Representatives for The Home Depot spent Wednesday addressing the fallout from an April Fools’ prank that went viral at the retail giant’s expense.
Hyosub Shin/TNS
Representatives for The Home Depot spent Wednesday addressing the fallout from an April Fools’ prank that went viral at the retail giant’s expense.
An article published Tuesday by Pro Tool Reviews, a tool review website, falsely claimed the company would begin charging customers for parking starting in May. It stated that parking fees would vary by location, with prices ranging from $2 for two hours in Florida to $5 for a full day in Los Angeles.
It began: “In a surprising and unconventional response to rising inflation, The Home Depot has announced that it will begin charging customers for parking at its stores nationwide starting next month. The home improvement giant claims this measure will help offset increasing operational costs and keep prices competitive for shoppers.”
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The article, which cited a fictional press release from a nonexistent Home Depot spokesperson, was widely shared on social media, sparking frustration among some customers.
“Inflation has hit us hard, from supply chain costs to labor shortages,” the fictional spokesperson, Tucker Lotman, was quoted as saying. “By implementing a modest parking fee, we can avoid passing these costs directly onto our customers through higher prices on lumber, tools, and gardening supplies.”
Many shoppers expressed their anger online, with some even suggesting they would boycott the store.
In response, Home Depot clarified the situation on its official X account, stating, “Yes, it is an April Fools joke by an unaffiliated tool review website. We do not charge for parking, and we have no plans to do so.”
Pro Tool Reviews later confirmed the prank, with editor-in-chief Kenny Koehler explaining that the idea stemmed from discussions about how companies might respond to inflation.
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“As a team, we enjoy good-natured humor and love laughing with other people,” Koehler said in a statement to USA Today.
He added that the prank’s high viewership was “truly humbling” and hoped that readers found the joke funny once they realized it was a prank.
“We hope our friends over at Home Depot were able to laugh as well,” Koehler said.
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