Business ProfileforPocket Puppies Boutique & Grooming

On 10/9/2023,  BBB contacted the business regarding their advertised products on their website. The BBB has asked the business to substantiate that they are currently in service and to provide documentation. The business was asked to substantiate and provide documentation regarding the pet sale Health Guarantee offered by the business. In addition, BBB asked the business to substantiate the testimonials  as required by BBB’s Code of Advertising.

The business advertised the following product on their website:

https://www.pocketpuppies.com/1Year%20Genetic%20Guarantee.htm

Upon taking your puppy to Animal Care Center you will receive a 1 YEAR Genetic Puppy Guarantee from Pocket Puppies Boutique. Plus a 30 day cold or cough guarantee

• Please provide details surrounding the health guarantee.

https://www.pocketpuppies.com/CUSTTEST.htm

Steven Tyler, lead singer for the band Aerosmith and American Idol judge, stops by Pocket Puppies to adopt two Pocket Puppies. A Yorkshire Terrier he named "Butch Cassidy"  and a Teacup Morkie he named "The Sundance Kid".  He talks about his Pocket Puppies in a recent TIME Magazine article. READ STEVEN TYLER INTERVIEW HERE.

•  Please provide proof that these are real customers.

The BBB Code of Advertising States:

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.

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.