Posted on Nov 18, 2014
Civilians posing as vets to get discounts? What would you do?
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Has anyone else run across a civilian posing as a vet to get discounts (Home Depot/Lowes)? What did you do? Do you let them continue or do you correct the situation?
Civilians
Military Discounts
Stolen Valor
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 21
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD CW5 (Join to see) SGT Richard H. PO1 (Join to see) SSgt Nicholas Sherwood SSgt (Join to see) SGT Michael Glenn Sir, Chief, and fellow NCOs, I shop at Home Depot and Lowes in my community and am always asked to present my ID which I do. Proudly I might add. If I were to see someone who was a faker attempting to gain the benefit of a discount at one of these stores, I would call them out on it and also make the cashier and management aware. Further, I would probably request law enforcement be called as in my opinion, this is theft by deception. A small monetary amount, probably, but I would gladly sign that complaint.
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CWO3 Bryan Luciani
In order to save time with a post of my own, let's just say I would absolutely follow SFC Finck's example to the letter.
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SGM Erik Marquez
Stolen valor is only chargeable if something of value is obtained. So that said, yes if I observed a person fraudulently receiving something of value by faking service, Id likely follow it up. But the mentally ill ones that do it for attention? Nope, no recognition what so ever. That is what they NEED to validate those chose to pretend. And it is my observation they care not if the attention is positive or negative..so any attention given to them is playing into their game...Ignore them and make them irrelevant.
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD, I think the right thing to do would be to correct the situation.
I wonder how they can pose as vets? Any time I've asked for a military/veteran discount at those stores, an ID card is required. I guess slicksters could talk their way around that requirement.
If confronting the individual is a problem (and I could understand that), I would at least let management know it's going on.
I wonder how they can pose as vets? Any time I've asked for a military/veteran discount at those stores, an ID card is required. I guess slicksters could talk their way around that requirement.
If confronting the individual is a problem (and I could understand that), I would at least let management know it's going on.
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD
Scott, I agree that if you feel comfortable approaching the individual I recommend that approach. If not absolutely let management know of what happened, and yes it is/was a "slickster" talking a good game and the clerk not ID'ing them. Thanks for the comment!
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Although it would be very tough to enforce........The ONLY TRUE WAY to enforce is show PROOF OF SERVICE. Certified copy of DD-214, or military ID. (Not sure if a VA ID card would be sufficient enough). But if caught......Make it a MISDEMEANOR, "mandatory jail time" and have them serve some type of community service that benefits Military Veterans & their families. And repay back all restitution. A mark on the record FOREVER!
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I have not, however awkwardly, I have been approached by a couple of vets on different occasions where I can tell that they were verifying my service.
Back story, I wear my service uniform to work a lot, and in the Puget Sound area, it is an uncommon uniform to see, since everyone wears the NWU. The other part is that I have a fair number of awards plus a few uncommon ones as well.
The point is that I like how they approached the situation. Instead of immediately attacking the accused, they effectively interviewed. Now I don't know what they would do if I was an imposter, but if I was in that position, I would sternly give them a piece of my mind.
If they were violating the Stolen Valor act, I would call the authorities on them and claim citizen arrest.
Back story, I wear my service uniform to work a lot, and in the Puget Sound area, it is an uncommon uniform to see, since everyone wears the NWU. The other part is that I have a fair number of awards plus a few uncommon ones as well.
The point is that I like how they approached the situation. Instead of immediately attacking the accused, they effectively interviewed. Now I don't know what they would do if I was an imposter, but if I was in that position, I would sternly give them a piece of my mind.
If they were violating the Stolen Valor act, I would call the authorities on them and claim citizen arrest.
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD
Good to know that there are some folks out their looking to stop the imposters. Good story Nate, thanks for sharing.
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SPC Thomas Lema
stores should just ask for proof, example, a vic card or have veteran put on their driver license
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I'm quick to correct the situation. I can't stand posers. They didn't do anything to earn a discount. If they want one so bad, they can join the military like the rest of us.
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This does highlight a need for an "official" DoD veteran ID card... that would stop this immediately...
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SPC Thomas Lema
where i live in Buffalo N.Y. you can have it put on your driver license, well for that matter ant place in the state'
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Sir, 2 part answer for you...
1. I live in San Antonio, there are so many retiree's here, a million DV plate cars and trucks, & an astronomical amount of homeless...and if I were a betting man, 75% of them are Vets. So it's very hard to tell, it's kind of like the kids posters "Where in the World is Waldo?" Except all the people surrounding Waldo are the Vets. LOL
2. This actually coincides with other forums; there are literally a dozen Army/Navy Surplus shops, a handful of Tactical Gear stores, and not to mention the on Base, Post Civilian shops that anyone can purchase from. (You only need a drivers license to get into Fort Sam Houston/Joint Base S.A.) With all this accessible to the Jo/Jane Civilian sector, it makes it very difficult to catch those posing as a Vet/Retiree. Unless of course they wear one of the Service's dress uniforms out of regulation standards.
So what would I do...take a deep breath, count to 3, and bring some order to chaos!
1. I live in San Antonio, there are so many retiree's here, a million DV plate cars and trucks, & an astronomical amount of homeless...and if I were a betting man, 75% of them are Vets. So it's very hard to tell, it's kind of like the kids posters "Where in the World is Waldo?" Except all the people surrounding Waldo are the Vets. LOL
2. This actually coincides with other forums; there are literally a dozen Army/Navy Surplus shops, a handful of Tactical Gear stores, and not to mention the on Base, Post Civilian shops that anyone can purchase from. (You only need a drivers license to get into Fort Sam Houston/Joint Base S.A.) With all this accessible to the Jo/Jane Civilian sector, it makes it very difficult to catch those posing as a Vet/Retiree. Unless of course they wear one of the Service's dress uniforms out of regulation standards.
So what would I do...take a deep breath, count to 3, and bring some order to chaos!
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Correct the issue, but keep in mind the ole saying '...immatation is the highest form of flattery...'
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I rarely ask for a discount at Home Depot/Lowes unless I am making a substantial purchase. The nice thing is that in Texas if you apply for the veteran's discount on your driver's license, it has a big red VETERAN stamped across it. When you present your ID for purchase with a credit card, most places like that see it and will automatically take the discount. I was confused the first time that this happened, because the cashier did not tell me what was happening, just stopped the transaction and called the manager. The manager thanked me for my service and stated that the cashier was new and could not yet provide the discount without manager approval. It was pretty nice of them. And that is how Lowe's became my favorite!
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SSgt Jeremy Stephens
Oh, and honestly, I have never seen anyone try to get a discount without proof. An old ID, DD214, Veterans ID card. My VA ID card is through the hospital, I thought everyone got one, but looking at the comments, I thought wrong.
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Maj Stephen Parsons, PhD
I haven't witnessed just have been told by a person that he, who has never served a day in the military in any capacity, always tries to get the discount. He was briefed! I was just curious if anyone else had experienced this as well. I can't imagine that it is commonplace as it is pretty low, but I'd be a fool to think that it didn't. Thanks for all the comments.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Exactly SGT Richard H. sure would want to make sure I was correct before confronting.
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