Sleeping mat company refuses to sell to soldiers

[CrAz3D]

It might be old news, but an American company http://www.discount-mats.com/ is refusing to send sleeping mats to our soldiers in Iraq.

I have already used the contact now button to send my thoughts.

It even made Snopes as being true:http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/apo.asp
I bet this hits the O'Reilly factor soon...there has already been enough online stir to force the Discount Mat site to close (whether from traffic or by their own choice, I do not know)

[chuck]

Heh...

Discount-Mats.com is Experiencing Technical Difficulties...

If you are inquiring about your order, please contact us via phone or email.

Thank you for your understanding & patience.

I see no contact button though...

[CrAz3D]

Courtesy of waybackmachine

Bargain Suppliers
3259 S.106th Street
West Allis, WI 53227

contact@discount-mats.com

Phone:  414-736-8394

Jerks :mad:

...from another site I visit

[Newby]

What motherfuckers.

[CrAz3D]

Here's further contact information from the domain's whois info:

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 Fax --

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

more info

[Towelie]

That could've been an email from some asshole who is now fired. But if that is what the company believes, fuck them.

[iago]

Oh my God they have a political opinion that's different from yours!  Let's get all pissed off!


Who the hell cares?  The guy in Iraq can get his mat from elsewhere, and life is good. 

[trust]

Oh my God they have a political opinion that's different from yours!  Let's get all pissed off!


Who the hell cares?  The guy in Iraq can get his mat from elsewhere, and life is good. 

Before I even went to read your reply I knew this is what you were going to say. The fact is these men in Iraq volunteered to defend this country, either directly or indirectly. This company is disrespecting the very means that allows them to freely trade their goods and live happy and free lives. They are a disgrace. It's not relevant if they have a differing opinion of the war, the fact is they are disrespecting a United States soldier.

[Towelie]

Oh my God they have a political opinion that's different from yours!  Let's get all pissed off!


Who the hell cares?  The guy in Iraq can get his mat from elsewhere, and life is good. 

I don't care about their political opinion. I just don't like the basis on which they refused to provide service to them.

[iago]

So?  Is there a law against having a political opinion? 

Last time I checked, people aren't under any obligation to support your government.  Isn't that part of "freedom"?  Or do you only subscribe to the parts of "freedom" that suit you?

Perhaps we should call Orwell's Thought Police to sort this out. 

[CrAz3D]

isnt it freedom for the rest of us to voice our opinions to them, be it by mail, email, mass internet uproar, or what have you?

[iago]

isnt it freedom for the rest of us to voice our opinions to them, be it by mail, email, mass internet uproar, or what have you?

Yes, you're absolutely free to annoy people.  Just as I'm free to think that anybody who does so should get a life. 

[Newby]

Oh my God they have a political opinion that's different from yours!  Let's get all pissed off!


Who the hell cares?  The guy in Iraq can get his mat from elsewhere, and life is good. 

Why are they insulting the soldiers? The soldiers chose to go there you ignorant fool. Political opinion is no legitimate reason to refuse service.

They're going to lose business from the soldiers because of their political opinion. So, those reacting like us (you know, decent Americans) are going to make them lose even more business so that they go under for refusing service to the soldiers.

Freedom.

[CrAz3D]

Oh my God they have a political opinion that's different from yours!  Let's get all pissed off!


Who the hell cares?  The guy in Iraq can get his mat from elsewhere, and life is good. 

Why are they insulting the soldiers? The soldiers chose to go there you ignorant fool. Political opinion is no legitimate reason to refuse service.

They're going to lose business from the soldiers because of their political opinion. So, those reacting like us (you know, decent Americans) are going to make them lose even more business so that they go under for refusing service to the soldiers.

Freedom.

I think it is legitimate, but maybe "widely accepted" makes more sense.  They can refuse service to whomever, they can also lose all of their business & fold, MUWAHAHAHA!

[Joe]

Before I even went to read your reply I knew this is what you were going to say. The fact is these men in Iraq volunteered to defend this country, either directly or indirectly. This company is disrespecting the very means that allows them to freely trade their goods and live happy and free lives. They are a disgrace. It's not relevant if they have a differing opinion of the war, the fact is they are disrespecting a United States soldier.

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

isnt it freedom for the rest of us to voice our opinions to them, be it by mail, email, mass internet uproar, or what have you?

AFAIK Canada doesn't recognize the American constitution in governing it's internet services, and even if it did recognize American laws and whatnot, iago could still say you're tresspassing his property (not necessarily land) by using these forums for posting things like this -- which I have no objection to personally, but he could.

[Newby]

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

You're a moron. If you join the military and don't realize you're going to go on active duty for your country, you truly are a moron.

[CrAz3D]

Before I even went to read your reply I knew this is what you were going to say. The fact is these men in Iraq volunteered to defend this country, either directly or indirectly. This company is disrespecting the very means that allows them to freely trade their goods and live happy and free lives. They are a disgrace. It's not relevant if they have a differing opinion of the war, the fact is they are disrespecting a United States soldier.

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

I agree with Newby you ignorant fuck.
To get the GI Bill I *think* you only need to serve 4 years active duty.  So basically, most of our military should be done and out now?  What about the older people who keep in? 
As far as good benefits?  Yeah, why shouldn't they get it for putting their lives on the line for people like you?  They could've done other things...they chose not to, and it isnt because they're stupid, there are many highly educated people in the armed services.

isnt it freedom for the rest of us to voice our opinions to them, be it by mail, email, mass internet uproar, or what have you?

AFAIK Canada doesn't recognize the American constitution in governing it's internet services, and even if it did recognize American laws and whatnot, iago could still say you're tresspassing his property (not necessarily land) by using these forums for posting things like this -- which I have no objection to personally, but he could.

you cant trespass on the internet dumbass 
If you're going to try to attack me please don't make yourself look so stupid, it makes me laugh entirely too hard.

[trust]

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

Regardless of if they were trying to take advantage of the government or not, every person that signs up knows that military conflict is a possibility in that line of work and knows the consequences of that. So, yes, they volunteered for this.

@iago: The company has the right to refuse them business like you said, but it's in very poor taste - especially the way they responded. In the end the company will lose massive amounts of business due to horrible PR and it will go under. The soldiers still get their mats, so the world is good.

[iago]

@iago: The company has the right to refuse them business like you said, but it's in very poor taste - especially the way they responded. In the end the company will lose massive amounts of business due to horrible PR and it will go under. The soldiers still get their mats, so the world is good.

You're right, it's in poor taste, but that's up to them. 

I don't know if they'll lose business for this, though -- there's an old saying "there's no such thing as 'bad publicity'", which basically means that, because of this, there are going to be a lot of people who've heard of this company who wouldn't have otherwise.  They may anger a lot of people, but at the same time they're getting a TON of free publicity. 

[Krazed]

They're dirtbags, end of story. You refuse to sell products to those that are protecting your very country? Get the fuck out of the country then.

[Joe]

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

Regardless of if they were trying to take advantage of the government or not, every person that signs up knows that military conflict is a possibility in that line of work and knows the consequences of that. So, yes, they volunteered for this.

@iago: The company has the right to refuse them business like you said, but it's in very poor taste - especially the way they responded. In the end the company will lose massive amounts of business due to horrible PR and it will go under. The soldiers still get their mats, so the world is good.

Yeah, but how high of a chance? Back in 2000 they probably said "We haven't fought a war since Vietnam (or was Korea later? oh well), it'll hold for another few years".

[AntiVirus]

Eh... So much name calling.  Grow up people.  Learn how to express your views without calling people names.

I believe that it is the companies right to do this, but I disagree with the reasoning.  I think they should pull their heads out of their ass and help out people who are trying to defend the country and freedoms that they are taking advantage of.  They only have this right because of the way our government is ran.  Without the freedoms we have today, they wouldn't be able to do this.  And as such, if they like these freedoms, they should support the troops that are defending these freedoms.

[CrAz3D]

Yeah, but how high of a chance? Back in 2000 they probably said "We haven't fought a war since Vietnam (or was Korea later? oh well), it'll hold for another few years".

...*sigh*

There was the hostage crisis in Iran, stuff in Lebanon, Persian Gulf, Somalia, Yugoslavia, and Iraq (under Clinton)...possibly more...that's just what I found really quick.
Those were all military conflicts.

[trust]

I don't know if they'll lose business for this, though -- there's an old saying "there's no such thing as 'bad publicity'", which basically means that, because of this, there are going to be a lot of people who've heard of this company who wouldn't have otherwise.  They may anger a lot of people, but at the same time they're getting a TON of free publicity. 

There's also another old saying. "Stores are in business to make money, and if you've got money..they want your business."

Any self respecting American will boycot this company.

Yeah, but how high of a chance? Back in 2000 they probably said "We haven't fought a war since Vietnam (or was Korea later? oh well), it'll hold for another few years".

Except for, you know, the Gulf War.

[rabbit]

That's not how the millitary gets its soldiers. Yeah, you're definately right for a few percent -- a few of them are going to risk their lives for their countries, but when the US isn't at war (five years ago or so), a high school graduate looks for career options but realizes he's broke and still wants to go to college. So, what do you do? Free military training and paid-for college, plus once you retire you get a check every month for the rest of your life allowing you an early retirement.. k, sounds good. And later, war, but you're in the military. As I said, a few joined to defend their country to the death, but I doubt anyone joined in 2000 saying "Osama bin Laden is going to bomb us next year and I'm going to kick his ass."

Regardless of if they were trying to take advantage of the government or not, every person that signs up knows that military conflict is a possibility in that line of work and knows the consequences of that. So, yes, they volunteered for this.

@iago: The company has the right to refuse them business like you said, but it's in very poor taste - especially the way they responded. In the end the company will lose massive amounts of business due to horrible PR and it will go under. The soldiers still get their mats, so the world is good.

Yeah, but how high of a chance? Back in 2000 they probably said "We haven't fought a war since Vietnam (or was Korea later? oh well), it'll hold for another few years".

Korea was 60-62, Vietnam was 60-something to 75, and you're completely forgetting the First Iraq War (aka Desert Storm).