Update:
- An Illinois federal judge approved Bob’s Discount Furniture’s request to arbitrate class action claims saying it failed to honor “Goof Proof” warranty coverages sold to customers as a way to protect against accidental damage.
- On Aug. 19, U.S. District Judge Gary Feinerman ruled in agreement with the furniture retailer that the plaintiff’s claims fall within the scope of the arbitration clause laid out in the sales agreement he signed when he bought a reclining chair.
- Bob’s is accused of failing to honor its “Goof Proof” warranty coverage by consumer Robert Potthoff, who argues that the recliner he purchased broke due to an alleged manufacturing defect.
- The furniture retailer claims the recliner broke on account of normal wear and tear and is therefore not eligible to be repaired or replaced under its “Goof Proof” warranty.
Bob’s Discount Furniture Goof Proof claims class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Robert Potthoff filed a class action lawsuit against Bob’s Discount Furniture, LLC.
- Why: Potthoff claims Bob’s sold a couch with a recliner that was not as high of a quality as what was represented and then declined to accept warranty claims that should have fallen within an acceptable window.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.
(April 06, 2022)
Bob’s Discount Furniture misled consumers about the quality of a couch with a reclining chair it sold and then failed to honor extended warranty claims when it prematurely broke, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Robert Potthoff claims Bob’s “Goof Proof” service contracts don’t actually help protect consumers’ who purchased a WalkerLAF PWRC/ARLS REC/CSL/RAF PW CHS reclining chair since damage that occurs earlier than what was originally represented is considered “normal wear and tear.”
Potthoff says he purchased a WalkerLAF PWRC/ARLS REC/CSL/RAF PW CHS for $1,999 in March 2020 along with a Goof Proof warranty for $299, which he says is advertised as being able to “protect your investment from a wide variety of accidents for 5 years.”
Despite purchasing Good Proof, Potthoff claims Bob’s declined to honor his warranty claim after he says the recliner broke as he was getting out of it within two years of him purchasing it.
Potthoff argues the damage to the recliner was not anything that was caused by its “intended use” but rather because the product was poorly manufactured.
“The springs, which cause the chair to recline and return to its upright position, were defectively designed with bends too close to their edges, causing them to prematurely fail after less than two years,” the class action lawsuit states.
Bob’s Discount Furniture Recliner Breaking Was ‘Unexpected,’ ‘Unintended’ Event
Further, Potthoff claims that the breakdown of his recliner within two years was a “fortuitous, unexpected and unintended event not consistent with the intended use of the item.”
Potthoff argues consumers rely on companies to be honest about a product’s components, attributes and features and that the value of the recliner was “materially less” than what had been represented.
“Defendant sold more of the Product and at higher prices than it would have in the absence of this misconduct, resulting in additional profits at the expense of consumers,” the class action lawsuit states.
Potthoff claims Bob’s is guilty of unjust enrichment, fraud, breach of contract and negligent representation and in violation of multiple state consumer fraud acts, the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
Potthoff wants to represent an Illinois class and multistate subclass of consumers who purchased a WalkerLAF PWRC/ARLS REC/CSL/RAF PW CHS from Bob’s. He is demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief along with monetary, statutory and/or punitive damages for himself and all class members.
Bob’s faced a similar class action lawsuit last year over allegations it denies Goof Proof warranty claims over “the most basic of goofs.”
Have you purchased furniture from Bob’s Discount Furniture? Let us know in the comments!
The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C.
The Bob’s Discount Furniture Goof Proof Claims Class Action Lawsuit is Potthoff v. Bob’s Discount Furniture, LLC, Case No. 1:22-cv-01722, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
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44 thoughts onBob’s Discount Furniture class action sent to arbitration
I bought a sectional sofa back on 2021, but I came to realize after a year that they used plywood to built the sofa. It also has a lot of staples on the side of the seats that are coming out. Things fall on the open sides as normal but it isnvery dangerous to just put your hand through. I forgot today about and It puncture my skin close to a vein. It was bleeding bad..it stop. There is also a big piece in the other part of another piece that it comes out. I tried to hammer it down but nothing work. I might have to rip the fabric to remove the staples. It is horrible that they will sell something like this without thinking on how it could affect someone in the future. Never again buying anything from them.
All their furniture are not a good quality at all. I have stools that I bought that the screws were coming off. I had to fix it myself with wood glue to stop from coming out. The same thing with my dining table and their chairs. Since we bought it and I did buy their insurance, it has a limit. I do feel that they took advantage in all their furniture’s.
Made a claim with their insurence and it is a complete scam. Bought a sectional from them and had an accidental damage to the chase reclining and they claimed that it was normal wear and tear. Chase is 2 years old now. The back part snapped from my son reclining it to close to the wall. I’d say that’s an accident (smh). They pretty much label almost everything wear and tear and have no reasoning and can’t dispute their decision. I have all the receipts of purchase. If someone can help I would greatly appreciate it.
I purchased goof proof from them on new york
Bob’s Discount Furniture had me sign up for Fortiva Credit who financed me for $1000 to purchase a bed frame and mattress. They
delivered it and set it up. After they left I realized the mattress was not the one I purchased and 4 of the 12 bed frame slats were completely broken (and could NOT have been missed by the delivery guys!) I called Bob’s and they said I could do a “reselection” and they came and got the furniture and told me to pick out something else, so I did. Long story short, they picked up the furniture and never gave me the “reselection” and then said they never picked up the furniture. I HAVE THEM ON SECURITY CAMERA FROM MY APT BUILDING PICKING IT UP! So I sent it to them THREE Times and they said they would refund my money. But they did not and now they are KILLING my credit, I have NO bed, I owe $1100 to Fortiva, and no recourse. I HAVE TONS OF DOCUMENTS, INVOICES, RETURN INVOICES, CREDITS, ETC…
I would like someone to get in contact with me i filled bout the paperwork checked the box off to get a check why was i sent credit at Bobs Furniture I think that someone needs to check the paperwork I sent in and correct the mistake thank you so kindly
I purchased a full Sofa/Loveseat/Recliner set in July of 2023 and by November of 2023 the resilience of the stuffing went flat, including what doesn’t get used. Guardian nor Bobs store will help even after I explained that while online with chat, they stated that there has been an issue with this particular set and the foam resilience yet they continue to sell it and the warranty which is crap. I want my money back.
I purchased an oversized chair that power reclines and the sofa that power reclines in January 2020. I purchased the good proof for 199$ and put in a claim because the couch has a rip on the side where the controls are and the usb mechanism is not working I was denied a claim and did everything online and sent in pictures They never even sent in a technician to look at it and decided it wasn’t covered
Hello I purchased a recliner in 2019 and purchased the additional warranty and was denied repairs.
I bought a sofa 2020 I purchased the goof proof coverage because I was pregnant and had a 7 year old child so accidents happen so I thought it was a no brainer to get extra protection. So when the sofas springs broke I filed a claim and was denied.
I bought a sofa from Bob’s, started having problems with it I called them and explained the problem ,they sent a consultant to my home to check on my sofa who explained that nothing was wrong with it according to Bob’s standards. I then called and visited the store to state the problems with the store manager Eric at the Vernon Hills location. He stated that he needed to speak with someone else because he couldn’t make the decision and he would call me, he never did no one called never. I had to always call. Even when Goop denied my claim they didn’t called if I hadn’t called them I would not have known that my claim was denied. My sofa is broken it hard to get up once you sit on it (it feels like a ten year old sofa and I’am still making payments and I’ve only had it for a little over a year) This business should not be in business. Especially with the way it treats customers.
Can you please add me to your lawsuit with bob furniture class action lawsuit I purchase a recliner last April 2022 with Goof proof covered for Five year, My chair stop working on May 19,2023 call I talk to someone in customer service to see if someone will get back to me. No One never did the chair started back up. On June 16,2023 some Staplers fell out I called customer service back to put in a new claim
they send someone out on June 27,2023 . remind you, my chair was working with the repair man came he did not fix the staples. I fill out. He also broke the chair more now chair doesn’t move. I called them 6 Min after he left. now I have to put in a new claim it be two months going on three and wait for them to get back to me.
Customer #10662298 Purchase 03/15/2022 but it wasn’t delivered until April 2023. Order #17451115