Military discounts are a great way for active duty service members, veterans, and their families to save money on purchases. Many retailers offer military discounts in their brick-and-mortar stores. But do these discounts also apply to online shopping? Here’s what you need to know about getting military discounts online.
The basics of military discounts
First, let’s review the basics of military discounts. These discounts are offered as a way for retailers to give back to those who serve or have served in the military. Eligibility for military discounts varies by retailer. But in general, active duty, reservists, veterans, and military family members with dependent ID cards are eligible.
The amount of military discounts also varies. Some retailers offer a flat percentage off, usually 10-20%. Others give special promotional pricing. Military discounts are offered all year round, though some retailers increase discounts around holidays like Veterans Day.
To get a military discount in stores, military members usually just need to show a valid military ID. This could be an active duty ID card, a retired military ID card, or a dependent ID card.
Availability of online military discounts
The availability of military discounts for online shopping varies by retailer. Many retailers that offer in-store military discounts extend this discount to online purchases. But some do not.
In general, here are some top retailers that offer military discounts both in-store and online:
- Home Depot – 10% off eligible purchases
- Lowe’s – 10% off eligible purchases
- Best Buy – Various discounts that vary by product
- Walgreens – 20% off eligible regular priced purchases with Balance Rewards card
- Target – 10% off eligible purchases on one purchase per year
- Nike – 10% off eligible purchases
However, some retailers that offer in-store military discounts do not extend this to online shopping. A few examples include:
- Kohl’s – Offers 15% in-store discount but no online military discount
- Macy’s – Offers in-store discount but no online military discount
- JC Penney – Offers in-store discount but no online military discount
Verifying military status online
One key reason that some retailers do not offer military discounts online is the challenge of verifying military status. In stores, verification is easy through showing a military ID. Online, retailers have to set up systems to verify status.
Here are some ways retailers try to verify military status for online discounts:
- ID.me verification – Some retailers use ID.me to verify military status before granting discounts. Customers upload documents that validate status.
- Promo/coupon codes – Retailers issue military members special coupon codes that must be entered at checkout to get the discount.
- Login to military portals – Some brands have military-only shopping portals that require login with military credentials to access discounts.
If a retailer does not have an online verification system, military shoppers will not be able to access discounts for online purchases. The best option is choosing retailers that have invested in building out online verification capabilities.
How to find online military discounts
The availability of online military discounts can be confusing given variations by retailer. Here are some tips for military members to find online discounts:
- Check the retailer website for details on any military discount programs.
- Look for indications of military discounts during the online checkout process.
- Search for online promo codes specific to military discounts.
- Visit sites like Military.com that aggregate available military discounts.
- Join email lists and rewards programs from retailers offering discounts.
- Ask online customer service reps about availability of military discounts.
Taking a few extra steps to hunt down military discounts can really pay off with major savings over time. Discounts of 10-20% quickly add up, especially on large purchases.
Should you always buy with military discounts online?
While military discounts can save a lot of money, they should not be the only factor in choosing what and where to buy online. Here are some other factors to weigh:
- Item price – Even with discounts, some retailers have higher base prices than competitors.
- Shipping fees – Discount retailers sometimes charge more for shipping, which eats into savings.
- Return policy – Discount retailers may have more restrictive return policies.
- Product selection/availability – Items may sell out faster at retailers offering military discounts.
Many finance experts actually recommend military members open a credit card that offers price match guarantees or automatically applies discounts. Cards like the PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa offer both. This strategy applies discounts more broadly than retailer-specific programs.
Maximizing military discount savings online
Here are some tips for maximizing savings with military discounts for online shopping:
- Add discount browser extensions like Military Discounts and Coupons. These automatically apply available discounts at checkout.
- Stack discounts and promo codes when allowed to save even more.
- Shop on days like Veterans Day when discounts are increased.
- Buy discounted gift cards from sites like Raise to score deals at retailers without military discounts.
- Join loyalty programs to earn points and save more over time.
With a bit of work, a 10% military discount can sometimes become a 20-30% discount using these strategies. Saving on every purchase really adds up over months and years.
Ongoing efforts to expand military discounts
Many government officials and nonprofit veterans organizations continually advocate for retailers to expand military discounts online. Progress is being made, but often slowly.
Some of the notable recent efforts include:
- The PACT Act signed in 2022 pushes retailers to offer easy access to military discounts online.
- Organizations like the AARP continually negotiate expanded discounts with major retailers.
- States like Florida have passed laws requiring online military discounts for businesses with a physical presence in the state.
So access to military discounts online will likely continue to increase over time. Veterans should keep checking back with retailers periodically for new discount policies. Signing up for newsletters and alerts from major retailers is a good way to stay updated.
Conclusion
Military discounts provide a great way for service members and veterans to save on regular purchases. But availability of discounts for online shopping varies widely by retailer. Some retailers extend their in-store discounts to online purchases only after verifying military status. Discounts should not be the only deciding factor, as item pricing, shipping fees, and promotions must be weighed. With some work researching discounts and stacking other savings, military families can steadily lower their spending over time.