Hats off to the folks at Lowe’s. When it comes to honoring those who’ve served our country “they get it” and are happy to pass along some savings to those who keep us free. To this end, Lowe’s has come up with an easy-to-use military discount that allows vets and active military quick access to their savings when checking out in-store. You verify your information just once and you’re good-to-go every time you shop at the warehouse. Home Depot are you listening? Here’s exactly how the Lowe’s military discount works so you can start saving money today.

What is the Lowe’s Military Discount?

10%.

Lowe’s offers vets and active military a flat 10% military discount on in-store purchases.

Once you’re signed up, you just give the checkout clerk your phone number and you score 10% off.

How Do I Get Signed-Up?

You sign-up in one of two ways.

1. In-Store – On your next visit, stop by the Customer Service Desk and they’ll enroll you. Bring your photo ID and US military documentation.
2. Online – Visit Lowes.com/military, create or log-in to your MyLowe’s account and follow the onscreen prompts.

Once verified, you’ll instantly be able to use your 10% military discount and will never have to re-verify your information as it stays in the computer system indefinitely.

This is a HUGE advantage over the Home Depot as they now make make you verify your military discount by pulling up a QR code on your smartphone via the Home Depot app.

So if you don’t own a smartphone you currently can’t get the Home Depot discount which is terrible.

See Also: Home Depot Military Discount: Time to Cut Through the Confusion

What Proof Is Needed?

Along with a valid photo ID, one of the following forms of documentation will be needed to complete the sign-up process.

– Veteran’s ID card (VIC)

– Veteran Health ID card (VHIC)

– Common Access card

– Uniformed services ID card

– Active duty family member

– Uniformed services ID card active duty

– State driver’s license and ID with veteran’s designation (often a U.S. flag or the word “VETERAN”)

– DD214 or DD256 form

See Also: Target Military Discount: An Easy Way to Save 10% Twice a Year

Who Qualifies?

The following service branches qualify for the discount. This includes both active members, retired members, and those who’ve been discharged.

– Air Force

– Army

– Air National Guard

– Army National Guard

– Coast Guard

– Marine Corps

– Navy

– National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

– U.S. Public Health Service

If you were dishonorably discharged for bad conduct you’re are NOT eligible for the military discount.

Can Spouses Also Get the Discount?

Yes.

When you register for the military discount your spouse will also become eligible.

When checking out in-store, he or she can give your phone number which is tied to the discount and they’ll also score the 10% off.

The clerk will typically ask to see a photo ID to ensure that the last names match.

See Also: Veteran & Military Discounts: 90+ Places Where Heroes Get a Deal

Are Any Products Excluded?

Yes.

The following items and services do NOT qualify for the 10% discount:

– Contractor Packs.

– Buy in Bulk Items.

– Special Value products.

– Lowe’s Credit Card discount offers like the 5% every day discount.

– Items that are price matched.

– Gift cards.

– Online purchases.

– Previous purchases.

– Installation services.

– Extended protection plans.

Is There a Maximum Discount Allowed?

Yes.

The most you can save on any single transaction is $500 which translates to a purchase size of $5,000.

This is fairly generous, especially when compared to the Home Depot, as they limit the discount to $50 per transaction.

See Also: Lowe’s Employee Discount: What Is It? How Do I Get It?

Is My Information Secure?

Yes.

Lowe’s uses a highly trusted 3rd party authentication system to verify your information.

Once verified, they do NOT store any of your documents or images in their system.

Ask the Reader: How much money has the Lowe’s military discount saved you over the years?

Thank you for your service to our country.

By Kyle James

As most of my loyal readers know, I’m a huge fan of retailers offering a military or veteran discount to those who serve our country. Back in December of 2018, Apple officially announced and opened a dedicated online store specifically for active military and veterans. It’s a nice gesture by Apple to offer those who serve and protect our country a good deal on a new iPhone, MacBook, or iPad. So I figured it was time to take a closer look at how the Apple military discount works, how you qualify, and what kind of deals you can expect.

What is the Apple Military Discount?

10%.

Once verified, you’ll gain access to the Military and Vet Online Storefront where all Apple products will be discounted by 10%.

It should be noted that this discount is only available online.

Is the Discount Only Available to Active Military?

No.

All veterans and reserve personnel are also eligible to get the discount.

See Also: The Home Depot Military Discount: It’s Confusing But We Make Sense Of It

What Proof of Service Do I Have to Show?

First of all, Apple uses a verification service called ID.me to verify your military status. Click here to start your verification.

To prove you’re active, retired, or reserve military status you’ll need one of the following:

– Veteran’s ID card (VIC)

– Veteran Health ID card (VHIC)

– Common Access card

– State driver’s license with veteran’s designation (usually has a U.S. flag or the word “Veteran” on it)

– Uniformed services ID card

– DD214 or DD256 form

Are All Military Branches Eligible?

Yes.

All branches of the armed forces are eligible along with the National Guard and Reserve.

What Products Can I Get a Discount On?

As a general rule, you’ll score a 10% discount on the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, MacBook, Apple TV, and accessories.

You’ll also get a discount on AppleCare and AppleCare+ protection plans which is nice.

Are There Any Exclusions?

Yes, but not many.

The only items excluded from the Apple military discount are 3rd party accessories sold by Adobe, HP, Microsoft, and Bose.

See Also: Apple Employee Discount: All Your Burning Questions Answered

Is Apple Okay With Me Reselling Products Later?

Yes.

Apple is fine with you reselling products you bought with your military discount.

First of all, there is no way they could logistically track what used products you sell.

Secondly, they know you’re probably going to upgrade and spend even more money on new Apple products so they are fine with it.

Does Apple Limit the Number of Products I Can Buy?

Yes.

Apple specifically says the military discount is for “personal use” only.

To this end, they limit you to only three Mac computers, iPhones, AirPods, iPads, HomePods, and Apple TVs per calendar year.

They raise that limit to ten when buying Beat products, refurbished items, iPod Touch, and Apple Watch accessories.

Can Family Members Get the Discount Too?

Yes.

The one caveat is they have to be an immediate family member who live in the same household.

See Also: Apple Student Discount: Here’s What It Is and How to Take Advantage

How Do I Know I’m Getting the Discount?

The Military storefront on the Apple website doesn’t typically list the original price which can leave you wondering if you’re actually getting a discount.

To insure you’re actually getting a deal, pull up the Apple Store website in a separate browser tab, find the product you’re interested in purchasing, then compare the price with the military discount price.

Ask the Reader: Have you been verified by Apple to receive their military and veteran discount? Was it an easy process and how much money has it saved you so far?

By Kyle James

Until recently, the Home Depot did not have an official military discount printed anywhere on their website. This has created a lot of confusion as vets and active military try to figure out what, if any, military discount exists. So I thought I’d take this opportunity to investigate these new changes and see what I could find out. What I discovered was really enlightening. Hopefully you can take advantage of this information at the Home Depot and save some money. Let’s get into it…

What Exactly is the Home Depot Military Discount?

I went straight to the top and called the Home Depot corporate office and spoke personally with a big-whig who basically read me their internal “military discount” policy.

Essentially the discount breaks down into 2 main categories:

1. The Everyday Discount:

The “Everyday” discount at the Home Depot is a flat 10% off and it’s available 365 days a year. It’s good for the following service men/women.

– Active members and Veterans from the following:

• Army
• Navy
• Air Force
• Marine Corps
• Coast Guard
• Space Force
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS)
• National Guard

– Reserve personnel

– Retired veterans who served for at least 20 years.

– Those with a Service-Connected disability.

2. The Holiday Discount:

The “Holiday” discount is also 10% and is good for all other veterans who don’t fit into the four “everyday discount” categories above.

But…it’s only available on these 3 holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Veteran’s Day.

See Also: Lowe’s Military Discount: If You Served, It’s a No-Brainer Way to Save

You’ll Need to Show Proper I.D.

You’ll need to show one of these eight ID’s when registering for the discount (more on how to do this later):

• Active Duty Military ID card w/ picture (Green Background)
• Retired Military ID card w/ picture (Blue Background)
• VA Card with word “Service” on it.
• DD-214 form.
• Valid driver’s license with the U.S. flag  -OR- “Veteran” designation.
• A service-connected VA Medical Center card.
• Common Access Card (CAC).
• Active Military and Retired Military ID card for spouse or dependents. (Yellow/Beige Background)

I’m not sure what evidence is required to get the “Holiday” discount.

Please let me know in the comments if you have the answer to that question.

See Also: Veteran & Military Discounts: 90+ Places Where Heroes Get a Deal

The Discount Can Be Used Online

As of October 2023, you can use your discount online and in-store.

Because of this, you need to create a Home Depot account and then GO HERE to get your military status in their system.

You can also scroll down this page until you see “SERVING MEANS SAVINGS” and click on Learn More. See screenshot above.

You’ll then be guided through the process of registering for the military discount.

The good news is you only need to register ONCE and then you can use the discount online and in-store forever.

The 10% discount will be tied directly to your online account, so when you shop the Home Depot website, the discount will automatically be applied to your purchase.

Use the Home Depot App When Checking Out In-Store

First of all, you still need to register online or via the Home Depot app for the in-store discount just like you do for the online discount.

NOTE: Keep in mind that when using the Home Depot app you need an iPhone with iOS 13 or newer -OR- Android 10 OS or newer for an Android smartphone.

Follow the same exact directions that are posted above in the “Can the Discount Be Used Online?” section.

Then when you’re shopping in-store, you’ll have to present a Virtual ID (see picture above, looks similar to a QR code) on your smartphone for the cashier to scan in order to get your 10% discount.

The best way to make this happen is to download the Home Depot app and login to your account via the smartphone app.

That way it will be really easy to pull up the Virtual ID for them to scan.

Here’s EXACTLY how to find the barcode within the Home Depot app: (thanks Gail!)

1. Go to Menu, then My Account.
2. Then tap Account, to access the drop-down menu.
3. Next tap Military Discount Benefit.
4. Then the Barcode will pop up.

Below is an iPhone screenshot to show you exactly where you’ll find it.

Unfortunately, if you DON’T have a smartphone you can no longer get the discount which is a TERRIBLE move by the Home Depot.

Spouses Are Eligible But NOT Dependents

Spouses absolutely are eligible to also get the military discount, including Gold Star spouses.

Unfortunately, dependents cannot score the savings.

Some Items are Excluded from the Discount

Unfortunately, there are a few military discount exclusions.

Here are the most notable:

– Installation Services: Think carpet, blinds, tile, HVAC, closet shelving, and windows.

– Major Appliances: While you cannot use your military discount on major appliances at Home Depot, they have partnered with Military Exchange which gives you tax free and military exclusive pricing on appliances.

– Special Purchase Appliances: If you have to buy the appliance at the special services desk then you probably won’t get the 10% discount.

– Some Commodity Products: Includes some lumber, wire, and building materials.

– Value Priced Merchandise

– Tool Rental Fees

– Delivery and Freight Fees

– Gift Cards

There’s an Annual Maximum Discount

While you can use the discount as often as you want, you’re restricted to a $400 maximum annual discount.

So essentially the discount will be good on the first $4,000 you spend every year.

Cannot Be Combined with Other Discounts

This means you cannot combine the military discount with coupons or other discounts of any kind, including their “10% moving soon” discount.

So What’s the Big Controversy?

Because the Home Depot does not post an official military discount policy online, or in their stores, it’s often misinterpreted by managers and cashiers.

This leads to a lot of confusion and frustration among veterans and active military members.

I’ve read of some HD managers refusing the discount altogether and some cashiers being completely unaware of its existence.

I think if the Home Depot corporate office came out with an official policy, and made it easy to register (like Lowe’s), all of this confusion would go away.

UPDATE: Home Depot now lets you verify your military status online and then you can use your discount BOTH online and in-store.

Visit THIS PAGE and Scroll down the page until you see “SERVING MEANS SAVINGS” and click on Learn More.

Keep in mind that you MUST create a Home Depot account first.

Why Shouldn’t I Just Shop at Lowe’s?

Many vets don’t want to jump through the hoops mentioned above and DON’T want to create a Home Depot account.

Some also don’t have a smartphone, making it impossible to get the discount in-store.

Thus many are opting to shop exclusively at Lowe’s where their military discount is much easier to use.

There’s no doubt the Home Depot is losing a lot of business because of this.

Your military information at Lowe’s is put into their system JUST ONCE and you get your 10% discount every time you shop, no questions asked, and no need for a smartphone.

Come on Home Depot, it’s time to copy your competitor and do the same!

I’d also like to see them open up their “Everyday” discount to ALL vets. After all, isn’t a vet a vet? They are in my book.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever asked for a military discount at the Home Depot? Was it an easy process or not worth the hassle?

Final Note: If you have some further information that I don’t have in this article please leave a comment and I’ll be sure to investigate, thanks.

By Kyle James