The Bench Craft Company Lawsuit, a marketing and advertising company based in Portland, Oregon, has been involved in a number of lawsuits over the years. In this article, we will delve into the details of the most notable Bench Craft Company Lawsuit and explore the legal battle that ensued.
What is the Bench Craft Company Lawsuit?
Before we dive into the lawsuit, let’s first understand what the bench craft company lawsuit is and what they do.
The Bench Craft Company was founded in 1982 and specializes in creating and selling advertising space on golf course scorecards and other golf course-related materials. They also offer marketing and advertising services to businesses looking to reach a golfing audience.
The company has faced criticism and controversy over the years, with some accusing them of using deceptive sales tactics and failing to deliver on their promises. However, it wasn’t until 2015 that the Bench Craft Company was hit with a major lawsuit.
The Lawsuit
In 2015, the Bench Craft Company was sued by the state of Oregon for violating the state’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The lawsuit alleged that the company engaged in deceptive and unfair business practices, including making false claims and using high-pressure sales tactics.
The lawsuit was filed by the Oregon Department of Justice after receiving numerous complaints from businesses who had purchased advertising space from the bench craft company lawsuit. These businesses claimed that they were promised a certain number of impressions and leads, but did not see the promised results.
False Claims and High-Pressure Sales Tactics
According to the lawsuit, the Bench Craft Company made false claims about the effectiveness of their advertising services. They allegedly told businesses that their ads would be seen by thousands of golfers and would result in a high number of leads and sales.
However, the state of Oregon found that the company did not have any reliable data to support these claims. In fact, the lawsuit alleged that the company’s own data showed that the ads were not as effective as they claimed.
In addition, the lawsuit accused the bench craft company lawsuit of using high-pressure sales tactics to convince businesses to purchase their advertising services. This included making false statements about the limited availability of ad space and pressuring businesses to sign contracts on the spot.
Settlement and Outcome
In 2017, the bench craft company lawsuit settled the lawsuit with the state of Oregon for $175,000. As part of the settlement, the company was required to change their business practices and provide refunds to businesses who were dissatisfied with their advertising services.
In addition, the company was required to pay $25,000 to the state for consumer education and enforcement of the settlement terms. The Bench Craft Company also agreed to a permanent injunction, which prohibits them from engaging in the same deceptive and unfair business practices in the future.
Other Legal Troubles
The 2015 lawsuit was not the only legal trouble the Bench Craft Company has faced. In 2013, the company was sued by the state of Washington for similar violations of the state’s Consumer Protection Act.
The lawsuit alleged that the company made false claims about the effectiveness of their advertising services and used high-pressure sales tactics to convince businesses to purchase their services. The Bench Craft Company settled the lawsuit for $50,000 and agreed to change their business practices.
In addition, the Bench Craft Company has faced numerous lawsuits from individual businesses who were dissatisfied with their advertising services. These lawsuits have alleged breach of contract, fraud, and other violations.
The Impact of the Bench Craft Company Lawsuits
The lawsuits against the Bench Craft Company have had a significant impact on the company’s reputation and business practices. In addition to the financial penalties and changes to their business practices, the company has also faced negative publicity and a loss of trust from potential customers.
Changes to Business Practices
As part of the settlements with the states of Oregon and Washington, the Bench Craft Company was required to make changes to their business practices. This includes providing more accurate data and information to potential customers, as well as refraining from using high-pressure sales tactics.
In addition, the company is now required to provide refunds to dissatisfied customers, which was not a standard practice before the lawsuits.
Negative Publicity and Loss of Trust
The lawsuits and negative publicity surrounding the Bench Craft Company Lawsuit have had a significant impact on their reputation. Potential customers may be hesitant to do business with the company, and the lawsuits have raised questions about the effectiveness of their advertising services.
In addition, the lawsuits have damaged the company’s credibility and trustworthiness, making it more difficult for them to attract new customers.
Conclusion
The Bench Craft Company has faced a number of legal battles over the years, with the most notable being the 2015 lawsuit filed by the state of Oregon. The company has been accused of using deceptive sales tactics and making false claims about the effectiveness of their advertising services.
While the company has settled the lawsuits and made changes to their business practices, the impact of these legal troubles on their reputation and trustworthiness remains to be seen. As always, it is important for businesses to thoroughly research and consider all options before making any significant investments in advertising or marketing services.
