Navy Times By Karen Jowers 3/18/2022
Some military retirees have expressed their dissatisfaction with Home Depot’s recently changed discount policy, saying those who aren’t “tech savvy” may be left out.
The national home improvement chain opened up its everyday discount to 16 million more veterans, but that comes with more requirements for verifying military service. Previously, military retirees and currently serving military could simply show their military ID at the cash register and get a 10% discount. Veterans who left the military before retirement could get a discount, but only on certain holidays.
Now, all veterans who haven’t been dishonorably discharged are eligible for the discount every day, and both active duty members and veterans are required to be verified through SheerID. During that one-time process, you create an account that will allow the discount to be automatically applied when shopping online, and a QR code to be scanned from your mobile phone in-store at checkout.
There’s the rub, say some retirees.
“Older veterans who are not as tech savvy generally, used to be able to present a valid military ID to get the 10% discount. That no longer works,” said James Fender, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, in an email to Military Times.
“Do you see the problem this will cause older non-tech-savvy vets? They DO have a valid military ID in their pockets, but they MAY NOT have a smartphone,” he said. “According to the manager at my local Home Depot … they’re just out of luck.”
But a spokeswoman for Home Depot said customer service departments in stores or online are ready to work with them.
If someone is having trouble registering, they can seek help online through customer service representatives who can walk them through it, said Home Depot spokeswoman Yanique Woodall.
Although Home Depot has opened the discount to potentially 16 million more veterans on a daily basis, the amount of the discount is now limited to $400 per year, per person. Spouses of those registered can also register for their own account, and the spouse and veteran would be eligible for a combined $800 discount each year, on a total of $8,000 in purchases. The change in policy also means the discounts can be used online, where more items are available.
More:
https://www.navytimes.com/pay-benefits/mil-money/2022/03/18/theres-help-for-military-discount-seeking-home-depot-customers-who-arent-tech-savvy/
