Ortho Mattress

I suppose a more fitting title for this experience is My American Horror Story at Ortho Mattress. For all you customers who got ripped off, allow me to express that you're not alone. Ortho does exactly the same to their employees as well. Before I explain how, my tale began when I got interviewed by David Fleischman. He's a dead ringer for Family Guy's Mort Goldman minus a hundred pounds but add the nose of Captain Hook from Peter Pan. Really impossible to miss. "Let's get this over with."

Get a load of some of their policies first directly from the owner. This company bans all pc, smartphones, laptop and etc. Heard some guy got written up or fired for reading a book on his Kindle Fire during his break or downtime. This law came into effect when a few employees had no idea Ken Karmin (owner) walked into their assigned mattress stores and ignored him while goofing off on their laptops. So instead of just disciplining those specific employees only, we all got punished. The top enforcer of this policy is none other than David F himself. If you ever want to see a guy throw himself into a fitted rage in a manner of seconds, let him catch you with a laptop. Another policy is the banning of everyone from making discounted employee purchases directly from the vendors which we're supposed to. This punishment was initiated when a few crook employees abused the program and bought numerous matts at 75% off (our employee discount) just to sell them at full price online through Craigslist. They were uncovered and naturally fired but to ban everyone from making any future purchases for themselves is just thoughtless. Imagine a kid in grade school not doing his homework while we all did but the teacher flunked the entire class just to punish one student! Ladies and gentlemen, these are just the tip of the iceberg.

My first write up was when I used my pc to close a sale by comparing prices online for a customer who asked for proof that we had the best deal before he decides to purchase. I showed him other online retailers who had the identical mattress and I offered him a better deal so he gladly became our customer that day. My second write up is when an elderly couple walked in and informed me that they have a insect problem but don't know what the bugs are. They are in the process of buying a new matt but just looking around for now because they already called the exterminators to inspect their property. I asked, "Could it be beg bugs?" They didn't know what they were so I reluctantly took out my pc and googled pics for them. They confirmed it was and I shared my horror story with them regarding my personal experience with beg bugs from the Commodore Regency in Downtown LA at 4th and Lucas which wasn't far from their residence. I assured them it wasn't their fault and even shared photos of myself that I saved on my laptop containing multiple bite marks that shook them both to the core. I described that fumigation is ineffective because they dig deeper into the walls to evade and multiple once they emerge. I tried that twice and the problem persists or worsens. The only way to eliminate them is by thermal heat treatment of the entire house which can costs thousands in the least. I firmly recommended that if the bed is the source of the infestation, it must be replaced immediately without further delay. Save your money from the exterminators and invest it towards your new mattress. The more you wait, you increase the possibility of them spreading throughout the entire premise beyond your bedroom. They discussed briefly in their native tongue and eventually took my advice and made a smart purchase. Shook hands and thanked me for the service while inviting me out to their downtown jewelry store. Told me if I or anyone in the company needs anything, give him a call anytime and he'll happily repay us the favor. David walked in shortly after and I obtained my 2nd write up.

My third write up is for low numbers in sales but numbers are dictated by the amount of walk-in traffic and that is determined by size and location of the store. If store display is poor due to the small premise making mattress selection highly limited, sales would naturally be affected and limited as well. In the entire West LA region, this smallest store on Pico Blvd. and Overland Ave. has the poorest choice of mattresses available. This store lacked GS Stearns, Beautyrest Black, The Grand Bed by Tempurpedic and a vast number of high price items. When I requested some from the warehouse, a top executive plainly asked, "Wait, you really think that bed is capable of being pushed out of THAT store? No, I don't think it's wise." Even THEY know so why did I get blamed?

The fourth one is probably my favorite. I was at the Ortho Santa Monica store next to Izzy's Restaurant and received a call from David Fleischman. He asked me to look up an invoice containing a Pacific bed that was sold recently. Try to keep in mind that I was usually stationed at a rat hole Store 33 on Pico Blvd and Overland where nobody walks in. Weak selection for me to present so my knowledge of full inventory isn't very keen. I replied, "The Pacific? Is that a new mattress? I never heard of it." Apparently those were poor choice of words to the Vice President of sales at Ortho Mattress. Anyone ever seen Tropic Thunder with Tom Cruise as Les Grossman? This is precisely how David Fleischman responded. He goes, "Whuh? What do you mean you never heard of it?! It's not a mattress, it's a BED! Wait a minute! How long how you been with this company?! Fourteenth months, right?! You been here for over a year and never heard of the Pacific Bed?! It's a manufacture! You know, you would think for someone who can't even hit commission every month would at least take some time to familiarize our inventory better!" Wow folks. How's that coming from your local Southern California mattress provider?

I was almost inclined to say, "You left me to rot in that sinkhole after your fired Paul and I see more cockroaches per day than people walking in. I don't make any commission money here because there's no money to be made here at all. All I do here is babysit for you guys and this is the thanks I get?" That was at the very tip of my tongue but I decided to swallow it instead. I took a deep breath because I was done with this company anyways. I later sold a latex bed and decided to chill on the Tempurpedic Grand Bed and had my forearm resting over my eyes because the lights were too bright. Heard someone sat down with paperwork on the next bed and looked up to see it was David himself. I said, "Hey David." He replied, "What are you doing?" I was puzzled and asked, "What do you mean?" All I remembered was his glare and he asked, "You taking a nap?" Of course I thought he was joking and I replied, "No, what are you talking about?" David goes, "I just saw you. You lying to me now?" I said, "Wait a minute. I heard you when you sat down and verbally greeted you did I not? How could I have done that if I was sleeping? When I addressed you, did you think I was sleep talking? I heard and saw you sitting there." He goes, "Well it's because I was making some sounds. And do you really want to make matters worse by arguing with me?" I was about to say, "I always leave the back door wide open (Probably not wise because the bank next door was recently robbed). You would think if any employee was going to sleep, we have enough sense to close that door first so we can actually hear who's coming in." But why bother? As I mentioned earlier, I was done. Of course he wrote me up as usual but this time something inside of me snapped. I was going to quit anyways and especially after how he yelled at me over the phone earlier, THIS was the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Two weeks later around 7:30 pm on Saturday April 12 of 2014, I was terminated by David Fleischman. He walked in from the front door because I made a habit of locking the back door at night. This petite
store on the corner of Pico and Overland has crazy bums yelling and fighting with the parking attendant from across the ally so it gets dangerous at night. He casually strolled in without saying a word and had my final paycheck in his hand. The final showdown has arrived. I told him, "Let's get this over with." That's his famous line to me every time he writes me up. It was kind of sweet to finally stick it back to him. He mentioned my attitude was unbelievable. Really? Looks like I've finally learned something from him after all. The only thing I recall was his sarcastic tone and non stop eye rolling. Trust me, he doesn't hesitate to let you know you overstayed your welcome. Finally he goes, "Come on, come on! Let's get this going." Waving me to get out. I wasn't just fired, I was kicked out. Don't let his wiry stature fool you. This guy is as hostile as them come. I been warned about him from all the previous ex employees but I never believed them until I found things out the hard way myself.

That same evening as I got home, I randomly called a few co workers (now ex employees) and they notified me that David had already called and informed everyone to change the door lock combination. This is done to prevent past employees from stepping back into the buildings. He also said, "I don't know which one of you are friends with him but don't ever let me catch him in any of my stores or any of you talking to him ever again." Classy guy this David is. Anyone interested to buy a mattress from your friendly Ortho retailer yet?

Ortho Mattress of California goes through employees like cheap condoms. Let me briefly provide all the individuals who were fired or lightened up and quit. They would be Amir, Peggy, Paul, Larry, Sho, Kejah, Steve, Skylar, Asian Claire, white Claire, Will, Max, James (owner immediately begged him to come back), Tom and Mike. Jerry died of cancer probably because Ortho worked him to death and this small list is ONLY in the West LA region alone that I'm aware of within a single year! Man I was changing that damn combination lock every month or so.

Here's the best part where employees are always getting ripped off. DO NOT expect them to pay your bonus for the month. You're lucky enough to get some commission alone! James (current trainer and great guy) quit because Ortho has too many false promises. Immediately left the company because of shady ethics of not paying bonuses when due but Ken (owner) begged him to come back because James is one of the best salesman. Ken asked David Fleischman at the scene, "You didn't pay his bonuses?" Where David replied, "I was about to get to it." Yeah right. David later went and repeated the same thing of not paying bonuses to Tom in Santa Monica (our top GS Stearns seller). When Tom asked why he did not receive his much earned bonus, David replied that the percentages of the month was off by .09 % or some BS. After that phone conversation, Tom sat motionlessly in his office chair completely frozen for 15 minutes. Later called me in the week and said he couldn't sleep that evening and was up all the way until next morning at 5am. Tom knew something was wrong and later demanded an audit. David eventually caved in and agreed to pay.

Here's another way you're going to get ripped by Ortho. You work 50 hours a week and your overtime pay is STILL just 12 bucks and hour! As I've mentioned earlier that Ortho bans employees from making direct purchases from vendors. If employees are buying a mattress, we must buy from Ortho warehouses only where we are charged an additional 25% mark up so Ortho can make money off its own employees!

Still interested to work for Ortho? They aggressively post new listings daily on Craigslist looking for highly motivated sales individuals all over Southern California. Here are some of their claims on their ads. It states, "HUGE opportunities for growth within the company. Our Team prides itself on being the most positive and welcoming team within the company. If you want to make good money, and make a couple good friends along the way, come join." Ahem. Please allow me to intervene and object that those claims are 100% COMPLETE HYBRID HORSE TURD. First off, you're hired as a FLOATER! Meaning, all you do is simply work the off days of existing store employees all OVER THE ENTIRE WEST SIDE REGION! If Mike is off Mon and Tues, your ### is stationed there on those days and if Danny is off Wed/Thurs, guess where you'll be going? At this rate, maintaining a steady client base is impossible so all you're doing is babysitting the off days of current employees all across Southern California. And how much damn money you'll supposedly be making depends on which store you're in. Some large showrooms with full mattress selections obviously attracts all the walk ins who buy while tiny hole in the walls that are dead will attract nobody except ### roaches.

I've worked the health club industry before and people who visit and join depends on facility and its amenities. One club is very old with limited machines and doesn't contain a wet area (pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room). There's also no security outside so cars are constantly being broken into. Across town has a brand new facility with security outside and a full range of up to date equipment along with a complete wet area. Geeee, which one would you consider joining?

The same applies to all the Ortho stores across Southern California. Larger stores with full selections and convenient parking always gets the income while the smaller stores with limited selections struggle endlessly with no results. And speaking of parking, you better watch who's parking in your spots. Because if the owner suspects employees are allowing customers of other businesses to utilize Ortho parking spaces, it's automatic termination on the spot. Happened in Santa Monica where owner arrived so excited to see his entire parking lot completely filled just to be greeted with nobody inside the store except the manager on duty. Owner asked, "Where's all the customers?" Manager replied, "What customers? There's nobody in here except me." Ken responded, "The entire parking lot is full! What do you mean?! Are you allowing those restaurant patrons next door to park in my spaces? Is the restaurant paying you off with free food?" Needless to say, manager on duty was fired immediately. We didn't really care anymore because people were getting fired left and right. Why do you think they constantly post new job listings on Craigslist daily? Ortho has a revolving door system that never stops spinning with an turnover rate unlike anything I've seen or heard. The only company that remotely comes close to comparison is Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Please check the videos on YouTube if you dare. Be warned though. This restaurant and ownership scared Chef Gordon Ramsay away!

Let me warn everyone about some of the other dangers of Ortho Mattress stores. Store located on 10672 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 has dangers every consumer should know about. DO NOT waste your time visiting this store because it's the smallest in the West LA region with the poorest selection. More importantly, know that all crevices outside are continuously laced with rat poison because this hole in the wall has a rodent problem. Ortho uses Orkin pest control but it's ineffective.

If you're brave enough to venture inside the store, prepare to be greeted by giant cockroaches normally around the desk area. Had one nearly crawled up my slacks while another crawled up an co workers arm while he was doing paperwork. These problems originate from The Sixth Restaurant next door and the raw seafood and junk they toss in the bins directly behind the mattress store. To make matters worse, the owner and kitchen staff of the restaurant has serious beef with Ortho. They would make a daily habit of parking in our spaces and telling customer to use our spots as well and ignored my warnings so I contacted parking enforcement. Everyone including staff, owner AND patrons combined received a total of EIGHT tickets at $75.00 each. Owner did storm inside with ticket in hand and was fuming. I replied that everyone was warned numerously without compliance so I had no choice. Found out that my care was dinged on 2 occasions intentionally by the infuriated kitchen staff when they tossed out the garbage. So don't ever let any staff member of the restaurant catch you entering the store with your car outside unattended. They feel they have the right to utilize our spaces and will potentially target your vehicle if you're mattress shopping inside. Don't say I didn't warn you. One older cook called me crazy so there was an verbal altercation. Almost got into a fist fight so trust me when I say that blood is bad at this location. You park here at your own risk.

I could continue further but writing a book is taking too much of my time. Anyone enjoy sexual harassment in the workplace? An female Ortho salesperson was groped by an store manager so a lawsuit was filed involving Gloria Allred. Heard the employee received six figures as the settlement because Gloria don't play. If this still isn't enough, do yourself a favor and read their glassdoor.com reviews which consists of negative reviews all by employees. Don't be shocked to be greeted with 1 star reviews. One employee posts, "Ortho is the worst slave plantation to work for." Unfortunately, that's only the tip of the iceberg. Don't believe me? Go on Craigslist and apply.
You'll eventually meet David Fleischman and the rest of gang. GOD BE WITH YOU.