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:
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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
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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
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Email example contributed by DayngrGirl, 18 January 2007:
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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
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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.
At last viewing, the Discount-Mats.com home page had been replaced with a message saying the site was experiencing "technical difficulties."
Sources and further reading:
Email to Soldier Spurs Outrage
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 22 January 2007
Employee Fired for Email
TMJ4-TV News, 22 January 2007
Web Site Kicks Sand in Faces of GIs in Iraq Asking for Mats to Ease Hardship of Sleeping on Ground
Fox News, 23 January 2007
Wisconsin Firm's Email Seen by Some as Slur on Iraq Troops
Associated Press, 23 January 2007
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Last updated: 01/23/07
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