MyPillow downgraded by the BBB for misleading customers
Consumers have been rather ticked off after making the decision to order the MyPillow. After receiving a slew of complaints about false advertising, the Better Business Bureau has taken action and revoked the accreditation of the MyPillow, a popular “As Seen On TV” product, and downgraded its rating to an “F”. “MyPillow was built on our dedication to our customers’ satisfaction. We run sales and specials for our customers, so that we can give as many people as possible the chance to have a great night’s sleep. Naturally, I am terribly disappointed by the BBB’s decision,” said the company’s owner and CEO, Mike Lindell.
This week, the BBB reported that the Minnesota-based company had been taking advantage of customers with their ongoing “buy one, get one free” discount. Instead of offering consumers a pair of standard, Queen-sized MyPillow’s for $49.98, which is the listed price for just one at checkout — the company is now offering two of the pillows for the price of $89.97.
Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota, told local NBC affiliate KARE, “Continuous BOGO offers, which can then be constructed as an item’s regular, everyday price, violate not only BBB’s code of Advertising, which all BBB Accredited Businesses agree to abide by — but also other state and national organizations’ rules. We are hopeful that MyPillow will modify their advertising and eliminate discount offers, since the pillows need to be sold at a “regular price” for the majority of the time.”
In addition to the “BOGO” promotion, the BBB pointed out several other issues that had come to their attention, including how “as seen on TV” claims are sometimes listed on the MyPillow boxes, even though the content was not featured in the commercial.
In October, customers filed a class-action suit against MyPillow — claiming they were led to believe that the second pillow was a free gift to them.
“The My Pillow, Inc. BOGO Promotions are false and deceptive because My Pillow, Inc. is not providing one pillow for ‘free.’ Instead, it is inflating the regular price of the pillow being purchased as part of the promotion, resulting in the buyer purchasing two pillows at or near the combined regular prices for two pillows,” the suit read.
“In other words, the pillow that is being sold as part of the BOGO Promotion can be purchased for a substantially lower price without inclusion of the ‘free’ pillow.”
CEO Lindell has had enough explaining to do besides his onscreen TV commercials. In November, his company was forced to pay $1 million in civil penalties after claims that products could help cure and prevent certain medical conditions.
