More than 2000 complaints indicate Beaumont-based retailer sold defective productsfailed to fulfill warranty obligations
HOUSTON - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged Conns Inc. with failing to honor product warranties misleading customers about the nature of its products false advertising and other violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the states enforcement action -- and information contained in more than 2000 customer complaints -- the defendant unlawfully relied on aggressive and deceptive sales tactics to increase its extended service warranty sales for consumer appliances electronics and other products.
The defendants are charged with using high-pressure sales tactics to deceive customers about their extended service warranties" Attorney General Abbott said. Texas law contains important protections to prevent vendors from misleading customers about their goods and services. Todays enforcement action reflects a concerted effort to ensure the defendant is held accountable for violating the law.
Conns brochures obtained by state investigators claimed that the replacement warranties protected purchasers for a two full years from the date they purchased the product." However customers did not actually receive two-year warranties. In fact the replacement warranty agreements stated that they did not apply to any period covered by the manufacturers warranty which typically covered one year after purchase. Thus the two-year extended warranty does not begin at the time of purchase as represented by Conns.
Further in the event a product had to be replaced the replacement was not covered by the warranty. Thus if a replacement product failed within the two-year period it was not covered despite the defendants promise to provide replacement coverage for a full two years."
The states enforcement action indicates that Conns failed to provide customers with a copy of the warranty agreement at the time of sale. As a result purchasers were not adequately informed about exclusions limitations cancellation penalties and other provisions governing their warranty agreements.
Court documents indicate that at the time of sale Conns sales personnel told warranty purchasers that replacement products would be new unused" items. However the actual terms of the warranty contract provide that the replacement products could be refurbished" or rebuilt" rather than the new items customers were promised by Conns salesmen.
In an effort to increase warranty sales Conns instructed sales personnel to rely on high-pressure tactics to overcome objections" voiced by customers who declined to purchase extended warranties. A Conns sales manual obtained by state investigators which was marked not to be distributed to customers" said salesmen should create a sense of urgency" and make customers live the service call… this is done by painting a picture in the customers sic mind calling up that sickly feeling we all get in the pit of our stomachs when something goes wrong." The sales manual also provided a series of scripted responses to customer objections and reminds salesmen that selling more warranties would maximize" their personal incomes.
Todays enforcement action also charges Conns with failing to fulfill its warranty obligations. According to customer complaints obtained by the Office of the Attorney General Conns delayed repair appointments for weeks or even months failed to repair the item to working condition ignored calls and ultimately refused to give refunds or replace the defective products. Instead customers received refurbished goods not new products as promised.
Depending on the product the extended warranties cost anywhere from $100 to $1000. The commissions from the sale of these warranties accounted for about 5 percent of Conns $900 million in annual sales revenue.
The states enforcement action seeks civil penalties and a court order prohibiting the Beaumont-based defendant from continuing its unlawful conduct. Conns is a major consumer products and electronics retailer with locations throughout Texas Louisiana and Oklahoma. It is publicly traded on the NASDAQ. The Office of the Attorney General has received more than 2000 complaints about Conns conduct.
The Attorney General seeks civil penalties of up to $20000 per violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act as well as a $250000 penalty if the defendants conduct financially harmed persons aged 65 or older.
