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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
Same problem as everyone else-had recliner right at a year and it started peeling! Local Ashley store said to call corporate, which I did but got no help there. Peeling, messy and very ugly now! I would never buy anything there again and I tell everyone not to buy there. Cheaply made and shoddy products but way over priced! Wish there was a class action lawsuit for everyone to join.
I bought two recliners had one that had to be replaced with new stuffing and skin after about two months when starting to peel. now both are peeling. and was told it was real leather. had to but recliner covers for both
I have the same complaints as everyone else but has anyone reported Ashley Furniture to BBB or received a refund?
I brought a couch loveseat and chair in a half after a year of having them it started peeling. I was told it was leather and for the price I paiid it should have bee real leather. Something needs to be done for the customers that was tricked into buying this furniture.
I bought a Durablend recliner in Dec 2017 so it’s roughly 15 months old and already split and peeling. I inquired at. Furniture Villa in Vulcan Alberta where I purchased it . By the respons I received, I will be left holding the bag!!! We will never buy anything there again.
SIMPLE…DONT BUY ASHLEYS CRAP ANYMORE…TELL EVERYONE
I bought the durablend in 2013 from Ashley and purchased their damage insurance. I was sold the furniture as leather even when I questioned them last year 2018 when it started peeling they continued to tell me it was leather. Only after arguing with them that leather doesn’t peel did they finally tell me it was a blended material. BTW the insurance does not cover repairs. I was questioning at length to try to find a way to repair it as it unfortunately was further damaged by my moving company when I moving in 2018. I spent a lot as I purchased 2 chairs, 2 love seats and 1 sofa all powered from them. I had 5 year interest free agreement and it was peeling before the loan was paid off. Not really looking for a replacement just tell me how to fix it or pay to fix it being I did buy insurance.
I PURCHASED A BARCLAY SLEIGH BED FROM ASHLEY IN NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK IN 2012-2013. I NOTICED WRINKLES, PUCKERING AND HOLES IN THE HEAD & FOOTBOARDS. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE PIECE, WHEREAS, I WAS INFORMED OF THE FURNITURE LASTING A LIFETIME, NOT 5 YEARS. I AM FLABBERGASTED AND REQUEST A RECOMPENSE/REPLACEMENT.
Bought couch and love seat in 2014 along with 5year warranty. live alone with no pets and after 4years and extensive peeling was told that this was normal wear by Ashley.
I am in the same boat..We bought the Ashley Durablend Recliner couch and loveseat in 2012 and it’s been a nightmare with all the peeling and constant cleaning we have to do..Hopefully Ashley is held accountable here and customers are rightfully reimbursed for this faulty piece of furniture.