Spring Fixes

Spring is here, and for many, thoughts turn to fixing up the things around the house and yard that have been lacking attention during the Winter. Now is the perfect time to head to your favorite home center or hardware store to get all those things that make your house a more beautiful, and more comfortable place to live.

The nations two largest home centers (Home Depot and Lowe’s) both have discount programs for active duty, reserve, and retired (at least 20 years service) military year round, with the discount given to all veterans on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veteran’s Day weekends…but how similar are they?

Both stores say they offer a 10% year-round discount to active duty and retired personnel with a VALID MILITARY ID. Neither store allows you to combine the discount with other offers, and Home Depot specifically excludes a long list of brands from the discount (including John Deere, Honda, Toro, Weber, and many others).

Even though the policies are similar on the surface, it seems that the policies are enforced in very different ways. I have heard from many veterans that in some Home Depots they are given the 10% discount right away with no problems, while in others, they are asked to register with Customer Service and give their phone number, and some were denied the discount outright. Many of these people then went to Lowe’s and found their policy much more uniform and easier to obtain.

The lack of consistency can be frustrating for anyone, especially when a special offer is dangled in front of you, just to find out that you may have to jump through hoops to get it, or you might not get it at all!

Many active duty and retired personnel don’t even bother to ask for a discount when they go shopping, they don’t feel the world owes them anything.  But I think that (especially in these tough financial times), that a small discount on products and services is one of the many great ways that we can honor the men and women who have helped keep our country free and safe.

What are your experiences at Home Depot and Lowe’s?  Let us know on our Facebook page.

 

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