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Return to Article: Gimme My Discount!

• 92167
  

  Geico says they offer federal govt. employees a discount but, do not offer specific criteria on how someone would qualify for that discount. Even though I am a federal government employee, i did not qualify for the discount. Geico representative I spoke with could not say specifically why.

  Fed Worker Posted November 17, 2009 12:55 PM
• 90769
  

  I got 18% discount with T-mobile, but I had to be primary account holder to get that discount. Lots of hassle but it was worth it!

  Adar A Posted October 29, 2009 10:37 PM
• 90759
  

  The site says discounts are available at the Apple store for ipod. When I went to the site, the price was the same. I called them and they said the discount wasn't good on ipod or iphone.

  wants a discount Posted October 29, 2009 6:30 PM
• 90538
  

  The lodging website does not always work. You are better off going to the hotel website or calling the hotel inquiring about the government per diem.

  AM Posted October 28, 2009 2:02 PM
• 90239
  

  I get a Verizon discount of 15% and I was a prior Alltel customer; however, I received the discount with Alltel as well. I'd go to the Verizon store and talk with a manager.

  Angela Posted October 26, 2009 3:16 PM
• 89491
  

  One discount Feds don't get but should, is a little break on things that come from the federal government. Like discount admission to National Parks, discounts for federal licenses, priority access to tickets for federally sposored events, etc.

  jasper88 Posted October 17, 2009 7:11 PM
• 89215
  

  To get your 20% discount from Verizon you have to go to a corporate store. The corporate stores can do amazing things that the other stores cannot. The sad part is I work for the Post Office and get a 20% discount, our son is in the military and only gets a 15% discount from Verizon.

  Dave Posted October 14, 2009 9:09 AM
• 88997
  

  I tried to get my discount with Verizon. I was an Alltel customer and was converted to Verizon when they merged. I was told I do not qualify for the discount because I have an old Alltel plan (which is better than any of the Verizon plans). So much for the 15% discount. I can get the discount if I want to switch to a much higher plan from Verizon...which would still cost me $13 more(after the discount) each month not counting any increases with the fees that are charged. Somebody needs to inquire why they are not being fair across the board.

  Bob Posted October 9, 2009 4:06 PM
• 88466
  

  I made a purcahse at Dell and was told since I don't have an updated code for the IRS/GSA/Department of Treasury that they could not give me the 7% discount. Even though the manager could see that we are still participating with the employee government discount program. Does anyone know where to I can get the Discount Code ID?

  Fawn Posted October 5, 2009 2:13 PM
• 86968
  

  Lowe's and Home Depot in Wichita, KS and Tampa, FL (places I have used it) offer 10% military (active and reserve) everyday. You just need to ask. Lowe's requires an override from a supervisor, who will need to see your ID. Home Depot allows the cashier to apply the discount directly which is a bit easier. Lowe's in KS started this last November but didn't advertise it.

  Autozone and Advance Auto offer 10%, except for oil. Pep Boy's offers 10%, but ONLY if you ask for it. Even if you are there in uniform, if you don't ask they are not allowed to offer. Kind of cheesy in my book.

  Eric Posted September 17, 2009 8:53 AM
• 86926
  

  Response to Alice - If you were a DOD employee, then you can apply per the following instructions: DOD civilian retirees may take their retirement Standard Form 50 (SF-50), Notification of Personnel Action, to their local Real-Time Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) facility to be issued an ID card. A federal or state issued picture ID and another form of ID from the Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration I-9 document list as well as a retirement SF-50 are required for issuance. Visit uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf for more information on acceptable forms of identification. Visit the DMDC website dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home to locate the nearest RAPIDS facility and hours of operation. I don't know how differently other government agencies handle the application process.

  Holly Posted September 16, 2009 12:55 PM
• 86704
  

  I have tried to find out where you get a "retired civilian ID card". No one seems to know.

  Alice Posted September 14, 2009 8:25 AM
• 86656
  

  Office Depot is being investigated or has been investigated by many agencies. A brief list just so you can make your own decision:

  Office Depot admits Department of Education, Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and Department of Justice investigation:

  sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/800240/000095014409001556/g17711e10vk.htm

  Georgia terminates Office Depot contract: watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/Georgia%20Depot%20termination%20letter.pdf

  Office Depot Overcharging State of Nebraska: watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/Nebraska%20state%20audit.pdf

  Florida Attorney General Investigation myfloridalegal.com/lit_ec.nsf/investigations/78F7894CA23BFC198525745D005C6D57

  palmbeachpost.com/business/content/business/epaper/2008/06/06/m1a_odpcontracts_0607.html

  thestreet.com/story/10431684/if-youre-an-office-depot-investor-know-this.html

  Fulton County Schools - School Waste: cbsatlanta.com/investigates/index.html

  Steve Smith Posted September 11, 2009 9:45 AM
• 86512
  

  My comment in May: Home Depot and Lowes only offer Military Discount on Memorial Day and Veterans Day in FL, GA, and VA.

  NOTE: That is when they advertise their military discounts. I found out that in Virginia, if I show my military ID at Lowe's and ask for the discount, they call a manager over and it gets approved; every time.

  Mike Posted September 9, 2009 10:37 AM
• 86428
  

  Hard Rock Cafe gives a 15% discount to Military Members.

  Walt Hayward Posted September 8, 2009 10:46 AM
• 86128
  

  Go to ther Verizon store and talk to the manager. Saves lots of time.

  Joe Posted September 2, 2009 11:21 AM
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  If anyone is successful getting a discount from Verizon, I'd like to know how you did it. My experience after trying for over half an hour online is that if there is a discount available, they are sure making it difficult to get. I don't think they really want to give you a discount.

  JM

  John Meinhofer Posted August 26, 2009 1:25 PM
• 85362
  

  what a deal!

  anthony d martionez Posted August 24, 2009 9:47 AM
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  To Fedemployee: please feel free to 'take advantage' of these offered discounts, and to also volunteer whenever and wherever you can.

  Economics lesson: these discounts are simply a reduction of the profits the company makes on the sale of the item to you. By reducing the price, they hope to increase the number of sales and to encourage the buyer (you) to buy more goods & services from them rather than buying from their competitors. The same process happens constantly whenever a company has a "sale" (they reduce the price to customers to encourage additional sales). The only difference is the restriction of which customers are eligible to receive the discount. Do you have a supermarket courtesy card or a retail store charge card? These cards are often the key to eligibility for discounts that are restricted to cardholders. So your gov't ID card as retired Military (or sometimes, Fed Gov't) service person serves as the key to your eligibility for these discounts. There is no taxpayer involvement / govt funding at any level, except for reduced collection of Sales Taxes. So if you feel 'guilty' about taking the discount, simply write a check to your state govt for the Sales Tax on the amount of the discount. Otherwise, just enjoy the reduced prices and continue to patronize those retailers offering you (and all of us) these discounts.

  Also, thank you for your service to our country!

  Carl Posted July 31, 2009 10:58 AM
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  to GJ...when I retired I asked what I could use for an ID for max gov'ment discounts. The security officer said I can use my ID (NOT my badge, because I had to give that up) for any and all discounts. You get discounts for cruises, hotels, resorts, etc. Some places give bigger discounts when you're still employed as a gov. worker, i.e., several rooms on a cruise ship. But, after retirement you can ALWAYS get the same discount but only for you and your spouse. So, if ya wanna cruise the Panama, the Caribbean, or Alaska, take it during the last few weeks of employment before ya gotta turn in your badge.

  Big Jake (retired 2008)

  Big Jake Posted July 25, 2009 4:25 PM
• 83240
  

  I may be missing something, but all my security briefings tell me NOT to be flashing my ID card around. When I leave the installation, I am to put the ID card away, out of sight, until I report to work the next day.

  dot Posted July 22, 2009 2:24 PM
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  GJ & Joe Morgan:

  This is fairly new, but Government retirees can get an ID card. Check on EBIS or the Civilian Benefits site.

  BK Posted July 20, 2009 6:14 PM
• 81538
  

  A room at Lake Tahoe was available to me for the discounted price of $139.95. Through one of the programs identified here I got the room for $89.95. That's quite a savings.

  Mark Posted June 29, 2009 8:53 AM
• 81147
  

  Taking a discount from Verizon, the same as they give to private companies who buy phones from them, such as GM, isn't "taking". Verizon does it to get more business, not to give a bailout to Federal workers.

  Fed Employee Posted June 24, 2009 2:20 PM
• 81050
  

  To Fedemployee: Feel free to add 10% to your bill to make up for the 10% discount I'm getting. Also, feel free to send an extra couple hundred dollars to the IRS to make up for my deductions. ;->

  TT Posted June 23, 2009 3:15 PM
• 81015
  

  As a government worker I do not agree with us getting discounts. We should be volunteering more, helping more, not taking more. Where is the end of all the financial madness??

  Fedemployee Posted June 23, 2009 11:05 AM
• 80569
  

  Jason's Deli gives a 10% discount in Charleston, SC for govies and military.

  None Posted June 18, 2009 6:35 AM
• 80501
  

  Dunhams Sporting Goods (Pittsburgh PA) gives a 10% military discount.

  Ben Kopriva Posted June 17, 2009 12:49 PM
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  I would like to know how I can use the discounts listed as a retiree when I do not have a retiree identification card. Thank you.

  Joe H. Morgan, Jr. Posted June 11, 2009 12:41 PM
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  Lowe's always offers militay discount (military, not goverment emp.). You have to ask, but store managers have discresion to not offer it except on holidays if they want in their store.

  Bryce Posted June 8, 2009 12:40 AM
• 79403
  

  How do retires get these discounts since there's no ID card issued indicating we've retired from government service?

  G J Posted June 5, 2009 12:42 PM
• 79015
  

  The FEDSAV.COM site is loaded with virus'. At least that is what McAfee found. Be careful.

  CGreen Posted June 2, 2009 9:31 AM
• 78954
  

  As of last week Old Navy will be giving a 10% dicount on the 1st of the month. Call you local Old Navy to see if they got the word.

  crystal sorge Posted June 1, 2009 4:08 PM
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  Lowes in FL will give a 10% discount all the time if you show a military ID (active or retired) card and ask for it.

  Si Posted May 30, 2009 3:41 PM
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  WOW, Wal-mart is cheaper than The Exchange!! My AAA car insurance is cheaper without a military discount.

  Jim Bennett Posted May 30, 2009 1:29 PM
• 78686
  

  Home Depot and Lowes only offer Military Discount on Memorial Day and Veterans Day in FL, GA, and VA.

  Mike Posted May 28, 2009 11:19 AM
• 78618
  

  AT&T is likewise happy to provide a discount, so don't forget your ID! I save about 15% on my wireless data plan w/ unlimited texting. Totally worth it!

  Jennifer Posted May 28, 2009 8:21 AM
• 78478
  

  Sandy Stevens, I have Verizon and had no problem getting the government discount. I think I had to fax a paystub in or something.

  Steve Posted May 27, 2009 9:20 AM
• 78268
  

  Government Employees Travel Opportunities also has a mirror website for active duty military called Armed Forces Vacation Club...your local MWR office should have information on what they offer.

  Joe Posted May 22, 2009 9:30 AM
• 78012
  

  Same thing in FL on HD/Lowes. Only on Vet's day.

  J Pryor Posted May 19, 2009 4:01 PM
• 78005
  

  Lowes in Kitsap County gives Military discount daily on request. I wonder why Seattle doesn't -

  Jo Soss Posted May 19, 2009 2:03 PM
• 77994
  

  City Diner on Fremont Street in Seaside, CA will give a 20% discount on any purchase if you show your ID when ordering.

  Brian Lamar Posted May 19, 2009 12:19 PM
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  Home Depot/Lowes, at least in Seattle, will NOT give a Miltary discount, except on Veterans and Memorial Day, and believe me I have asked numerous times.

  Kevin Posted May 19, 2009 11:28 AM
• 77976
  

  Most fitness centers are also willing to offerd discounts to Federal employees. What is needed is someone at OPM or another Federal sponsor to have agreements with them.

  Terry Posted May 19, 2009 10:49 AM
• 77956
  

  This is great. Thank You

  Charlotte M. Greene Posted May 19, 2009 9:31 AM
• 77926
  

  thanks

  mary dharmaraj Posted May 19, 2009 8:12 AM
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  I agree that there are some discounts available to federal employees and have used some of them, but just like any other consumer, read the fine print. We carry commercial auto insurance (rather than Geico) and commercial life insurance. Both commercial providers premiums are over 20% cheaper for the exact same coverage. I always found it ironic that the supposed Government Employees Insurance Company charged more to government employees than other commercial carriers.

  tom Posted May 19, 2009 8:07 AM
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  I am so looking forward to seeing what discounts are available and when finding some, sharing this information with others.

  Brian Schreiber Posted May 19, 2009 7:43 AM
• 77913
  

  I am a government employee and currently am offered a discount on cell phone service through AT&T. I am considering changing my wireless service from AT&T to Verizon. When I entered by e-mail address here, as requested, my e-mail address could not be verified. Will I be able to get a discount if I change plans?

  Sandy Stevens Posted May 19, 2009 7:28 AM
• 77872
  

  T Mobile also offers a 15% discount.

  dawne rekas Posted May 18, 2009 4:51 PM