5 Second Fix Class Action Says Adhesive Fails to Work as Advertised

Four consumers say the direct-marketed adhesive 5 Second Fix fails to perform as advertised and serves only to scam consumers.

Plaintiffs Robert Machel, Yolanda Santillan, Nasrullah Mohamedali and Randall Painter claim that 5 Second Fix, marketed as a fast-setting, super-strong adhesive, fails to work as advertised. They accuse defendant Ontel Products Corp. of bilking consumers by falsely advertising a defective product.

According to this 5 Second Fix class action lawsuit, New Jersey-based Ontel Products manufactures various products and direct-markets them through infomercials, proprietary websites, and both online and traditional retailers.

Plaintiffs say Ontel Products markets 5 Second Fix as “a premium and innovative alternative to traditional household glues and superglues.” According to the company’s 5 Second Fix website, the product can bond several kinds of materials including plastic, metal, wood and glass.

Ontel Products says the product only cures in ultraviolet light, giving the user time to position their repair before curing. Once it does cure, it supposedly creates an “everlasting bond” in five seconds. Advertising copy claims 5 Second Fix “[b]onds strong enough to pull a truck!”

The defendant additionally advertises that 5 Second Fix is flexible, sandable and paintable. The finished product is purportedly waterproof and can create a leak-stopping seal when used to fill cracks.

But according to the plaintiffs, 5 Second Fix fails to live up to these claims. Far from being able to serve as a high-strength adhesive, they say, 5 Second Fix is merely “an ineffective plastic compound” hyped up with marketing so that defendant Ontel Products can coax consumers into paying a premium for it.

Plaintiffs allude to hundreds of negative online product reviews of 5 Second Fix. More than half the reviews on Amazon give it only one or two out of five possible stars. They quote review after review in which consumers report that the product fails to adhere. Product reviews on the Walmart website show similar reports, the plaintiffs claim.

The plaintiffs also point out that consumers posted much less negative reviews for certain competitor products, suggesting that their trouble getting 5 Second Fix to work was not due to any failure to use it properly.

All four plaintiffs say they purchased 5 Second Fix either through the company’s website or at a physical retail store. Each made their purchase in their respective home states of Ohio, California, Texas and Tennessee.

They all allege the product “failed to form a durable and permanent bond” as advertised. Each plaintiff says they requested a refund, but Ontel Products ignored those requests.

The plaintiffs’ proposed Class would include all persons in the U.S. who purchased 5 Second Fix. They are asking the court for injunctive relief and an award of damages, court costs and attorneys’ fees.

The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Daniel R. Karon and Beau D. Hollowell of Karon LLC, and Bryan L. Clobes and Daniel O. Herrera of Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP.

The 5 Second Fix Defective Product Class Action Lawsuit is Robert Machel, et al. v. Ontel Products Corp., Case No. 4:16-cv-03095, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.