chipmunk

Skechers to pay $40M to settle government charges over claim that fitness shoes toned muscles

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The government wants you to know that simply sporting a pair of Skechers' fitness shoes is not going to get you Kim Kardashian's curves or Brooke Burke's toned tush.

Skechers USA Inc. will pay $40 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the footwear company made unfounded claims that its Shape-ups shoes would help people lose weight and strengthen their butt, leg and stomach muscles. Kardashian, Burke and other celebrities endorsed the shoes in Skechers ads.

Wednesday's settlement also involves the company's Resistance Runner, Toners, and Tone-ups shoes. Skechers made deceptive claims about those shoes, too, says the agency.

Consumers who bought the shoes will be eligible for refunds, though it's not clear how much money people will get. The FTC says that will depend on how many claims are received in the eight-month filing period. Most of the $40 million will be returned to consumers, the commission said. A small amount of the money will be used to administer the payouts.

"The FTC's message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims," said David Vladeck, director of the agency's consumer protection bureau. For millions of consumers, he said, "the only thing that got a workout was their wallet."

The commission settled similar charges with Reebok last year over its EasyTone walking shoes and RunTone running shoes. That $25 million agreement also provided customer refunds.

Skechers billed its Shape-ups as a fitness tool designed to promote weight loss and tone muscles with the shoe's curved "rocker" or rolling bottom — saying it provides natural instability and causes the consumer to "use more energy with every step." Shape-ups cost about $100 and are sold at retailers nationwide.

Ads for the Resistance Runner shoes claimed people who wear them could increase "muscle activation" by up to 85 percent for posture-related muscles and 71 percent for one of the muscles in the buttocks, said the FTC.

The commission says Skechers falsely represented that clinical studies backed up the company's claims about its toning shoes. The settlement bars Skechers from misrepresenting any tests, studies or research on its shoes in the future.

In Wednesday's court filing, Skechers says it disputes the charges and is pursuing additional studies. A call to Skechers seeking additional comment was not immediately returned.

The settlement is part of a broader agreement also announced Wednesday — a settlement resolving a multi-state investigation led by the attorneys general from Tennessee and Ohio and involving more than 40 states. The company, based in Manhattan Beach, Calif., will provide $40 million for customer refunds in the federal case and $5 million to the states. By Jennifer c. Kerr, Associated Press
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FTC Site Skechers Refunds <-check that out

-=Chipmunk=-

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HiGhPeR

That's so sketchy.

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papajohn56

More importantly


SOCIAL CHATS: FTC staff will answer the public's questions about the settlement online May 16, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. Follow the @FTC on Twitter and ask questions using the hashtag #FTCbcp. Questions can also be posted to the FTC's Facebook page.

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MediaBuysEyez

The FTC's budget needs to be cut by about 90%

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goingviral101

Ridiculous..I understand rebills, but shoes? The FTC needs to stop stroking their dicks.

nickycakes

Yeah, we should be free to false advertise whatever the fuck we want at the consumers expense!

"OH YOU BELIEVED OUR ADS? LOL!"

skohh

A fucking sneaker now? Too scared to say anything further for FTC might be reading this.

papajohn56

I can lie to someone's face as an individual legally, how is it different?

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nickycakes

money

papajohn56

...and? There's no distinguishing language in the constitution between commercial speech and free speech, the supreme court ruling that created commercial speech in the 40s was pulled out of thin air.

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nickycakes

Ok. Well that's still the distinction. You can't lie to get money from people.

SkyFire

Here papajohn, have this yummy cupcake. It's not poisonous. I promise. Oops; well, your fault for not having it thoroughly analyzed first.

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goingviral101

Notsureifsrs. No one's lying. They're just exaggerating the perks and most businesses thrive on that.

nickycakes

The perk doesn't exsit in this case. It's a lie. That's where the problem is. That's called false advertising.

amateursurgeon

That's really, really harsh.

If you did that in the UK, the ASA would make you promise not to run the ads again.

papajohn56

Comparing hyping the benefits of snakeoil pills and murder is a horrible analogy.

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mikeshinobi

Meh, if you seriously believe wearing special shoes will somehow make you lose weight you deserve to get ripped off.

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Rage9

Yeah, not just for affiliate marketing anymore. Make bullshit claims they'll come after you. I don't think it's a terrible thing, but I'm sure they made out better than they are paying back out.... so it's a net win. More of an illusion of protection than anything.

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lose lose win

The more you post the dumber you seem.

This is absolute hypocrisy and extortion by the gov. The FDA endorses and profits from harmful pharmaceuticals all day, err day...all while raiding organic food distributors. Not to mention the absolute SHIT milk they recommend as part of a healthy diet, while busting raw dairy farms with guns drawn like a god damned crack house raid. Hell, the whole gov endorsed food triangle is a sham. Yea, hey let's base our diets on breads and grains....or do you believe that shit too? Thanks big gov for caring about the well being of the citizens so much.

Not saying sketchers is in the right, but the gov's hypocritical ass has no business fining them 40 large. It's a slippery slope. What about the fucking thigh master that doesn't do jack? or half the products in GNC? I guess the gov should just start fining every company for millions?

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mpbiz

99% of advertising is false dipshit.

The point is skechers banked hard and the FTC saw an epic payday. Now all the trolls over there can take their heffer wives to TGI Fridays, dare I say it, 3 NIGHTS IN A ROW.

guerilla

Nicky is right about this. Lying for money is fraud.

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Great content HERE

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nickycakes

You just live in a world where false advertising is extremely common and nearly nobody gets caught. Saying thighmaster helps you get in shape if you use it isn't false advertising. Saying sketchers shoes exercise your muscles because of how they're shaped if they don't is false advertising. Flogs are false advertising. Fake testimonials and flog comments are false advertising.

mpbiz

dreamache

If they're going to go after a company making exaggerated claims of health benefits, why the fuck aren't they going after shit like the shake weight or the many other fad fitness products.

There's no accountability on behalf of your average braindead fucktard American, most of which own a computer/phone with internet access and can do a simple search for product reviews before making a purchase. Oh no, we can't expect people to do that for themselves! Instead of running some PSA's about not believing everything you see, and doing shit like product review searching, let's just fine the company instead.

And I wonder what percentage of those who bought the shoes actually thought it would tone their body? I know Americans are fucking stupid n' all, but I bet most people just tried the shoe on, it was comfortable, so they bought it and were happy with the shoe.

Moxie

It wouldn't surprise me if there is more to the story of why they were chosen. Let's just say that Nike may have been losing market share and probably isn't upset by this decision.

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Aznxmtg

Right. There is a reason for stupid people in the world. Smarter people needs to take advantage.

It basically survival of the fittest. Plus those shoes were ugly as fuck.

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goingviral101

This. Good luck with your advertising goals of 2012 if you don't bend/exaggerate the truth

"Here, buy these jeans. They're not the most comfortable, but they're very good!"

Pls go.

nickycakes

Because if you use the shakeweight it will build muscle. If you put on sketchers shoes, they will not build muscle any more than normal walking will. But sketchers claimed that they would. That's called false advertising.

ly2 from WF

THANK GOD FOR THE GOVERNMENT

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dreamache

Shakeweight makes the claims that you'll get ripped toned arms, triceps/biceps and shoulders if you follow their 6 minute DVD.. Now if you know anything about the gym/lifting weights & reaching physical goals, that's complete bullshit (false advertising) too. The guys featured in the shakeweight for men commercial, I guarantee you you could never look like by using just the shakeweight alone.

goingviral101

+1

BRB Apple advertises an 8 hr battery life for my MBP, but I only get 6 hours...FALSE ADVERTISING!

johnmatrix

I own a brick & mortar jewellery store, I never lie to my customers. If you sell a product you truly believe in, there is no need to lie.

In fact I talk many of them out of a sale if it isn't going to be right for them, it's called having integrity and people appreciate that. That's why I have only had 1 refund in an entire year of business.

Midas Touch

GODDAMMIT!!!

If you two are correct.....then I had better give the FTC a call about that Lying Whore at The Bunny Ranch I paid 2 Grand to because she said, "For 2 Thousand dollars I'll give you the skills to be able to PLEASE & SATISFY any woman!!"



She was full of shit!!!!



Not one single woman I've hooked up with since her has wanted me to PISS on their face and then SHIT in their mouth!! It was quite the OPPOSITE!!!




Lying Cunt!!!


False fucking advertising!!!



Where oh where is my FTC now.......WHERE oh where could they be.......


Let me get on the phone to my Savior Gov't.!!!!


Suffering Fucking Succotash!!!

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IceToEskimos

Valentine v. Chrestensen.

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55 Things I Learned From Wickedfire

lose lose win

The more you post the dumber you seem.

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BilltheButcher

Sketchers should have given a bottle of Acai with every pair. Amateurs.

dmnEPC

I really dont see how implying that if you get your fat ass off the couch and go to the gym you will increase muscle tone is wrong. If the FTC thinks that people are so stupid as to believe you will become fit simply by putting a pair of shoes on we are in real trouble. #FuckFTC #FTCbcp Have a little faith in the fact that not all american's are that stupid

nickycakes

So you're saying resistance training doesn't build muscle? Confused.

music4mic

This is true, but it shouldn't be the gov enforcing it, it should be a private lawsuit.

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nickycakes

Nice opinion, but in the US the government does enforce it via the FTC.

guerilla

music4mic is right, it should be a private lawsuit, because it's an issue of standing. The injured party has to make the claim, the state acting independently of an injured party technically is nonsense.

I know, you will say, BUT THE GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT but that's not an argument, it's just rhetoric.

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