How to Get a Military Discount. Many companies offer military discounts, which is an awesome way to show their appreciation for all military veterans have done for our country. As a veteran, I certainly appreciate the gesture, and I try to thank the company offering the discount whenever it is possible. As well meaning as the military discounts are, however, they sometimes cause problems because there is no general standard among stores regarding discount eligibility. In this article we will cover some helpful information about military discounts, including how to get them, how to find hidden military discounts, what to expect, and what to do if the discount isnt honored. How to Get a Military Discount FAQs About Military Discounts, Eligibility, Military and Veteran ID Cards. Follow these tips for getting a military discount. Military Discount Eligibility. Lets start off with the most important topic who is eligible for a military discount. This is probably the most debated topic Ive seen regarding military discounts. Unfortunately, there isnt one standard. The important thing to remember is that stores arent required to give military discounts its a privilege, not a right. The stores set the rules, and we as military members and veterans, should honor the standards set by the stores. VA_Blood_Test.jpg' alt='How Can I Get My Dd214 Updated News' title='How Can I Get My Dd214 Updated News' />Essentially, you need to get to some rally point and wait for everyone to show up so you can figure out what to do next. Establish security. Lets take a look at some different groups of people who are commonly offered military discounts at various locations Active duty military. Current Guard Reserve. Retirees. Military dependents anyone with a Do. D issued military or dependent IDVeterans proof of service may or may not be requiredAs you can see, there is a wide range of people in this list. And it doesnt always make sense. Many stores which offer military discounts do so out of generosity, but sometimes their policies are made without understanding how the military ID card system works. Compounding this is the fact that there isnt a standard for a national veterans ID card yet legislation has been passed into law, but the cards havent been issued yet. As a result, some military discount policies are misguided. For example, some stores offer discounts for dependents of active duty service members or retirees, while they dont offer discounts for veterans who served, but are no longer on active duty and didnt reach retirement this group of people represents the largest group of veterans. I will be the first to say that it doesnt make sense to give a military discount to a dependent, who is someone who never wore the uniform, then deny a discount to someone who served, but didnt retire. Yes, spouses and dependents make sacrifices on the home front, but they dont warrant greater recognition than someone who served in a combat zone, but didnt remain in the military through retirement. I am qualified to make this statement as I both both served in a combat zone, and was a military spouse after I separated from the military my wife served on active duty while I was a civilian. But here is the kicker it doesnt matter what you or I think we dont make the rules. The stores make the rules, and as this is an act of generosity on their part, its always best to honor their wishes. Finding Hidden Military Discounts. Many stores publicize military discounts, while others dont announce them publicly. You will be surprised how often companies will offer you a military discount if you just ask for it. All it takes is a simple question while you are ordering or checking out. Just ask, do you offer a military discount In some cases you will be told no, but sometimes you will be pleasantly surprised. Just ask, and always thank the person if you receive a discount. And if not, no hard feelings. Remember, this is an act of generosity on their part, not a right veterans deserve. Bonus tip Your odds of success increase substantially when asking for a military discount on a military related holiday, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day or other national holidays. In fact, many stores dont offer military discounts, except on these holidays. Proving Military Service. After determining eligibility, the next most important thing is to be able to prove you served in the military. If you are on active duty, or are a retiree, then this likely isnt a problem, as you should have a military ID Card. But proving military service can be a lot more difficult for a military veteran who didnt retire, and isnt receiving disability from the VA. Unfortunately, there is currently no standard for proving military service, outside of carrying around your current military or retiree ID card, or a DD Form 2. Carrying your DD Form 2. Social Security Number and other personal information on it. The good news is Congress has passed a law that will allow veterans to get an official Veterans ID card through the VA. We dont have word on when they will begin issuing these ID cards, but it looks like it will be sometime in 2. Here are the current forms of ID cards you can use to show proof of service Again, because there is no standard, some stores only accept certain forms of ID or proof of service. Need proof of service If you served in the military, but dont have any records to prove it, you can get a copy of your DD Form 2. National Archives. Both are free and easy to do, and can help you prove your military service. What to Do if a Store Doesnt Honor a Military Discount. As mentioned above, some military discounts are seemingly misguided regarding who is eligible, and who is not. But its not our place to make that judgment. As military discounts are made out of the generosity of the store offering the discount, its in our best interest as military members and veterans to accept a discount with humble thanks when it is offered, and be understanding when it is declined. If you believe you should be eligible for a discount, then politely ask to speak with a manager and explain the situation. But always be sure to fully understand the companys policies on military discounts before doing so and keep in mind policies may change at any time, so be sure to be up to date. All In The Family Season 2 Torrent Download there. One of the biggest complains we have heard is about Home Depot and Lowes discounts. These companies offer military discounts everyday, however, they have changed the eligibility a few times, so the military discounts may only be available to a segment of the military and veteran population. Be sure to review their corporate policies before arguing with management about the discount you are entitled to. Here is the Lowes corporate policy. Remember, military discounts are an act of generosity, not a right. It is never worth making a scene over getting a military discount.