S&W 40% Discount for Active & Retired Military?

AKtinman · #1 11-29-2009, 06:59 PM

Someone posted on the Tacoma World Forum that S&W has a 40% discount offer for active duty and retired military for the purchase of one firearm.

Smith & Wesson 40% off For Active/Retired Military - Tacoma World Forums

Anyone familiar with this?

45Wheelgun · #2 11-29-2009, 08:58 PM

I'm not familiar with this, but I wasn't able to see the form they had as I am not a member. Can you download and then post the form for us? I know several people who would be interested in this.

therevjay · #3 11-29-2009, 09:20 PM

Do they plan on reimbursing the dealer or what? As far as I know you can't buy a gun direct from the mfg.

AKtinman · #4 11-30-2009, 06:18 PM

Sorry for the confusion, as I didn't think about a non-member of the Tacoma forum not being able to download the PDF file.

I know how to post photos here, but not how to post PDF's and my photo hosting site will not accept PDF files.

The PDF form appears to be one to complete and take to your FFL so he can send it to S&W, and the firearm would be sent to the FFL for delivery.

Forum member Airpark has posted some relevant info, so that might be the best way to contact S&W for details.

The form indicates the offer is for Active Duty and Retired Military only.

HTH

84CJ · #5 11-30-2009, 07:49 PM

Found these they have been converted to jpeg hope this works

Andy Griffith · #6 12-01-2009, 10:46 AM

I'm not trying to be a party crasher here...

And I love our veterans and officers (both active, retired and on call) as much, if not more than anyone...

(Notice: the below is not my opinion- but what I have heard from people in the past)

But there is no reason that anyone should not be able to get this discount.

I'm going to play devil's advocate here for just a bit...simply for the reason that I want to.

I am a cop/military lover, not a hater, I just want to make certain that everyone is clear on this.

However, I thought that the U.S. should have no "respect of persons" and we should all be on the same footing. I'm going to cry fowl if they wouldn't give me, a hard workin' Joe (or Bob, or Larry) the same discount. Does the guy at the coal mine work just as hard for his dough as anyone else? (I don't work at a coal mine...heck, I don't hardly work anymore period...except when the Mrs. hounds me.

)

I am not a cop, vet, EMT, first reponder or even a retired school crossing guard- just a regular tax paying citizen of the U.S.- why can't I get the same discount?

I know that various reasons can be cited because of job hazards, which are 100% valid, but does it justify a discount on a gun/car/refrigerator/groceries? Why not just pay law enforcement more money?!? Ah...we have an answer. Most LE are underpaid, understaffed and overworked- which is true almost everywhere. No, the answer isn't speed traps and red light cameras.
I'm all for giving everyone a deal and being treated fairly, and I'm thankful that we have a system that allows a company to dictate their own policies and pricing, but as a customer, my decisions can be based upon a companies pricing and marketing strategies as well as the quality of their product.

Some of dealer's best customers can be officers, but if the dealers have to compete against this, or cannot become an LE dealer- he's out of luck. I'd be raising cane if I was a dealer! (I guess I found another way of looking at it- from a dealer's prospective) Of course, the company would say that the guy has to come in and buy ammo and other stuff and you can make money off of that...but that's not the point, either.

I don't know if I would want to buy another S&W unless I got the same discount, knowing that it was out there.

Of course, I could just get my first cousin (retired deputy sheriff) to get it...(I mean them) for me...but that would be dishonest. Or, anyone could print the form, and lie about being an officer, but that is also dishonest and could wind up a person in jail for impersonating an officer, but it is highly likely that the company in question has no way of checking who is an officer and who isn't.

It seems to me that it is a catch 22...dang if they do, and dang if they don't.

OKFC05 · #7 12-01-2009, 11:36 AM

This is a one-time offer for active and retired military for ONE gun. A copy of the military ID showing the last 4 of the service number is required. Must be shipped to an FFL who will give you a copy of his license to send to S&W.

The 40% is off MSRP, which means it is essentially the same as the LE prices they can use for any number of guns.

Any FFL fees and taxes must be paid by the buyer.

On a M&P 9Pro, it appears it would save me about $100 compared to buying it at OPS in Tulsa, who can sell me one today, with no wait of up to 4 months for the special offer.

Very nice of S&W to extend the LE price to military for a one-time buy.

AJW · #8 12-01-2009, 01:13 PM

I may be wrong on this (my disclaimer) and hoping to clear up some confusion, but as an individual officer, purchasing a firearm, I dont believe I receive any discount from S&W. However, they do provide a Law Enforcement Department discount for Police Departments to purchase firearms to be used in the course of duty only. These are shipped directly to the department from the S&W factory. I do however, get a one time discount certificate, as I completed a S&W armorer course. It allows me to buy one S&W firearm at distributor price. This must be shipped through an FFL. For those wondering, distributor price and department price are not the same. On a recent request, distributor price was app $100 more on an M&P15. Plus the department purchase is tax-exempt.

mtb1bkr · #9 12-01-2009, 03:42 PM

Looks legit. I used the same form many times to buy guns directly from S&W. The only thing that wasn't there was the Military/LEO banner. I good friend of mine works for S&W in the LEO department for the NE. He used to be able to give me that order form with his signature on it for me to buy guns at dealer prices. I got 4 guns this way, my dad got two and my BIL go two as well. All we had to do was send it in with a copy of the receiving dealer's FFL, the pay whatever the fee the dealer charged. I bought my M&P 40 as soon as they were available because he brought home the factory demo gun one weekend to play with and we shot the heck out of it. It wasn't quite as refined as the one I got, but it was nice shooting something that wasn't even in production yet. Unfortunately, he can't do that any longer, but it's no big loss, I don't really see me buying any new S&Ws any time soon. I asked him about 6 months ago if he could get me a form for an M&P15t and that's when he broke the bad news to me. Ah well, maybe I'll look into this deal and get me a Christmas present.

Bill

Hoot · #10 12-01-2009, 04:56 PM

AJW, my local dealer has two different prices for S&W; LE only, and everybody else. Glock also. I've never asked, but since the signs are up, I'm guessing that he requires some form of ID to get the LE discount.

Andy Griffith, I'm not sure that if you don't already understand, that I (or anyone) can explain why some folks, that risk their life and limb for the good of the country, are offered a discount on a product, by a private (vs government owned) company.

"Pay them more money." I don't believe S&W has any say in that. What S&W can do, as a company, is offer a discount on their products, which is the topic of this discussion.

I cannot fathom why you would believe that any company would feel constrained to follow the "respect of persons" doctrine in marketing their goods. Should the guy that buys 1 item get the same price as that of one who buys 100, or 1000?

Remember, we are not talking about the government, or the application of law. Do you have the same objections to our government special set-asides and quota programs for hiring "traditionally underrepresented peoples"? Are you going to quit using the US Post Office because military veterans get points added "just because" they are veterans?

If you don't want to buy a S&W product because they choose to offer discounts to a certain group, that is certainly your right. But to me, your post sounds a lot like the kid on the playground that gets picked last whining about being picked last. Also, it smacks heavily of a socialist mindset. The only "dang if they do" is in your mind and, I suppose, those others that share your philosophy. I'm guessing that there aren't many folks in (or out of) the gun world that believe that LE and military shouldn't get a break.

I'm retired USAF. When S&W offered the discount to LE but not military, I didn't care. I was happy for the LE folks. I've seen deals offered by businesses that were offered to active military but not retired, and I didn't whine about that either. Good for the guys still serving.

Life is not fair. If anyone ever told you that it is, or even that it should be, they did you a grave disservice.

Respectfully submitted.

Andy Griffith · #11 12-01-2009, 05:05 PM

Hoot.

I'm just trying to be the devil's advocate.

I added a disclaimer at the top of my first post- which I should have for clarity so folks know I'm not being a prick, etc.
I just wanted to pose an alternating opinion of a worse case scenario of certain people that will call S&W and their dealers wanting this discount.

I certainly don't mind at all that they give LE/military this discount at all! Soldiers need all they can get!
I most certainly assure you that I am no socialist, or picked last.

I am out there to tell you, that fact is...there are people that can and will never understand why our fine people in uniform(s) get a few extra things that they need...I sometimes have to deal with these folks...not pleasant at all.

I just wanted to give another perspective (as stated) from the perspective of a typical non-understanding layman when they see this, and to kind of go through and understand what I have in the past with these people.

Evil Dog · #12 12-01-2009, 05:15 PM

I just may have a Model 41 in my near future... 21 years in the USAF protecting your freedom.

GLV · #13 12-01-2009, 08:11 PM

I just printed out the forms for my son and myself. Now to figure out what I want.

Hoot · #14 12-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Griffith

Hoot.

I'm just trying to be the devil's advocate.

Quote:

n.
One who argues against a cause or position, not as a committed opponent but simply for the sake of argument or to determine the validity of the cause or position.

I guess I didn't see a need for that here.

Thanks for the PM and back at ya!

Take care.

Munsterf18 · #15 12-01-2009, 11:39 PM

Here's two quick examples using Bud's Gunshop LE prices as a comparison. They are shipped prices and the FFL fee would run the same whether from Smith or Buds.

M&P 45c MSRP $758. Buds LE $471. S&W 40% price $454.
M&P 9 MSRP $719 Buds LE $419 S&W 40% price $431.

So, they're really not far off the normal LE prices, and Bud's extends these to military as well as LE.

Munster

Airpark · #16 12-01-2009, 11:54 PM

Here is the email and link for S&W. You will get a very nice informative reply from this lady.

Helene L. Piquette

Manager, International & Government

Sales Support & Administration

Tel: 413-747-3264

Toll Free: 1-800-331-0852 Ext. 3264

Fax: 413-731-8980

E-mail: [email protected]

Good Luck,

Evil Dog · #17 12-06-2009, 12:31 AM

Better hurry... the e-mail I got from S&W indicates the "military" offer will end on Dec 31st !!!

n3cal · #18 12-27-2009, 04:55 AM

I decided to take advantage of this offer! I sent my paperwork in just before Christmas. Has anyone else? I'm curios how long it will take? Anyone out there received their order yet? I've ordered a M&P 15T.

n4zov · #19 12-27-2009, 03:28 PM

I see nothing wrong with a manufacturer offering special pricing to active duty military. We have guys in uniform who are on their fourth tour in the Middle East, who have spent far more time away from their families than they have spent at home. If S&W wants to give them a break on prices it is fine with me, and it does not bother me one iota that the same deal isn't available to me. Just my two cents worth.