Dave Duffy: no entitlement to military discounts
This fellow Dave Duffy claims, in the Washington Post, that he’s a retired Army lieutenant colonel who is now an entrepreneur with a couple of smoothie shops. It sounds like he offers a discount to members of the military, but not their families. That decision earned one of his cashiers a rant from a family member;
Recently, I had a military spouse grow irate with my cashier because we didn’t offer a discount to military family members. Unfortunately, this is not the first time this has happened. I guess I could stop offering any discount at all to the military, but would rather not. In this particular case, my cashier was on the receiving end of a very long tirade about how obviously unappreciative ownership must be of the sacrifices of the military family. The woman ended by stating “it would be in the owner’s best interest” to offer discounts to families as well. I wish I was there to find out exactly what she meant beyond her vague threat.
If that story is true, I agree with him. I’ve said before that it wouldn’t upset me even a little bit if everyone did away with their military discounts. I never use them. My wife does for things for the house at Lowe’s and Home Depot, but I just can’t bring myself to pinch pennies. For one thing, the discounts are another wedge in the relationship between us and civvies. For another, it’s a reason for people to pretend that they’re in the military, and what prosecutor is going to go after a stolen valor guy for $.30 on a box of screws?
Category: Who knows
I know Home Depot gives 10% discounts but when my total at the cash register is $3.50 + tax for flower seeds, 35cents seems like a kind of petty thing to beg for.
Now, I will use coupons for discounts, becuase those are for groceries and household items like detergent, but those are usually substantial enough to make a difference in the total. I did the ‘coupon queen’ thing once, just to see what I’d save with coupons and discounts at checkout and it came to $80 on a total of $175 before the coupons were included. But that’s for groceries.
Agreed.
Last year on Veterans Day, my local Starbucks was giving free java to Vets. When I stepped up to the counter to pay for mine and was told it was free, I paid it forward to the nice lady behind me. Their heart is in the right place, but I feel uncomfortable taking such perks. That’s not why I served. Truth be told; back then you were lucky if they didn’t make you pay extra.
I read that story, and completely agree. No one owes us as Vterans a discount on services, and the Dependapotomous that was giving his cashier a hard time is a prime example of the entitlement mentality rampant in our soceity as a whole.
The only entity that owes Veterans anything is the Department of veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense (for retirees).
Anything a business does is out of the goodness of their own heart, or a means to bring in new customers. They don’t owe us shit, and they damned sure don’t owe a “Dependa” squat either.
Yes, I have used my discount at Home Depot, but on big purchases… doesn’t make me a hypocrite. If they stopped offering them, I would not be one of the thousands of whiny voices screaming for boycotts until they did again.
Agree with 325. I do use it at Lowes on big purchases but if they didn’t offer it, no sweat. It works for them too because often I will buy from Lowes instead of another store.
I posted this earlier: at Longhorn last week, the server brought my check and then said just a minute, I’ll be right back. When she came back, she said she saw my mil ID in my wallet on the table and took the check back to deduct 10%. I didn’t know they did that and wouldn’t ask for it, but it was nice that she did it. And she got an additional 10% tip (30% total!).
It’s really kind of cool when folks give you a discount even if you haven’t tried to get one. A couple years ago I was on vacation in New England and bought a bottle of wine at a small wine shop. The proprietor noticed the USAA logo on my credit card and asked me if I’d served; when I said yes and showed my ID, he knocked off 10%. Turns out he was a veteran. (He did have a small sign by the register indicating that he gave a military discount; I’d just overlooked it.)
Agreed. I don’t like the discounts either.
It comes from a time when vets left service with very little and had to rebuild thier lives (WWII). So it had it’s place.
I absolutely agree we are not entitled to discounts. However, I do appreciate them. Whenever anyone offers something and I do use it, I always show my ID card even if they don’t ask. The folks at Delta Airlines have been particularly great – especially during Christmas with their military lounges. Lowe’s has been great, too. Here in the East, Boscov’s offers 15% for those with ID cards. One thing I haven’t been able to bring myself to do is get the free meals anywhere. The gesture is well intentioned, but the misuse is getting out of hand. And anyone demanding a discount for having the privilege to serve or being associated with someone that has deserves to be bitch-slapped.
I mostly agree with everyone else so far. The only discount I really ever use is the Lowe’s/Home Depot 10% discount, and even then I only use it for big purchases. I’m going through buying a new house and being able to get 10% off all the appliances, blinds, and everything else for a new house is very useful.
I also rarely take advantage of military/veteran discounts except for things like Golden Corral’s free veterans’ meal which is once per year and heavily advertised.
What veteran can resist a buffet?
I’d rather pay for the meal and go on a less crowded day. That place is a zoo on Veterans Day! I’ve been once, possibly twice, at the encouragement of my wife. She knows not to encourage it anymore, because it’s just not worth it to me.
They don’t check ID on that day. The time that I went I remember looking around and wondering to myself how many of the people there claiming veteran status were fakers. I’m sure there were several.
Similiar story to Old Trooper, I was at Caribou on Sep 11 last fall, I usually stop a couple times a week. The cashier told me it was free for me that day. There wasn’t anyone behind me in line so I put the cash I would have paid into their tip cup on the counter. Although I cannot lie, I did take advantage of a ‘military discount’ when I bought my last motorcyle, $500 discount which I applied a really good helmet and some other accessories.
Good for you on the bike thing.
Ride safe.
If a company offers them, I’ll take them. I don’t ask for a discount, but if it’s there, why not.
I do get annoyed when a business offers a discount for active duty, but not for retirees. I either say thanks, but no thanks, or I give them a little jazz over it. “So, some kid straight out of boot gets one, but me with 25 years of service doesn’t?”
Might be nitpicky, but it passes the time.
Maybe a bit nit-picky. Junior troops, especially with family, probably need it more. That’s the way I look at the free meal days, I don’t take advantage because there are many others that need the seat at the table more than I do.
I get a military discount at the motorcycle shop I frequent because they know me (and they know I’ll just buy more stuff from them with it anyways, actually ends up cheaper than going online many times).
Some places it genuinely feels sincere, other places it seems more like an advertising ploy which becomes uncomfortable – I don’t like being pandered to.
I received a survey from Home Depot about receiving veteran discounts. In the area for suggestions. My message was how appreciative I am of Home Depot to offer this discount, and realize that this is something they offer to veterans as a way to say”Thank You”. That they are not obligated to offer this discount and I thank them for doing this. The feedback I received was that they intended to offer the discount to disabled veterans as indicated on your VA ID card, service connect, and all other veterans on special holidays.
This is twofold for them, brings in veterans and and gives the store a good image. Which they have in my book. As a lot of other big box stores do not do this. And I do take advantage of any discount anyplace, anytime, but if a store clerk does not understand the store policy, etc., I do not push the issue ever and just pay full price. They are not obligated to do this after all.
The guy must be kind of thick. It seems fairly obvious to me that the spouse was referring to his business’ economic best interests (e.g., to avoid negative word-of-mouth) vice making any kind of veiled threat.
There’s an old saying that sums up what the lady was trying to say quite well: “Make a customer happy, they’ll tell someone they know. Make a customer unhappy, and they’ll tell everyone they know.”
The spouse was still way out of line, Hondo. It’s his business and he can decide who, if anyone, he gives a discount to. She had no business haranguing the poor cashier about what she thought she was “entitled” to.
No argument there, Hayabusa. Just observing that the business owner IMO wasn’t terribly astute if he seriously took the spouse’s statement as some form of “veiled threat” without some form of corroborating evidence.
His business, so he can run it however he likes. But he might want to pay attention to how his business is perceived in the community. Word-of-mouth advertising – good or bad – can make or break a small business.
Can’t be totally sure that the spouse was just noising off about spreading bad rep. Not these days.
We see too many examples of idiots taking things too far for petty reasons.
But, mostly, I agree with what you said.
That family member reminds me of those spouses we used to see in the FRGs who would throw their husbands’ ranks out there to bully the junior members around.
Way back in the day during one of our Germany assignments, I finally talked Household 6 into attending one of those meetings. She had been an Army brat and then married me. She had basically been in the Army her entire life and knew what it was like to be an Army “family member”.
One meeting was all it took for her to dress down two 2LT’s wives for their “holier than thou” attitudes towards the other enlisted wives. She became quite the folk hero in the Battalion but never went to another meeting. But she looked out for the wives and girlfriends in other ways instead.
One day I was at lowes and spent over $350. When I got out my wallet the cashier spotted my I.D. card from the VA and told me there was a 10% discount. I had no idea. it had a great impact on me at the time. I could not believe it. At any rate, I really appreciate it and no company has to do that and I agree that it’s not necessary. But it is really appreciated. There is a local taco chain here that give 15% to veterans or 10% to old pharts so I take the 15%. But if it was not offered I would still eat there.
Dependapottamuses (dependapottami ?) ruin it for everybody….
Dammit… Put up a spew alert next time…
So, some genius, whose spouse may or may not be AD berated a cashier for a store policy over which the cashier had no control? That makes good sense. I would have said, “You know, you are right. Please provide me with your driver’s license and a copy of your spouse’s orders, and the discount is yours for one smoothie.” If, miraculously, the spouse was able and willing to comply, I would have paid the .28 cents (or whatever) myself.
Active or retired, if I had witnessed that spouse pull that BS, I would have pulled her mil dependent identification card and contacted the Command Duty Officer (CDO) with jurisdiction over her ass and that of her husband who clearly did not train her properly.
That problem could be eliminated if the military would just issue the spouses. Then you would know they were properly trained ahead of time 😉 j/k
Oh…
And I just cannot wait to see what the Department of Defense issues for spouses….
(shiver up the spine)…
A younger hotter version of Janet Reno. Sigh…
Funny you should mention that.
http://terminallance.com/2015/03/13/terminal-lance-369-they-would-have-issued-you-one/
You beat me to the punch. I was about to post that. 😀
…Or issue spouses their own rank. 🙂
reminds me of an old cadence (she looked like Phyllis Diller, and walked like Frankenstein…” (God Bless her)
RULE #1 with any employee I have: If a customer gets ‘Irate’ with any member of my staff and their ass is gone. No exceptions. My employees are an extension of me, they represent me. I don’t put up with that shit and do not expect them to. My managers are trained and fully authorized to remove loud and aggressive customers from the property. Sadly, we do it all the time.
What I have found is the other 99% of the customers appreciate it. Yes, that includes screaming children that can not be calmed down.
I give free services and products to veterans all the time. “I” do it. Because of a discussion on a post here a while back I have authorized my managers to do it. So far there has not been an issue I am aware of.
I have never asked for a discount of any kind because of my service or accepted one. I dont walk around with any sign that I am a veteran. My car is not covered in stickers or special plates. I do not own a vest. The only way someone would know if I was a veteran is if they asked.
If we fall short with our service or there is a problem I will pull the moon from the sky to fix it. It is an honor to provide services to my customers, including several that post here.
Made me think of this quote from Fast Times at Ridgemont High:
“Did you use profanity and threaten this customer with violence?”
“Well yeah, the guy’s an asshole Dennis.”
LMAO, I had forgotten about that. Oh, you have no idea. This page is often left up on the computer when I am at some business I own, my staff often reads the posts. Here are some of my more famous lines to problem customers:
‘Do you see that road out front; Good, it goes all the way back to where you came from, see ya.’
‘There are 16 cameras in this building, make your move badass’
‘Sorry, we ran out of give a shit about the time you walked in’
‘We appreciate all of our customers, some when they come, some when they go’
‘I am trying to decide how much of your bullshit I am going to put up with for $13.50’
I have more, I think I will just leave this page up in here for while.
Had to escort a ‘customer’ out of the bookstore I worked at once. As I followed him to the door he started shouting at me.
“Why you following me, Dude?!?! I know where the fucking door is!! You want a fucking date or something??!!”
“Sure, you’re so cute when your mad like this.”
The store manager laughed but asked me not to torment the shoplifters anymore.
Dave Hardin…Thank you and thank you again. I appreciate nothing more than a business that caters to the majority of their customer’s desires to have a pleasant experience by getting rid of the small minority of ass holes. Nothing bothers me more than what you wrote about kids. “Yes, that includes screaming children that can not be calmed down.” I pay sometimes a stiff price to enjoy a nice meal with the wife only to be tormented by an obnoxious parent(s) and their equally obnoxious, loud and non-disciplined brats. I think if I hear one more dip shit parent tell their ass hole, curtain climber “Okay Johnny, 1…2….”, I’ll blow a stroke. It NEVER works. They know it and more, the little turd knows it. Last time it happened was the last time. Same scenario and I went and asked the owner to either move them or ask them to keep their kids under control. He told me in too many words, he couldn’t do that with a stupid “fuck you and go away” smile. When we left I took the bill and asked for him again. I handed it to him and said “I’m not paying for this and you know why. I could not hear my wife speak for the noise and commotion in the next booth. I did leave the server a tip because their service warranted it but as for this, it’s on you or you are welcome to call the police and I will sit and wait for them”. He tore the bill up and I left. Also, before we departed our booth area, much to my wife’s embarrassment, I walked over to the obnoxious ass holes and said, “Hey folks, how ya doing?” (They smiled) “I wanted to thank you for one of the worst dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. All because of you and your unruly kids. So thanks again and by the way, you’re doing a great job raising those kids.” They looked at me like I was from Mars and I guess I used too many multi-syllable words… Read more »
I do wear a vest with various military patches on it and a few personal ones too.
I ride for the Patriot Guard Riders so the vest is part of the procession when we stand a Flag Line at a Veteran’s funeral.
I was offered a discount yesterday at Lumber Liquidators without even asking.
That also happened to me at Taco Cabana.
I rarely ask for one except for large purchases at Home Depot because it does add up.
I get the Veteran’s Day free meals at Texas
Roadhouse as they are open for lunch on that day alone.
Their Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and white gravy is just delicious !!!
Other than that, I don’t ask for them.
If offered I say thank you and I leave the tip for the cost of the meal at Texas Roadhouse.
I do try to frequent those places that offer them just to make sure they get the business.
It feels so much different than when I got out in 77 and was almost ashamed to be a Veteran in that lousy time of history for military people, thanks to the stank ass hippies.
Again, it’s good to be a part of the brotherhood…
Good morning all. This is my first time posting on this site, but I’ve long been a reader/watcher. I hope that you all are well.
After I left the Service, I worked for Lowes for a number of years. I absolutely loved it. The store I worked out of was comprised of nearly 50% Servicemen and Women of all makes and models. We were a well-oiled machine.
However, our store gave out more military discounts than every other store in our district combined. Most people claiming to be Veterans were adamant about it, yet were unable or refused to provide any credentials or proof to that end. The few loyal customers who were actual Veterans never once asked for a discount, and would shake their heads at the foolishness demonstrated at the register (especially Commercial Sales/Lumber registers).
Hell, one day, a coworker and I even witnessed a customer wearing a Korean War Veteran cover, arguing over a military discount with a cashier. He could not have been over 30 years old! And no one could deny him, for fear of losing their job. Pathetic. That was the situation for years.
But I digress. I just wanted to share my experience with you all on this topic. I hope all of you have a great week, and I thank you for your diligence and vigilance on this site.
Stay the course, and keep your powder dry.
Re: “However, our store gave out more military discounts than every other store in our district combined.”
I thought of this yesterday at a Lowes in Jacksonville NC…Camp Lejeune. Hell, everyone there is a vet. Kinda like trying to use a Handicapped placard in Fla…everyone has one!
Indeed. : /
Just to show that different things happen to different people: when I bought a dishwasher at Lowe’s last year, I asked for the vet’s discount and was told by two people at the store that they don’t have one. We (wife is also a vet) didn’t raise hell or anything… but Home Depot gets all our business nowadays. If a discount is offered and worth it (see above example of 35 cents) like $60+ on the dishwasher, I go where the discount is.
I was a Lowe’s employee before I became an eebil government contractor. The Lowe’s military discount info should be posted at every register, along with the acceptable forms of ID. We had a regular customer that had his DD-214 laminated. The discount bonus is on Independence day, Veteran’s day, and Memorial day… I could use the military discount AND employee discount.
I fully admit that I use my military discounts when shopping for my small business. I go through a lot of fabric, thread, fusible, and other sewing-related materials. It gets expensive. Like the lowest I ever spent at the store was only $150. At my local fabric store, the owner offers me an off the top 10% before using whatever other discounts I have which include coupons out the butt and another 10% for anything I don’t have coupons for because of the costume organizations I am associated with.
There are a couple of fast food places where they know I’m a vet and give me a discount on the food, but I don’t ask for it. Then again, I also wear a flight jacket in the winter because warm. It’s the same one I bought in Basic with all the patches and such (yes, I got one and the ring, too).
The discount from the fabric store helps. Yeah, it’s only 10% in addition to the 20%-50% coupons that I get every week, but it does help. Unlike many other costume makers, I don’t gouge the prices and charge a little more than twice my materials cost. Every little bit helps since it is my only source of income outside of my benefits. Its business related, so I feel no shame in using it.
Like I said, it’s not much. It’s 10% off of my weekly trip, which is a little more than fuel costs, but it does help. I wouldn’t be sad if I lost it, though.
I call BS on the story unless there is video/audio proof of the “rant.” It sounds too much like the “insult on the receipt” craze for me to believe it’s anything but a tall tale to make some kind of inane point.
And Duffy, you great doofus, if you don’t want to offer military discounts — don’t. It’s your store, charge whatever the hell you want.
I work at Autozone for the time being until I finish college and I see military dependents raise hell all the time over not getting a discount. Most of the time I’m the one having to deal with them since I’m the only veteran working in the store and my manager is a pussy. One woman went into full bitch mode because I wouldn’t give her a discount and she nor her husband were veterans, he was a government contractor. It gets ridiculous at times.
It takes a special type of person to work with the public. I worked a customer service counter for a short time, got someone in my face with a miserable attitude, and I told them to take their business — and their attitude — elsewhere. My manager was not amused, and made me write an incident report to the home office. I didn’t hear anymore about that particular incident, but they put someone with more patience on the customer service desk after that (much to my profound relief!)
From what I’m reading here it looks like Lowe’s and Home Depot are making a very smart business move by giving vets that 10% discount. Look how many of us are saying we shop their stores. Other than Walmart, I doubt that any other retailer could generate such a high customer rate on a forum this short.
One area I haven’t seen mentioned here is property tax discounts. When I lived in New Mexico I certainly took my veterans exemption of several hundred dollars on local property taxes. It’s not offered here in Arkansas but I’d sure take it if it were.
Those of you who disdain the idea of showing your prior service with a baseball cap or state-issued veterans plates are being a bit harsh. And foolish as well, in this old fart’s opinion. I can’t begin to count the number of very enjoyable, spontaneous chats I’ve had with other veterans, particularly other ex-Airborne vets, out in public places which would never had occurred had one of us not been wearing our jump wings or division patch or some other military symbol that enabled the recognition.
Essentially my sentiment exactly.
Poetrooper. Some of us are anti-social types. You just provided a helluva good reason not to display my Veteran’s status: someone might think it’s okay to talk to me. Screw that.
2/17 AC–you reminded me of this quote:
The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.”
Thanks for the laugh!
Us surly curmudgeons need to remind folks how great we are from time to time…
VOV, I find that I tend to be selectively collegial. If you have any doubts as to whether I can be a curmudgeon, well, let’s just say I’m a good, if uncommunicative, neighbor, which I’m sure the proselytizing, do-gooder, blue-haired, little old ladies I’ve scared away will attest.
2/17 Air Cav…We march to the same drummer. I am fairly outgoing on here but in public, I like my privacy. (and I know that makes no sense to some)
My position has softened somewhat on the issue. I just attended a funeral of a fellow Beirut veteran that died suddenly. If is wasnt for some vests, shirts, and hats I would have missed out on some great contacts.
I guess it depends on what the purpose of displaying a veteran symbol is. Pride in service is one thing, wearing a hat with the expectation it qualifies you for special service is another.
The moment I get some signal they think they are entitled to something because of their service the conversation is over.
I don’t normally ask for a military discount but often the merchant will see my ID card in my wallet and ask me. Only one time did I take advantage of a freebie. The summer after Desert Storm, I was assigned from Korea to Homestead AFB. Some other friends from The Kun were assigned to MacDill AFB. A buddy and I drove up one weekend and we all went to Busch Gardens for free. It felt weird doing that but we spent quite a bit of money while there.
I see military and veteran discounts being offered, less to give thanks or honor us (as is so often stated behind the reason for giving them) and more as a marketing ploy by corporate management to bring in more business. I fully use military discounts when offered (although I rarely ask, mostly because it doesnt occur to me).
The marketing does work as well. I know that even if I don’t ask for the discount, I am still far more likely to shop at a retailer that offers one, as opposed to one that doesn’t. The same goes for my immediate and extended family.
Small businesses might do it out of gratitude for vets. But anyone that thinks large corporations offer it out of anything but a ploy to drive up sales, might want to have their heads examined. Which is also why I am much more apt to ask for and accept a discount from said large corporations than a small business, as they can afford the cents they lose to the dollars they gain in return.
I largely agree. However, even if it makes me a gullible “Marketing Sap”, I like the Vet friendly attitude even when I don’t take advantage of it.
Smitty that’s not always true. I work at Applebees and I can tell you the execs* are only too happy to say “thanks” with the free meals.
*Ok, maybe not all of them, but most. 🙂
Im talking about corporate executives who make company policy, not the local managers and owners. Somehow, I cant see an Applebees executive weenie actually going to a resteraunt and serving food with the minions.
Years ago I was at Lowes when the clerk noticed my ballcap and asked me if I was a veteran. She said that I was entitled to a discount but I said that it was not Veteran’s day. She said that our local Lowes offered veteran discounts everyday. Several months earlier I had spent more than $8,000 remodeling without knowing of the discount. After that I automatically went to Lowes because of their discount offer but only used it once when purchasing a washer & dryer. A couple of years later I ordered the materials for a kitchen make over utilizing a Lowes affiliated contractor that came to more than $10,000. When I went to the register for the downpayment I remembered that I had not mentioned the discount but was informed that I needed either an active duty or retired military ID card (she showed me pictures of what was acceptable). Serving only a single enlistment with 6 years of active duty I do not have either. Aware of the stolen valor issue I could perfectly understand but now Lowe’s is no longer the automatic shopping option for me. I now shop around for the best deal and recently spent more than $7,000 elsewhere for my new hardwood floors.
http://www.lowes.com/cd_in-store+services+_745829091_#Military Discount
In 1978 a single enlistment of only 6 years entitled one to a DD-214 & an honorable discharge documentation only (neither of which acceptable for year round discounts). They even took my draft card in 1972 so I didn’t have it. Since I have maintained employment & insurance in the civilian sector I have not needed any services services provided by the VA. Per Lowes I may receive a discount on Memorial day, 4th of July, & Veteran’s day but it would be ridiculous to limit myself to building projects on only 3 days out of the Year. I am not angry with Lowes, I just have no reason to give them my exclusive customer loyalty.
Wow, someone has a bad case of the Entitlements! I know that my kids have taken advantage of a discount here or there, but never once have I assumed it should be applied to anyone except the service member, it never even occurred to me.
The best programs are those that help with your job, like Coca-Cola paying Guard members their salary for up to 4 months when they’re active duty, including training, or Vestas giving you a promotion and raise right before a 3 month deployment or Home Depot making an extra effort to hire vets and Guard. Kudos to all such companies who go above and beyond trying to help military members as well as appreciating their skills and training.
I used a veterans discount for the first time last year during veterans day.
Non vets trying to get vet gratitude is pretty scum. Yes, that includes their families. The guy is 100% correct. I like his attitude about those being offended can go somewhere else too.
Lowes and Home Depot appear to be regional or perhaps even individual store to store on how they handle Vet’s discounts. Both places I’ve been to in the area where I live (NH seacooast) have gone from 10% Vet discount, but only with Active Duty ID or VA card (I carry VFW and Sub Vets life memberships, neither of which was acceptable) to “We don’t give those discounts at this location” at the very same stores only months apart. I have been offered discounts (and on rare occasions small freebees) based on what I’m wearing (organization jacket or my ship’s ball cap) but I generally don’t ask nor expect any special treatment. One of the local Army/Navy stores (based in MA) offers 15% and keeps verified records of their Vet customers so you don’t even need to show your ID more than once, and I accept their discount every time. I usually go fo the free Veteran’s Day meal somewhere if I can, just for the fun of it. And my Sub Vets base holds our Board Meetings in a Chilis that has gotten used to seeing us (4 board members) meeting every month and started giving us 50% off on everything we order except alcohol, which we usually wind up adding right back into the tip. (Needless to say we get some great service.)
Bear with me on this. The state of Oklahoma gives 100% disabled Vets a sales tax free card. Present your sales card to Wally World customer service and give their card that expemts the sales tax. This savings from buying foodstuff alone adds up fast. All other major businesses do this also. So my money goes farther and stays in the area. Some of the small Mom and Pop do not do this because of so little use and the extra book keeping. If they have what I need or want and the service is good. They still have my business. I do not go anywhere near that they give Vets a free meal on our two most Honored Days. I become too enraged at the POSEs and go into kickass mode. Joe
[…] So, Jonn at TAH had a bit that he found at the WaPo.* […]
I never try for a veterans discount. Never occurred to me. My wife tries to get me to go restaurants on Veterans Day for free food, but I never go. I never feel right about it.
I’m a police officer as well as a veteran. There is a whole ‘nuther discount setup for cops. You couldnt avoid it if you wanted to. In order not to cause a scene I accept those discounts and return it in tips. Some cops are not that way. I’ve known some that put on a uniform just to get free food at the drive thru. Scum.
The weirdest place I was offered a discount was at an Adult store. I was in there with my gf and as I was paying for what we got, the saleslady saw my ID card. She then offered me a military discount. I was blown away, but I declined.
“I was blown away.” Really? Right in front of your girlfriend? {/snorkle}
My fifteen years on active duty did not make me entitled. I never take advantage of all the freebies on Veterans Day because that is my time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those before me. I was in Lowes once checking out and the girl saw my veterans id and offered me a 10% discount on my purchase. I relented to avoid any questions that might service from refusing. It was a hefty bill so the discount was appreciated. Other than that, I don’t chase down deals because of my service to the country.
*surface instead of service.
Lowes also has the mylowes account, a free card that gives everyone ten percent off. When its just me, that’s all I use at lowes. When my husband goes, he uses the mylowes and the military discount. It adds up to twenty percent off, which helps out a lot for us. That’s the only place we use the military discount and also the only place we shop for tools, paint, plants and household project materials. While the discount is nice, its even better seeing so many vets and reserve members working there.
I’m a Cashier. I do not own the store. I do not make the policies, I follow them. I need my job to help feed and shelter my family.
I’ve had my job threatened over the Veteran’s 10 % discount. Policy states that Service Connected Veterans get the every day discount. All other Veterans recieve the discounts on Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veteran’s Day. The United States Goverment provides I. D. For Active Duty Military, Retired and Reserves. Members of their families also have a United State Government issued I.D.. These I.D.s also qualify for the every day discount. The United States Department of The Veterans Administations provide a Veterans I.D. That clearly states whether you are Service Connected. These are the required Identification Cards that our Corporate Office honors for Military Discounts.
Most large companies have set aside funds every year for all Veterans. They build, rehab, houses for homeless and disabled Vets. They contribute millions of dollars to Veteran causes. Please read all Company Policies at the Corporate sites before you scream at me because you think the company I work for does not honor our Veterans.
I’ve been spit at, had carts shoved into me, been called a bigot and cursed at by Veterans that do not qualify for our every day discounts.
I have to follow our company policies. I work with Veterans that are employed by our company. They also deal with this behavior when they have to enforce this policy.
It’s just sad.