Do you feel entitled to exclusive discounts or deals as a military member?

TSgt Vince Grimes — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:08:02 -0400

Do you as a military feel entitled to exclusive discounts or deals? Do you take advantage of military exclusive benefits such as discounts or deals when you find them or know that they are available? What about asking for a discount at a local restaurant or business; do you find it embarrassing?

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 19 at 2014 10:13 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 10:13:57 -0400

We and our dependents are entitled to whatever those companies generous enough to offer, put out there for us in IAW the specifics of the offer, nothing more, nothing less.

I will occasionally ask about promotions and use them if offered, but that's all. I don't make a habit out of it. I know Foot Locker, Home Depot and Lowes for sure offer discounts and I do take advantage of them as well as my free/discounted Veterans Day and Memorial Day meals. Most of the major car dealerships will usually take another $500.00 off if you show your ID card as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 10:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 10:21:23 -0400

Do I feel entitled to a discount offered where I meet the prescribed criteria? Sure, why not. Do I demand from the businesses something they aren't offering? No. Were I to ask if something exists, anything other than a simple yes or no would be insulting to me that I had the audacity to ask such a thing though. Disrespect is disrespect. But I don't press the issue often and so it doesn't present a problem to me.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Jul 19 at 2014 10:22 AM

LTC Jason Strickland — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 10:22:20 -0400

I don't think we're entitled to anything; however, it's a GREAT business model to honor our military and veteran community - and their immediate family members - with discounts to recognize their service to this country!
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Response by Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn made Jul 19 at 2014 12:29 PM

Cpl Christopher Allen-Shinn — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 12:29:55 -0400

In terms of retail discounts / deals, I appreciate recieving whatever deal the business is offering that I qualify for. I don't mind asking, but I also accept hearing "no." The only benefits that I believe I am entitled to are the federal / state government benefits that I earned as the result of my service in the Marine Corps.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 12:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 12:31:12 -0400

No, I don't feel entitled but I take advantage of them at every opportunity possible, but that's because I'm cheap and I want to save every dollar I can.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 2:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:11:18 -0400

I don't feel entitled to anything. Though I do appreciate military discounts especially the 10% one from Lowe's!

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 2:31 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:31:06 -0400

I don't feel entitled to it, but it does make a difference where I shop. From a business perspective, the companies offering a military discount are getting something out of it. I am often satisfied to pay 90%, but would not purchase at 100%. So the business gets to sell to people willing to pay higher prices at the 100% price, and for those to whom that is too much, they can ask for and pay the 90% price. I'm no more embarrassed to ask than I would be to use a coupon, and use it more than once per day on average.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2014 2:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 02:54:34 -0400

I don't feel entitled to anything outside the military. I didn't enlist for discounts, I enlisted to serve my country and save lives. I volunteered for this job; although the military discounts are appreciated, it's nothing I've come to expect from anyone.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2014 10:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 10:36:34 -0400

Great question. No, I do not feel entitled to discounts or deals solely because of my military affiliation. The only entitlements I care about are what's authorized from the government per the contract I agreed to when I enlisted.

Of course, I do appreciate any discounts or deals that various vendors may wish to give to service-members. Some of the ones I very much like are the 10% off at some places like Home Depot and Lowes. Another big one is not having to pay property taxes on my vehicles when I re-register them every year. One of my favorites is the free National Park Service annual pass. I take advantage of that every year since my wife and I are big history buffs.

Response by SSG William Sutter made Jul 20 at 2014 11:50 AM

SSG William Sutter — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 11:50:50 -0400

I don't really feel that we should expect it any more than a business should not have a discount. It goes back to taking freedom for granted. There are those that don't even know what it is like to not have freedom. I have a rather large family and the bills are moderately high. So yes I will see if they have one, if they don't then that is fine. The bills will continue to get higher as my kids grow up. I will go back to a business that provides better service more than one that has a discount. There are a lot of factors that I consider when returning to a business. If they don't, it will not exclude them for a second trip back.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2014 1:29 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 01:29:04 -0400

Although I do ask if they have one, I don't care if they don't, that's not why I enlisted. I didn't even know there was such a thing as military discounts until I was half way through AIT. Back home on the other hand, I would NEVER ask for a military discount (my hometown is PR). Nobody knows what it is, and only big chain stores like FootLocker offer them, regular stores or small businesses don't even know that a military discount exists.
Besides, I don't know why people get all butthurt when they are told NO, for a discount. It's not like you're gonna get the item with a 75% military discount, it's usually a 10% and people bitch about not getting their discount for an item that costs 30$ regular price.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Sep 3 at 2014 8:57 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 08:57:59 -0400

I have never felt entitled to deals or discounts because of my status as a service member or now as a veteran/retiree, but at the same time I have never not taken advantage of them when they have been offered to me, hell why would I, lol. Never have asked for them but if offered, why not?

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Sep 3 at 2014 9:46 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:46:04 -0400

Entitled? No, I've never felt entitled to a military discount but I will certainly take advantage of one that is available and do not find it embarrassing in the least. Soon I will be proudly taking my senior citizen discounts as well! lol!

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Sep 3 at 2014 9:50 AM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:50:48 -0400

Entitled ----- NO! I do take advantage of the offers from local business and give sincere appreciation to them for offering it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 10:05 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:05:22 -0500

Entitled to a discount due to service, absolutely not. Appreciative, yes. There is already a (growing) sense of entitlement by far too many in our country. As military members (active duty and veteran) i don't believe it should be an embarrassment to inquire about them or accept them when available.

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Nov 18 at 2014 3:35 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:35:47 -0500

No i dont feel i am entitled to discounts even as a Veteran i did not join the military to get discounts. There is only one place where i will show an ID for a discount and that is at lowes and that is because there was a sign by the register that showed for a discount. But every other time i have gotten a discount they put two and two together with my USAA bank card.

Response by PO3 JoseLuis Breton made Nov 18 at 2014 3:41 PM

PO3 JoseLuis Breton — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 15:41:50 -0500

No, However I do ask if there is one and I'm not embarrassed.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Nov 19 at 2014 6:42 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 18:42:19 -0500

Being a vet, there's a discount offered once in a while, now and then. I don't seek out discounts just because I'm a vet. I have been to Applebee's twice maybe on Veteran's Day for their kind offers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2014 10:28 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:28:41 -0500

If a store has a sign up saying that they give a military discount or advertises that they do, I'll ask for it. If as has happened in the past, the clerk, waitress, etc. notices my haircut or something and asks if I'm in the service, I'm certainly not turning a discount down.
But in my mind, I work for the citizens of this great country, they're paying my wages already, I'm not asking for a discount on my personal purchases, to support a choice I make.

Response by John Russell made Dec 26 at 2014 11:26 AM

John Russell — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 11:26:04 -0500

I never felt entitled to discounts. Its nice though. Ive never even been such a douche as to wear my uniform on a flight just so I could get noticed so i can get some first class seat. Never. Ever! I feel that just making it through 11 weeks of basic (mine was instead of 9) while 1/3 of the soldiers went AWOL or became broken already sets me apart. How many people can just drop anything at a moments notice and do the things that we do? Not to mention the hardship tours and deployments. Not many average citizens can hack it nor understand it.Im just happy to be contributing to society in some way. No average joe life for me. No Thanks.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2014 11:50 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 11:50:30 -0500

I do not feet entitled for anything. I am not in the Army for what I can get. With that said, if a store or establishment has a discount for the military to say thank you, then I use it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2015 3:15 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 15:15:09 -0500

Entitled? No. Appreciative? Heck yeah!

Response by Amn Kim Bloodgood made Apr 20 at 2016 11:33 AM

Amn Kim Bloodgood — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 11:33:49 -0400

No. I don't feel entitled at all. I feel embarrassed sometimes and other times I won't ask even though I know they offer it. Just depends on my mood and the day! BTW - I don't have time to do all the Veterans Day discounts/free meals, but know MANY people who take advantage of it!