Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T14:40:12Z

RMCHammer: clarified a sentence about potential for unjust situations

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this summary is a example of post-purchase EULA (End User License Agreement) modification (colloquially referred to as "EULA roofieing"). It occurs when a business attempts to create or modify a contract after a sale on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, EULAs create the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. To illustrate the magnitude of risk posed by a clothing-related EULA, one can imagine a less responsible company accidentally including toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they can opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

==Incident of post-purchase EULA modification==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref> Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to being a post-purchase action, the customers were opted in via email and could not simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8

[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T14:27:04Z

RMCHammer: fixed typos, and included wording "Post-purchase EULA modfication"

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this summary is a example of Post-purchase EULA (End User License Agreement) modification (colloquially referred to as "EULA roofieing"). It occurs when a business attempts to create or modify a contract after a sale on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. To illustrate the magnitude of risk posed by a clothing-related EULA, one can imagine a less responsible company accidentally including toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they can opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

== Incident of Post-purchase EULA modification ==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref> Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to being a post-purchase action, the customers were opted in via email and could not simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8

[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T14:10:28Z

RMCHammer: wording of hypothetical mishap

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this summary is a example EULA roofieing, where one a business attempts to create a contract on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. To illustrate the magnitude of risk posed by a clothing-related EULA, one can imagine a less responsible company accidentally including toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

==Incident of EULA roofieing==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref> Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could not simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8

[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T14:01:50Z

RMCHammer:

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this summary is a example EULA roofieing, where one a business attempts to create a contract on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. To illustrate the magnitude of risk posed by a clothing-related EULA, one can imagine a less responsible company having inadvertently used toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

==Incident of EULA roofieing==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref> Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could not simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8

[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T13:52:29Z

RMCHammer: More editing

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this article is a example EULA roofieing, where one a business attempts to create a contract on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. To illustrate the magnitude of risk posed by a clothing-related EULA, one can imagine a less responsible company having inadvertently used toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

==Incident of EULA roofieing==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel,<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref> Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could not simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8
[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T13:43:16Z

RMCHammer: Edited introduction again

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this article is a example EULA roofieing, where one a business attempts to create a contract on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. A less responsible company might be found to have inadvertently used toxic dyes or coatings due to supply chain mishaps. In such a case they might avoid paying damages to the harmed consumers.

A feature of this example is the strategic use of asymmetry. The business delivered their opt-in in a inexpensive, unexpected, and casual nature. The consumer has to do absolutely nothing to opt-in, and they opt-in without reading it. Opting out is difficult, tedious and relatively expensive.

==Incident of EULA roofieing==
According to a viewer of the Rossman channel, Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8
[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T13:15:51Z

RMCHammer: Added introductory text

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of wool clothing. The incident described in this article is a example EULA roofieing, where one a business attempts to create a contract on the basis of no-response from customers. Often this is done as prudence for business interests. However, it creates the potential for unjust situations<ref>[[Disney wrongful-death lawsuit]]</ref>. Due to the unexpected, and casual nature that these terms are presented to the consumers, and the frequent difficulty in opt-ing out, these agreements. This is an example of one such agreement.

==Incident of EULA roofieing==
Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8
[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-26T12:46:12Z

RMCHammer: Removed repeated text, added categories

{{StubNotice}}

Smartwool is a brand of socks.

==Incident of EULA roofieing ==
Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|600px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

==References==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8
[[Category:EULA roofieing]]
[[Category:Legal Lockout]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-22T00:25:17Z

RMCHammer: Removed video from reference list and improved language.

Smartwool is a brand of socks.

==Incident of EULA entrapment==
Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out. According to the so-called "agreement," to opt out, a user must send a letter through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the type of mail that people typically use for a letter.<ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|939x939px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

== References ==
<references />Video associated with this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8

File:Vital Proteins container with terms under lid.png

2025-01-22T00:19:34Z

RMCHammer:

This is a screenshot of the Mastodon post reporting the incident

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-22T00:13:43Z

RMCHammer: Added refreneces

Smartwool is a brand of socks.

==Incident of EULA “roofie-ing”==
Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out. According to the so-called "agreement," to opt out, a user must send a letter through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the type of mail that people typically use for a letter. <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=670rwHz1WV8</ref><ref>https://www.smartwool.com/customer-service/terms-of-use.html</ref>

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|939x939px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

Smartwool adds forced arbitration to EULA

2025-01-22T00:10:22Z

RMCHammer: Created page

Smartwool is a brand of socks.

== Incident of EULA “roofie-ing” ==
Smartwool emailed a list of their account holders stating that they were opting them into forced arbitration, and to opt out, they must send a letter. through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the First Class mail that people typically use for mailing letters.

In addition to the typical loss of rights associated with arbitration, the customers were opted in via email and could simply reply to the email to opt out. According to the so-called "agreement," to opt out, a user must send a letter through USPS Priority Mail, which is not the type of mail that people typically use for a letter.

[[File:Screenshot from "Forced Arbitration On SOCKS! Purposely Difficult Opt Out Scam Explained".png|thumb|939x939px|Text from the EULA as it appeared.]]

File:Smartwool EULA arbitration opt-out.png

2025-01-22T00:06:29Z

RMCHammer:

This is the text from the EULA as it appeared.