Posted on 12/13/2012 8:43:38 AM PST by Sporke
I have a problem. I was reading posts from Military folks on a certain social internet forum about Military Discounts.
It seems as though a fair number of Soldiers were offended that a certain restaurant didn't offer a discount.
I responded that when I served, I never expected a discount. If one was offered, I would accept, but I never asked for one. I also posted that if they went into a business expecting a discount, and were offended when they didn't get one, they were no better than a common beggar. Needless to say my post didn't go over very well.
My questions are these....should a business offer a discount? Should a Soldier ask for one? Should a Soldier expect one?
It is easier to tell a client that a discount is no longer offered than to raise your prices. Some sort of psychology there, they are grateful for having gotten by cheaper than usual while they did, and are far less resistant to prices returning to "normal" when the discount expires than they would be to a price increase later after a price drop. It says your goods and/or services are really worth X, but you are/have been getting a deal at n% off.
“My wife & I mid-60s and what bothers us most is when restaurants give a senior discount without asking if we are seniors...really makes one feel older than dirt.”
That’s just silly.
Offering any type of discount is soley up to the business. No discount program should be expected/required.
It is appropriate for anyone to inquire if discounts are offered at those types of businesses which traditionally offer them.
It is never appropriate to expect/demand a discount.
Discounts for active duty & veterans are a privilege. They are a way for businesses to say "thank you" to those who have served. Demanding a discount is as innapropriate as demanding a "thank you". If a discount is offered to a serviceman/veteran, the response should be gracious, whether on not the offer is accepted.
I am aware of a lodging entity which this year started offering a military/veteran's discount. It is the only discount it has ever offered, though at times it does offer promotional packages.
The military/veteran's discount is this business's discrete way of saying "thank you". Those inquiring about it receive it. If management becomes aware of a guest's military/veteran status during his stay, his rate is automatically reduced to the discounted rate for the entire stay. This is done quietly with a simple "thank you for serving" to the guest on departure.
Without fail, all guests receiving this discount have been humble and grateful. Most will comment along the line of; "I haven't done much..." And though the slight easing of expenses is much appreciated, you can tell that the thoughtfulness means the world to the recipient.
That is the true difference between military/veteran disounts and other discounts. One is a "thank you". The others are merely business inducements. Never expect a "thank you" for serving. But when given one, accept it humbly and graciously.
I also own a few businesses and offer a 10% military discount to my customers. It's a way to thank them and it keeps them coming back!
Businesses don’t have to offer a soldier discounts unless they advertise as giving discounts. It’s a good marketing strategy to bring in new customers.
Most vets can't remember being able to afford to eat in a restaurant when they served, we were lucky enough to be able to afford cigarettes and booze at the EM club as we lived and ate on base.
The military is a pretty well paid job today.
Living in military towns for the past 27 years, we ask and most of the time we receive. I have never been offended when told that they don’t have a military discount.
But if you don’t ask, you usually will not find out. Lowe’s and Home Depot give 10% discounts to retired military as well as active. ATT Cellular offer a 19% discount.
I have no problem with it.
Now I'm back in NYC. When I got something from Men's Warehouse the other day I inquired if they had a military discount. They do not. Which is totally fine. They aren't four miles from a military base so it doesn't make sense for them to have one.
If one of my soldiers ever griped about not getting a discount I would make it clear that is not an acceptable outlook.
I was in uniform and on my 100 mile commute from the graveyard shift at my Air Force duty station when I came by an IGA supermarket. It was just about midnight when I pulled into the parking lot, hopeful that I could find something to eat. I hadn’t had anything to eat other than some breakfast rolls at the hotel the previous morning, so I was getting more than a little hungry. As luck would have it, the store manager had already locked the doors for the night, so I turned away and started walking back to the car in disappointment. Everything was closed the rest of the way home, even the gas stations. I was happily interrupted in those thoughts when the store owner/manager ccalled out to me and invited me into his store. He helped me find a snack to keep me going. When I tried to pay for the food, he refused to accept payment. We had a conversation about his military experiences, and I thanked him very appreciatively before letting him close the store and go home to his family. This event was very much appreciated after the cold shoulder being experienced while in uniform all too often in the Vietnam era. Our commanders often warned us about the personal anti-military attacks we were to expect and how to respond to them without causing disrepute to the service.
On another occasion I was aboard a B-727 TWA flight out of Los Angeles headed eastbound. Budget car rental had given me a problem refusing to rent to military under the age of about 25 with or without a credit card, so I was not too happy with the hassles encountered in this trip. After we were airborne and at cruising altitude, a stewardess (they weren’t addressed as flight attendants yet) came down the aisle and mysteriously asked me to leave my seat and follow her. She led me forward to the First Class seats just aft of the cockpit and put me in one of those seats all by myself. They had fun bringing me some great drinks and a first class meal! The stewardess explained how the captain-pilot had given the order to bring me forward to the First Class seating. The hassles of the trip were quickly forgotten, but the memories of the kindness of that TWA flight crew were never forgotten and much appreciated in the later years when I chose TWA flights in preference to the other airlines.
Although the offer of a First Class upgrade was not repeated, I did run into another unusual situation on a flight out of Los Angeles. My seatmate in Coach Class was an attractive young lady. We were having a good time as we jetted across Arizona and the Sun was setting outside our window. She raised the chair arm separating us, scooted over, and snuggled in real close like a long lost girlfriend happy to be with her boyfriend in uniform. The stewardess assumed we were a couple and treated us as such. After about the fist hour of this trip, she held me tight and went to sleep. After arriving at our destination, we said our goodbyes and made our separate ways to the baggage carousels. As I was walking down the airport concourse, I noticed her overtake me from behind and I was prepared to smile and say hello to her, but never got the opportunity. She went right by me without giving any sign of recognition, which was confusing until a few moments later, when the reason became all too obvious. Ahead of me she jumped into the arms of her husband and hugged her children waiting for her on the concourse.
Military discounts are an honor only when they are not an entitlement. Anyone in the military who thinks they should be entitled to a discount should consider how they dishonor themselves and the service by demanding what former members of the military must sacrifice from their own businesses and families in order to honor those who followed them.
Thank you for your post, I enjoyed reading it. I had my share of good memories too, during the 80s. I admit I didn’t always feel appreciated by civilians when I was in, until I realized they didn’t owe me anything. Once I learned that, I was a lot more thankful when I did receive something nice, whether it was a discount or a nice word. I think the only place I really wanted a discount was at the cleaners, since I used them so much for my dress uniforms, and that was never an issue since every cleaners outside the gates offered discounts.
I WAS shocked, and a bit disappointed when I read that thread this morning and saw how many Soldiers had that “civilians owe me this and that” attitude. I guess it’s just a sign of the times.
Very well said! :)
Nevertheless, I have never expected a discount, and certainly wouldn't have asked for one.
Lowe’s will give you 10% off.
I've eaten at Applebees, and I like the food. However, the local Applebees is posted against concealed carry. I've told the manager he lost my business because of it. He was polite, but said that's a corporate decision. I called them and said they'd lost my business, but haven't heard back.
“I think we all who served believe as you do. But if they OFFER a discount, I’m going to take it. I don’t EXPECT or DEMAND one.”
That is up to you. I will not take a discount, nor will I ask for one, nor will I accept one if it is given. That is my personal preference.
Members of the military should be expected, and indeed look forward to returning to their plowshares, so to speak, after their services are no longer needed, without further expectation from their country other than the honor of serving it.
“They should be so treated and appreciated. They will give up their life to save yours without judgement of your character; one for one without blinking - that makes them special.”
When your armed services expects to be treated specially outside of the historic traditions of military service in the United States, it’s a very short walk to tyranny.
I am afraid of a military in which service becomes monetarily lucrative, because then they have something to defend other than the freedoms of this country.
A friend of mine, if he goes into a restaurant and sees a military man, or family, or group, he secretly gets them a 100% discount, with an extra tip to the waitress for being his partner in crime for bringing him their bill.
“I am afraid of a military in which service becomes monetarily lucrative, because then they have something to defend other than the freedoms of this country.”
There are no servicemen getting rich for being in the military - and a 10% discount from a vendor is certainly not the pot at the end of a rainbow.
Some people are really clueless about what it means to serve. 1% of our nation is willing to die for the freedom and ideals of the 99% that don’t serve - they should be paid more while athletes and movie stars should be hoping for a little discount at the store because they need the help making ends meet...
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