Skechers Busted for Making False "Shape Up" Claims to the Tune of $40 Million in Rebates

Skechers

Unsurprisingly, the Kardashians Are Involved in the Faulty Footwear

If you're the owner of a pair of Skechers' Shape-Up shoes -- you know, the ones that are supposed to help tone your butt by the mere fact of you wearing them? -- prepare to get a little bit richer: the company will be issuing a slew of refunds for the shoes.

Skechers' claims that the shoes worked -- supported by their spokesperson, Kim Kardashian -- didn't impress the Federal Trade Commission, which has determined that the company made false claims for exactly what the shoes could do.

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So Skechers will now be doling out $40 million in refunds to customers.

The specific glitch that got the FTC's goat with Skechers' claims: that the company had clinical studies to back up how effective Shape-Ups are. One Skechers study, reports Blisstree.com, was conducted by a chiropractor who happened to be married to a skechers marketing executive … and whose findings didn't even support the claims!

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"Skechers' unfounded claims went beyond stronger and more toned muscles," said FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection director David Vladek. "The company even made claims about weight loss and cardiovascular health. The FTC's message, for Skechers and other national advertisers, is to shape up your substantiation or tone down your claims."

Clever, FTC dude.

Meanwhile, if you think your Shape-Ups are bogus and want to apply for a refund from Skechers, go to the FTC website.