Mike Lindell, the controversial founder of MyPillow and vocal ally to Donald Trump, is claiming ignorance over the neo-Nazi symbolism in his pillow prices.
Lindell’s pillow company, which he founded in 2009, is currently offering customers the “Standard Classic MyPillow” for $14.88 reduced from $49.98.
But the discount has got critics pointing out a popular neo-Nazi symbol lurking behind the price.
The numbers 14 and 88 are two popular white supremacist numeric symbols, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
The first is a nod to the “14 words” slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” coined by David Lane – a member of the white supremacist terrorist group known as The Order.
Meanwhile, 88 is a common code meaning “Heil Hitler”, because H is the eighth letter in the alphabet.
To be fair, I see all kinds of $14.88 or $7.86 or other random prices at Walmart. Problem is, I know a person didn’t necessarily set those prices because it’s every product, seemingly at random.
One dude decides what His Pillow costs, and he had to have chosen $14.88 for a reason. Maybe not because he’s a Nazi sympathizer, but maybe just to get in the headlines again. Either way, he knew the connection and what would happen, which is sell a bunch of pillows.
The prices at Walmart aren’t random. The cents portion indicates things like limited buy, no longer stocking, temporary sale, etc. It has been over a decade since I’ve worked retail, buy they are indicators for employees.
Wait can you explain more? I’ve never heard of that, feel like I’m asking for a dirty trade secret
This is only for discounted items, not regular priced items. There are a couple of different methods that can be used, but I’ll use the .8 that is being discussed. Basically, they will intentially price certain types of sale items and have all the prices of that type end the same way. So xx.89 indicates a regularly stocked item that is on sale, xx.88 indicates an item the store will no longer carry, xx.87 indicates an item that is not usually stocked and can not be ordered again, etc. This is just an example. The assigned meanings may be different, it has been a long time.
…because he knew it is a Nazi dog whistle.
So he’s either a Nazi, or he knows enough about Nazis to know how to appeal directly to them, and is happy to do so for publicity (so, an enthusiastic collaborator with Nazis at the very fucking least).
You really should examine with yourself why you feel the need to jump to the defence of a Nazi.
You basically paraphrased what I said. Maybe I’m not saying it in a way you parse as unsympathetic, but I’m definitely not defending Pillow Man. Most people seem to get that, or else I’d be absolutely demolished by negative votes.
There are actually numeric codes to the Walmart prices iirc. It’s not white supremacist nonsense or anything inherently political though. It was Something like ending in 66 cents means that’s the last price cut vs 88 means there’s like 1 or 2 more planned discounts or something.