Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.
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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
155 thoughts onNew Ashley Furniture Class Action Filed Over Quality of DuraBlend
I purchased three Ashley movie theater chairs through HH Gregg in Florida. The chairs had peeled so bad. I had black pieces throughout my home for years. Embarrassed when family and friends came to visit. Neither Ashley nor HH Gregg stood behind the product. I purchased a lot of furniture through Ashley. I have not purchased a thing from them since. I have informed all of my clients of this and they have all stopped shopping at both stores. Glad HH Gregg is out of business now!! Ashley would have been smart to fess up and issue credit. I have since purchased from another furniture store and plan to never step foot in Ashleys until something is done about this. There are several other stores to purchase from. Do your homework as many carry Ashley in their stores. I finally put my chairs out curbside. I was embarrassed at that also wondering if my neighbors would think I was a slob. What I should have done was put a big sign out with them. “I PURCHASED THESE AT ASHLEYS”……..Sad we where all taken for all that money! D
Purchased 4 recliner loveseats manufactured by Ashley Furniture and sold by Sunshine Furniture in Tulsa, OK. They started peeling within a two year period. Both Sunshine and Ashley refuse to correct the issue. Anyone in the State of Oklahoma want to go in with me and get a lawyer to sue both companies for their false advertising???? They are still peddaling this crap to unsuspecting customers.
Appears Ashley pedals this crap everywhere. The life of the furniture is 3 years. Oklahoma law protects the manufacturer by allowing them to impose limited warranty of 1 year even though it is obvious the material is not fit for basic furniture. The false representation is clearly present, their name Dura Blend promises Durabilty, a wholesale misrepresentation. The Ashley stores inTulsa are owned by Mathis Furniture, aka “The Furniture Sharks”
I already threw one sofa out. Still have one we don’t use. I guess it’s the only way to use it.
We have the same issue with our 3 couches purchased at Ashley Furniture in Henderson, Nevada. Peeling and flaking off for the last year or so. At first I thought something must have got on the one we use the most but two others little used are doing the same. It’s a mess. It’s embarrassing when I have friends over. These pieces all have the electric recliner mode and we were given leather cleaner and polish when we bought them. I think they knew beforehand that those products were not needed as the faux leather was going to peel and literally disentegrate.
We purchased two sofa #2010138 March 2, 2016 have writing American furniture were we got them for a year. One sofa head section is faking and peeling very bad. We purchased the insurance but they said only covers accidents not bad material. It is a asley durablend product
Hang tough folks.
I filed a claim in 03/18 about my DuraBlend falling off the furniture I purchased.
Pictures of the damage were texted & I was assigned a Claim#.
Long story, numerous calls and follow-up later, I am happy to report Ashley Furniture in agreement w/Montague have given me a store credit (totally acceptable to me).
Using my ‘in-store credit this weekend.
Be patient, yet diligent.
Great news for you! I had hoped to join as a plaintiff in an ongoing case but do you recommend I start my own? I have a large couch, loveseat and recliner all in horrible condition peeling all over my floor and clothes. Thanks for any advice.
What exactly do I do to get the same type of reimbursement
What did you do to start the process?
Who did you file your claim with? I have the same issue. Just not sure if the “credit”would outweigh the legal expenses
We purchased two sofas at Ashley furniture and are having the same problem. These two sofas were barely used because we bought them for looks not for use and they are flaking and peeling without barely being used. I am talking a maximum of 5 times each! This is disgusting as to why this suit was dismissed when so many consumers purchased these pieces of furniture under false pretenses on the part of Ashley Furniture and their false advertising! This is so wrong. We have not purchased anything since and advise others to not buy anything either. This is not right for consumers to not get anything in return for their false advertising and false pretenses. This is a crime to say the least.
Yes, I sent pictures of my furniture that was peeling to Ashley and they said they would give me a discount on some other furniture at the store.
I just hit 5 years with my sofa and loveseat, recliner. It is peeling all over the place. So frustrating. Does anyone know where this suit is currently oh the docket?
This particular case was dismissed. You can contact class counsel with your questions. Counsel is listed at the bottom of the article and can be Googled for contact information.
Bought the sofa & loveseat in 2012. Started peeling off in 2015. Unfortunately the store I bought it from and complained to has closed now. Have all original receipts. Hoping that the company is rightfully punished for this false advertisement & poor quality product.