LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has issued a second warning to Menards, less than a month after sending the retailer a cease-and-desist order related to allegations of price gouging. This time, Menards is in hot water over reports that its marketing and sales practices are encouraging non-essential browsing and shopping. “Just because one of these businesses can still be open to the public, it’s not just business as usual,” Nessel said, urging customers to restrict their purchases to essential items and avoid lingering in stores.
Meanwhile, workers and customers expressed concerns as Lowe’s Cos. stores held their spring Black Friday sale at the end of last week. Lowe’s promotions underscored that “affordability matters now more than ever” but a store employee in Indiana who fell ill with COVID-19-like symptoms questioned the wisdom of drawing in crowds. “People wait for this sale every year, and it’s the first sale of the season and all these people are off work,” said the associate.
