in Newswire Published on October 27, 2022

Hot Tools Professional Warranties Illegally Prohibit Third-Party Repairs, Class Action Claims

Rowland v. Helen of Troy Ltd.

Filed: October 24, 2022 ◆§ 1:22-cv-00327-CB

A class action alleges Hot Tools Professional illegally leads consumers to believe that they will lose their product warranties if they seek third-party repairs.

Defendant(s)

Helen of Troy Ltd.

Law(s)

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

State(s)

Pennsylvania

A proposed class action alleges Hot Tools Professional illegally leads consumers to believe that they will lose their grooming and beauty product warranties if they seek third-party repairs.

According to the 16-page suit, the hair appliance retailer has run afoul of the federal Magnuson-Moss Act’s “Anti-Tying Rule,” which prohibits a warrantor from conditioning the validity of a warranty on the use of only authorized repair services.

More specifically, the plaintiff, a Pennsylvania consumer, claims that in July 2022, they bought a Hot Tools 24K Gold One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer with a warranty that excludes coverage for damages “resulting from alteration, accident, misuse, abuse, attempts at repair or the use of unauthorized attachments,” or from “tampering, such as repair or attempted repair by an unauthorized party.”

The filing argues that Hot Tools’ alleged misconduct stifles competition by allowing the company to maintain a “monopolistic grasp” on repair services since many consumers “won’t attempt even simple, inexpensive” third-party repairs if they think it will void a product’s warranty. An anticompetitive marketplace harms consumers by driving up repair costs and increasing repair wait times, the suit contests.

The lawsuit looks to cover anyone in Pennsylvania who purchased a product subject to Hot Tools Professional’s warranty within the last three years.

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