Web Retailer's Rude Reply to U.S. Soldier in Iraq

[darrels joy]

http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar...count_mats.htm
Web Retailer's Rude Reply to U.S. Soldier in Iraq
Netlore Archive: Forwarded email shows rude response sent by online retailer Discount-Mats.com in answer to a product inquiry from an American soldier stationed in Iraq

Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: January 2007
Status: True
Analysis: See below


Email example contributed by Mark, 22 January 2007:

A soldier based in Iraq got this response when inquiring as to whether or not the company ships overseas. He wanted to get the troops better gear to sleep on.

To Whom it may concern:

Do you ship to APO addresses?

I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.

SGT Hess

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: contact@discount-mats.com

[mailto:contact@discount-mats.com]

Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 9:44 PM

Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com

SGT Hess,

We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq.

If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.

Bargain Suppliers

Discount-Mats.com



Email example contributed by DayngrGirl, 18 January 2007:

PLEASE READ AND REPOST
LET THIS COMPANY KNOW THAT THEY ARE F****D !!!
LET'S GET THOUSANDS OF E-MAILS TO THEM !!!!!!

Write this company and let them know that what they have done is just plain WRONG.

Please pass this along.

Registrant:
Faisal Khetani
PO Box 270693
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53227
United States

Registered through: Teknon Domains
Domain Name: DISCOUNT-MATS.COM
Created on: 23-Mar-05
Expires on: 23-Mar-08
Last Updated on: 03-Mar-06

Administrative Contact:
Khetani, Faisal sportsfitness@gmail.com
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, Wisconsin 53227
United States
(414) 543-9634

Technical Contact:
Khetani, Faisal sportsfitness@gmail.com
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, Wisconsin 53227
United States
(414) 543-9634

this is a wisconson based company

Below is an email exchange between a friend of mine's husband and a company that sells different types of mats. He is stationed in Iraq and was inquiring as to whether or not the company ships overseas. He wanted to get the troops better gear to sleep on. This is the companies response. I am floored. I am floored as a military wife and as an American. Please repost this so that this company will hear us loud and clear that we do not stand for this. Whatever your view is on this war - these troops are just following orders. Most are passionate about what they are doing. You can disagree with the war without disrespecting our troops.

From: contact@discount-mats.com [mailto:contact@discount-mats.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 9:44 PM

Subject: Re: Feedback: from discount-mats.com

SGT Hess,

We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.

Bargain Suppliers
Discount-Mats.com

On Tue Jan 16 3:25 , contact@discount-mats.com sent:

To Whom it may concern:

Do you ship to APO addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for who ships to APO first.

SGT Hess



Comments: Not a hoax. The email exchange occurred exactly as you see it above. In response to an inquiry from U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Hess, currently stationed in Taji, Iraq, an employee of the West Allis, Wisconsin-based mattress company Discount-Mats.com not only stated that the company would never ship merchandise to Iraq, but advised Hess and his fellow GIs to "pull out."

The company's owner, 23-year-old Faisal Khetani, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, told news sources the message does not express the views of Discount-Mats.com and the employee who wrote it has been fired. According to another company official, the Khetani family has been deluged with "angry and vulgar" phone calls and emails in the wake of the incident.
_________________________________________________
http://discount-mats.com/
Dear Visitor,

Due to the recent actions of a member within our company, we have been experiencing many difficulties. We have been bombarded by emails and phone calls literally within 12 hours of the event occurring, which sent us in a state of complete shock.

Our technical difficulties were experienced due to severe e-mail and phone call overload.

As a company, we would like to say that it is against company policy to treat anyone disrespectfully, and we condemn any such behavior. The member who was responsible for stating their personal opinion in a disrespectful manner is no longer associated and no longer working with Discount-Mats.com

The members within our company strongly disagreed with the views and actions of this member, and once again, his personal opinion does not reflect the opinions of the company.

We, as a company, are sorry for the events that took place and we do not condone un-professional, rude behavior from any members within our company.

We are trying to get our website back up as soon as possible.

If you are a potential or current customer, or if you would like to leave your comments, please contact us via phone or e-mail below:

New E-mail Address: support @ discount-mats.com

Phone Number: 414-736-8394

We are getting a lot of phone calls and we expect many emails, so please don't be surprised if the mailbox is full. Please try again later as we are constantly trying to clear our phone and e-mail boxes.
_________________________________________________
http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110009583
Unwelcome Mats
Dan Delbert, a Milwaukee radio host, is raising questions about the Discount-Mats.com story, which we noted yesterday (ellipsis in original):

All of the research I have done shows this to be a one or maybe two man operation. A search of the workers compensation database shows no company by that name listed. That means either they don't pay out over $500 a year to employees, or. . . they have no employees. I very much doubt the assertion that someone has been fired. The rest of the media has just accepted this story and moved on. I have placed calls today to both Faisal Khetani and Sajid Nasir (the person listed in the article as the vice-president of the company) and have yet to get a phone call back.
_________________________________________________

Bottom Line - Be careful who you give money to on the internet.
Joy

[39mto39g]

1/2 the people in the United States don't want us in Iraq. so chances are pretty good any time you tell an employee of any company, that your stationed in Iraq your going to get this reaction. People have the right to there opinion on any subject, except the guy should have never said what he did while representing the company, and the company doesn't take his view of Iraq.
I think I would ask the question why would these soldiers think that this guy was the voice of the company? It would seem they are trying to get attention. And then I would ask who "Netlore Archive" is, and what is there agenda.
I think the thing is a lot to do about nothing.

Ron

[SuperScout]

" ... a lot to do about nothing ..." ? A rather small approach, but the response also shows the power of the power that an economic boycott and an electronic deluge can cause. Chances are that the "fired-employee" was just reflecting the owner's viewpoint, and said former employee just ended up as the Judas goat. I say continue to bombard the company with emails and phone calls, and show them that at least some of us Americans don't appreciate their attitude. Certainly people are entitled to their opinion, but they are also entitled to the response that said opinion causes.

My bi-weekly care package to our warrior son and his troops is due to be mailed next week. Dired venison sausage, beef jerky, homemade brownies, Handi-Wipes, and other assorted goodies. Adopt a soldier, and send him/her a care package.

[b3196]

This person is the voice of the company.
He's using company resources
Responding on Company time.
A hired representative of the company
He is the company, and the company should be held accountable for his actions.
Thanks Joy.....E-mails will be sent
Bob K

[b3196]

Update
It appears that the other half of the people who support the war and our troops brought this company to its knees. If you try the number all you get is a voice mail and Mail box for email is full with a disclaimer as to what is going on...... Phucking Awesome
bOOger

[SuperScout]

May their server be clooged until Wednesday, and after that, may the fleas of every mangy Syrian camels infest their private parts. We shown some folks that Strong, Army Strong, is a phrase that can work in wondrous ways!

[Packo]

They have fired nobody. Looks like only two Pakistani Rag Heads own and work there. It was nice that they came to this country, worked hard, opened a business, then threw it all away because they are asshole Muslims. As Popeye would say....ack, ack, ack, ack! What they don't get, and like about 50% of our stupid population also don't get, is those 1st Cav Troopers would lay down their lives to protect them and keep them safe from harm. This country is being taken over by the truely stupid and ungreatful.

Ron, I don't think for one minute that these soldiers are putting the word out on this for any type of fame. They are pissed and rightfully so.

Pack

[b3196]

Packo
I just read that part about trying to get attention.....If they were they sure got my attention but personally I don't think so. Yup these ragheads need to pack up their $hit and head back to Pakistan. Im sure there's a big market for mats over there. One for praying on and one for covering up their stupid dead asses. Yeah I'm pissed
bOOger

[39mto39g]

Ok
You guys are just jumping on each others band wagon.

The owner said the guy was fired. personally I don't believe that for a second.
The soldiers trying to get attention would not be a first. remember the Body armor and Rumsfield question.

The guy at the company said "We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq.
If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."

Whats the problem with that?

I guess I have a question about the GIs when they were looking to buy Mats? WTF. 1st cav guys looking for some mats? Maybe next they could send for a queen size bed and a Plasma TV.
Life should always be as good as you can make it , but to complain when you were trying to order some mats and some dumb ass said they didn't like you being in Iraq, Maybe you don't have enough to do. and the Hotel your living in should be a foxhole.

Everyone should support our troops,

but this is just a lot to do about NOTHING.

Ron

[melody1181]

I have heard about this on the news. I think they worded it as poorly as possible. Stupid mistake as they are now "reaping" the rewards of there actions.