Wilson Federer Tennis Racket Class Action Lawsuit
By Mike Holter
Wilson Sporting Goods tricked consumers into buying expensive tennis racket models by falsely claiming top-ranked tennis pro Roger Federer uses them in competition, according to a proposed class action lawsuit filed Friday.
Plaintiff Sari M. Andelson alleges in the class action lawsuit that she bought a Wilson Factor Six racket, which sells for over $100, based on false advertisements that Federer used the racket during competition, when in truth he uses a discontinued older model that is much less expensive.
“(A)s part of its deceptive scheme, Wilson expressly represents to consumers in its press releases and other marketing materials that Federer uses the later Federer Tennis Racket,” the class action lawsuit states.
According to the complaint, Wilson Sporting Goods falsely claimed that Federer used its Six.One Tour BLX racket when he won the 2010 Stockholm Open and Wilson’s Pro Staff Six.One 90 racket when he won a Grand Slam event.
This is all allegedly done to induce consumers into replacing their current rackets with new ones under the guise that it’ll improve their game.
“To trick consumers into purchasing the new, more expensive Federer tennis racket, Wilson has entered into an endorsement deal with Roger Federer, through which Wilson provides Federer with his preferred older-model racket — which has been painted to look like Wilson’s latest Federer tennis racket,” according to the complaint. “This occurs year after year. Accordingly, when people see Federer play — in person, on television, or in photographs — they see him using an old-model racket that is disguised to look like the latest Federer tennis racket.”
Andelson says she and other consumers would not have purchased their Wilson tennis rackets if they had known Federer doesn’t use them on the court.
She is seeking restitution, damages and more for alleged false advertising, fraud, unfair competition and other charges.
The Wilson Tennis Racket Class Action Lawsuit case is Andelson v. Wilson Sporting Goods Company, Case No. 13-cv-01681, U.S. District Court, California Central District Court.
Updated March 12th, 2013
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15 thoughts onWilson Federer Tennis Racket Class Action Lawsuit
I am a 4.5 level player and selected the K6 One because it felt better than the Dunlop, Babalot and other rackets I tried. However, once you get tuned into the racket and the brand you do tend to progress to the next stick offered in the name of Roger Federer. You may buy just one ( I purchased a BLX) and realize it is doing more harm than good, but we do not always make rational decisions when our favorite personalities are involved. After all the hype, in 2014 I still play with my K6 One rackets.
It’s fraud plain and simple. They should get sued. So should the other companies. It’s NOT THE RACQUET THEY CLAIM IT IS. Yes there is the customization done, but it’s NOT THE SAME FRAME. The Ad is a LIE and FRAUD.
While I do agree that planting a pro player’s face on a racket and claiming tournament wins on the particular product is pretty misleading, what the hell are people buying rackets that pros use?
If you’re any good with tennis, you’d already know that you should NEVER buy a racket that pros use (you probably can’t anyway, since 99% of them are customized for each pro player).
And if you’re new to tennis, why would you use an advanced type of racket? Imagine a NTRP 1.0 player trying to play with the PS 6.1… that’s 200 bucks down the drain.
That aside, the disclaimers need to come out. It IS misleading.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS I’VE EVER SEEN. WHOEVER IS REPRESENTING THE PLAINTIFF SHOULD BE DISBARRED. DISGUSTING.
j/w what is the racket Fed actually used? How would this older racket be “better” for him than the newer model?