Did you buy a pair of Skechers Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and/or Resistance Runner shoes sometime during the last few years? If so, you might be entitled to part of a recent $40 million class action settlement. These shoes, which promised to help consumers lose weight and tone the muscles in their legs and backsides, apparently do nothing of the sort.
Due to the misleading claims used to market these shoes, consumers who bought Skechers Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups or Resistance Runners can receive a portion of a recent settlement brought by the FTC and advertisement watchdog groups. Anyone who bought the shoes is entitled to a partial refund.
Let’s review the facts about this settlement and how you can get your piece of the Skechers pie.
False Advertising: The Skechers Shape-Ups Shoe Sham
Special “toning” shoes have been a popular trend in the consumer shoe market in the past few years. These sneakers are often advertised as helping consumers lose weight and develop more shapely muscles without any additional exercise or lifestyle changes. Simply wear Skechers Shape-Ups and you’ll get toned, slender legs thanks to a special curved sole.
Shoes with this special kind of sole are known as “rocker-bottom” shoes, and Skechers essentially led the charge in what’s now become known as the “shape-up” shoe market. In the year 2010 alone, this was almost a 1 billion dollar market.
The shoes sold include Skechers Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and Resistance Runner — all of which are heavily advertised as having the ability to help consumers lose weight and tone muscles.
These advertisements ran until they were stopped by a class-action lawsuit, which also brought about the consumer settlement.
Skechers is now offering up $40 million in refunds. For their part, Skechers maintains that their rocker-bottom shoes do indeed help consumers with weight loss and muscle definition, but the company wanted to avoid the high legal fees required to fight the lawsuit.
So how do you claim your piece of the pie if you bought Skechers shape-up sneakers? It’s actually quite easy.
Get Your Skechers Shape-Ups Refund: File An Honest Claim
Believe it or not, Skechers and the FTC are asking consumers to file claims for their refunds on the honor system. A $40 million payout only entitles each consumer to a partial refund for shoes that retailed between $60 and $100.
Experts understand that there will be people who try to game the system by filing a claim for shoes they never bought, but nobody’s going to be making off with a significant amount of money.
In fact, the FTC anticipates such abuse. They’re going to do everything it can to make sure consumers are being honest.
The LA Times elaborates, quoting Dana Barragate, an FTC lawyer:
“‘…we think most consumers are honest,’ Barragate said. (She noted that the process requires claimants to file and sign documents with the federal government swearing that they’re telling the truth.) ‘We want consumers who legitimately purchased this product to get a refund if they want one.”
If you bought any of the Skechers shoes involved in the class-action lawsuit, you can head over to www.SkechersSettlement.com to fill out the online form and submit your claim.
Of course, you’ll be asked to submit any kind of documentation you can, but they’ll accept things like credit card receipts along with store receipts. Even though they’re using the honor system, it’s smart to back yourself up with as much evidence as possible.
What Do You Think?
Do you think Skechers rocker-bottom shoes are a scam? Have you ever tried a pair of shape-up sneakers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
If you’d like to file a complaint about a pair of falsely-advertised shoes, or anything else, click here to submit a report on Scambook.
See Also
Apple Settles Class-Action Lawsuit with Parents of In-App Buying Kids
Your Baby Can Read is Fake, Says Class Action Lawsuit
Class Action: J.C. Penney & Stonebridge Benefit Services
Is it too late to get refund checks from Sketchers? I bought one pair of Sketchers Shape-Ups sneakers & one pair of the sandals. My husband also has one pair of the sneakers.