CF asking for key worker discount

[rumblingtumtum]

Tonight I was in a small independent restaurant when a police officer (inspector rank) came in to collect a takeaway order. He was wearing full police uniform, as he was paying he asked if they did key worker discount "because some places do".

This really pissed me off. Firstly, he was in full uniform, if they did a discount they would have offered it.

Secondly, he has been on full pay for the whole of this pandemic, the restaurant has been closed for months.

Thirdly, him asking puts the staff in an awkward position, police are supposed to represent authority.

I would like to point out that I am also a police officer and I would never ask for discount like that. I think it pissed me off so much because I feel his actions have a negative impact on the representation of 'The Police'.

AIBU to be so pissed off or was him asking ok and I'm being irrational?

I'm away for the weekend so not in my own force area. I know in my force area there has been a lot on the intranet about not taking advantage of free goods and discounts as we have to be impartial, so maybe that's why I was so annoyed seeing someone of rank blatantly ask.

[SodomyNonSapiens]

YANBU He was

[Hairthrowaway]

I think you’re overthinking this

It’s perfectly acceptable to merely ask if they offer a discount. It’s not like he’s demanding it. They’re welcome to refuse.

I have had discounts in the past eg student discount then staff/business discount. Merchants that offer it won’t always just offer it out, even if you’re in qualifying uniform.

Also just because he’s been working on full pay it doesn’t mean he hasn’t been financially impacted by COVID. It’s not your place to insinuate that he doesn’t “need” the discount.

[rumblingtumtum]

@plimm if it's offered and you declare it, you shouldn't be asking for it.

[googybob]

@dwiz8

It's not cheeky or wrong to ask if somewhere is offering a very common discount.

No you think it's not cheeky or wrong, I & others disagree particularly when someone is in uniform. I used to be a student, pretty obvious that an independent boutique won't offer me the same discount as ASOS.

[dwiz8]

[quote rumblingtumtum]@dwiz8 I think as it's your DH who is the officer and not you, you should have this conversation with him about what is and isn't allowed.

Using a BlueLightCard off duty and not in uniform is not the same as ASKING for discount while on duty. Clearly he was picking up food to have on his break, no issue with that, the issue is that by rights asking for discount while on duty could be an abuse of position.

As I've said, I am a police officer, I have been for many years. I completely understand what was happening. He was trying is luck. [/quote]
You don't understand what was happening

You think you do

Unless you are the person involved or someone he spoke to about it, you don't know

You can assume

And for all you know you might be correct, but you don't know for sure what was happening and therefore are not reasonable to think he was being cheeky

If it was so bad why not pull him up on it? Or make a complaint?

[dwiz8]

[quote googybob]@dwiz8

It's not cheeky or wrong to ask if somewhere is offering a very common discount.

No you think it's not cheeky or wrong, I & others disagree particularly when someone is in uniform. I used to be a student, pretty obvious that an independent boutique won't offer me the same discount as ASOS. [/quote]
But it's not obvious

Where I live I'm surrounded by independent shops, all but one offer student discount and all of them offer keyworker discounts

[googybob]

You don't have the facts therefore any judgement given is unreasonable.

But you clearly have all the facts 🤣

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

I agree with you, OP. We gladly take advantage of discounts advertised for NHS workers - we saved a load at Sports Direct on their first day of re-opening - but that's completely different from asking for a discount when none is advertised, especially from a small independent business.

I remember reading the same article as the PP mentioned, and it might seem a simple case of asking and them just freely saying yes or no, but it does put them in a very awkward position.

There's been so much publicity about thanking and celebrating NHS workers recently - not saying that they haven't deserved it, but their jobs and wages have been safe throughout and where are the discounts for the supermarket workers, the delivery people the care home workers and countless others?

They have no idea who else on the premises might overhear them declining the request and then turn on them. Imagine: you've only just been allowed to re-open after months of no income and then word gets around on SM that 'Giuseppe at the pizza shop clearly doesn't value or respect our key workers - let's vote with our feet and show him what we think of his opinion'.

Also, as has been suggested already, how is the business owner to know that their refusal won't be held against them should they subsequently require the services of said key workers?

IMHO, if it's advertised/offered, take it; but most definitely do not ask for it unsolicited.

[dwiz8]

@googybob

You don't have the facts therefore any judgement given is unreasonable.

But you clearly have all the facts 🤣

Nope

However the op is asking if she was being unreasonable and we have the facts from her opinion so therefore can judge as the op asked

[googybob]

@dwiz8 I have never been into a shop that didn't highlight the fact it offered a student discount. That's kind of the point, offer discount to encourage custom.

Look be a CF all you like but just own it!

[BackforGood]

YABU, and your title is somewhat misleading.

I was going to say no-one should be asking for a 'key worker discount' as - like you say - we've been working throughout when many have either been furloughed, or lost regular overtime or extra shift, or tips, or been made redundant, and many businesses have been closed and not able to recoup through various schemes.

However there is a discount scheme in place, and, as it is an existing scheme, then anyone who is entitled to it would be daft not to use it. If you stop somewhere on the hoof, you wouldn't necessarily stop to look it up on an app - it's not like planning a holiday or something.

Lots of people have discount schemes through their work or through their union. Don't see how it is cheeky or rude to use it when you can.
Nor is it 'intimidating' when you work in a shop / cafe / pub/ to have someone ask you if you do a discount for anything (Armed forces, Blue light, Student, council, union, NHS, DofE,) or anything else - it is a simple question to which the answer is 'Yes, 10%' or 'no, sorry'..

[shrill]

YANBU I totally agree, and as you pointed out small independent business only been able to reopen, the staff and wider links dependent on this too. honestly you would think he would show some decency especially given his rank too!

[dwiz8]

Also @rumblingtumtum if you're so sure he was being a CF why even ask here?

All you're doing is arguing with those who say you're being unreasonable.

[rumblingtumtum]

Well I'm glad that most of the actual police officers that have responded agree and understand what the issue is. That reassures me!

[dwiz8]

[quote googybob]@dwiz8 I have never been into a shop that didn't highlight the fact it offered a student discount. That's kind of the point, offer discount to encourage custom.

Look be a CF all you like but just own it! [/quote]
I'm hoping you are aware you haven't been to every independent shop in the country

Most in my area (multiple) do not advertise it, they might have a little sticker somewhere or mention it a few times on their FB feeds but aren't that way minded. However they all do offer them in some form or another.

[googybob]

Like I said just own it 😴

[dwiz8]

@googybob

Like I said just own it 😴

Own what?

You're the one not accepting the norm in the shops near you doesn't mean it's the norm everywhere.

[googybob]

Most in my area (multiple) do not advertise it, they might have a little sticker somewhere or mention it a few times on their FB feeds but aren't that way minded. However they all do offer them in some form or another.

Ok so let's remove the ones who don't advertise it but actually do advertise it by having stickers, FB pages etc. That leaves you with the ones who don't highlight it ever & maybe don't actually want to offer it but when asked have simply capitulated.

[WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll]

I also think that asking if they do student discount is very different from a uniformed professional asking for it.

Aside from the stark power imbalance, a student is asking from a neutral pov of having lesser means to pay and possibly not being able to afford the full price; whereas a professional key worker probably can afford to pay the full price, but is implicitly asking the person to validate their gratitude for the job they do or otherwise snub them.

[1Morewineplease]

I thought that the ‘key worker’ badge of honour was gone now.

[rumblingtumtum]

@katy1213 they earn around £50k

I'm kicking myself for not saying something but I was on date night with DH and was watching from a few meters away.

[dwiz8]

@googybob

Most in my area (multiple) do not advertise it, they might have a little sticker somewhere or mention it a few times on their FB feeds but aren't that way minded. However they all do offer them in some form or another.

Ok so let's remove the ones who don't advertise it but actually do advertise it by having stickers, FB pages etc. That leaves you with the ones who don't highlight it ever & maybe don't actually want to offer it but when asked have simply capitulated.

You used the term highlight. Not advertise

Many Independent shops near me don't highlight it, it's just not what they do. However they all offer key worker discount as they often mention it to those they know are nurses, who then tell others who then go in and ask. Not every small shop owner is up to date on best marketing practice or even has a website or FB page to mention it on. Or space in a window to promote it. Some rely on word of mouth

You seem unable to grasp your shopping experience isn't the only one. Both you and the OP don't seem to realise not every shop is the same, not every force is that fussed about enforcing certain rules. So yabu, yabu and yabu again

[rumblingtumtum]

@dwiz8 ask your DH to download you a copy of his forces gifts and gratuity policy.

[googybob]

Both you and the OP don't seem to realise not every shop is the same, not every force is that fussed about enforcing certain rules.

So there are rules around it?

[GabsAlot]

did they get the discount?

is there anyway you can report it they can work out who went there on their break cant they