Why I disagree with 'Senior Discounts'steemCreated with Sketch.

in #blog7 years ago

As someone who has worked in the food service industry for around 16 years, I've seen all sorts of discounts, given to all sorts of people, for all sorts of reasons. One in particular I've never agreed with is the 'Senior Discount'. This may start off sounding like a rant, but hopefully, it won't end that way.

Millenials are often accused of being self entitled, and holding the belief that the world owes them something more than what they're getting. Being 30, I suppose I do just barely fall under that category, but millenials aren't the only ones who think they're special...

senior-discount.jpg.332x166_default.jpg


Congratulations! You're old enough to retire!

If you decide to do so, you'll probably be living on what most would call a 'fixed income'. This means you may have to adjust your budget, and you may not be able to afford some of the finer things you used to enjoy, like eating out. This does not mean you should now be entitled to pay less for things you buy, simply because you've lived/worked for a long time and money is tight...
This is America... Money is tight for everyone but a select few. The company I work for very rarely approves overtime, so I'm essentially on a fixed income as well... I've never asked if someone offers a struggling millennial discount...

Now, if a business owner decides to offer a discount for any reason, that's their perogative, but when you all but demand that you pay less than the next person for the same order, I start to judge the kind of person you are. You are willing to support a business only as long as you're getting a little something extra, because again, you made it, and you deserve this.


The elderly aren't the poorest amount us anymore

Back in the 1930's, supporting the elderly became a hit topic, as many were hit hard by the great depression, and we're left with nothing. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, in the last 30 years or so, though, the median income for Americans aged 65+ has increased by about 42%, while the median income for those under 35 has dropped nearly 70%! Then add in the fact that many seniors have paid off mortgages and cars, social security, and often, and a pension from the work they did for decades, while many younger individuals are earning less money yet still have all those expenses. Maybe we should be offering discounts to struggling young adults...


If it really is the case that your fixed income doesn't allow you the same luxuries you're used to, maybe being fiscally reasonable is the best option instead of insisting a business be held responsible for your lack of extra money.

OK, so it ended as a rant too. Oh well. Tell me I'm wrong.


DQmbQFWTidW1LCyH5t1AURb4H5uLW4ATNf85z5Hjm5RWZvW_1680x8400.png

Sort:  

Now, if a business owner decides to offer a discount for any reason, that's their perogative

My wife always gets on me for not taking advantage of discounts offered, like senior or military but if the business owners offer them it’s silly not to accept their offer. Demanding? No. That’s not right. BTW Regal Theatres offer student discounts in addition to senior discounts.

I've just had one too many people get offended when someplace doesn't offer a certain discount. I don't blame anyone for taking advantage of discounts offered, but some people take it to a level of entitlement that really gets under my skin.

I think that is the real issue, the idea of entitlement to something not earned. Most businesses provide discounts based on helping shape demand, some though get put in place due to coersive behavior by the entitled group and this is not a good idea.

You make a very valid point @thatsweeneyguy ... older people really should be better established. Students on the other hand could and would really benefit from that. Hey... i have an idea then... you get discounts, i get discounts, EVERYONE gets discounts!!! Lol (oprah moment) hahaha!!!

Or everyone just pays full price and everyone is equal 😊

hehehe... or that, yes :)

Struggling milenial discount! Where can we get more of this?!

Its backwards in their minds - the SC discount is to attract more SC customers - not because of entitlements or poverty or even niceness!

But the ideas get bumbled up in their heads.

Solid rant today friend ;p

Very cool post!

Congratulations @thatsweeneyguy! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

Award for the number of posts published

Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here

If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

By upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how here!

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.17
TRX 0.15
JST 0.028
BTC 58320.47
ETH 2367.43
USDT 1.00
SBD 2.45