Veterans Day is coming up on Wednesday, and every store is already advertising "Veterans Day sales." Curious what people think — do the discounts actually help veterans, or is it mostly just marketing with a flag on it? Anyone here a veteran who's actually used one of these deals and found it worthwhile? Or do you skip them?
Some are genuinely useful: many chains offer free meals or discounts to veterans and active-duty members on the day itself, usually with a military ID or VA card. The storewide 'Veterans Day sales' are mostly regular holiday promos, though. Worth checking the store's own page for a dedicated veteran offer versus a general sale.
Good question — I think it's a bit of both. The free meals and the discounts that actually ask for a military ID or VA card seem legit and genuinely helpful. But the big storewide 'Veterans Day sale' banners feel like the same sale they'd run any other weekend, just with a flag on it.
My rule of thumb now is to check the store's own page for a specific veteran offer instead of trusting the general sale. If there's a real perk for veterans, it's usually spelled out pretty clearly.
Agree with Derek's rule of thumb. If the deal asks for a military ID, a VA card or ID.me verification, it's probably a real veteran benefit. If anyone can get it, it's just a regular sale. Also worth knowing: a lot of the free-meal offers are dine-in only and on the day itself, so check the details before you go.
I agree with Derek and Carter on this one — it's a bit of both. The offers that actually ask for a military ID, VA card, or ID.me check feel like real veteran perks, while the big storewide “Veterans Day sale” banners are usually just the same sale with a flag on it.
Nathan, your question is spot on. I usually check the store's own page for a specific veteran offer first, like Derek suggested, and skip the general sale unless I was already planning to buy something anyway.
Today is the day itself, so a reminder for anyone using the offers: most restaurant freebies are dine-in only and ask for proof of service like a VA card, military ID or DD-214, and a lot of them are valid today only. Calling ahead to the specific location saves a wasted trip, since franchises don't always participate.