Vets and 1st Responders

[RockyMtnMT]

I agree. I don't want it to be an added labor for us, or our customers. I haven't heard back from IT yet, if we can do my idea. It will create an effort for those that get the discount. Unfortunately. If we are able to implement this and we see a large decrease in discounts, hopefully it is because we weeded out those that shouldn't and didn't just make it more difficult than it is worth.

 

[Hard rock]

Here's some "Captains" for ya...

https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=Captain

Public service pays well...very well most of the time. Benefits alone are unmatched in private industry.

You can call it fake news all you want, I really don't care what you believe.

I'll start off by saying I am not a firefighter, but a Sheriff's Deputy with 8 years on the job. Since it is public knowledge, I don't mind saying that for reference, my annual salary is around $58k a year counting my overtime. As far as benefits, in my specific area, while my benefits are certainly good, all the local mines and production plants are as good or better (I have friends and family that work or have worked at them) and all of them pay significantly better. My county is somewhat above average overall compensation in the state (Wyoming). The vast majority of other LE people I know are in a similar, blue collar life style. And that is fine, we do not do this job because of the pay. But Wyoming actually pays pretty well. When my family was contemplating moving to Arkansas, I was applying for a county Deputy job in the area we were looking at. They paid 34k/year, and the insurance plan plus paying the other medical expenses I would have needed for my family would have been about half my check. Even with my wife being a registered nurse, we were not able to make it work due to that. I'm not saying this looking for pity or anything like that, I make a fair and honest living, but I simply wanted to put it in an accurate perspective.

Your specific area in California is not representative of the entire USA. The average firefighter wage for California is pretty high, however the national average is in the upper 40k/year range. That is only counting the ones that actually get paid, not the thousands of small municipal and rural fire departments around the country that are ran on a volunteer basis. Your referencing one of the higher paying departments in the country and applying it to the entire firefighter community, and it is simply incorrect.

However I can see part of your point. Another $6-8 per 50 bullets is not a huge deal, and none of the LE's or vets I know expect a discount. I have used his LE discount a couple times, and if the use, or suspected over-use, is concerning enough that it warrants this thread, I completely understand from a business perspective. I personally just won't use it anymore. Maybe that will help make up for someone that illegitimately uses it. Steve has worked hard to make his company what it is, and deserves what he asks for his product.

Sorry for the novel. To attempt to contribute to your thread in a meaningful manner Steve, you could possibly do it by email verification. Just have them email you or one of your people in I.T. with a current ID, and if they are approved, just send them a coupon code to use at checkout. You could even have certain codes, say the ones for first responders, expire at the same time annually, and have to re-verify with a still valid form of first responder ID. The military vets could get a code that doesn't expire. The initial transition would be time consuming, but I think eventually it would get pretty manageable.

Well said couldn't have said it better

 

[epags]

Here's some "Captains" for ya...

https://transparentcalifornia.com/salaries/search/?q=Captain

Public service pays well...very well most of the time. Benefits alone are unmatched in private industry.

You can call it fake news all you want, I really don't care what you believe.

Cherry picking, a person can 'prove' anything. The average cost of a house (ACOAH) in the USA is $374,900. The ACOAH in Los Angeles county is $787,760; in Ventura County - $869,000; in San Francisco -$1,510,000 thus the salaries of employees who work there are higher to compensate for housing, taxes and gas at $6/gallon for regular. OTOH, in Wyoming the ACOAH is $140,200 so salaries are lower.
Steve just wants to know how to weed out 'fakes'. Looking at salaries in a big city in California means very little when you consider the average shooter in the rest of the nation.
Dog gone it, just slipped getting off of my soap box.

 

[RidgeTop]

I happen to be vet and several different sites require a copy of your DD214. I just block out some of the stuff.
Mike

What do you block out?

 

[adam32+P]

Cherry picking, a person can 'prove' anything. The average cost of a house (ACOAH) in the USA is $374,900. The ACOAH in Los Angeles county is $787,760; in Ventura County - $869,000; in San Francisco -$1,510,000 thus the salaries of employees who work there are higher to compensate for housing, taxes and gas at $6/gallon for regular. OTOH, in Wyoming the ACOAH is $140,200 so salaries are lower.
Steve just wants to know how to weed out 'fakes'. Looking at salaries in a big city in California means very little when you consider the average shooter in the rest of the nation.
Dog gone it, just slipped getting off of my soap box.

Not cherry picking. I said I know where @Andrew Massi lives and the salaries in that area. @Hard rock called it "fake news" which I backed up with facts. Read the whole thread next time before making the climb to your soap box.

At the end of the day, "first responders" are still at or above the average for their geographic area.

But, with some of the logic so far on this thread...since Californians get paid so much more than the rest of the nation, then maybe Steve should charge 10% MORE to the first responders in CA?

 

[PBramble]

Just my honest opinion, but if the discount is taking that much out of your bottom line, just stop offering it.

 

[epags]

On ebenefits you can get a service verification letter that doesn't have any confidential info on it.

For vets who do not have VA medical card, go here:

How to apply for a Veteran ID Card | Veterans Affairs

A Veteran ID Card (VIC) is a digital form of photo ID you can use to get discounts offered to Veterans at many restaurants, hotels, stores, and other businesses. Find out if you’re eligible for a Veteran ID Card—and how to apply.

www.va.gov

And if you don't have your DD214 go here first to get one free:

Request Military Service Records

Veterans and their next of kin can get FREE copies of their DD 214, and other military service records including Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals, and Medical and Health Records.

www.archives.gov

beware of other links that are not a .gov site

 

[xsn10s]

For vets who do not have VA medical card, go here:

How to apply for a Veteran ID Card | Veterans Affairs

A Veteran ID Card (VIC) is a digital form of photo ID you can use to get discounts offered to Veterans at many restaurants, hotels, stores, and other businesses. Find out if you’re eligible for a Veteran ID Card—and how to apply.

www.va.gov

And if you don't have your DD214 go here first to get one free:

Request Military Service Records

Veterans and their next of kin can get FREE copies of their DD 214, and other military service records including Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), Replacement Medals, and Medical and Health Records.

www.archives.gov

beware of other links that are not a .gov site

I'd be real careful about sharing my DD214 or VA Medical card. At the bare min I'd cover SSN or VA Member ID#

 

[epags]

I'd be real careful about sharing my DD214 or VA Medical card. At the bare min I'd cover SSN or VA Member ID#

The VA ID card that a vet would get from the link I provided (in response #77) is not a VA medical Card and is only good for veteran's benefits from civilian businesses.
FWIW, my DVA medical card only has a magnetic strip and no Member ID# other than my handsome face. (Other versions of it may vary...mine is about 10 years old). It even says that if found drop in nearest US mailbox.
On the other hand the DD214 does have the vet's SSN (which could/should be covered before making a digital copy.

 

[xsn10s]

The VA ID card that a vet would get from the link I provided (in response #77) is not a VA medical Card and is only good for veteran's benefits from civilian businesses.
FWIW, my DVA medical card only has a magnetic strip and no Member ID# other than my handsome face. (Other versions of it may vary...mine is about 10 years old). It even says that if found drop in nearest US mailbox.
On the other hand the DD214 does have the vet's SSN (which could/should be covered before making a digital copy.

Yes I understand you were just providing links. My VA Medical card does have a member number.

 

[xsn10s]

The VA ID card that a vet would get from the link I provided (in response #77) is not a VA medical Card and is only good for veteran's benefits from civilian businesses.

I misread that part sorry. My eyes are getting tired and I'm getting a massive allergy attack.

 

[mongo4567]

I personally would always expect to need to prove a military discount. It is almost always like with Lowes, Glock blue guns, etc. I've needed DD214, but many vendors accept my drivers license/concealed handgun license with veteran label as well...since the state requires the DD214. I don't usually even ask unless it is a large purchase or I see it posted somewhere. I often have cashiers asking me when they see a USAA credit card.

It would require some work on your end to validate up front, but it would be just once per user. That would be my recommendation.

 

[RockyMtnMT]

I want to make it clear that we don't offer the discount to service men and 1st responders because we think they need our help financially. We offer it as a gift out of respect for the job they do or have done. I don't care what their monetary compensation is or was. We added 1st responders during the leftist riots and calls for eliminating the police. Then comes this pandemic crap and the torture that our medical professionals have been put through by our gov in order to keep their jobs. We just want our gift to go to who we want to give it to.

We will see if IT can implement my idea or not. It will have cost up front but if it works will not add labor cost to us.

 

[Muddyboots]

I'd be real careful about sharing my DD214 or VA Medical card. At the bare min I'd cover SSN or VA Member ID#

Off topic but what in hel are SSN's still being used? I would demand my congressional rep to get this rectified just like Medicare cards used to be SSN but now a random number character code.