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Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. has been hit with another class action alleging the company’s DuraBlend upholstery is not fit for ordinary use.
Lead plaintiff Alex Isaac filed a class action lawsuit against the home furnishings company as well as Bargain Discount Markets Inc. alleging that DuraBlend is marketed as a durable leather product; however, DuraBlend furniture is not durable and is prone to peeling and disintegrating.
“Ashley and BD marketed DuraBlend upholstery as durable blended leather,” alleges the Ashley Furniture class action lawsuit. “Indeed, its name is a combination of the words durable and blended, supporting a reasonable consumer’s belief that the DuraBlend upholstery is both durable, and of similar quality, strength, and durability of leather.”
Isaac claims Ashley Furniture began marketing DuraBlend in 2008 as a leather substitute, with the same quality, strength and durability. The plaintiff says that he purchased a DuraBlend sectional sofa for about $1,100 in 2012 based on this marketing.
Contrary to Ashley’s marketing claims, the upholstery on the plaintiff’s sofa began to peel and disintegrate with normal use starting in 2015, alleges the class action lawsuit. The plaintiff says that he contacted Ashley about the disintegration of the DuraBlend sofa, but the store refused to issue a full refund.
This is the second class action to hit Ashley Furniture over DuraBlend. In November of last year, a plaintiff in Florida alleged Ashley “falsely, deceptively or misleadingly promoted, marketed, advertised, and sold furniture with DuraBlend.”
According to the class action complaint, “Ashley provided, disseminated, marketed, advertised or otherwise distributed false, deceptive or misleading information about the true nature, quality, or durability of the DuraBlend upholstery; and failed to disclose material information, or made material misrepresentations about, DuraBlend upholstery in connection with its promotion, marketing, advertising, and sale of that product.”
Ashley sold a variety of DuraBlend furniture, including sofas, loveseats, sections, and ottomans, says the plaintiff. These were marketed as “blended leather products,” alleges the complaint. The lawsuit includes a picture of the plaintiff’s cracked and peeling sectional sofa. Isaac alleges that he and other consumers would not have purchased or paid a much lower price for their DuraBlend furniture if they had known it was prone to peeling and disintegrating under normal use.
The plaintiff in the most recent class action seeks to represent a Class of Massachusetts residents who purchased DuraBlend furniture from Ashley Furniture. The plaintiff alleges that the company violated Massachusetts advertising law.
“Here, Defendants [sic] represented that furniture with DuraBlend upholstery sold to Mr. Isaac and other members of the class had characteristics that it does not have and that it was of a particular standard, quality, or grade, when in fact [it] was of lesser standard, quality, and grade,” alleges the Ashley Furniture class action lawsuit.
Isaac is represented by Josh Gardner and Nicholas J. Rosenberg of Gardner & Rosenberg PC.
The Ashley Furniture DuraBlend False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit is Alex Isaac v. Ashley Furniture Industries Inc. and Bargain Discount Markets Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-11827, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
UPDATE: The Ashley Furniture DuraBlend False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on October 27, 2017. Top Class Actions will let our viewers know if a new complaint is filed.
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155 thoughts onNew Ashley Furniture Class Action Filed Over Quality of DuraBlend
Can Indiana residents take part in this?
This particular lawsuit includes Massachusetts residents at this time. Please keep checking Top Class Actions for updates. We will let our viewers know if the class is expanded to nationwide!
Please keep us posted. I am in Mobile al and I was told blended leather too. I even asked about it peeling. They said no way. I can provide receipts and pictures. Thanks.
Is there a class action suit in IL? I have the same issue.
Can you advise if any class action suit in IL for this issue? I have the exact same thing gong on.
Hoping for one in North Carolina and Virginia.
Exact same thing happened to me
I also purchased a sofa and loveseat from Ashley Furniture in Anchorage Alaska, August 2013. The cracking and peeling is extremely frustrating. We had also purchased the guardsman 5year protection plan, and of course it does not cover manufacturer quality issues, which falls under cracking and peeling of leather…
We bought our Durablend 2 Pc Sectional 2670055/2670056 on 1/10/2013 from Ashley furniture – North Brunswick, NJ. We are an adult non-smoking family. We take great care of our home and furnishings. We first noticed wear – turn to peeling – on a cushion in early 2016. We took pictures and filed a warranty claim, since we purchased the “awesome” warranty plan… The insult was the response from the warranty company (which I believe is located in someone’s basement) Montage Furniture Services Claim ES1614507. MFS informed me in writing that the warranty would not cover “cracked or peeling material” but would cover damage caused by a puncture! Are you kidding me?? Shame on the retailer…
we had the same issue with our sofa and love seat here in NJ. I complained to the company also called the warranty plan that told me if the dog scratched it or if the kids put a knife though it, it would be covered and that my couches were almost 5 years old what should I expect. Absolutely terrible customer service. They definitely mislead many, many people. This should be a world class action suit.
Is Kansas going to be included in this lawsuit? I made the mistake of buying a sofa and loveseat and it is now an embarrassing peeling mess.
Are Kentucky residents eligible to file with this class auction lawsuit?
When is Oklahoma going to take on this company. I purchased 4 theater loungers that started peeling after 2 years now all all peeling. Purchased from Sunshine Furniture, called them 3 times and they said nothing could be done. No repair kits, ect.
Certainly wish they would turn this into a nationwide class action. We bought a full sectional (in California) that ran around $1700. Started “peeling” within 2 years, eventually becoming an ugly mess on the sectional back and armrests. Finally had enough, gave it to a homeless shelter and bought a new sectional (but NOT from Ashley!!).
I bought a sectional in 2011 from Ashley Furniture. They gave me the run around and later stated if I didn’t have the receipt they couldn’t fix it. I spent over $2000 for this set. I bought it in the Ashley store through RAC (Rent-a-center). My record of purchase was in their computer with every payment. But because Ashley did not give the receipt personal… Ugh!
It started peeling 3 years later. I also told my sister to go to the store and she got the same sectional 6 months after me and her sectional started peeling 6months later due to higher use.
I sent a register letter requesting the President of Ashley last November 2016 to repair the problem and I am still waiting for a response. NOT ASKING FOR A REFUND… JUST FIX THE MESS!
I have lost respect for this business that sells merchandise and not stand behind their OWN PRODUCTS!
I welcome the class action suit and I hope they decide to make things RIGHT! Been a year now and not holding my breath on this one! Shame on you guys for selling junk! And that salesperson who said this was “leather”… LIAR!
I bought Durablend Funiture in Illinois and it started peeling and flaking a year after I had it and they won’t do anything about it. Looks terrible embarrassing to have people over to sit on it. FRUSTRATED
Any updates Kathleen? I am in IL with the exact same issue.
I bought a sectional DuraBlend made by Ashely , at big lots that started peeling all over .I also bought 2 of the sratolounger recliners made by Ashely made of DuraBlend that did the same thing.They were just about a year old and they looked hideous.Had to buy all new furniture .Very bad material..
This was bought in N.C..