I'm normally not one to expect anything from my few years in a few decades ago. But, about ten years ago, I was neck deep in a complete remodel of my home after a hot water heater leak destroyed pretty much everything (and what it didn't, the mold did), and I signed up for the Lowes military discount to save a few bucks on the project. It cost me well north of $40K, so that $4K was a chunk of change.

Back then, I don't recall anything not being eligible for the discount. I'd ring up the whole order and they'd knock the 10% off and I'd be on my merry way. "Not a bad deal", I thought.

However, for the past 2-3 years, everything I've tried to buy has not been eligible for the discount, and when I questioned why, I was told that sale or discount items were not eligible for the military discount. I'd shrug it off and pay up, but was getting a little perturbed as it happened every time...even times when I was unaware that the item was on sale.

Today, I went in and bought a new range hood for $329. I made it a point to look at the tag and nope. Not an on sale item...or otherwise discounted that I could tell. I get up to the self checkout, scan my Lowes card, and lo and behold...the discount doesn't show up...again.

The helper woman there walked over and asked if there was a problem, and I explained that my discount is not showing up. She explained that it was a sale item and thus not eligible. I then asked her to follow me. We walked back to the rack where I got it and I asked her to show me where it said that this item was on sale or otherwise discounted. She, of course, couldn't, and then went on to explain that the discount doesn't apply to appliances. I then asked, "Which is it? It's on sale, or the discount doesn't apply to appliances?" She tripped over her tongue trying to talk her way out of it.

I paid full price because I needed the hood, and when I got home I found this on their website:



Not only are sale/discount items (which seems to be everything in the store) not eligible now, neither are major appliances (wasn't aware that a range hood was a major appliance), but electrical cables, wires, and lumber...among other things.

Screw Lowes. They are doing everything they can to not honor their military discount while advertising that they offer a military discount.

I've cut up my MyLowes card and called customer service to tell them why.

Same policies at Home Depot. and they have a $400 annual cap.

I really do not like either of these stores, but I have found that Home Depot, with military (veteran) discount, generally costs less than Lowe's for equivalent products.

I retired in 2010 and spent many thousands of dollars at Lowes for appliances and lawn equipment. They gave a good discount that saved me $ over the years. Then WHAM, I ran into the same thing already mentioned. A discount is not much good with their new parameters.

Lock N Load

Michael
USMC Ret

Haven’t been to Lowe’s in years.

I rarely ask for a military discount, but was instead asked if I qualified for one in Lowes by a cashier, I showed my ID and said sure.

Then just enter your email and you’ll get the discount.

Piss off, I get a discount for being in the military, not entering my e-mail for you.

“Then you don’t get the discount.”

I put my stuff down and walked out. Haven’t been back since that I can remember.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig,

I think it was costing them too much to have an unlimited veteran's discount and they had to limit it. I was disappointed last year to find that the 10% veteran's discount did not apply to some 12/2 and 14/2 Romex wire I was buying but oh well, they don't have to offer it at all and be happy they even offer it is my attitude.

I also suspect it was getting abused, like contractors coming in and using it for their own business when it was supposed to be for personal use.

having the discount apply only to full price doesn't make sense to me which is why I don't go to Lowe's anymore. I've been spending a lot at Home Depot and I usually get the military discount. I also am part of the "pro" program so purchases rack up future discounts.

Yup, assholes taking advantage and playing the system screwed their fellow vets.

They had a great thing going. And now it is a joke. Kinda like the drug dealer giving you the first hit for free. I can understand block (i) not applying. But major appliances and lumber? Lame. What is even worse in Lowes' (and Home Depot) lumber is a joke.

quote:

Originally posted by 95flhr:
Same policies at Home Depot. and they have a $400 annual cap.

When I got the discount on flooring, they couldn't do it the regular way, so they used a bar code they keep at the flooring station. It didn't show up as being taken off my account, so I continued getting discounts for the rest of the year.

Personally I don't like the idea of any group discounts at stores, car dealerships, etc., be it for seniors, military, first responders, college graduates, etc. Price your merchandise as fairly as you can for everyone. Anyway that's just me.

I was discussing the discount thing with my brother, who is a deputy. His gripe was that many vendors have veteran discounts, but not first responder. He say's "so a guy that was a cook in the military for 2 years gets discounts for life and I put in 25 years and get zip?"

At my agency, it was HR's policy that any discounts accepted by their officers, even if it was a stores national policy, was unethical. I can see a local entity that you may have an influence over. I raised as an example that I was in Sacramento for training, and there was a national chain department store that advertised a "Teachers Day, LE Day and Fire Fighter Day" with a discount on sales for that day. They were of the opinion that any officer that took advantage of that was unethical.

quote:

Originally posted by Tonydec:
I was discussing the discount thing with my brother, who is a deputy. His gripe was that many vendors have veteran discounts, but not first responder. He say's "so a guy that was a cook in the military for 2 years gets discounts for life and I put in 25 years and get zip?"

At my agency, it was HR's policy that any discounts accepted by their officers, even if it was a stores national policy, was unethical. I can see a local entity that you may have an influence over. I raised as an example that I was in Sacramento for training, and there was a national chain department store that advertised a "Teachers Day, LE Day and Fire Fighter Day" with a discount on sales for that day. They were of the opinion that any officer that took advantage of that was unethical.

Why should Leos, firemen and EMTs with 25 years get discounts when someone who does 40 years at a County job gets no discount? Or someone who did 40 years at Sears or Wards or Wal Mart?

Hmmm, disgruntled over an insufficient entitlement! You'd think one would/should be grateful that there's ANY discount offered...Just Sayin'

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Hmmm, disgruntled over an insufficient entitlement! You'd think one would/should be grateful that there's ANY discount offered...Just Sayin'

Ditto.....

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Hmmm, disgruntled over an insufficient entitlement! You'd think one would/should be grateful that there's ANY discount offered...Just Sayin'

Ditto.....

I'll step out on a limb here and speak for all the active and prior military on this forum and say that we don't demand or WANT a discount.

We simply don't want to be bullshitted.

You can read my post for further explanation of my experience with Lowes.

Don't parade your military bullshit, veteran parking, blah blah blah and sell it like that, then continue to take take take.

It's a cunt hair away from blatant lying.

quote:

Personally I don't like the idea of any group discounts at stores, car dealerships, etc., be it for seniors, military, first responders, college graduates, etc. Price your merchandise as fairly as you can for everyone. Anyway that's just me.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree. Just a BS handout to boost sales. It would make more sense to lay wreaths at the National Cemetery or contribute to a good cause.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
I think it was costing them too much to have an unlimited veteran's discount and they had to limit it. I was disappointed last year to find that the 10% veteran's discount did not apply to some 12/2 and 14/2 Romex wire I was buying but oh well, they don't have to offer it at all and be happy they even offer it is my attitude.

I also suspect it was getting abused, like contractors coming in and using it for their own business when it was supposed to be for personal use.

This. It got abused and the margin on those categories has gotten razor thin. Some of the lumber is being sold at a loss right now.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Hmmm, disgruntled over an insufficient entitlement! You'd think one would/should be grateful that there's ANY discount offered...Just Sayin'

Ditto.....

I'll step out on a limb here and speak for all the active and prior military on this forum and say that we don't demand or WANT a discount.

We simply don't want to be bullshitted.

You can read my post for further explanation of my experience with Lowes.

Don't parade your military bullshit, veteran parking, blah blah blah and sell it like that, then continue to take take take.

It's a cunt hair away from blatant lying.

Just to be clear, MY post was NOT directed at you, or your post at all. In fact, your post was somewhat divergent from the general tenor of this thread. A few posts however (certainly not all) did in fact seem to be nitpicking the Veterans Discount policy specifically in regards to limitations on how it would apply, and by that measure it seemed they were stating that were being insufficiently rewarded with a discount. As such, I don't think you're speaking for 'all' of the active or prior military on this forum...Some in fact seemed to be demanding it, which seemed somewhat petty, hence my post.

That said, IMO you're absolutely correct in that what you indicated re: your experience at Lowes was more about them/marketing than doing anything either in true recognition of, or for the benefit of military veterans, so shame on them.

My apologies for any angst that resulted from my post...

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:

I'll step out on a limb here and speak for all the active and prior military on this forum and say that we don't demand or WANT a discount.

We simply don't want to be bullshitted.

You can read my post for further explanation of my experience with Lowes.

Don't parade your military bullshit, veteran parking, blah blah blah and sell it like that, then continue to take take take.

It's a cunt hair away from blatant lying.

You don't speak for me and I suspect you don't speak for the majority of Veterans here, but I could be wrong.

I'll never forget coming out the gate at Travis AFB and all the Hippies were blocking our way, hurling insults and in some cases spitting on us.

And I'll never forget going to work shortly afterwards and some people at work looking at me like they suspected I'd come unhinged and would come in with a gun and kill them all because everyone knew Veterans were all nuts.

No, I have had nothing but positive experiences with Lowe's and some others like them and I definitely appreciate their efforts on the behalf of Veterans.