National Advertising Division Recommends Renpho Modify or Discontinue Strikethrough Price and “Limited-Time” Deal Claims for its Smart Body Scale
New York, NY – September 29, 2025 -- Following a challenge brought by Etekcity Corporation, BBB National Programs National Advertising Division recommended that Renpho US discontinue or modify certain strikethrough price and “limited-time” deal claims for its Elis 1 Smart Scale for Body Weight.
Etekcity and Renpho each sell small home appliances and compete directly against one another in the smart bodyweight scale marketplace.
At issue for the National Advertising Division (NAD) was Renpho’s display of strikethrough prices and “limited-time” deals on its online product pages for its Elis 1 Smart Scale, and whether the advertised “list” prices were artificially inflated such that they mislead consumers. NAD also considered whether Renpho’s “limited-time” deals were actually limited.
While NAD precedent allows an advertiser to choose the object of comparison in a strikethrough price if material information is clearly communicated, “list” prices must not be outlier prices. When an item is discounted, or marked down from a “regular” price, an advertiser must demonstrate that the regular price is a bona fide price rather than one artificially inflated to produce dramatic markdowns that exaggerate the value of the sale and savings.
NAD found no evidence that either an appreciable number of sales were made by Renpho at the strikethrough price or that the price had been offered for a significant amount of time in the recent, regular course of business, nor any evidence that the “limited-time” deal was genuinely limited.
Accordingly, NAD found Renpho’s strikethrough price claims and limited-time deal claims were not supported and recommended that Renpho discontinue or modify these claims such that any “list” or strikethrough price reflects a price at which an appreciable number of sales have been made or that the “list” or strikethrough price is otherwise a bona fide price that has been offered for a significant amount of time in the recent, regular course of business.
NAD additionally recommended that the claim “Limited Time Deal $19.99 $34.99” be discontinued or modified to ensure any limited-time deal is genuinely limited and that a reasonable amount of time passes before similar claims are made again.
In its advertiser statement, Renpho stated that it “agrees to comply with NAD’s recommendations.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.
Etekcity and Renpho each sell small home appliances and compete directly against one another in the smart bodyweight scale marketplace.
At issue for the National Advertising Division (NAD) was Renpho’s display of strikethrough prices and “limited-time” deals on its online product pages for its Elis 1 Smart Scale, and whether the advertised “list” prices were artificially inflated such that they mislead consumers. NAD also considered whether Renpho’s “limited-time” deals were actually limited.
While NAD precedent allows an advertiser to choose the object of comparison in a strikethrough price if material information is clearly communicated, “list” prices must not be outlier prices. When an item is discounted, or marked down from a “regular” price, an advertiser must demonstrate that the regular price is a bona fide price rather than one artificially inflated to produce dramatic markdowns that exaggerate the value of the sale and savings.
NAD found no evidence that either an appreciable number of sales were made by Renpho at the strikethrough price or that the price had been offered for a significant amount of time in the recent, regular course of business, nor any evidence that the “limited-time” deal was genuinely limited.
Accordingly, NAD found Renpho’s strikethrough price claims and limited-time deal claims were not supported and recommended that Renpho discontinue or modify these claims such that any “list” or strikethrough price reflects a price at which an appreciable number of sales have been made or that the “list” or strikethrough price is otherwise a bona fide price that has been offered for a significant amount of time in the recent, regular course of business.
NAD additionally recommended that the claim “Limited Time Deal $19.99 $34.99” be discontinued or modified to ensure any limited-time deal is genuinely limited and that a reasonable amount of time passes before similar claims are made again.
In its advertiser statement, Renpho stated that it “agrees to comply with NAD’s recommendations.”
All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.