Reebok has agreed to refund as much as $25 million to customers who bought its toning shoes after a federal agency said the company's ads about the shoes are deceptive.
The sexy ads feature women touting how effective the shoes are. Reebok claims in the ads that the shoe's sole mimics walking on a balance ball, giving muscles a better workout. In one YouTube video, an ad said the shoes tone a woman's buttocks and legs up to 28 percent more than regular toners.
The Federal Trade Commission said Reebok can't prove the 28 percent additional toning boast.
On its website, Adidas, which owns Reebok, said it stands behind its claims in the ads, but said it agreed to the settlement to avoid a lengthy court battle.
One local woman told Channel 2 Action News that her shoes didnt help her "get fit faster" as the ads claimed.
"I expected within a couple of weeks I would feel something. I would feel my legs tighter. I would feel my rear end tighter, and I didn't," former personal trainer JaNiece Wilson said.
Wilson said she wears her shoes on the job at Grady Hospital. She said the advertising influenced her decision to buy the shoes.
"That's why I bought them," Wilson told Channel 2 Action News.
A variety of companies advertise toning shoes, including New Balance, Skechers, Ryka and Avia. The shoes range in price from $12 to nearly $300.
