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The Black Market Is Booming for Walmart’s Patti LaBelle Pies

Here is the most American thing you’ll read all day: It’s been a long few days since an unprecedented run on Patti LaBelle Sweet Potato Pie began at Walmart, owing to YouTuber James Wright’s viral review. Now, however difficult it may be to believe, these pies are the most sought-after food item in the entire country:

How popular are these pies? Very. At one point this weekend, Walmart was selling them at a rate of one per second. And so, the inevitable bad news is that Walmart warns there won’t be anymore Patti LaBelle pies until the supplier can get its hands on another 2 million pounds of sweet potatoes. All hope, however, is not lost, provided impatient pie lovers are willing to pony up. Lucky customers who snagged one (or, in some cases, “more than 10”) are now scalping them at an extraordinary markup on eBay, just like this seller here:

"New condition"
“New condition” Photo: eBay

The pies were originally selling for $3.48 each, but the going rate online looks to be around $30 or $40 — a 1,000 percent markup, basically. And these are just the people who are reselling the pies in public. Who knows what kinds of shady back-alley deals are going down in small towns across America? People need these pies and they will do what it takes to get them.

Look: If you really, really want one, go for it. Grub Street, however, would suggest maybe picking up one of these excellent Thanksgiving pies instead.

eBayers Are Scalping Patti LaBelle Pies