Athletic shoe company On sued over 'noisy and embarassing squeak' on popular sneakers
On, a Swiss athletic shoe company, is facing a class-action lawsuit due to a reported squeaking sound in its popular CloudTec sneakers.Summary
Athletic shoe company On is being sued in a class-action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Oregon over a defect causing a “loud, embarrassing and difficult to stop squeaking sound” in its CloudTec shoes. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s CloudTec design, featuring a unique sole with hexagonal, octangular, and ovular holes, creates friction between the rubbers, resulting in the squeak. Customers claim they were unaware of this issue before purchasing the shoes, which retail between $140 and $180, and that On has refused to compensate them or honor warranty claims.
The plaintiffs accuse On of “deceptive marketing,” arguing that a reasonable consumer wouldn’t buy the shoes if they knew each step would produce an audible squeak, and also allege violations of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act. The lawsuit names 11 different On shoe styles utilizing the CloudTec design, including the Cloud 5, Cloud 6, Cloudmonster, and Cloudsurfer.
Customers have reportedly attempted to fix the issue themselves through “significant DIY modifications” found on online forums like Reddit. The plaintiffs are seeking refunds and other damages related to the defective product and misleading advertising.
(Source：KING5.com)