Razer must refund millions to buyers

Californian hardware manufacturer Razer is accused of misleading marketing. The focus is on the ‘Zephyr’ respirator masks that the company sold during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Image: Razer

These masks were mainly characterized by their crazy design. The mouthpiece was partially transparent and there was also eye-catching RGB lighting. The Pro version even had an integrated microphone and speaker so that the voice could be transmitted clearly to the outside world.

However, they must also protect the wearer. Razer repeatedly talked about having N95-level replaceable filters installed. However, these have never been officially tested. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), neither the full masks nor the filters have been submitted for review.

The FTC is now seeking damages from Razer. The company is supposed to refund the purchase price to all US buyers. Looking at the sales figures, that works out to about $1.1 million. There is also an additional $100,000 fine. The fine is intended to remind Razer not to make unsubstantiated health claims in the future.

“This company, in the middle of a global pandemic, falsely claimed that their face mask was equivalent to an N95-certified respirator,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will continue to hold accountable companies that make false and unsubstantiated claims that target consumers making decisions about their health and safety.”

Buyers outside the US should not expect a refund. Although the masks were also sold in this country, it was clear from the start that they did not have the FFP2 certification. So there was no misleading advertising here.

What: FTC

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