STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.
As a "settlement" for "gender discrimination," is Lowe's handing out $2 KitchenAid mixers to women over the age of 35 who respond to four questions? No, that's not true: A spokesman for Lowe's denied the claim, and there is no evidence the retail company is offering $2 mixers through social media posts. It lists the mixers for $450 on its website.
The claim appeared on Facebook (archived here) on January 16, 2023. It read:
Lowe's Sued for Gender DiscriminationLowe's hands out KA Mixers for $2 to women 35+ y/o as settlement. Complete 4 questions only
This is what the post looked like on Facebook at the time of writing:
The post appears on a Facebook page, "Mixers and more," that was created on January 16, 2023, the same day the post was shared. The only other post that appears on the page also advertises KitchenAid mixers for $2.
Some versions of the post included an "Apply now" link. Clicking on the link led to a security message that warned users to be careful and that the site "may trick you into doing something dangerous like installing software or disclosing personal or financial information, like passwords, phone numbers, or credit cards."
Lead Stories contacted Lowe's to ask about the claim. In an email, dated January 19, 2023, Lowe's spokesman Larry Costello wrote:
There is no truth to this social post and rumor.
On its website, the retail company lists KitchenAid mixers for sale, like the ones in the Facebook photo, for $450.
Also on its website, Lowe's cautions customers against online scams. It says:
- Consumers are offered free gifts through spam email, online advertising or social media postings.
- Often the free gifts are offered after completing a survey.
- Consumers are asked to provide their credit card information to pay for the shipping costs of the free item, which becomes the point of compromise for the consumer's credit card.
- Lowe's does not solicit consumers to complete online surveys in exchange for free gifts.
The claim about Lowe's KitchenAid mixers resembles another claim about Walmart that Lead Stories debunked. As compensation for supposed gender discrimination, that claim also offered women fake financial incentives for offering four questions. Another Lead Stories fact check of a false claim about Walmart credits can be found here.
Updates:
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2023-01-19T22:36:01Z 2023-01-19T22:36:01Z Adds response from Lowe's.
