Shoe company Reebok International Ltd. has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a complaint from the Federal Trade Commission for misleading advertising and claims.
The company will give refunds to customers who bought the RunTone running shoes($80-100/pair), EasyTone running shoes, and EasyTone flip flops ($60/pair).
The FTC found that Reebok couldn’t back up the claims they were making about the shoes (and flops):
The FTC said ads for the shoes claimed that a special technology in the sole featured pockets of moving air that created “micro instability” that toned and strengthened muscles as a person walked or ran.
In ads that began appearing in 2009, Reebok said walking in the shoes had been proved to provide 28% more strength and tone in the buttock muscles compared with regular walking shoes, 11% more in the hamstring muscles and 11% more in the calf muscles, the FTC said.
The agency’s investigation found Reebok was unable to back up those claims, Vladeck said.
Customers can apply for a refund on the FTC website. The size of the refund will depend upon how many apply for it. So if you are the only one to apply for it then you won the lottery. 😉
Reebok has agreed to the settlement but stands by it’s product and will continue to produce it:
“Settling does not mean we agree with the FTC’s allegations; we do not,” Reebok said. “We have received overwhelmingly enthusiastic feedback from thousands of EasyTone customers, and we remain committed to the further development of our EasyTone line of products.”
Reebok can’t make any more health claims about the shoes unless they can back it up with scientific data.
Where was the FTC back in the 80’s and 90’s when Nike was claiming that it’s Air Jordan and various Air models would help Joe White-boy be able to jump 5-feet off the ground and be able to dunk?
What do you think? Did you ever own or try out the Reebok RunTone running shoes?
