Washington, Idaho get piece of Skechers settlement

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Rob McKenna says state residents shouldn’t be taking advice from Kim Kardashian, at least not about shoes that supposedly help build you up without a trip to the gym. The state got a piece of the settlement with Skechers shoe manufacturers for several models of “Shape Up” footwear that don’t deliver what Kardashian promises in the above ad. “Advertising materials claimed that consumers may ‘get in shape without setting foot in a gym’ even though there’s no good evidence to show the shoes work as advertised,” McKenna said in a press release. “Don’t cancel your gym membership. File these sketchy footwear claims under ‘too good to be true.’” Washington gets about $117,000 in the settlement, which will go for legal costs and education programs for health and fitness for women and girls. Idaho’s slice is $76,152. Consumers who bought Shape Ups, Tone Ups or Resistance Runners can apply for a partial refund by going to www.ftc.gov. A spokesman for McKenna’s office says the refund is about $20, because the shoes weren’t completely worthless. They still covered your feet, they just don’t work as advertised. In the meantime, Sketchers is prohibited from making unsubstantiated claims its shoes can help buyers shed pounds or beef up their back muscles. Skechers doesn’t admit wrongdoing, according to the agreement with 43 states and the Federal Trade Commission.