Home Depot and Lowe’s have long been known to offer a 10% holiday discount to military members and their families, and in many cases veterans and retirees. These promotions were usually limited to the main military holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Veterans Day. Well, no longer – both companies have just announced these offers are available every day of the week! Additionally, you may be able to find discounts online at Lowes.com and savings at HomeDepot.com.
Military Discount Eligibility: Please read the discount information closely, as these discounts may or may not be available to all military veterans on a daily basis.
Home Depot 10% Military Discount
Where one goes the other will follow. Home Depot and Lowe’s are notorious for attempting to undercut their competition, and it is easy to use their deals against each other – try it, just go into a Lowe’s or Home Depot with the flier from the other store and you can almost always get a price match.
The Home Depot 10% military discount was also originally focused on the major veterans holidays, but they followed Lowe’s lead. Again, you should expect to have a proper military ID and except certain limitations on dollar values, online shopping and more. But it’s still a great deal!
Home Depot Military Discount Policy
Some military members and veterans have reported not being able to receive a 10% discount when shopping at Home Depot. I have seen multiple instances where Home Depot advertises the discount, but they don’t officially have the discount listed on their website. An online customer service rep recently gave me this information about Home Depot military discounts:
The Home Depot offers a year-round, 10 percent discount, up to a $500 maximum, at our U.S. stores to all active duty military personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans and their immediate families. We offer this discount to thank them for their outstanding service to this nation and to help make their homes more comfortable and safe. Customers requesting the discount should present a valid military ID.
In addition, a 10 percent discount is also offered in recognition of Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day at all U.S. Home Depot stores for all other military veterans. (source)
I also contacted a Home Depot customer service rep online and she gave me this response:
We proudly offer Active and Veteran military a 10% discount on their online or in store purchases. Please contact Online Customer Care at 1-800-430-3376 and place your online order over the phone for a immediate discount or bring your ID to your local Home Depot. However, this may not be used in combination with any other sale prices or discounts.
This was the first mention I had heard of being able to receive a military discount online, but it’s worth trying to contact Online Customer Care to see if you can get the discount.
Other people have mentioned not being able to receive the discount for in-store purchases. Apparently it often comes down to manager approval, so it is most likely on a store by store basis. Please share your experiences below.
HomeDepot.com Coupon Codes
Lowe’s 10% Military Discount Policy
Lowe’s now offers a 10% military discount to all active duty military members, members of the Guard and Reserve, retired military members and their immediate family members. The 10% Lowe’s discount also applies to disabled veterans and their families. Here is the specific discount information:
To qualify for the Everyday 10% Military Discount, you must: Be currently serving in, or retired from, a qualifying branch of the Armed Services, or be the immediate family member of someone who is and have a valid military ID Card. Or: Be a veteran who receives VA benefits and have a valid Veteran Identification Card (VIC).
We honor all Veterans on three specific holidays: Memorial Day, 4th of July and Veterans Day. During these three holiday weekends, we extend the discount to all veterans who served honorably and who present a valid Form DD214 or other proof of service. The Lowe’s Military Discount is extended to the Veteran community on these three holidays only. (source)
To be eligible for the everyday 10% discount you will need a valid, government-issued military ID card. All other military veterans will still be able to receive the discount on the Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day weekends. The discount applies to in-stock and special-order purchases up to $5,000, but it excludes sales via Lowes.com and purchases of services or gift cards.
Keep in mind you may be able to find discounts at the Lowe’s.com website. Just follow the link or click on the banner below to access these deals. The best part is that you can view inventory and complete your order online, then visit the store and pick up the item. That way you don’t waste a trip only to find out they didn’t have your item in stock.
Don’t forget to shop around. If Home Depot or Lowe’s doesn’t honor the military discount, then compare prices with other stores, including playing Home Depot and Lowe’s against each other (they almost always honor coupons and offers from the other store). There are plenty of home improvement coupons available from various stores.
Comments
I have not tried Home Depot recently for the military discount but just the day after Christmas I was in Lowe’s and asked for the discount and was given it happily! I am not retired but am a veteran with a VA picture ID and that was all I needed to show. You don’t have to even be service-connected disabled in order to enroll in VA health care. With your VA health care you get the VA picture ID. This is in Hawaii. I will try Home Depot the next time I am in there. The only catch is that you have to ask for the discount.
Thanks to all my fellow Veterans for their service whatever the war or time period they served. I am a Vietnam Vet and not sorry I served there!!
I have never had a problem with the 10% discount just show ID. that’s it. VIETNAM -VET- 1967-1968 welcome home
I am a disabled Vietnam vet and did not know about Lowe’s discount until I was in their store buying something. My purchace had been rung up and when I open my wallet the clerk saw my VA card and asked if I was a veteran. She told me to take my receipt to customer service and they gave me cash back for my discount, no problem. So when I needed a humidifier I went there and with my VA discount it was several dollars cheaper than even Wal-Mart right across the street. I shop there for everything I can and tell everybody about the discount.
Lowes has always honored the 10%, just show my retired military ID, before running my credit card.
Home Depot (local in Alamogordo, NM) had switched to the 10% discount only for the holidays mentioned for awhile. I found that if you asked them to price match the 10% that Lowes had it was like magic, the cashier told me that you have to specifically say the words; “price match” “Lowes”, “10% military discount”. They have since gone back to honoring year round, but if they quit I will go back to using the magic words.
Lowe’s in Poughkeepsie, NY does not give a veterans discount, except for Veterans Day and Memorial Day. They do appear on a list I received with stores that give military discounts…………but tried 2 separate times,I asked for the discount, showed the proper id, when told no, I asked for a manager just to check………….no luck……..that was just a few days ago.
Charlie that’s not right because the Lowe’s in Kingston, NY gives the discount year round! I would call customer service at Lowe’s Corporate Level!
My old pink navy reserve card that I received when I was released from active duty used to work at Lowe’s. However, it has an expiration date on it and they have now become very explicit about only excepting cards with “no expiration dates.” In the past some store clerks would even except my American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, or Veteran’s Administration card but no longer. I have also called customer service in the past to place online orders and received the veteran’s discount with no problem or verification. In the store yesterday (San Marcos, CA) they told me going forward they will specifically look for, “the DOD emblem and no expiration date, and Home Depot is doing the same.” In other words, the tan military retiree card, and I wonder if they will even except the active duty green card that has an expiration date? By the way, the clerk gave me the 10% discount anyway on a $500 purchase.
I am a 50% disabled vet. I presented my VA ID card at Home Depot Saturday to get my 10% discount on a $142.96 purchase. The cashier told me this was not a valid ID because it lacked a picture of me on it. I told her the VA did not offer photo ID cards and she was confusing VA ID with military issued IDs. She became somewhat condescending and nasty and still refused me the discount. I probably will shop at Lowes from now on.
To Jon: That just stinks. I contacted Home Depot’s customer service department and you do qualify. The issue is with their staff members. It gets even dumber if you ask to speak to a supervisor because at that point they will support the employee over the veteran/service member. Of the two local Home Depots I will go to the one that is further away because there is never an issue there. Never a problem at Lowe’s but they are much further. I know that companies monitor sites such as this but it does not seem to make a difference with H.D.
Thank you Jon for having served.
Thanks Jimmy.
I just placed an order online and got a military discount. I just hit the live chat button and asked. He said to place the order and give him the conformation code, his supervisor then took it off my bill. They just do a refund onto my card but I can’t complain!
This was on Home Depots site also. They were very nice and thanked me for serving also. Good experience!
I’m a Vietnam Vet 1969-1970. I’m not retired from the service or have VA healthcare. The state of New Jersey now issues a photo Veteran ID Card at the sheriff’s department of your county seat if you live in NJ and produce your DD214. In Burlington County it’s Mt. Holly. This ID was passed by lawmakers in Trenton in appreciation of Vets who served our country. Lowe’s in Voorhees NJ will accept the Veteran ID card but in Clermont, Florida where I vacation, they refused it. It all depends on the manager of the store. I would like to know the link where Ryan Guina says at the top of the article where both stores, Lowes and Home Depot, now gives discounts to Vets. Then I can show it to a manager who refuses to honor the Veteran ID card.
Home Depot@ Amsterdam NY.12010. This is the pits of all Home Depot’s in NYS. A veteran will not get a 10% discount unless he is active, and or a war related Vet. This was told to me at 4:25 pm today 4/3/2013 by the Manager on duty of this store, at said date and time.
On many other Home Depot stores, and Lowe’s, my card has been good in the past. At Lowe’s I never have had a problem. It appear that Home Depot, is trying very hard to loose there customers. Lowe’s will destroy home depot as soon as all vets are back home, and read articles such as this one.
In the past I have not been able to get a discount at HD because they said only active and retired, they knew the difference. I did 10 years. I got the VA ID card just for the proof I am a vet. Works at Lowes everytime. Started going to HD again because I moved(also found out HD has lower prices)and have not had any problem getting the discount showing my VA card.
I showed my DD214 at home depot and got the 10% discount. One time the cashier did not accept it and neither did the manager. I left my items on the counter and walked out. After that I came back and looked for the same cashier and got the discount with no problem. The last time I was there the cashier that knew me was gone and when I showed the new girl my dd214 she called her manager and he accepted it. This was on a regular day, no holiday. It seems to depend on the person at the register and the manager you talk to. I served for two years, Vietnam 67-68.
In E OH. I have a VA-issued photo that I’ve had since I joined VA health-care 10+ years ago. Neither Lowe’s nor Home Depot have refused me the 10% discount (except on clearance items). I’ve received it on items over $500, over $1,000; in stores and on-line.
Occasionally a clerk might be punctilious “It’s for active-duty only”; or “I don’t think we do that”.
It seems to vary by store/ region. In busy metro areas, clerks verify themselves and usually combine the 10% VA with the 5% store credit-card discounts; in rural stores they usually call for a manager override.
Overall, the stores have been great about discounts, returns, price-matching.
I HAVE FOUND WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THAT HOTELS, LIKE COMFORT INNS, KOHLS, ETC. ARE SAYING THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE APPLIED A DISCOUNT. WHEN I ASK TO SEE A MGR. THERE IS EITHER NONE AVAILABLE, OR IT TAKES A HALF HOUR TO LOCATE ONE. MY TIME IS WORTH MORE THAN THAT TO ME. . I HATE TO LOOK A GIFT HORSE IN THE MOUTH. IT IS LIKE TRAVEL PAY AT THE V.A. , REDUCED, & DELAYED. THANK YOU.
I read this same article several months ago and when I went to Home Depot here in Virginia Beach, and asked for the discount, I was told you have to be active duty only except for 3 holidays. I am a veteran and I have a VA ID card and I was told in order to get the discount anytime I had to be disabled vet. No matter what I said I was not getting a discount. I have not tried Loews at all. It’s like the Federal credit unions, DOD can join, but Vets can not unless your retired or a family member of a retired person. It gets under my skin, because I am a vet with 7 years service and my cousins who never served a minute can get use of the credit unions because of their father.
Deb, Home Depot and Lowe’s both have the stated policy on their website (quoted and linked in the article above), however, some managers and employees are either ignorant of the policy or choose to ignore it. The best thign to do is be polite. If they refuse the discount, you can either buy the items without the discount, or leave the items at the store. It’s unfortunate that these companies have a well-meaning policy in place, but don’t consistently follow through with it.
do not belive everything you read. I was at the home Depot in Statesville NC today 5/22/2013 to buy $2100.00 worth of lumber and the manager D J Miller told me they did not do veterans that were not on active duty. I have bought a lot things from Home Depot in the past but I will not buy any thing else.
Ryan,
These stores need to get their eggs all in one basket, because it seems some do some don’t. I should not have to ask for a manager to get a 10% discount if I have a DD214 or VA ID. It is a crying shame that these stores give big discounts to all the DOD and yet the vet that may have put their life on the line is treated so badly. We are the men and women that make it possible for them to conduct business as freely as they do.
I noticed today that the written policy on Lowes website states:
Be currently serving in, or retired from, a qualifying branch of the Armed Services, or be the immediate family member of someone who is and have a valid military ID Card.
Or:
Be a veteran who receives VA benefits and have a valid Veteran Identification Card (VIC).
There is a large population of us who are veterans that do not use the VA. Either we do not have a service connected disability or never claimed one. Just because I haven’t pursued a claim with the VA does not mean I am not a veteran; and there are many of us out there. I wonder why they will not take a DD214, VFW, or American Legion card? Why not accept the DD214 – add it to the customer’s profile on the mylowes account so the veteran customer doesn’t have to ask for a manager everytime?
I recently had a problem with the Home Depot 10% policy at one store. I escalated a complaint to the retention department at corporate headquarters who did confirm to me that 100% of stores are to honor the 10% military discount not only to active duty members but also to dependent ID card holders as well. This applies to both active duty and retired members. It is also applies to disabled veterans with service connected VA ID cards.
Do not let management at one store push you around. The person I spoke to at the coporate HQ told me that educating each store and all employees about every store policy is a slow process. It takes time to work all the rules down to all levels. The 10% applies to ALL purchases as well not just regular priced items. It even applies to clearance items as well. There is no bar for this discount.
Home Depot will only honor year round to veterans with a “Service Connected” VA Disability card. I just walked out of the one in Jensen Beach. Ill keep my business with just Lowes.
I recently purchased about $1,000 (front door and screen door) from one of my local Home Depot’s in Colorao Springs, CO. I as only given a $50.00 discount for the whole purchase. I was told that there was a $50.00 max discount. Has anyone else have this issue before?
I just went online to Home Depot to buy a very expensive home improvement item and got on the live chat and they are working out the military discount and will adjust the amount on my shipping confirmation receipt! I didn’t place the order until I had a person on Live Chat and they confirmed they would do it then I followed her instructions.
My friend, a veteran complete with the new Florida driver license marked with a “V” to note a vet, was told at Home Depot, Panama City, FL, that she did not qualify for the 10% discount since the “only discount they had on their list, was for MILITARY”. This occurred today, 6/12/013.
I have a VA card having been a Gulf War Vet but do not have a service connected disability. I have never had an issue with getting the discount at the Milford, MA Lowes. I went to the Home Depot in Bellingham, MA this past Sunday and the cashier wasn’t going to give me the discount since my card didn’t state “Service Connected”. I told her that I have never had an issue in the past and I have never had an issue at Lowes. When I told her that they they would lose all my future business to Lowes she reluctantly gave me the discount. I’ll just keep shopping at Lowes, Home Depot is not worth my trouble or worthy of my money.
Home Depot should be more specific with their “military discount.” If the employee follows the corporate rules, then only active duty, retirees, and disabled veterans get the discount.
A few employees told me that they have all been told to only accept CACs and VA cards. They were even told not to acccept the Virginia state drivers licenses that are marked “Veteran.”
So if you did not retire and are not receiving VA benefits then you are S.O.L.
I downloaded a copy of my DD214 to my phone and showed it to the cashier. She had to get manager approval for the discount. An assistant manager did not want to approve it (following the rules). The manager did approve it. I don’t want to say what store because I don’t want the manager to get in trouble with the corporate office.
So it all depends on the common sense of the individual, whether they follow corporate rules, and how hard the Home Depot corporate office forces them to follow this particular rule.
I just think they should call it something else. Something like the “Military except-non-retirees-that-didn’t-get-injured Discount.” Well… that might be too long.
Maybe they could put a sign near each register that says, “Non-retirees who do not receive VA benefits do not qualify for the Miltary Discount.” Then at least they won’t be suprised.