Acting on TINA.org Complaint, FTC Busts Williams-Sonoma, Again
29 April 2024 - 2:11PM
Following a complaint by ad watchdog truthinadvertising.org
(TINA.org), Pottery Barn’s parent company Williams-Sonoma has
agreed to pay more than $3 million for violating a 2020 FTC consent
order requiring that the kitchenware and home goods retailer tell
the truth about whether the products it sells are made in the
USA. The agency said the civil penalty is “the largest ever in
a Made in USA case.”
Last July, TINA.org filed a complaint with the FTC based
on a tip from a consumer who purchased a Pottery Barn Teen mattress
pad advertised online as “Crafted in America from domestic and
imported materials.” The consumer said she bought the mattress pad
specifically because she did not want one made in China. But as
TINA.org independently verified, the mattress pad advertised as
“Crafted in America” was labeled “Made in China” upon arrival.
“Williams-Sonoma was put on notice several years ago that it was
deceiving consumers with misleading Made in USA marketing. We hope
this recent action will send a strong message that there’s a price
to pay for such deception,” said TINA.org Executive Director Bonnie
Patten
The FTC found that Williams-Sonoma listed multiple
products for sale, including the mattress pad, as being made in the
USA when they were actually made in China and other countries. In
addition to the record civil penalty, the settlement also requires
Williams-Sonoma to submit annual compliance certifications and
imposes a number of requirements about the claims the company
makes.
This is not the first time the agency has acted on a TINA.org
complaint about Williams-Sonoma’s made in the USA advertising. In
May 2019, TINA.org sent its first complaint letter to the FTC
urging it to take enforcement action against the California-based
retailer after a TINA.org investigation found hundreds of products
deceptively marketed as American-made on the e-commerce websites
for various Williams-Sonoma brands, including Williams-Sonoma, West
Elm and PBTeen.
In March 2020, the FTC announced a $1 million settlement with
Williams-Sonoma over its unqualified U.S.-origin claims. The
retailer also agreed at that time to stop making false, misleading
or unsubstantiated made in the USA claims in the future.
TINA.org has investigated and taken action on deceptive
made in the USA claims made by a number of companies, including
BMW, New
Balance, Walmart, Gillette and Mercedes-Benz.
In addition, the consumer watchdog has tracked dozens of
class-action lawsuits alleging deceptive made in USA claims.
To read more about Williams-Sonoma’s deceptive marketing see:
https://truthinadvertising.org/brands/williams-sonoma/
Find out more about TINA.org’s work uncovering deceptive Made in
USA claims here.
About TINA.org (truthinadvertising.org)
TINA.org is a nonprofit organization that uses investigative
journalism, education, and advocacy to empower consumers to protect
themselves against false advertising and deceptive marketing.
Shana Mueller
truthinadvertising.org
203-421-6210
smueller@truthinadvertising.org