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A recent class action lawsuit says Coleman ice coolers are deceptively marketed as being able to retain ice for promised periods of time.
Coleman sells various ice cooler products that are reportedly labeled with an amount of time that the products can keep ice, ranging from “1 Day” to “7 Days.” Unfortunately, according to a recent class action lawsuit from plaintiff Michael Zachmann, these representations are false and misleading.
Zachmann says he purchased a “5 Day Ice” cooler from his local Walmart within the last two years. Based on the advertisements on the products, Zachmann was allegedly led to believe his new Coleman ice cooler could keep ice for five days.
Despite these assurances, Zachmann says, he was disappointed when he found his product doesn’t perform as represented.
“Defendant has led Plaintiff and reasonable consumers to believe that the Products will retain ice for a certain period of time,” the Coleman ice cooler class action lawsuit contends. “In so doing, Defendant falsely represented that the Product will retain ice for the aforementioned period of time during normal use.”
Although some of the products have a disclaimer stating “Ice Storage at 90 degrees Fahrenheit,” Zachmann says this disclaimer is not always present. Even when the disclaimer is present, the font is reportedly very small and a lighter color, allegedly preventing consumers like Zachmann from seeing it during their initial purchase.
Zachmann contends the false representations on Coleman ice coolers had a material affect on his purchasing decision and swayed him to pay a premium price — between $20 and $200 — for the product.
“Had Plaintiff known the truth about the misrepresentations and omissions, he would not have purchased the Product. Instead, he may have purchased a competing product that is less expensive,” the Coleman ice cooler class action lawsuit alleges.
Other consumers have allegedly had a similar experience.
In fact, YouTube reviews have reportedly performed a “5 Day Ice Challenge” to assess the product’s ability to retain ice for the marketed time frame. In these tests, the 50-quart Coleman ice coolers are filled with ice. Unfortunately, some reviewers saw the ice melt after only four days.
Due to the numerous consumers affected by Coleman’s misleading marketing statements, Zachmann brings his claims on behalf of a proposed Class of consumers who purchased one or more Coleman ice cooler product with “1 Day” to “7 Day” ice-retention representations. He also seeks to represent a subclass of the same consumers who purchased the products in New York.
On behalf of himself and the proposed Class, Zachmann asks the Court to declare Coleman has violated the law with its conduct. The plaintiff also asks the court to provide injunctive relief that would require Coleman to change its packaging to be more accurate.
“Plaintiff cannot rely on the truthfulness of the Product in the future unless Defendant makes corrective changes,” the Coleman ice cooler class action lawsuit notes. “Plaintiff may consider future purchase if Defendant engages in corrective labeling and advertising.”
Zachmann also seeks monetary relief from Coleman, including statutory damages, compensatory damages, punitive damages, other monetary damages and equitable monetary relief, interest, court costs and attorneys’ fees.
Coleman is not the only company to face such claims.
Last month, a consumer filed a similar class action lawsuit against Igloo, challenging the company’s ice-retention claims.
Did you purchase a Coleman ice cooler? Do you think the product’s advertising was misleading? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Zachmann and the proposed Class are represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC, along with James Chung.
The Coleman Ice Cooler Class Action Lawsuit is Michael Zachmann, et al. v. The Coleman Co. Inc., Case No. 7:20-cv-09146, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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799 thoughts onColeman Coolers Don’t Retain Ice as Advertised, Class Action Lawsuit Says
I took bought a Coleman ice chest from Walmart says keeps ice for 5 days we went on a 14hr trip and not once opened the ice chest and within 9hrs we had to drain the water and put more ice in it cause all the ice we put in it had melted can I get in on this lawsuit