MYFOXNY.COM -
Did you buy a pair of those round-soled Skechers shoes that promised a firmer, Kim Kardashian-esque butt without going to the gym? If you did, you may be entitled to a refund.
The Federal Trade Commission and the New York state attorney general said Wednesday that Skechers USA will pay $40 million to settle charges that the company deceived consumers with unfounded claims that "Shape-ups" could help them lose weight while strengthening and toning buttocks, legs, and abdominal muscles.
Consumers who bought the shoes may be entitled to a refund; you can file an application online.
"Skechers' unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles. The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health," said David Vladeck, the director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "The FTC's message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims."
Skechers advertised its Shape-ups, Resistance Runners, Toners, and Tone-ups with posters, billboards, and TV commercials starring celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Brooke Burke, and football great Joe Montana.
The provocative ad featuring Kardashian aired during the 2011 Super Bowl. It showed a scantily clad Kardashian firing her muscle-ripped trainer in favor of wearing Skechers shoes.
"This settlement forces Skechers to 'shape up' by ceasing to make unsubstantiated health and medical claims for their so-called toning shoes," New York Attorney General Schneiderman said. "A fair market only exists when there are no false marketing claims that give one company an unfair advantage over the competition. Corporations will not be allowed to mislead consumers into spending their hard-earned money on products that promise what they can't deliver."
The FTC said that Skechers' claims that wearing the shoes would promote more weight loss and muscle toning and strengthening than regular fitness shoes were not supported by independent scientific evidence.
Under the settlement, Skechers is not allowed to make claims about strengthening, weight loss, caloric expenditure, calorie burn, blood circulation, aerobic conditioning, muscle tone, and muscle activation related to its toning shoes unless the claims are true and backed by scientific evidence.
In settling with the FTC and dozens of states, Skechers has admitted no wrongdoing.
For more information and to apply for a refund see:
www.ftc.gov/opa/2012/05/consumerrefund.shtm
www.skecherssettlement.com
