The Federal Trade Commission has sent refund checks worth $140,000 to more than 4,000 people who purchased falsely labeled products from these brands.
Consumers who purchased imported products from multiple New England clothing companies that were found to be incorrectly labeled as “Made in the USA” are receiving refunds.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced. to issue a refund 4,061 people who purchased misrepresented products from Chaucer Accessories, Bates Accessories and Bates Retail Group, all owned by Thomas Bates. The funds will be sent to the consumer by mailed check or PayPal, and the recipient must either cash the check within 90 days or redeem the PayPal payment within 30 days.
Fast forward to 2023, the F.T.C. took action against various companies Many of the products they sold, such as belts, bags, wallets, and shoes, were labeled as “Made in the USA” or “Handmade in the USA” even though they were “fully imported or incorporated significant imported components.” ” is displayed. According to the FTC, some of the belts were labeled as “Made in the USA by Global Materials,” even though they “consisted of belt straps imported from Taiwan and buckles installed in the United States.” .
F.T.C. ordered Mr. Bates and his company asked that they stop making false “Made in USA” claims and pay a money judgment, including a $191,418 fine.
we saluted before We applaud the FTC for stepping up its enforcement of Made in USA labeling requirements and continue to commend the FTC for its willingness to impose fines on companies found to be violating the rules. Consumers truly value American-made products – our recent exclusive poll with Morning Consult finds 77% of voters prefer to buy products made in AmericaEspecially during the holidays, people rely on accurate labels to help them make informed purchasing decisions.
Americans choose Made in America for a variety of reasons, whether they want to reinvest their money back into local businesses and communities, want high-quality, innovative products, or simply want to support companies that manufacture their products in the United States. We are evaluating USA. When importers falsely label products, they are trying to take advantage of the PR benefits that come with being Made in the USA without actually doing anything. That’s wrong, and the FTC is right to do something about it.
We continue to encourage the FTC to investigate and take action against deceptive Made in USA labels. In the meantime, you can take action on your holiday shopping by purchasing American-made products this holiday season. Please check 2024 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide To get an idea of where to start.
