Any other Vets not participating in free-bees or discounts?

[Pat Riot]

Perhaps it’s just me, but I don’t participate in Veteran’s Day free-bees and discounts. I got my haircut Saturday and as my barber was walking with me up to the register she said “I am going to give you a Veteran’s discount card so you can get a free haircut the next time you come in.”

I thanked her but told her I don’t do that. 
She said “My husband doesn’t either. It must be a Marine Corps and Navy thing. Why is that?”

”I don’t know. I just never felt comfortable with taking free stuff and discounts just because I served in the military. I will take a veteran’s discount at Lowe’s and Hone Depot because their prices are too high, but other than that I don’t participate.”

 

Anyone else not participate in these things?

[Redleg Reilly, SASS #46372]

It's not a Navy/Marines thing.  I'm retired Army and don't participate.  I appreciate that some businesses want to thank us for our service, but it sets me the wrong way when I see headlines like "all the free stuff you can get on the 11th".  To me, it cheapens my service so I just attempt to ignore it all.

[Duffield, SASS #23454]

I am passing up all the free meals today. I appreciate the gesture but....

[PowderRiverCowboy]

Nope never , nor the prey off veterans sales .

[Pat Riot]

39 minutes ago, Redleg Reilly, SASS #46372 said:

To me, it cheapens my service so I just attempt to ignore it all.

Agreed. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I don’t. I did once at Home Depot to save $100.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Nope.  Agree with the folks that feel it cheapens our service.  I'm nobody's poster boy for retail sales.  I'm also not destitute and don't need a "free meal."

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

NOPE , I will stay to home and AVOID the mess 

 

  CB  

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

A lot of places just have Veterans day sales that include anyone. Lots of them online.

[Pat Riot]

I recall a SASS match years ago where they served a BBQ lunch and all the Veterans ate for free. That was nice because it was nice folks doing something nice for the vets. Non-veterans paid a small fee for their lunch. 
I just can’t do commercialized events nor do I want to be involved with someone pandering for votes, money, ego, etc.

 

 

I swear…I am going to hunt Otto down and give him a toothache! 

Edited November 11 by Pat Riot

[Eyesa Horg]

I'm not sure what to feel about this thread. I'm not a veteran, but think I know where you're coming from and don't blame you one bit.

On the other hand, I truly appreciate the service and sacrifice our Veterans have given so that I can enjoy the freedoms that I DO enjoy.

If I was a business owner, I think I would also want to do something for Veterans as a true Thank you. I'd be so bummed if you were offended by my gesture.

With that said, "Thank you Veterans for your service" 

 

Edited November 11 by Eyesa Horg
Left out a word or Otto stole it.

[Widder, SASS #59054]

On those free meals on Veterans Day...... NO, I don't participate.

 

BUT, because Lowe's gives 10% off year round to Veterans..... YES, I participate.   I spend a good deal of

money at Lowes so that 10% adds up for me.

 

..........Widder

 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

It’s just a way for merchants to generate warm publicity and more business.

[Stump Water]

I was having lunch.  Next table over was a fellow with a Korean War Vet hat on having lunch with his wife.  Waitress brought my check and then theirs.  As I went to pay I picked up their check, looked at him and said, "Thank you" and headed to the register.

 

I was having lunch.  Next table over were 3 LEOs.  When I went to pay I told the lady to give their check. She did and I paid it along with mine and left.  

 

Doesn't happen every day.  But when I can I do.  My first example above was a bit unusual.  I prefer to be anonymous about it, because it isn't about me.

 

Thank you Vets, and everyone else that puts their life on the line.

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

As some of you have said, I generally don't except for Lowes, and a couple other "big" places, (Jerry Bob's restaurant has a veterans discount, free drink, and they're a big chain). But I received an offer from LAX Ammo in my email this morning. 5% off on their ammo. For life. Their ammo is fairly inexpensive anyway, but I might just take them up on this. Unfortunately, they don't have lead ammo, so no Cowboy ammo. But for general paper punching, I just might try it. 

Anybody have any experience with them?

Here's the link: https://www.laxammo.com/military-veteran

[Warden Callaway]

My oldest son,  Navy veteran, made no use of any benefits,  that I'm aware.  Youngest son, Marine, made good use of GI bill and got educated.  I know he's used his veteran statis to get big discount on new car and UTV.  Last time we were in Grafs retail, they had a sign up saying they give 5% veteran discount.  He paid for what we both picked up.

[Sedalia Dave]

I take the Lowes and Home Depot discount. The free meals on Veterans day I don't go out of my way for.

 

However, yesterday we ate at an I Hop. We are both vets but rather than order two breakfasts, we decided to order one and split it. We ordered a extra coffee so when the waiter brought the check I gave him a $20 and told him to keep the change. 

[Pat Riot]

18 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

As some of you have said, I generally don't except for Lowes, and a couple other "big" places, (Jerry Bob's restaurant has a veterans discount, free drink, and they're a big chain). But I received an offer from LAX Ammo in my email this morning. 5% off on their ammo. For life. Their ammo is fairly inexpensive anyway, but I might just take them up on this. Unfortunately, they don't have lead ammo, so no Cowboy ammo. But for general paper punching, I just might try it. 

Anybody have any experience with them?

Here's the link: https://www.laxammo.com/military-veteran

LAX Ammo makes some decent ammo. I am trying to remember their ammo brand name. They sell ammo under LAX, but they also sell ammo under a name that begins with “F”. I will probably think of it after I hit “Submit Reply. The same company that owns LAX also owns X-Treme bullets. For jacketed and plated bullets I like them much better than Berry’s. As for FMJ their bullets are also good. 
 

Edit: Freedom Munitions

Edited November 12 by Pat Riot

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Pat Riot said:

LAX Ammo makes some decent ammo. I am trying to remember their ammo brand name. They sell ammo under LAX, but they also sell ammo under a name that begins with “F”. I will probably think of it after I hit “Submit Reply. The same company that owns LAX also owns X-Treme bullets. For jacketed and plated bullets I like them much better than Berry’s. As for FMJ their bullets are also good. 
 

Edit: Freedom Munitions

Thanks Pat. I asked them what type of ID number they needed, and got a response this morning that a DD214 is acceptable. 

[Pat Riot]

2 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Thanks Pat. I asked them what type of ID number they needed, and got a response this morning that a DD214 is acceptable. 

UR Welcome
I wonder if they accept that VA “ID Me” card. I may have to check this out. I already have bought lots of ammo and reloading supplies from LAX and their affiliates. I do plan to buy more. I will accept their kind offer of 5%. 

[Barry Sloe]

I actually went to In-N-Out and got the free meal. 

I used to get the discount at Home Depot and Lowes when all you had to do was show your ID card.  I won't do the sign up thing.  

 

BS

[Alpo]

I believe I've told this story before, but I think it bears repeating.

 

Mama called me one day and asked me to go with her to Lowe's. There was a flag-flying holiday (Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, I don't remember which) coming up in a day or so, and she needed a new flag as hers was sort of ratty.

 

And because of the holiday they had a sale. The normally $6.95 flag was $5.

 

So she picks up a flag and we go up to check out. And when she opens her wallet to get out her credit card the cashier sees her ID card, points at it and says that she gets the 10% veterans discount. Mama told her that she wasn't a veteran, that it was her husband, and the lady said it did not matter since she had the ID card.

 

And I asked if it was just because of this holiday sale, or if that was all the time. She told me it was all the time. And I told her that a couple of months earlier Mama had bought a new lawn mower. She asked Mama if she remembered how she paid for it, and Mama said she used that same credit card, so the lady took it back and swiped it again and played around on the register for a minute - you know cash registers are computers nowadays - and said "there it is".

 

About 11 weeks previously, 520-something dollars, and she put $52 back on Mama's credit card. I was impressed.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

I accept the Home Depot and Lowe’s discounts, but not much else. 
 

My barber started giving me a discount when he found out I’d served. It was a kind gesture, but I just boosted his tip.

[Ozark Huckleberry]

I take the Home Depot and Lowe’s. It’s a standing policy, I go there frequently, their stuff is kind of expensive, it adds up. 
 

As far as any other discounts, I don’t go looking for them but if they are offered, I accept them. Corporate publicity or not, the clerk/waiter/whoever made a generous gesture, I’m going to accept it gratefully, not throw it back to them.  One thing I do make sure of is that if it’s a tipping situation, I’ll tip on the full value, not on the discounted price. 

[Alpo]

I used to work with this guy. He spent eight years in the Air Force. Now he's out and he gets hired by us, but he's still in the reserve, so he still has an ID card.

 

And every place he went - at least every place he went that I was with him - he would flash that ID card and ask if they gave a military discount. He did that at Arby's one time when we went for lunch.

[El Chapo]

I have in the past when I had another vet to go with, but I passed on all the deals this year. 

 

I'm happy to take the veteran's discounts when offered though.  Some of them are really steep discounts on things that never go on sale otherwise.

[Rev Willy Dunkum, SASS # 61027]

I agree it is getting to appear as a sale gimmick for warm fuzzies but I really blew up when a father came to claim a veteran discount (Lowes and free meal) because his son served and felt he then deserved it.   Guess what?  They gave it to him....

 

Sorry but that borders on stolen valor to me. l no longer participate. This year I paid full price for my meal elsewhere. 

[Jim Brown]

My wife insists that I take the discount.

So I take the discount, but if the service is at least acceptable I just add the discount amount to my normal tip.

 

Jim brown 

[Pat Riot]

I have nothing against any Vet that wishes to participate in these honorable gifts. I just feel odd about beating my own drum. 

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

as I rarely go out , I do NOT ask for it 

 

  one of the girls might say something , other wise , I slip back into the shadows 

 

  CB 

[Widder, SASS #59054]

1 hour ago, Pat Riot said:

I have nothing against any Vet that wishes to participate in these honorable gifts. I just feel odd about beating my own drum. 

 

I understand.   Not to make light of your comment, I don't mind the drum beating because I can't hear it.

I lost my hearing due to 'service connected' job function.

So beat them drums loud and louder......... cause I can't hear em without these wonderful electronic wizards plugged into

my ears.

 

Yea, the VA supplies the aids and batteries.   Its the only way I can survive and communicate.

 

..........Widder

 

[watab kid]

i believe that any small freebee that a vet gets is far less than they deserve , im of the VN gen that came home to less than great reception , far from what any other vet got and in many cases far beyond the abuse any vet was ever treated to by this country , it was unforgivable and ill never forget , so im in favor of yall taking whatever suites your fancy of the free bees ..........i even gave some i met on the 11th directions to the restaurant's i knew were giving free meals to vets ,