If you ask at the checkout counter, Lowes will give active duty and retired military a 10% discount.

You must ask for "the military discount" and you must show your military ID card. Then the checker will get approval from a manager and you will get 10% off of everything on your ticket. Frequently they even smile and thank me for my service.

My wife usually gets the discount too by showing her military dependents ID card.

This actually doesn't apply all of the time. All of the stores don't honor it on a day to day basis. (that's what we were told by a manager) It really all depends on the store and the manager on duty. They do run specials a few of times a year like on Veterans Day, 4th of July and Labor Day (I think) and give the 10% discount to military.

At the Lowes here in town, we've only asked a couple of times and those were on a large purchases. They had to stop, go find a manager, look it up, get it approved and then they still looked at us funny. So, to me...it's not worth the hassle unless it's a major savings.

Here they just do it during special days...like Blondie said,Veteran's day,4th of July...and days like that.

Actually, I was offered a military discount just before Christmas when the cashier saw my CAC card in my wallet. I asked when making another purchase over the past weekend and was told that the corporate HQ recently sent a memo establishing a 10% military discount all of the time, not just on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day weekends. I saved over $200 over that past few weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by 19500184:
Actually, I was offered a military discount just before Christmas when the cashier saw my CAC card in my wallet. I asked when making another purchase over the past weekend and was told that the corporate HQ recently sent a memo establishing a 10% military discount all of the time, not just on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veterans Day weekends. I saved over $200 over that past few weeks.

Ditto on the discount at the Summerville, SC Home Depot-- I didn't know about it and like your experience the cashier saw my Retard Card, made me aware of it.

Not all the stores offer the discount all the time.

In the Lowes Policy and Procedure the discount is only offered at the descression of the Store Manager. Sometimes Corprate will have it go company wide.

Last week I was in The Home Depot in Liberty MO and the lady seen my ret ID card and said they had a policy of 10% off all the time.

Yes, I believe it is always the case at Home Depot to offer %10 off for military.

I'm in Georgia, and even in the Atlanta end of the state people are very military friendly - including the home improvement stores. I didn't know about the Lowe's discount until a couple of months ago when a checker noticed my ID and told me about it. They've never said anything about it only being valid on certain days here, and more than one store has honored it without issue. I haven't tried it with Home Depot yet, but imagine that it will probably be the same case there. I have not used it on anything really large to this point, but the kid at the counter last weekend said that there was no restriction that he knew about in regard to what items it applied to. I imagine that there may be some restrictions on clearance items or especially on construction/installation services like windows or carpet. Anyone know?

CCH

I live in Venice Fl and all the Home Depot and Lowes from Here to Tampa Bay and down to Ft Myers offer the discount all the time, and for anything. It's easier to get it at Home Depot cause there the cashier can do it. At Lowe's the manager has to do it. But anything you can save is worth the wait. I have saved from anything to a $1.09 on soil to a $300 grill it's great. Just show your ID, and my wife does it as well.

I live in Martin County, Fl.
Lowes gives a 10% discount. All you need do is show your ID card and ask at any check-out.
Home Depot always tells me that they only give a discount on certain days. When I tell them that Lowes gives a discount all the time, then they always give the same 10% discount.
The stores are less than a mile apart.

Bob T

I am in Greensboro, NC

I was told today by the cashier at Lowes (after she saw my ID in my wallet) that the 10% discount was every day at every Lowes. All I had to do was ask and they were required by corporate to give the discount.

I've worked part time at our local Lowe's for a year and just found out a few months ago that "Yes, Lowe's offers a 10% discount for active or retired military and their families. They MUST ask for the discount and show their military ID." Lowe's employees are DIScouraged from offering the discount without being asked. A manager has to come to the register to approve the transaction, and that sometimes takes a few minutes.

From: Doug Cabarle <cabarle@gmail.com>
Date: May 17, 2009 12:34:10 PM EDT
To: The Consumerist <tips@consumerist.com>
Subject: Re: Home Depot no longer honoring military discounts

Just got this in from Home Depot:

Dear Mr. Cabarle,

Thank you for contacting The Home Depot Customer Care.

We apologize for any inconvenience that you may have experienced.

We appreciate you taking the time to forward your feedback.

Please know that the feedback you have provided is taken seriously and
will be forwarded to our stores and Corporate Office.

We look forward to your continued patronage and assisting you with all
of your home improvement needs.

Sincerely,

Subodh
Customer Care

On May 17, 2009, at 4:47 AM, The Consumerist wrote:

Thanks for the tip. Have you heard anything back from Home Depot?


LAURA
ASSISTANT EDITOR
THE CONSUMERIST
CONSUMERIST.COM
tips@consumerist.com

On Fri, May 15, 2009 at 7:55 AM, Doug Cabarle <cabarle@gmail.com> wrote:


Sirs:

Thought you may be interested in this change in policy. This is the e-mail I
sent to Home Depot:

I enjoy the Home Depot in Streetsboro, OH. Most associates are friendly
and helpful and are willing to teach a novice like me about home projects.
I’ve been coming to this Home Depot for years. Until now. I used to get a
military discount and found out on May 14, 2009 at 11:30am that Home Depot
will only honor Military Discounts on Veteran’s Day. I understand you have
to look at your store’s bottom line. Your cashier told me Corporate made
this decision and there was nothing the store could do about it. Please
understand, the cashier was clearly uncomfortable telling me this but was
friendly. I politely thanked her and bought my $14.00 worth of merchandise
and left. In addition, a customer gave the tip to go to the post office and
get the moving kit that has a 10% coupon. I find this distasteful and I
won’t do it. To give you some background about myself, I am a 100% service
connected disabled veteran. I am on dialysis three days a week for four to
five hours at a time. I cannot always participate in parades or special
events because my disabilities are painful and limit my life activities. I
am a member of several Veteran Organizations and past president of our Navy
League council. So, if a discount is only being offered on certain days or
times, I usually cannot enjoy that benefit. In the past, I could count on
Home Depot for that extra 10% off. Until now. In comparison, the contactor I
hired encouraged me to try going to Lowes, just down the street from you.
This time, I spent $600 worth of merchandise. After showing my Military ID,
they gave me a 10%discount. In addition, Lowes told me to continue coming
back with my ID and they will honor it. I have decided to share my story
and it published within all of the military organizations I am a member,
roughly 12 of them. In addition my experience between the two stores will
also be published on Consumerist.com, a consumer affairs website. Thank you
for the wonderful service your store has provided me, and prior military
discounts. Most of it was used to modify my house to accommodate my
disabilities.

Here in the North East their policy is on Veteran's Day and possibly Memorial Day depending again on the store. I've had this experience both with Lowes and Home Depot. If you can wait on big purchases than the 10% is really nice. Again, I think it depends on location.

So now I'm confused about the discount out their for this weekend. Despite the Army Times article below, I will assume that it's spotty and check with customer service.

Lowe’s, Home Depot offer military deals

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday May 21, 2009 6:07:22 EDT

The nation’s two largest home improvement stores, Lowe’s and Home Depot, are again offering a 10-percent military discount for Memorial Day, starting Thursday.

Active-duty personnel, National Guard and reserve members, retirees, honorably discharged veterans and immediate family members of all those groups are eligible. Customers who request the discount should show a valid military ID card or other proof of service.

The stores differ in their offers:

• Lowe’s discount is offered from Thursday through May 25 on purchases up to $5,000. That means the maximum discount will be $500. The offer is good for in-store purchases only and it does not apply to online sales, previous sales, purchase of services or gift cards.

• The Home Depot’s discount is offered in stores from Thursday through May 27 on purchases up to $2,000, for a $200 maximum discount.

Ok ...was in Bangor Maine Home Depot today to make a purchase of new toilet and when I took out my Department of Defense card to get my usual 10% discount the young lady was really quick to tell me, as she hurriedly rang up my purchase, that "it came down from Corporate that we no longer offer a military discount". I politely tried to pursue the issue and was pushed along, something about holding up customers sir, and feel free to contact the customer service number on your reciept ...NEXT?!...
Much to the dismay of a couple customers who were interestedly listening for her replies. Well, being a disabled Veteran it had my back up a bit so I called Lowe's in Brewer Maine and politely recieved confirmation that Lowes in Brewer will continue to support our Veterans and they will happily give a 10% discount to our men and women in uniform, and veterans in possession of a retired/disabled veteran/ or any form of Department of Defense ID showing Military service. Thank you very much Lowes...you now have all my future business. Home Depot? go lay down by your dish...Nuff said.. Will be speaking with my fellow vets about this issue when I am at my VFW or American Legion. ( member in good standing of both) So ....any questions?

That is the biggest reason why I go to Lowes over HD. Usually I wait until I need alot of things and make sure that its over 299 so I can put it on my Lowes and do the 6 or 12 months same as cash. It just overall works better for us.

It must vary everywhere. Here the Lowes gives it all the time and I was told by their manager that it was new Lowes policy that they all did it all the time now.
Home Depot on the other hand only offers it on special occasions.