Military Experiences

[USMarine1]

I just got off the phone with customer service and was told that Best Buy does not offer any military discount.  I was shocked.  I had thought that BB was a pro-military organization.  Guess I was wrong and now I'm disappointed.

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

No offense Marine, but I think that's a small problem with some people in the military. Self entitlement. I'm in the military too, when I go places, do I ask if there's a discount? Sure, if it's the movies. Do I get offended when they so? Of course not because I'm a big boy. Case in point, I worked for Best Buy, and they were more than accommodating anytime I had to go on orders, usually without question. I call that pretty pro-military.

[Echo6Whiskey]

I don’t see additional discounts as a social entitlement however a “job well done, thank you for volunteering your time” because it’s definitely not for the pay. Those who volunteer in the military give so much however receive so little.

A large percentage of military families qualify for food stamps and welfare. It’s nice that some corporations are appreciative of our obligation to serve our country.

Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, reports hearing from constituents that the Army now includes applications for food stamps in its orientation packet for new recruits.

The poverty of the mightiest military machine on Earth is no secret to the many charities that have sprung up to help families on U.S. military bases, like the church-based Feed the Children, which delivers free food and personal items to families at twelve bases. Before 9/11, trucks bearing free food from a variety of food pantries used to be able to drive right on to the bases. Now they have to stop outside the gates, making the spectacle of military poverty visible to any passerby.

Market forces ensure that a volunteer army will necessarily be an army of the poor. The trouble is, enlistment does not do a whole lot to brighten one's economic outlook. Frontline battle troops, most of whom have been in the military for about a year, earn less than $16,000 a year--which puts them at about the level of theater ushers and "Big-Mart" clerks. Even second lieutenants, at a starting salary of $26,000 a year, earn less than pest control workers and shoe repairers. Civilian security contractors make approx $100k for the same job responsibilities. Additionally, on deployment the military works 24 hour days not just eight.

[RealGeorgeW Emerging Expert]

Completely agree.

But I'm not going to stop shopping somewhere just because they don't give me a discount. That's silly.

[Nokia]

Echo, while your story is definitely true, what does it have to do with discounts at unnecessary goods stores? I could understand basic needs like clothing and food, but BB doesn't sell any basic needs. There is nothing at BB that an enlisted or officer requires.

There are many other underpaid professions that get much less visibility than the military. What about teachers? I've never heard of a teacher discount. Can't have soldiers without teachers. Or how about doctors? They're well-paid, but they perform one of the most vital services to society. No stores give doctor discounts. How about unpaid volunteers (aren't all volunteers unpaid)? If I help the homeless or pick up garbage, I'm not gonna get 10% off that plasma TV.

I'm not trying to marginalize anyone in the Armed Forces. I have great respect for everyone who is a part of the military. Heck, I'd be in if it wasn't for a medical problem. But the OP is displaying a sense of entitlement, as George said, and making the rest of the military look greedy.

And finally, military discounts aren't a "thanks" to the military. They're marketing. They attract business. Any company that offers a discount could care less about your sacrifice. They just want your money.

[Echo6Whiskey]

I used volunteer as an analogy since obliviously you don’t want anyone in the military to have, as you said, to own any “unnecessary goods” or question that they get paid at all?? I’m guessing you are not aware that the United States is one of the only volunteer army’s in the world. With our high op tempo is nice to have a video game, TV, or even the smallest comfort creature until we get deployed again so the 10% discount does mean wonders.

In NY State (from where I reside) teachers and doctors have well to incredible pay and pensions. Additionally, when are doctors and teachers at risk of losing their lives on a 24 hour rotation? In NY State the average salary for police and firefighters is $88k with a $40k pension. Doctors, really? When I can catch up to one while there in their Porsche Carrera 911 turbo S and I’ll let you know if they use coupons? Serving in the military has no comparison than any other profession however you wouldn’t know, however seem to be pretty opinionated about it. Once again that 10% military discount means wonders.

With your 5,928 posts I’m not sure if you really disagree or just an over unenthusiastic debater. I’m in favor of the later.

Many companies give discounts because their founders/CEO’s or executive boards have served in one of our branches and make sure they give gratitude for those whom are currently serving considering the majority has military backgrounds… CEOs with a military background outperformed the S&P 500 Index by as much as 20%. Another interesting finding is that CEOs with military experience tend to last longer on the job. Civilian CEOs had an average tenure of 4.6 years, while CEOs with military experience had an average tenure of 7.2 years.

Let’s see what Best Buy has? Out of their 10 Officers I found one that served in the Air Guard briefly. I can see they aren’t concerned about military service.

Yes, as you state, my story is true however yours was just your view. You have a nice liberal opinion however back it up with no facts or experience..? No, you don’t have great respect, not even average respect, for the military otherwise you wouldn’t be writing your opposition for a 19 year old combat veteran to get his or her 10% discount so feel gratitude for what they did. Instead let’s take your view in the “corporate greed” trend so their executives can go home and indulge their super spoiled “me generation” kids.

[Nokia]

Yes, I am aware that the US has a volunteer military, along with:

Afghanistan Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Australia Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Brunei Darussalam Belgium Belize Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bulgaria Cameroon Canada Croatia Republic of the Congo Czech Republic Djibouti Dominican Republic East Timor France Gambia Guyana Honduras Hungary India Indonesia Iraq Ireland Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Luxembourg

Republic of Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Maldives Malta Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Nigeria Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Rwanda Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Spain Suriname Sri Lanka Swaziland Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uganda Uruguay Zambia

I don't believe the risks of a job entitle you to a discount. What should matter is the product of the job. Soldiers save lives. So do doctors, cops, firefighters, and EMTs. Teachers shape lives. I'd argue their all their contributions are equally as important. Yet I don't see discounts for any other other professions. I admitted that doctors do not need discounts on things, it was just an example. BTW, are you saying only combat veterans should get some kind of discount? Because a member of the Armed Forces who never sees combat is at much less risk of loss of life. Perhaps the risk is even lower than a cop or firefighter?

NY is a union-heavy state. In many states, those professions are not unionized, or have very poor unions. I believe the median primary education salary is below the poverty level. I'm not going to give any support for that statement as all your statistics also came without support.

You're right, creature comforts are nice to have. Many do without them and live full, productive lives. There's a lot of things I like to own, but I can't afford them, so I do without.

I don't see why it's necessary to have to show your gratitude with some sort of material offering.

You chose to join the military. I have no problem with you taking a view like George's, of asking if places have discounts, and not paying it any mind if they don't. However, it's not right to say "You need to give me a discount because of my choice of profession!"

[Echo6Whiskey]

Well I think that’s where we have a misunderstanding. You take military duty as a profession. I take it as one’s duty to serve a few years for our country.

The military is mainly made up of teenagers and people in their early twenties or reservists that are putting their “professions” on hold to serve the greater good. The average enlistment is four to six years with an obligation of eight through the Inactive Ready Reserve.

I can’t believe you have taken this much effort to deny our countries hero’s a simple token of gratitude and Best Buy not to offer one.

Your profile states; “I'm not affiliated with, nor do I represent BB in any way, shape, or form” yet you have nearly 6000 posts assisting BB base on their behalf using their site, which makes you associated. I’m astonished you would defend your almighty Best Buy at the cost of Americans who make a real difference.

I’m not in the military anymore so discounts don’t apply to me, I’m taking others in consideration and because I write from experience. On the contrary you seem very narcissistic in your view and how it pertains to you. “why should other get discounts because I can’t attitude”. You have so many opinions yet you never served one day in the military.

If you get the chance read the book The Greatest Generation. You and Best Buy are lacking these values. I also believe you live of social entitlement so that would also make you very hypocritical. Best Buys corporate philosophy has nothing to do with values however more like corporate greed.

You wake up in the morning and look in the mirror and hope your life is going to make a real difference… I don’t have that problem…

[Nokia]

Actually, I like the way Israel does it. Every man has to serve upon turning 18.

I have no problem with a business offering discounts to military. Their decision to would not affect my decision to patronize that business. If I owned a business, I would not offer a discount to any demographic, let alone military.

Your reasoning makes no sense at all. I'm not assisting BB on their behalf, I'm doing it of my own free will, just as you served in the military. Sorry, I'm not associated with them any more than shopping there.

How it pertains to me? I'm not military, nor am I public service or a doctor or teacher. I don't believe I should get any discount, nor would I ever ask for one for whatever reason.

Social entitlement is asking for a discount and then refusing to shop at stores that refuse it.

[USN]

Its not called pro military because they don't question you when you go on orders, its called the LAW.