personal property which is ... normally used for personal, family, or household purposes.” Id. § 2301(1). Therefore, “[i]n order for the Act to apply, there must be the sale of a consumer product.” Kemp v. Pfizer, 835 F.Supp. 1015, 1024 (E.D.Mich. 1993).
The Federal Trade Commission has promulgated guidelines giving examples of “consumer products” that fit the MMWA’s definition and application. The examples include “boats, photographic film and chemicals, clothing, appliances, jewelry, furniture, typewriters, motor homes, automobiles, mobile homes, vehicle parts and accessories, stereos, carpeting, small aircraft, toys, and food.” Magnusom-Moss Warranty Act: Implementation and Enforcement Policy, 40 Fed.Reg. 25,721, 25,-722 (1975). The legislative history of the MMWA lists similar examples of consumer products: “washing machines and dryers, freezers, ranges, refrigerators, water heaters, bed coverings, blenders, broilers, can openers, coffee makers, corn poppers, floor polishers, frypans, hair dryers, irons, toasters, vacuum cleaners, waffle and sandwich grills, air conditioners, fans, radios, televisions, and tape recorders.” H.R.Rep. No. 1107, 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 4, reprinted in 1974 U.S.C.C.A.N. 7702, 7705-06. In contrast, neither the services performed by the College Board, nor the physical products (the SAT examination booklet, answer sheet, and score report) can properly be construed as “tangible personal property ... normally used for personal, family, or household purposes,” to which the MMWA is typically directed. Accordingly, the Court dismisses count thirteen of the amended complaint.
5. New York consumer protection statutes
In count fifteen of the amended complaint, Plaintiffs have alleged that the College Board violated Section 349(a) of the New York General Business Law, commonly known as the New York Consumer Protection Act. That statute prohibits “[deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any business, trade or commerce or in the furnishing of any service.” N.Y. Gen. Bus. L. § 349(a) (McKinney 2005). Defendants move to dismiss this count on the ground that the complaint does not contain sufficient particularity and that the statute does not apply to the facts alleged here for various reasons, including that the events arose in the course of a contract.
The Court makes three initial observations concerning the New York Consumer Protection Act. Notably, the Act may not require any intent to deceive, although a finding of intentional deception opens the door to treble damages up to $1,000. Oswego Laborers’ Local 214 Pension Fund v. Marine Midland Bank, 85 N.Y.2d 20, 623 N.Y.S.2d 529, 647 N.E.2d 741, 745 (1995); but see Eastern Am. Trio Prod., Inc. v. Tang Elec. Corp., 97 F.Supp.2d 395, 423 (S.D.N.Y.2000) (“Section 349 is a consumer protection statute, and requires a finding of intentional deception of consumers in order for plaintiff to prevail.”). Second, the fact that an alleged deceptive practice arises out of contractual relationships probably does not, by itself, take the practice out of the ambit of the statute. However, the statute does not appear to have been intended to turn a simple breach of contract into a tort, and several decisions of the New York state appellate courts have held as much. See, e.g., Hassett v. N.Y. Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 302 A.D.2d 886, 753 N.Y.S.2d 788, 789 (N.Y.App.Div.2003); Graham v. Eagle Distrib. Co., 224 A.D.2d 921, 637 N.Y.S.2d 583, 584 (N.Y.App.Div.1996); Teller v. Bill Hayes, Ltd., 213 A.D.2d 141, 630 N.Y.S.2d 769, 774 (N.Y.App.Div.1995). Third, the parties disagree about whether the statute is subject to general or heightened specificity pleading requirements but agree that