Skechers To Pay $40 Million To Settle FTC Claims It Lied About Shape Ups

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.

The settlement, announced Wednesday, 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.

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.

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.

The settlement is part of a broader agreement also being 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.

Comments

[mjnpa]

08:30 AM on 08/30/2012

So who gets to keep the refund money if we can't find the receipts? Also are Skechers Sandals part of the lawsuit. I have 6 pairs of them and not one receipt, Looks like the lawyers are going to reep the benefit of the lawsuit and not the consumers.

[debnran]

05:22 PM on 08/29/2012

Sketchers demands receipts to get the refunds. I bought my shape-ups when they first came out - paid $125 for them and they almost ruined my back. But I can't get a refund because I didn't keep my receipt. Who the heck keeps a receipt for a pair of shoes (for over a year)?

[AlsoSarah]

08:33 PM on 05/17/2012

I suffered terribly from plantar fasciitis. I bought a pair of Shape Ups and have not had any pain since. The only shoes I wear.

[sexyspeedcat1]

07:20 PM on 05/17/2012

I think it's awesome Kim K has been replaced with a dog....

[Shermicya Singleton]

04:36 PM on 05/17/2012

I bought a pair. Love the style and just wanted them because I thought it'd help my workout, I would run about 2-3 miles, i'd go home and there would be a burning and sharp pain in one of my feet. I now know it was plants faciitis. Not fun I had to get an ice pack and wrap my foot up.

[TisKishnsing]

04:10 PM on 05/17/2012

if u see KK, that's a red flag for u

[LOCKEDFORNICATORCAPS]

01:20 PM on 05/17/2012

I KNOW KIM NEEDS THE MONEY SO I WILL STILL BUY THEM

[sexyspeedcat1]

07:14 PM on 05/17/2012

hahahaha :)

[sparkybubbamarky]

01:14 PM on 05/17/2012

I AM STILL GOING TO BUY A PAIR A WEEK FOR LIFE

[sockman]

12:53 PM on 05/17/2012

Hummm..so how does Kim benefit from all this? Maybe she can file suit against Sketchers for misleading her and there by damaging her "good reputation".

[j3zim]

12:39 PM on 05/17/2012

My girlfriend bought the sneakers because she wanted to be just like Kim Kardashian and it worked. She got herpes!

[sexyspeedcat1]

07:14 PM on 05/17/2012

oh my stop...toooo funny!

[LaurenEliseWill88]

12:34 PM on 05/17/2012

Hated these commercials right when they aired. Not only were the shoes terribly ugly, but it was obvious they didn't work. I can't believe people actually fell for toning angle, but then again people sued Nutella after they thought it was healthy. Really think about it before you buy, people!

[SlimLovin]

11:57 AM on 05/17/2012

Right now, 800,000 meaty paws are slapping keyboards to get their refunds.

If only they'd pounded the pavement as fervently.

[Rallen99]

11:20 AM on 05/17/2012

The fact that a Kardashian promoted them should have been everyone's first red flag.

[gene40]

10:46 AM on 05/17/2012

Get a Sketchers Refund Here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/cases/skechers/index.shtm

[Natassha Halverson]

10:29 AM on 05/17/2012

I actually dont believe Sketchers had any "false advertisement" going on. They were just really good with word play. In order for a shape up to "work" you must walk in it, forcing you to..GASP...get exercise. So really, their shoes do help you tone up because you are moving. I dont think Sketchers owes a penny.

[cestpasvrai]

12:59 PM on 05/17/2012

Not exactly. Walking doesn't "tone up" people. Burns calories, yes. Toning up in its "modern" use means building definition and getting firmer. Toning up would require sprinting, stair climbing, weight lifting, etc.