The complaint alleges that Ashley Furniture sells “DuraBlend” furniture without disclosing that it is not made of actual leather. In addition, the class action claims that the DuraBlend faux leather coating does not stand up to normal wear and tear, and instead easily peels off, revealing a rough, off-white layer underneath.
Full Answer
Was Ashley Furniture’s durablend product misleading consumers?
Ashley Furniture marketed their DuraBlend products as a high-quality, durable, and strong material. They labelled the product as “blended leather,” “durable,” and used the word “LEATHER” alone in its own right. Plaintiffs and other consumers believe that Ashley misrepresented their product due to the fact that it was of low quality and not durable.
What is the warranty for Ashley Furniture?
Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC (“Ashley”), subject to all the limitations and exclusions described in these Limited Warranties, warrants the following Ashley products and parts against material manufacturing defects for the duration set forth next to that product or part in the table below. Limited Lifetime Warranty*.
How long does Ashley industries cover defects in the material?
I spoke with a customer service representative at Ashley Industries. She informed me that they only cover defects in the material for 4 years. I had just gone over the 4 years and there was nothing they would do for me. I found that quite a coincidence and wondered if it was even true.
Does Ashley Furniture sell leather couches and loveseats?
We saw an ad for Ashley Furniture in nearby Yorba Linda, CA and decided to visit the store to price a matching couch and loveseat. It was a large store with quite a lot of couches and loveseats in inventory, but almost all of them were leather-covered.
Is DuraBlend good quality?
alleging that DuraBlend is marketed as a durable leather product; however, DuraBlend furniture is not durable and is prone to peeling and disintegrating. “Ashley and BD marketed DuraBlend upholstery as durable blended leather,” alleges the Ashley Furniture class action lawsuit.
What is DuraBlend upholstery?
DuraBlend is a proprietary material similar to bonded leather, made from leather shavings, fabric and polyurethane. While this substance looks like leather for a while, it may crack and peel over time.
How good is DuraBlend leather?
Is bonded leather as good as real leather? No, bonded leather is not as good as real leather. It is made primarily of ground leather fibers, bonded together with a polyurethane (plastic) mixture, and lasts only a few years. Real leather will look better, perform better, and last much longer.
Who makes DuraBlend furniture?
Ashley FurnitureHe says his couch and loveseat started deteriorating only a year after purchase. "As you can see the couch is peeling on the seat," McGary said. He paid about $2,500 for the set from a neighborhood store in 2013. The furniture is called "Durablend", a brand of blended leather made by Ashley Furniture.
How do you fix peeling Durablend leather?
0:0713:01How To Fix Peeling Leather ( Bonded - Blended) Quick & Easy - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor how to fix peeling bonded leather or blended leather rather either-or wear that just kind ofMoreFor how to fix peeling bonded leather or blended leather rather either-or wear that just kind of peels off in a sheet. Where the leather itself. The top layer has started to peel off.
Can you repair Durablend leather?
Unfortunately, most Bonded leather furniture on the market is not repairable. While many customers love the idea of recycled leather that's more affordable, there isn't much anyone can do to salvage these products once they start to wear down.
What is Durablend leather made of?
Durablend is a low-cost leather alternative, similar to bonded leather and comprising of 57% polyurethane, 26% poly/cotton and 17% leather shavings. It is the trademark product of Ashley Furniture.
Is there a class action lawsuit against Ashley Furniture?
Ashley Furniture Class Action Lawsuit Overview: Ashley Furniture Industries LLC faces a false advertising class action lawsuit alleging the furniture chain dupes customers with fictitious “original” prices, leading them to falsely believe they are purchasing furniture at bargain prices.
Why is my leather sofa peeling?
When quality leather is cared for, it can last for decades, ages beautifully and forms a patina. Real leather is animal skin and so it needs to be maintained and moisturised – when it starts to dry out, it can eventually crack and peel.
How do you care for Durablend leather?
Tips and tricks to preserve bonded leatherMove your leather away from sunlight. ... Clean regularly. ... Use leather conditioners. ... Do not rub spills and stains. ... Do not use products that are not intended for leather. ... Avoid placing the bonded leather next to the heat sources.
How do you clean Durablend?
Routinely wipe down Durablend leather-blend fabric with a damp, soft cloth to remove the same.Blot any spilled liquids, such as water, juice or soda, immediately with a soft cloth or paper towels. ... Clean all spots and stains on Dura fabrics using a mild, low pH water-based soap.More items...
How do you fix peeling faux leather couch?
Method 1. Use Leather PaintPull off any peeled pieces of leather. Inspect the sofa and pull off any loose bits of faux leather before beginning the repair. ... Apply The Paint. Take your leather paint and gently agitate to mix the contents of the jar. ... Let The Paint Dry. ... Apply A Leather Finish. ... Apply Additional Coats of Finish.
What is DuraBlend upholstery?
DuraBlend is a trademark of Ashley Furniture Industries , Inc. Durablendâ„¢ upholstery offers the rich look and feel of leather using a polyurethane/leather blend to create a comfortable and economical alternative to natural leather. Fabric Contents: 57% polyurethane, 26% poly/cotton, 17% leather.
Can a salesperson help you find furniture?
I hope this account of my experience will help anyone who is shopping for a sofa, loveseat or chair. My suggestion is to allow a salesperson to help you find furniture that stays within your budget, BUT before you buy a material that is new to YOU, do some research. It will take you just a few minutes to read shopper’s reviews.
What happens after the expiration of a labor warranty?
After the expiration of the Labor Coverage or for all products or parts not covered by Labor Coverage, the original purchaser will be responsible for labor, packing, and all shipping and transportation costs. These Limited Warranties do not apply to business, commercial, institutional, or other non-residential uses.
What does the law label on a mattress mean?
Don’t remove the law label or tag at the end of your mattress. This label serves as a means of identification to establish your right to the Limited Warranty.
What is implied warranty?
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING ANY OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, IMPOSED ON THE SALE OF THIS PRODUCT AND ITS PARTS UNDER STATE LAW, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND NO WARRANTIES APPLY AFTER THAT PERIOD. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
Does Ashley warranty cover replacement parts?
Under these Limited Warranties, Ashley’s exclusive obligation during the applicable warranty period is to repair or replace, at its option, upon examination by an authorized representative of Ashley, the applicable product or part not in conformity with these Limited Warranties. After 1 Year, the Power Foundation Frame and Power Foundation Mechanism and Electrical Components Limited Warranties cover replacement parts only. REFUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. If within the warranty period, identical materials are unavailable at the time of repair or replacement, Ashley reserves the right to substitute materials of equal or better quality.#N#In addition, during the period of any applicable Labor Coverage, Ashley will pay reasonable and customary labor rates to repair or replace the defective parts (at Ashley’s option) and shipping costs from the retailer to and from Ashley, at no charge to the original purchaser. After the expiration of the Labor Coverage or for all products or parts not covered by Labor Coverage, the original purchaser will be responsible for labor, packing, and all shipping and transportation costs.
Is there a warranty on Ashley furniture?
NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY HAS BEEN MADE OR WILL BE MADE ON BEHALF OF ASHLEY WITH RESPECT TO THE FURNITURE AND ITS PARTS, OR THE OPERATION, REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT OF THE FURNITURE AND ITS PARTS . FURTHERMORE, NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ASHLEY OR ITS DISTRIBUTORS OR RETAILERS IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THESE LIMITED WARRANTIES.
Can Ashley replace an unattached cushion?
For Unattached Cushions with a material manufacturing defect, Ashley will replace the defective Unattached Cushion provided that the original retail purchaser during the warranty period (i) complies with the Claim Procedure set forth in these Limited Warranties and (ii) if requested by Ashley, returns the defective cushion core contained within an Unattached Cushion to Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc., Attn: Director of Quality, One Ashley Way, Arcadia, WI 54612. The remedy specified in this paragraph is Ashley’s sole liability related to Unattached Cushions.
Is there a warranty on Ashley?
NO OTHER EXPRESS WARRANTY HAS BEEN MADE OR WILL BE MADE ON BEHALF OF ASHLEY WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT AND ITS PARTS, OR THE OPERATION, REPAIR, OR REPLACEMENT THEREOF. FURTHERMORE, NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ASHLEY OR ITS DISTRIBUTORS OR RETAILERS IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THESE LIMITED WARRANTIES.
What is DuraBlend fabric?
DuraBlend is said to be a ‘smart fabric’ that can make old furniture look as good as new. It is said to be woven with a special ‘teeth’ pattern. As such, it claims to improve wear and tear of furniture that already exists, while adding a fresh new look that better suits the surrounding furniture.
Is DuraBlend furniture made of wool?
Furthermore, Ashley claims that DuraBlend furniture is made using ‘natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, rather than synthetic fibres, which can contribute to environmental damage’. Both of these claims are certainly true, yet they do not answer the question of why Ashley Furniture sold its own product, rather than licensing its manufacture to a third party. This question is best answered by taking a look at the products manufactured by Ashley:
Does Ashley sell flaking furniture?
None of these brands manufacture any ‘realistic’ leather products. None of these companies produce anything that could remotely be considered ‘durable’ or ‘lasting’. None of these companies sell their own ‘realistic’ flaking furniture, but rather sell ‘fancy dress’ or ‘flakable’ flaking furniture which they license the manufacturer of.
Is there a class action lawsuit against Ashley furniture?
But the original ‘Fendi’ fakes did not carry a Class Action Certification with them, nor was there any requirement that such furniture had to be covered by a Class Action Lawsuit. Therefore, this would apply to the ‘Danish’ line of Ashley furniture as well. As with the Mulberry lawsuit Ashley did not provide any evidence of any damage being caused to consumers purchasing ‘Danish’ styled Ashley’s. The original Ashley’s lawsuit against Mulberry was not brought on the basis of a Class Action Lawsuit, but on the basis of breach of express warranties, misappropriation of trade secrets and other such claims.
Does Ashley have a warranty?
Once a product is more than a year old, Ashley states that its manufacturer's warranty is void and, in turn, Guardsmansays that, even though they are the extended warranty, manufacturer's defects are not covered. So Ashley gets to sell shoddy products. Guardsmangets to sell a worthless policy and the customer is left holding the bag, even though the extended “bumper-to-bumper” warranty, specifically includes damage from pets and pet fluids and mentions nothing about manufacturer's defects. Plus, the salespeople at Ashley emphasize that buying the extended coverage takes the worry out of having leather furniture.
Is Ashley leather thicker than leather?
Its leather is twice as thick as the leather on an Ashley couch. Once a product is more than a year old, Ashley states that its manufacturer's warranty is void and, in turn, Guardsman says that, even though they are the extended warranty, manufacturer's defects are not covered. So Ashley gets to sell shoddy products.
Is Ashley Guardsman a scam?
The Ashley-Guardsman Scam. Here is the scam as we see it. Ashley makes inferior products, at least with respect to their leather furniture. Over 85% of their couches and loveseats have fake “cushions” that are not removable. They look like cushions, but to save manufacturing costs, they are part of the body of the couch, ...
Does Ashley Furniture have a warranty?
DO NOT PURCHASE!!!a warranty from Ashley furniture. Ashley furniture has horrible warranty services that won’t even honor your warranty after you purchased it. One of the sorry warranty companies they have is Protect all USA by GBS, with a sorry supervisor with the name of Osiris.
When did Durablend stop selling?
Magner said when his locally owned stores started seeing issues with Durablend in 2014, they stopped selling it. As customers like Femia come forward, they look first to the manufacturer to make it right.
When did Femia buy his loveseat?
Femia loved his loveseat and recliner when he purchased them from Ashley Home Store in 2012.