Best Buy apologizes for big mistake of price-gouging Texans for water - after their stock tanks

$43 pack of bottled water being sold at a Houston Best Buy (Photo via Ken Klippenstein).

Electronics retailer Best Buy is apologizing to outraged consumers after a social media storm of complaints against a Houston area store charging $42 for a case of case of bottled water.

The image, which raced across the internet, shows $42.96 cases of Dasani bottled water, next to a “limited supply” of “Smart Water” for $29.98 a case.

“As a company we are focused on helping, not hurting affected people,” Best Buy told Business Insider. “We’re sorry, and it won’t happen again.”

The company claims the “big mistake” was caused by an employee multiplying the price of a single bottle. The company says the price-gouging signage was only up on Friday and that the Cypress, TX store in question is now closed due to Hurricane Harvey.

Best Buy stock fell 11 percent Tuesday, in heavy trading.

Below is a sampling of social media criticism:

One Houston resident sent me a pic of water he saw being sold for *$42* at a nearby Best Buy. They were kind enough to offer $29 bottles too pic.twitter.com/8dKz3sJJM1

— ken klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) August 29, 2017

Hey @BestBuy, check out what one of your locations in Houston is doing. Pretty sick stuff. https://t.co/WQqstnTotr

— Erick Fernandez (@ErickFernandez) August 29, 2017

Rot in hell, @BestBuy. pic.twitter.com/Jj7xUfoUp4

— jordan 🌹🌹 (@JordanUhl) August 29, 2017

Hey @BestBuy you want to explain why this store of yours in Houston is illegally price gouging? pic.twitter.com/803tuo4XLm

— Max Cotterill 🚩 (@mcotteri) August 29, 2017

Greedy Best Buy Gouges Hurricane Plagued Texas Residents; Sells Cases of Water for $42 https://t.co/HNs8XnkEVh

— Thomas Paine (@Thomas1774Paine) August 29, 2017

The @BestBuy at Houston charging $40 for a pack of water bottles is a disgrace. People are in need, shame on you #bestbuy #shame #greed

— Panda (@4kec4) August 29, 2017

@BestBuy this was happening by me in Houston this past week. Safe to say I will never shop in your stores again. pic.twitter.com/1wAUhnks14

— James DeCicco (@bobbyd914) August 29, 2017

Only bcause they got caught. Sum1 HAD 2 authorize the sign, sell & purchase of the #gouging , stop blaming the wrkr bees Fire Mgmt @BestBuy pic.twitter.com/OFKRfeotea

— MoreMusicMoreMoney (@MoreMusicMoreMo) August 29, 2017

In response to my article, Best Buy issues apology, saying the pricing was "a big mistake" & "it won't happen again" https://t.co/AcLuHkp0y1

— ken klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) August 29, 2017

Is The Street Wrong? What Best Buy $BBY Is Doing Right (video) https://t.co/sgNCaLZoXg @BestBuy #stocks #BestBuy #Retail #investors pic.twitter.com/WoL0DYuLK5

— Domain Mondo (@DomainMondo) August 29, 2017

By Bob Brigham