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.

    • Sludgeyy@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Crazy thing is he has to give a 70.23% discount for people to even think about buying a pillow

      50 dollars for the world’s best pillow is a steal

      Something you use every night that can actually help with sleep and health. You shouldn’t be skimping on your pillow.

    • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      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.

      • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        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.

        • kofe@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Wait can you explain more? I’ve never heard of that, feel like I’m asking for a dirty trade secret

          • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            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.

            • kofe@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Gotcha, thank you! I’m gonna start paying attention for it and see if I can figure it out

      • ShareMySims@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        but maybe just to get in the headlines again…

        …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.

        • Tikiporch@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          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.

  • Veedem@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    It’s amazing how this guy managed to basically throw away everything he had accomplished for a grifter who doesn’t even give two shits about him.

      • Veedem@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Maybe though I don’t like using someone’s addiction to poke fun. He did a really good job of overcoming it originally and then pissed it all away like so many other’s left in Trump’s wake.

    • wjrii@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      And plenty MAGA asshole enough to have hired a neo-nazi to set sale pricing.

      • qantravon@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        No, that’s the point of a dog whistle. Those in the know understand, and they don’t want outsiders to notice. One of the best ways to combat these people is to let everyone in on their “secret” codes, so we can see exactly who is putting their hat in with the Nazis.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      I don’t think he’s stupid enough not to know what those numbers mean. The crowds he hangs out with, there is zero doubt he has seen those tattoos on more than a few faces in the MAGA crowds.

      I don’t necessarily think he was even aware of the price tag, or thought about a proposed sale enough to notice. I think the chances this was one of his nazi employees is higher than him setting his own sales price himself.

      He doesn’t seem to be coherent enough to be running day to day things like that, when his focus is getting in front of any camera willing to record him.

    • Rozz@lemmy.sdf.org
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      2 months ago

      You don’t have to be smart to put two numbers in your price like that, just a nazi.

  • nothingcorporate@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Mike Lindell did a Nazi dog whistle, not surprised.

    Mike Lindell claimed he had no idea about how super Nazi it was: not surprised.

  • catloaf@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    I doubt he personally is setting those prices.

    Which means he’s got at least one neo-nazi on staff.

  • UmeU@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    He might as well be walking around with a Hitler mustache claiming ignorance. I could totally see him doing that.

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      Not gonna lie, at least when it comes to the back and foot board a swatstika would make a pretty solid shape for a quad person bed. Put a bed in the void area between the arms.

      I do not know why my brain thought of this but the swastibed crawled up from the same part of my consciousness that tells me to mix Mayonnaise and Yogurt. So yeah take that as you will.

  • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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    2 months ago

    A wide selektion of pillows featuring proprietary anti-parasite coating! Available in black, white, and red.