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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you be offended if someone asked you whether you were over 60’s?

163 replies

WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 14:06

I’d really love to hear people’s opinions on this!

If you went to the cinema to purchase a ticket to watch a film and the sales assistant said, ‘Is that 1 Adult ticket or 1 Over 60’s ticket?’ would you be offended by that? Bearing in mind you’re not actually over 60’s but 53.

For context, an Adult ticket costs £13.70 and an Over 60’s ticket costs £10.70. How would you feel about that line of questioning?

YABU - that’s a really offensive question and shouldn’t be asked.

YANBU - there’s nothing wrong with the question as the staff member needs to charge the correct price

OP posts:
Lifestooshort71 · 30/09/2024 17:45

I wouldn't be upset. I'm 72.

JohnTheRevelator · 30/09/2024 17:41

Age is notoriously difficult to judge if you don't know the person. I've thought that someone who was 48 was over 60,but then again I've thought that someone who was 76 was only about 60!

SecondFirst · 30/09/2024 17:37

The problem with asking 'any concessions?' It could be taken as insenuating they are old/too young/look poor on low income/seem disabled. It might also open up a whole new conversation delaying customers waiting. I think having the prices very clear, ie not far away on a board in frilly fancy font or chalk handwritting is the best way. Those interested in discount will look for it and ask. Maybe a poster with "reduced prices for x y and z please mention when booking"

InSpainTheRain · 30/09/2024 17:35

YABU - they are just trying to give you a discount! It's not offensive at all. I'm 60 next year, I'll be taking all the concessions I can get!

WandaFishy99 · 30/09/2024 17:23

My cousin was always assumed to be a senior, when buying a cinema ticket, from around 53/54. She didn't care, she just liked the saving! She always said she looked older than she actually was.

Boutonnière · 30/09/2024 17:20

I was buying a ticket for an exhibition and the young male ticket seller said ‘ any concessions ? I looked up at the price board and was quickly skim reading when he helpfully added “ like 60 + ?” I said ‘“ unfortunately not quite there yet, but what about my student card ( full time 1 year course) ? “ He started to apologise, I said not be silly and thank you for the kind reminder and so all ended in a OTT British apology fest and I had my discount.

My friend ( with membership card ) didn’t see the funny side and was outraged on my behalf all the way around the first room - said she’d have been deeply offended. I pointed out her son was about the same age as the cashier and could he or any of his mates reliably judge older ages ?

pizzaHeart · 30/09/2024 17:18

I agree about darkness, in our Vue I wouldn’t recognize my own husband if he would be buying a ticket - bloke in jeans and navy jacket with greyish hair could be anything between 30 - 70.

I would be distraught if asked but then would pull myself together ask for an adult and go in. I wouldn’t complain. What about? I know I’m not young any more.

Pingpongglitch · 30/09/2024 17:17

I have the opposite problem. I'm in my fifties and have a plethora of lovely debilitating medical conditions that make me very weak, unsteady, breathless and fall over a lot. I tend to get dismissed quite often because I look a lot younger than I am. As in, "it wouldn't be THAT. You're too young for it to be THAT". Shock...it was THAT. I've also been told I can obviously walk perfectly fine and can't use patient transport because that's only for the "over fifties". The fact that I only look about 35 apparently supposed to help me not fall over, like some sort of invisible rollator.
This is from nurses and ambulance drivers who really should know better than to think all disabilities are not only visible but only happen to those over 50. It's insane. For heavens sake there are little children in wheelchairs so what's age got to do with it.

As for OP, maybe the ticket seller was pissed off at the management and wanted to deprive them of the extra few pounds by giving out extra concessionary tickets.

Katkins17 · 30/09/2024 17:16

I'd be flipping mortified.... not even going to sugar coat it to make myself sound reasonable....I'd be raging !!!!!

AllAboutNiamh · 30/09/2024 17:09

At 53? I’d be gutted!

cardibach · 30/09/2024 17:09

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It’s rude to make a mistake now?

ThatsNotMyTeen · 30/09/2024 17:08

I think people generally don’t know how old people are judging by looks. I got IDd when I was in my early 40s, there was no way in a million years I looked under 25!

Original poster
WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 17:08

MonsteraMama · 30/09/2024 16:54

I'm 33 and I'd take the discount, idgaf if some popcorn jockey thinks I'm old. The cinema is expensive enough, I'll take what I can get. Sure pet I'm 65, why not.

Same tbh😂

I’m surprised at those saying, ‘you must be young if you don’t know the difference between 53 and 60.’

Picture this. You’re a staff member in the box office of a cinema where it’s naturally dark and has low lighting. When someone comes in and approaches the tills, you have about 5 seconds to analyse them before they say what film they’d like to see. Once they’ve done that, you’re looking at your till straight away and asking what ticket they want to purchase.

It’s not as if the sales assistant had anytime prior to really look at this customer and guess their specific age. Even if it was me, I’d probably guess what age group they could be instead of trying to guess their specific age. How the hell would I do that?!

OP posts:
SeatonCarew · 30/09/2024 17:06

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A nasty and ageist comment.

Getitwright · 30/09/2024 17:06

WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 16:55

This is actually what the sales assistant said once he’d heard that the customer complained. He said he won’t bother asking anymore and just give everyone an Adult ticket.

The problem with that, is that you’ll get people coming back to the tills saying, ‘you overcharged me. You didn’t tell me that there were tickets at a cheaper rate’ etc! I definitely think asking whether someone needs a concession ticket may sound better. It’s still asking whether they’re over a certain age but at least they can never say we’ve tried to rip them off!

Show quote history

I wouldn’t worry about it to be honest. Narcissists will always give you grief if you get it wrong, while the tight wads will give you grief if you don’t ask. Welcome to customer service🤣

I worked in a public facing environment, had to deal with all sorts every day. You have to stay polite, non argumentative, take whatever rubbish comes your way calmly and professionally. Until your last hour, of your last day, and then the karma kicks in, and it sort of doesn’t matter anymore as you can now (politely of course) tell the odd screwball what you really think. It is soooo rewarding.😁🤭

Original poster
WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 17:02

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I haven’t refused to do anything. I don’t spend all of my time on Mumsnet and as far as I’m aware, MNHQ doesn’t state that the OP must reply to every single comment within their Talk Guidelines.

Do you really think a huge company is going to provide a set criteria on ‘when to ask a customer if they’re over the age of 60.’ Obviously not as that’d be pretty damn ageist. Team members simply ask when they think it may be relevant to the person booking.

No one is saying 53 is old and no one’s saying 60 is old. He simply got it wrong but if she was over 60 and he didn’t mention the option of purchasing an over 60 ticket, I’m sure she would have complained about that too. Sometimes you can’t win and people are simply just trying to do their job

OP posts:
DiddysLubeCupboard · 30/09/2024 16:59

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Getitwright · 30/09/2024 16:58

Perhaps we all need photo ID cards🤭 Like the one I had when I was a student, and the one I will need for a (future) railcard. Or the one on passport, or the one on a driving license…….

Original poster
WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 16:55

Coconutter24 · 30/09/2024 14:54

Tbh OP is just doing her job, although going forward I wouldn’t even ask id just leave it up to the customer to ask about concessions unless it was really obvious

Show quote history

This is actually what the sales assistant said once he’d heard that the customer complained. He said he won’t bother asking anymore and just give everyone an Adult ticket.

The problem with that, is that you’ll get people coming back to the tills saying, ‘you overcharged me. You didn’t tell me that there were tickets at a cheaper rate’ etc! I definitely think asking whether someone needs a concession ticket may sound better. It’s still asking whether they’re over a certain age but at least they can never say we’ve tried to rip them off!

OP posts:
MonsteraMama · 30/09/2024 16:54

I'm 33 and I'd take the discount, idgaf if some popcorn jockey thinks I'm old. The cinema is expensive enough, I'll take what I can get. Sure pet I'm 65, why not.

irregularegular · 30/09/2024 16:51

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Really? I'd always point out under charging if I noticed it at the time (to be fair, I'd be unlikely to go back and point out a small under charge).

irregularegular · 30/09/2024 16:50

StMarieforme · 30/09/2024 15:40

Over 60s is 70+

Over 60 is 60+

Big difference!

I don't think so! If a ticket is for over 60s then I'm pretty sure it means 60+ even if you don't think it should.

DiddysLubeCupboard · 30/09/2024 16:49

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irregularegular · 30/09/2024 16:46

Am I the only one who is shocked at the number of people who would take the cheaper ticket if offered even if not over 60 (or even ask for it!)?

Original poster
WhatDoYouThink789 · 30/09/2024 16:45

saraclara · 30/09/2024 14:48

I remember an initial pang, and then amusement, when I was first asked that question (and I hadn't yet hit the magic number). But the person asking was young, so I wasn't offended.

I do think that it would be better for staff at your cinema to ask "do you qualify for any concessions?" though @WhatDoYouThink789 . Asking "are you over 60?" is a bit blunt.

Yeah you could be right, we may just give it a try. I hope no one gets offended that we think they’re old enough to qualify for a concession ticket though!

OP posts: