FAILED ALERT
DOWNMARK® wants to help Canadian consumers choose genuine down and feather products with confidence. We find and test merchandise from anywhere in the world-wide marketplace. We educate consumers to products that have failed to meet labelling claims and / or have Ads that contain misleading product details. In addition, we strive to help consumers to be able to recognize accurate material claims, distinguish realistic quality statements of down and feather, and know key definitions.
Below you will find products that have been tested by an independent laboratory where the labs findings prove these products are not as represented. All test values are stated according to what would appear on a correct Canadian Law Tag and the tests are conducted using International Industry Standards of approved testing methods directed by the International Down and Feather Bureau (IDFB).
Below are also some commonly used statements and material claims used in actual product portrayals. As written item details, they are misleading in their labelling and / or advertising claims. These claims do not pass the code provisions published by Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) and the laws for Truth in Advertising enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
DUVETS
what is important to you?
DUE DILIGENCE:
In today’s marketplace, consumers are can purchase many products manufactured all around the world with a quick visit to a retailer or the click of a virtual button.
Meaning consumers have many choices, and therefore have the power to make an informed purchase decision or give in to a quick buy.
COMMON SENSE:
If a product is an alarmingly low price while claiming very high quality, something doesn’t add up.
Know about down
DEFINITIONS & PROPERTIES:
Terminology is important. The Down & Feather industry highly regulates it definitions so consumers can know exactly what they are reading about in product claims.
What is said in an ad can demystify and break down what you need to know to make a smart and lasting purchase.
DOWN CLUSTERS:
Down Clusters keep you warm. They circulate air around you. They are what you want in your product. They can be measured by accurate testing and given a Fill Power rating on a scale. This helps consumers find an equitable property to compare product options before buying.
Down Fiber is the byproduct of the cleaning process. It does not keep you warm and cannot be measured as a value.
amazon
Third Party Seller - No Product Brand
By Law, when “Feather” is listed first, that is what material will be the highest quantity of the fill inside
Described Online when you scroll down in the Ad :
Goose Feather and Down Duvet
The product law tag when purchased reads:
Waterfowl Feathers & Down
TESTED AS:
Duck Feather & Down Fibre
amazon
SOLD BY:
Third Party Seller - No Brand Name
TESTED AS:
16% Goose
83% Duck
Hotel collection
Private Label Product
Imported by and sold by The Bay
Marketing Insert states:
Species says it is solely Goose Down
TESTED AS:
A combination of Goose & Duck Down
The Labeling and Advertising laws in Canada state that if you claim a species of the down & feather, then it must have 90% of that species on the inside.
This product only has 74% Goose Down
advertised on a major .ca internet website
Advertised by a 3rd party seller, you just a store front name and consumers don’t see a company title or reference to know who manufactured the product or where it was made.
Sure the picture looks good -Also sounds like they know what they are talking about when they list the contents…
But the down & feather fill material they advertise under the features is NOT what you get when you buy this item!
Duck down is still a good and valid down fill material. However composition being advertised as 75% Goose down and 25% Goose feather is a grossly false representation.
This product was mostly duck down & feathers.
C & W Goose Down Comforter
Sold on Amazon
SOLD AS:
White Goose Down
Mentioning a high fill power
and a large ounce count of net fill
TESTED AS:
Down Fiber
which is not Down… but broken pieces
Down Fiber has no warmth value to it
PILLOWS
firm or soft?
STRUCTURE :
Single, Dual, Triple Chambers are all descriptors which tell you how the pillow is made. Down Pillows are mostly single chamber. Down & Feather Pillows can be dual chamber, often with the Feathers in the inside chamber and the Down chamber around it. Learn what construction the pillow has and ask how this relates to the firmness of the pillow. Down & Feather materials are breathable and hypoallergenic.
OTHER MATERIALS :
Often non-natural materials such as polyester are added in the inner chamber in a pillow’s construction. These materials do not breath like natural materials.
AMAZON
What is claimed in a product Advertisement is what you should expect to receive. But is it what you get?
LAW TAG ON PRODUCT WHEN DELIVERED:
Feathers and Down
95% Goose Feathers 5% Goose Down
TESTED AS:
1% Down
89% Feathers - 10% Broken Feathers
Goose Species = 75%
(must be 90% of the species claimed)