“LOWE’S WILL TAKE
YOUR MONEY, ONLY, IF YOU ARE BLACK:
WHY I WILL NOT SHOP
AT LOWE’S HOME CENTER AGAIN!”
The
following is a letter that I wrote to the management of Lowe’s Home Center. It
explains why I will never shop there again and I hope any of my followers and
their friends will do the same. Only in the Confederate South, especially
Mississippi, can this happen. THINK ABOUT IT!!.
May 16, 2012
TO: Management
Lowe’s Home Center, Inc.
910 East County Line
Road
Ridgeland, MS 39157
FROM: Dr. Johnny Gilbert
319 Mary Harris Lane
Ridgeland, MS 39157
To whom it
may concern;
I purchased a John Deere, D-100 Lawn
Tractor on Saturday, May 12. 2012 which totaled $1625.33. I picked it up on
Sunday, May 13, 2012. It broke down on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. On Wednesday, May
16, 2012 I returned it to your store and asked for an exchange. I told the
young lady at the refund counter that I wanted to replace the tractor. The
young lady, who was African American, spoke to another African American man,
who agreed that I could get another tractor.
After waiting for more than a half
hour, a white manager came outside and looked at the tractor and immediately
accused me of damaging the tractor and said that John Deere had to come out.
Mind you, there were four (4) similar tractors outside. In essence, she called
me a lie and would not exchange the tractor nor refund my money. I explain to this,
so called manager, that there is no such policy posted in the area of the
tractors and the receipt clearly states that “you [the customer] may return
your lawn and garden equipment within 30 days of purchase with the original
sales receipt. We will repair, replace, or refund your purchase depending upon
the method of payment.” Jessie Coppen
did neither, refused to do anything for me.
I believe that the manager responded
in this way because I, too, am African American. If this is the policy of Lowe’s
I, as President of the Madison County NAACP, will encourage member and their
friends to stop shopping at Lowe’s. that they should spend their money where
they are treated fairly. And where the African American Employees are also
respected. If these are the type of people they hire in
management. I don’t know of anyone who would spend over $1,600.00, with any
merchant, and tolerate that type of
treatment or non-service. My money is hard earned just like coppen’s. SHE
SHOULD BE FIRED!!!
If this matter is not rectified to my
satisfaction I will file a formal complaint with the Attorney General’s office
and file discrimination suit against Coppen and Lowe’s. At this point I am out
$1,625.33 plus two gallons of gas. I will never shop at Any Lowe’s, Anywhere. This is racial profiling at it
worse.
I await your response.
Dr. Johnny
Gilbert
