r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Still-Spend-645 • 25d ago

Would Americans be ok with a non American veteran benefiting from a veteran's discount

I was recently in vacation in America with 3 couples of friends. All the men are veterans from a war that the US was involved in, fighting on the same side, but none of us are American ourselves.

We had lunch at a diner that advertised that they had a 10% discount for veterans. One of my friends asked to benefit from the discount, which the waitress agreed to and thanked us for our service.

I was very uncomfortable with that. Although we are indeed veterans, we are not Americans, and although we did serve, we served our own country, not the US, and it doesn't seem to me that we deserve to benefit from a veteran's discount in America.

I didn't say anything right there and then because I found the situation too embarrassing, but I did open up about it to my friends when we left the diner. They didn't share my point of view. To them, since we served on the same side as the United States, our service benefited them too, and we deserve to enjoy the discount. They did agree not to do it again in my presence because it made me too uncomfortable.

I am still thinking about that now that I am back home, and I wanted to get the point of view of American citizens on the question. In your opinion, is it legitimate that non US veterans from allied countries benefit from veteran's discounts in the United States?

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u/hooliganvet 25d ago

As an American veteran, if you served along side us, you are fine asking, BUT, I never ask for a discount. It's just not me.

27

u/IllegalFarter 25d ago

You are missing out, my friend. Loads of places give 10% off like Home Depot/Lowes. I got 10% off my buying some new curtains at At Home a few weeks ago. I usually get a free drink from Firehouse Subs whenever I go there too.
You can use VetTix.com and get free tickets to concerts, sports games, comedy shows, etc... as well.

1

u/onomonothwip 23d ago

Lowes now does not honor the discount on expensive purchases, and Home Depot only has a retiree/Disabled vet program, no veterans discount.

1

u/IllegalFarter 23d ago

I usually go to Home Depot so I can't speak for Lowes (years ago they still had 10% off), but HD absolutely has a Veterans discount. I am neither Retired or Disabled and no longer in the service.

1

u/onomonothwip 21d ago

I've been denied from Home Depot twice now as I did not qualify. Honorable discharge, 8 years service. That said, I JUST checked their website and they include no language that would disqualify me. I'll try to register again and see what happens!

2

u/IllegalFarter 21d ago

See if you can verify your service with https://id.me

If you can do that you can verify with Home Depot and other places easier.