Abt gives first responders a one-time promo code worth $50 off a purchase of $500 or more, and ID.me does the verifying in your cart. Abt’s page lists who qualifies by role, including volunteer firefighters, corrections officers and 911 dispatchers, so you can check your own job against it before you build an order.
Abt started in 1936, when David and Jewel Abt opened Abt Radio in Chicago. Abt.com launched in 1997, and the Glenview, Illinois store opened in 2002 as the company’s fifth location. Abt’s history page also lists a 7,500-gallon fish tank as the largest privately-owned aquarium in Illinois.
How To Get The Abt First Responder Discount
Put what you want to buy in your cart first. Abt’s page says to select the box for the “Military, Student, and Teacher Discount” once your items are in the shopping cart, then click the ID.me verification button. The box is labeled for military, students and teachers, but the page lists first responders under the same ID.me process. If ID.me confirms you qualify, it provides “a unique one-time coupon code to use during your purchase,” and you enter it in the promo code field in your cart.
Abt says “Some exclusions apply and will be listed once your code is entered in the promo code field in the shopping cart.” Nothing on the page lists them ahead of time, so enter the code early and see what it takes off before you settle the rest of the order.
The amount is worded two ways on the same page. The main text says the code is “good for $50 off of your purchase of $500 or more.” The FAQ at the bottom says “The first responder discount is 10% off the retail price or $50 off a purchase of $500 or more (some exclusions apply).” The page doesn’t say when the 10% version applies, and the how-to steps describe the $50 code. The arithmetic is worth knowing: $50 off a $500 order is 10%, and $50 off a $2,000 refrigerator is 2.5%, so the code does the most work on orders close to the $500 minimum.
Abt also has a Price Match Guarantee: “Found a better price? We’ll meet or beat it.” You need a link to the lower-priced product, the competitor must be an authorized dealer, and the match is a one-time thing within 30 days of purchase. The terms add “No other offers or discounts may apply to price match,” so call Abt at 800-860-3577 before you plan on a price match and the first responder code in the same order.
Most items have a 30-day return window, with exceptions. Computers and tablets get 15 days, and cell phones get 14 days with a $45 restocking fee on opened items. Electric bikes get 2 days and must have under 25 miles of use. Projector screens are final sale, and mattresses get a one-time 90-day comfort exchange after the first 30 days. You print a return label and drop the box at a UPS Shipping Center, and once Abt’s Returns Department has received and inspected it, the refund or exchange is issued within two business days.
Shipping is free on most orders over $35 within the continental United States, excluding Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Abt’s shipping page says to look for the free shipping icon on qualifying items.
Q&A
Q: Does Abt give first responders a discount?
A: Yes. ID.me-verified first responders get a one-time promo code for $50 off a purchase of $500 or more, according to Abt’s discount page for veterans, first responders, nurses, teachers and students.
Q: Who counts as a first responder?
A: Abt’s page lists Doctors, Police, Police Officer, Sheriff, State Trooper, Corrections Officer, Federal Officers (ex. Customs, Homeland Security, etc.), 911 Dispatcher, Firefighters, Career Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, EMT, Paramedic, Nurse, Medical and Hospital. ID.me does the verifying.
Q: Is the discount only for first responders?
A: No. The same page offers it to veterans, military, nurses, teachers and students, each with their own list: active duty, reserves, National Guard, veterans, retirees, spouses and dependents for military; certified teachers, teacher aides, professors, speech pathologists and school administrators for teachers; and college, university, community college and technical college students.
Q: Can I get it at the Glenview store?
A: Abt’s page only describes the cart process on abt.com and doesn’t mention the store. Call 800-860-3577 to ask.
Q: Can I use the code on more than one order?
A: Abt calls it a “unique one-time coupon code.” The page doesn’t say whether you can verify again for a second order.
Q: Can I combine it with a price match?
A: Abt’s price match terms say “No other offers or discounts may apply to price match.” Ask Abt before you plan on both.
Q: What can I return, and for how long?
A: Most items have 30 days. Computers and tablets get 15, cell phones get 14, and projector screens are final sale. Abt’s return policy page has the full list of exceptions.
More Information:
If you’re pricing appliances, Lowe’s and The Home Depot have their own pages here, and the Home + Garden guides cover more brands.
