Business ProfileforCAPTAIN BERNESE PUPS HOME

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. These claims may come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints and competitor challenges. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers more clear to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements.

On 12/08/2022, BBB contacted the business regarding their advertised products on their website.  The BBB has asked the business to substantiate that they are currently a licensed pet seller and to provide documentation. In addition, BBB asked the business to substantiate that the testimonials and health Guarantee  as required by BBB’s Code of Advertising.

The business advertised the following product on their website:

“We breed AKC Bernese Puppies

with abundant personality, character, and body structure.”

https://www.captainbernesepups.com/product/antonio-male-mini-bernese/

“Antonio (Male Bernese)

Dog Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog

Name : Antonio (Male)

Age : 10 weeks old

Crate-Trained: Yes

Potty-Trained: Yes

Up To date on shots: Yes

Good with : children, seniors, dogs, cats, families

Temperament: gentle, friendly, playful, loyal

Other Traits : Easy to train, Good for first-time pet owners

Shipping Available : Yes

Price : $800”

Reservation Available: Yes

https://www.captainbernesepups.com/about/

”We offer over 17 years of Breeding experience.

We care about our puppies and insure quality breeders with the highest standards for your new puppy. Every breeder is federally licensed and in compliance with USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) laws. Every breeder is responsible and held accountable. Each and every puppy goes home with the best health guarantees, pet insurance, microchipping, AKC or AKC Partners registration as well as a complete take home package with training materials and take home essentials.”

https://www.captainbernesepups.com/health-shipping/

“Replacement Puppy Guarantee

Should the buyer qualify for a replacement puppy he or she will be given one of the same value  ( the same price and gender). Because replacement puppies must be the same gender and value buyer understands that they have to wait for such a puppy to be produced. “

pay/Neuter Contract

All of our puppies are placed with a Spay and Neuter Contract.  Sorry no exceptions.

Lifetime Home Guarantee:

Unfortunate and unplanned circumstances do occur in life and should you no longer be able to keep your puppy, the buyer agrees to immediately notify the breeder.  No dog will ever be placed in the humane society or rescue situation. Breeder will try to help you find a suitable home or may choose to take the dog back.  Buyer agrees to surrender all legal rights to the dog and sign over AKC papers to the breeder should this occur. Buyer understands there will be no refund of any money.  Breeders will find each of our puppies or adults a suitable prescreened home if necessary. Any money made of the placement of the dog in a suitable home will be applied toward the care of the dog while with us or toward the next puppy or adult dog who may need this service.”

https://www.captainbernesepups.com/#testimonials

” Happy Customers

They All Love Our Pups

Rory Fletcher / Denver. CO

hello ive had my baby only one week she is playful, smart and loves all strangers. in less than a week she changed to loving her crate which is now her safe zone. she's laying in one of her 3 beds eating organic spinach as I type this. ty Captain Bernese for Olivia. she has changed my life, wow these dogs are very unique and amazing .1 would recommend Captain Bernese to anyone who wants a healthy happy puppy !! ty again Captain Bernese Pups Home.”

The BBB Code of Advertising States:

1. Basic Principles of the Code

1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.

1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.

1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true.

1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact.

 

20. Warranties or Guarantees

20.1 When using the term “warranty” or “guarantee” in product advertising, the advertiser must clearly and conspicuously include a statement that the complete details of the warranty can be seen prior to sale at the advertiser's location, viewed on the advertiser’s website or, in the case of mail or telephone order sales, made available free on written request.

20.2 Advertisers should only use “satisfaction guarantee,” “money back guarantee,” “free trial offer,” or similar representations in advertising if the seller or manufacturer refunds the full purchase price of the advertised product or service at the consumer's request.

20.3 When “satisfaction guarantee” or similar representations are used in advertising, any material limitations or conditions that apply to the guarantee must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed.

20.4 When advertising “lifetime” warranties or guarantees or similar representations, the advertisement must clearly and conspicuously disclose its intended meaning of the term “lifetime.”

20.5 Sellers or manufacturers should advertise that a product or service is warranted or guaranteed only if the seller or manufacturer promptly and fully performs its obligations under the warranty or guarantee.

 

28. Objective Superlative Claims

Superlative statements in advertisements about the tangible qualities and performance values of a product or service are objective claims for which the advertiser must possess substantiation as they can be based upon accepted standards or tests. As statements of fact, such claims, like “#1 in new car sales in the city,” can be proved or disproved.

 

30. Testimonials and Endorsements

30.1 In general, advertising which uses testimonials or endorsements is likely to mislead or confuse if:

30.1.1 It is not genuine and does not actually represent the current opinion of the endorser;

30.1.2 The actual wording of the testimonial or endorsement has been altered in such a way as to change its overall meaning and impact;

30.1.3 It contains representations or statements which would be misleading if made directly by the advertiser;

30.1.4 While literally true, it creates deceptive implications;

30.1.5 The endorser has not been a bona fide user of the endorsed product or service at the time when the endorsement was given, where the advertiser represents that the endorser uses the product or service;

30.1.6 It is not clearly stated that the endorser, associated with some well-known and highly-regarded institution, is speaking only in a personal capacity, and not on behalf of such an institution, if such be the fact;

30.1.7 The advertising makes broad claims as to the endorsements or approval by indefinitely large or vague groups, for example, “the homeowners of America,” “the doctors of America;”

30.1.8 The endorser has a financial interest in the company whose product or service is endorsed and this is not made known in the advertisement;

30.1.9 An expert endorser does not possess the qualifications that give the endorser the expertise represented in the advertisement;

30.1.10 The advertiser represents, directly or by implication, that the endorser is an “actual consumer” when such is not the case and the advertisement fails to clearly and conspicuously disclose that fact;

30.1.11 A consumer’s experience represented in an advertisement is not the typical experience of those using the product or service, unless the advertisement clearly and conspicuously discloses what the expected results will be;

30.1.12 Endorsements placed by advertisers in online blogs or on other third-party websites do not clearly and conspicuously disclose the connection to the advertiser and comply with each of the provisions in this Code; and

30.1.13 Advertisers compensate consumers for leaving feedback on third-party online blogs or websites but fail to ensure that consumers disclose such facts on those blogs or websites.

In the U.S., advertisers should consult the Federal Trade Commission Guides on Testimonials and Endorsements for detailed guidance. In Canada, advertisers should review the Competition Bureau’s publication on Untrue, Misleading or Unauthorized Use of Tests and Testimonials for specific guidance.

As of 12/27/2022, business has not responded to BBB emails or substantiated claims.