May 16, 2012

Atlanta, GA - In a coordinated filing, the Federal Trade Commission, the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection and Attorneys General of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the State of Hawaii’s Office of Consumer Protection filed settlements today with Skechers USA, Inc., the makers of Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner athletic shoes.  Under the settlements, up to $40 million is being allocated for consumer refund money to be paid back to consumers who purchased the shoes.  As part of the settlements, Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the states. 

John Sours, Administrator of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection said today, “Especially in regards to health and well-being, claims should be based on truth. We are pleased that Sketchers has agreed to make changes to its advertising.”

The settlement filed today by the Administrator alleges that Skechers made health-related claims in the marketing, packaging, advertising, offering, and selling of its line of rocker-bottom shoe products including Shape-ups, Tone-ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runner that were not adequately substantiated at the time the claims were made.

The settlement alleges that without having adequate support for its claims, Skechers claimed that these rocker-bottom shoe products caused consumers to lose weight, burn calories, improve circulation, fight cellulite, and firm, tone or strengthen thigh, buttock, and back muscles.

Under the settlement, Skechers is prohibited from making these claims unless it has adequate substantiation to do so. 

Skechers does not admit any wrongdoing and denies the factual allegations asserted in the Administrator’s complaint. 

Consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, or the Skechers Resistance Runner can get information about how to obtain a partial refund by going to https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2013/07/ftc-mails-refund-checks-consumers-who-bought-skechers-shape-ups or by calling 866-325-4186.

Georgia consumers who have complaints about unsubstantiated health or advertising claims or any consumer matter should contact the Governor’s Office of Consumer Protection by calling 404-651-8600 or 1-800-869-1123 (toll-free in Georgia, outside of the metro Atlanta calling area).