself or go do some shopping at Whole Foods or donate the money to a charity to fight diabetes," Stansel, 40, said. "No matter what, I figure I am getting sugar off the streets."
Fine, John Stansel, but are these hoarders just going to get Type 2 Diabetes?
Tagged
depressing
diabetes
hoarding
hostess
junk food
twinkies
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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