Military Discounts

Do you offer them and how do you verify

[Ledfish]

Recently, we have had a few customer ask if we offer military discounts.

Do other offer military discounts and how do you verify that a person is either active or retired military?

[ispy]

No, but we do offer discounts to the handicapable as well as the disabled!

[Corey Bryant]

Usually this is done in person by the airman showing his / her ID. Online, I am not too sure. I don't think they use another number besides the SSN - I remember that one being on my card.

There was actually a question in Yahoo about someone saying he / she was a military person to get a discount, needless to say the original poster was flamed pretty bad.

I would like to think that people that say they are actively serving or have served are actually doing this, but I know a lot of people will do anything for a buck.

You could always ask what unit / squadron they are in and then maybe calling said unit to verify that individual.

-Corey

[jimbeetle]

Just thinking, but maybe you can do that by address, at least for active duty folks.

For folks overseas it's simple, anything shipped to APO or FPO addresses could qualify.

Domestically, though many service members live off base, they all usually have a military address also. You can qualify them for the discount if the order is shipped to their unit address.

[LifeinAsia]

For folks overseas it's simple, anything shipped to APO or FPO addresses could qualify.

That's the operative word- "could." I was a contractor overseas and I had an APO address, but I certainly wasn't in the military. (Not with my massive pony tail at the time. :) ) My mail address was part of the main unit the contract was with.

Forget about asking them to fax their military IDs to you. That would be the easiest way, but often not practical.

[willybfriendly]

We offer a discount and flat rate shipping to any military address on a few select items. Easy enough to screen for APO/FPO addresses.

WBF

[ytswy]

Maybe ship to military addresses only, and require that the customer be identified by military rank?

I don't know anything about it, but I'd have thought a civilian picking up a parcel from a military base addressed to Sergeant So-and-so might have some explaining to do.. I know I wouldn't like to try it myself. ;)

Maybe have a big sticker on the outside of the package advertising your store, and the fact you offer discounts to service personnel.

[JesperFJ]

Ask yourself the following two questions:
1) Will I earn money if I sell at the discount
2) Will I loose the order if I do not offer the discount.

If the answers are Yes and Yes, just ask for some ID just for the record, sell the item, collect the money and move on to the next customer. Even if the buyer is fraudulent, it is a Win-Win situation, so why spend time looking for clues that will loose you a sale?

If you do not earn money offering the discount, ask yourself why you do it. If you have to spend much time veryifying that a person really is from the military, you may be better of not offering the discount in the first place.