Does Freefly offer military discount?

Freefly is a company that manufactures camera stabilizers and drones for professional filmmakers and videographers. Their most popular products include the Alta line of gimbals and the Tero drone. As a company catering to professionals, Freefly’s products come with premium price tags. This leads many to wonder – does Freefly offer any discounts, specifically for military personnel?

What is Freefly?

Freefly Systems was founded in 2009 by professional camera operators who were dissatisfied with the camera stabilizers available at the time. They set out to design gimbals and drones specifically for high-end cinema cameras like the RED and Arri Alexa that could produce smooth, stabilized footage for Hollywood films and commercials. The company is based in Seattle, Washington and all their products are designed, engineered and assembled there.

Over the years, Freefly has become well-known for their superbly engineered gimbals and drones that offer professional filmmakers the most advanced stabilization technology on the market. Their Alta line features gimbals for a variety of camera sizes with specialized features like horizon leveling and First Person View (FPV) control. The intuitive Movi smartphone app allows for precision camera control. The carbon fiber Tero drone is made to carry cinema cameras for stabilized aerial cinematography.

Freefly’s Target Customer

Freefly’s products are geared toward professional cinematographers, camera operators, videographers and content creators who need top-of-the-line equipment to capture smooth, stabilized footage without any jitter or shake. Their gimbals and drones are designed to work with high-end cinema cameras from brands like RED, Arri, Sony, Canon and Blackmagic. These cameras can cost tens of thousands of dollars themselves.

Freefly’s gimbals range from $500 for the basic Movi 3-axis gimbal up to $7500 for the Movi Pro 18-axis cinema robot. Their Tero drone costs around $4000. As you can see, Freefly’s products come with premium price tags to match their exceptional performance and quality. They are priced for professionals and high-end production studios rather than casual hobbyists. The stabilized footage that Freefly’s gimbals provide is critical for professional filmmaking and commercial work.

Does Freefly Offer Discounts?

Given their target demographic of professional cinematographers and content creators, Freefly does not offer many discounts on their products. However, they do offer some savings opportunities:

• Education Discounts – Verified students and educational facilities can receive 5-10% off Freefly products by applying on Freefly’s website.
• Rental Credits – Customers who rent Freefly gear from an authorized rental house can receive up to 10% of the rental cost as credit toward buying their own Freefly system.
• Trade-in Program – Customers can trade in an old Freefly product to save 10-15% off the purchase of a new gimbal or drone.
• Used Equipment – Freefly sells thoroughly tested and recalibrated used equipment, checked by their technicians, at 5-15% savings.

Does Freefly Offer Military Discounts?

Freefly does NOT offer a formal military discount program. Some reasons why they may not provide military discounts include:

• Their products are already priced for high-end professional customers who likely have sufficient budgets.
• Offering blanket military discounts could significantly eat into their profit margins.
• Military personnel are not their core target demographic, as Freefly gear requires professional expertise to use properly.
• They offer selective educational discounts instead which may benefit some military-affiliated students.

That said, there have been some instances of military personnel receiving courtesy discounts by contacting Freefly’s customer service team directly and asking if any savings can be extended. But this is decided on a case-by-case basis rather than a standardized military discount.

Other Discounts for Military

While Freefly does not offer an official military discount program, active duty military members, veterans and family members can receive discounts on other brands and products. Some examples include:

Camera and Electronics Brands

• Canon – Offers 10-15% off cameras, lenses and other gear for military.
• Nikon – Has a military discount program providing 5-15% off cameras and equipment.
• Apple – Military customers can save 5-10% on MacBooks, iPads, iPhones and other Apple devices.
• Samsung – Verified military members get discounts around 10% on their phones, tablets and wearables.
• DJI – Up to 15% off drones and Ronin gimbals for military, veterans, first responders.

Outdoor Gear and Apparel

• The North Face – 10% military discount on outdoor clothing, shoes, camping gear.
• Under Armour – 10% Hero Discount for military and first responders.
• Oakley – Oakley and G.I. Eyewear provide military discounts up to 20% on sunglasses.
• YETI – Offers 20% off coolers and drinkware for military members and veterans.

Hotels and Rentals

• Marriott – Hotel chain provides discounted Government rates for official travel.
• Hilton – Features special military packages and discounted hotel rates.
• Avis – Up to 25% off car rentals for military personnel on vacation.
• VRBO – Provides military lodging discounts for vacation home rentals.

Retailers

• Home Depot – Offers 10% military discount on all purchases in-store and online.
• Lowe’s – 10% military discount on all items for active duty, reserves, veterans, retirees.
• Nike – Nike and Converse offer 10% military discounts on shoes and athletic apparel.

Ways to Save on Freefly Products

Although Freefly does not have an official military discount policy, here are some tips for how military personnel can save on purchasing Freefly gimbals and drones:

• Buy used/refurbished – Get significant savings on pre-owned equipment verified and recalibrated by Freefly.
• Rent first – Apply a portion of the rental cost as credit on a purchase.
• Resell old gear – Trade in old Freefly products to save on new purchases.
• Ask about coupons – Check if Freefly has any limited-time percent-off coupons.
• Price match – See if another retailer can beat Freefly’s price and request a price match.
• Wait for sales – Occasionally Freefly products go on sale around major holidays.

Military members may also want to consider other gimbal/drone brands like FeiyuTech, DJI and Zhiyun that offer formal military and veteran discounts up to 15% off. While not as premium as Freefly, these can offer good value and capabilities for military videography applications.

Conclusion

Freefly does not currently have an official military discount program. While they sometimes may extend courtesy discounts on a case-by-case basis, there is no guaranteed or consistent savings for military personnel. Those in the military who want to purchase Freefly’s professional-grade gimbals and drones would benefit most from buying used/refurbished gear, renting first, trading in old products and watching for limited-time sales and coupons. For formal military discounts from major camera brands, electronics, outdoor gear, hotels, and retailers, there are plenty of other options.