Insult After GI's Request

[Christina]

GIs in Iraq Get Their Mats After Enduring Insult From Web-Based CompanyWednesday, January 24, 2007All he asked of a Web-based mattress company was to send mats so he and his fellow GIs wouldn't have to sleep on the cold, bug-invested ground of one of the harshest posts in Iraq.What he got, instead, was an insult, a slur aimed at every American soldier enduring the hardships of duty."I was appalled at the response," Sgt. Jason Hess told FOX News in an email received Tuesday afternoon from Iraq a day after his story was told. "A simple response would have been, I'm sorry but we do not ship overseas."Hess, part of the 1st Cavalry Divison, is stationed in Taji, a former Republican Guard stronghold, and one of the toughest outposts in Iraq.Last week, Hess emailed Discount-Mats.com to ask if he could purchase mats so he and his unit did not have to endure the constant assault from sand mites, sand flies and other disease carriers that inhabit the ground.In his email, dated Jan. 16, 2007, he asked the company, registered to Faisal Khetani, an American Muslim of Pakistani descent:"Do you ship to APO (military) addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for ships to APO first."On the same day, Hess received this reply:"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 SuppliersDiscount-Mats.com"Discount-Mats.com is run out of Khetani's home in West Allis, Wis. In a telephone interview Tuesday with FOX News, Khetani said he had fired the employee who sent the email, a claim that FOX News has not been able to confirm. He also said he has received thousands of phone calls to his home and business from people protesting the email exchange.Hess said that he has since found two mat suppliers who shipped to an APO address in Iraq.Meanwhile, FOX News has received thousands of emails asking how to donate mats and other items to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.Rob Timmons, an Iraq veteran and a veteran outreach coordinator, recommended the following Web sites:http://www.iava.orgwww.army.milFOX News' Douglas Kennedy contributed to this story.

 

[tomwebster]

(kriss;6631)
GIs in Iraq Get Their Mats After Enduring Insult From Web-Based CompanyWednesday, January 24, 2007All he asked of a Web-based mattress company was to send mats so he and his fellow GIs wouldn't have to sleep on the cold, bug-invested ground of one of the harshest posts in Iraq.What he got, instead, was an insult, a slur aimed at every American soldier enduring the hardships of duty."I was appalled at the response," Sgt. Jason Hess told FOX News in an email received Tuesday afternoon from Iraq a day after his story was told. "A simple response would have been, I'm sorry but we do not ship overseas."Hess, part of the 1st Cavalry Divison, is stationed in Taji, a former Republican Guard stronghold, and one of the toughest outposts in Iraq.Last week, Hess emailed Discount-Mats.com to ask if he could purchase mats so he and his unit did not have to endure the constant assault from sand mites, sand flies and other disease carriers that inhabit the ground.In his email, dated Jan. 16, 2007, he asked the company, registered to Faisal Khetani, an American Muslim of Pakistani descent:"Do you ship to APO (military) addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for ships to APO first."On the same day, Hess received this reply:"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 SuppliersDiscount-Mats.com"Discount-Mats.com is run out of Khetani's home in West Allis, Wis. In a telephone interview Tuesday with FOX News, Khetani said he had fired the employee who sent the email, a claim that FOX News has not been able to confirm. He also said he has received thousands of phone calls to his home and business from people protesting the email exchange.Hess said that he has since found two mat suppliers who shipped to an APO address in Iraq.Meanwhile, FOX News has received thousands of emails asking how to donate mats and other items to U.S. soldiers in Iraq.Rob Timmons, an Iraq veteran and a veteran outreach coordinator, recommended the following Web sites:http://www.iava.orgwww.army.milFOX News' Douglas Kennedy contributed to this story.
===========================I just went to that web site and found this notice:================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.comThe 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.comPhone 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.=============I think, and HOPE, this guy will be OUT OF BUSINESS in the near future.