To not give NHS discounts?

[LottieLot]

I own a small business making and selling a product.

As you can imagine it's been quite tough during Covid but we've stayed afloat and things are picking up a little thanks to Christmas. It's been hard going though and a bit worrying at times.

I seem to have a lot of people messaging me asking for discounts for NHS staff and I've felt under pressure to agree most of the time.

AIBU to stop though now? I am of course appreciative of everything NHS workers do, but I have struggled to get my business through this pandemic and I could do without offering discounts frankly.

Is it rude to ask a small business this in your opinion? I personally cant imagine ever doing so. I'm not a huge franchise, I am a genuine small business which is obvious from my page!

Yes I agree people should not be asking for a discount. I work for the nhs and think it has got out of hand. Many businesses are fighting to survive. Stop the discounts !

Stop the discounts OP.

Stopping the discounts is fine.

Don’t understand why they get discounts.

Special shopping times during first lockdown ok but not now.

No it’s quite cheeky to be honest. I appreciate nhs staff for everything they are doing but they also chose the job. I like to say thank you and pay it forward etc but I would never dream of asking a small business for a discount.

I think a polite, it’s been a tough year for everyone and so for now you aren’t doing discounts due to Covid.

Don't feel under pressure lots of businesses are suffering or going bust. They are being cheeky in asking. Just put a note on your website stating that you don't offer discounts as your products are priced as competitively as possible for everyone.

Why did you give any discounts if you didn’t want to?

Of course you should/can stop them.

Pragmatically, for bigger businesses, the NHS is one of the largest employers in the Country and 90% of your retail price is better than 0% because a competitor offered a discount. But as a small retailer, if your product is bespoke or niche, it may not make sense to offer the discount. Either way, there is no obligation to.

@AnneLovesGilbert

Why did you give any discounts if you didn’t want to?

Of course you should/can stop them.

To be quite honest, because I just felt like I couldn't say no with all the stuff going on at the moment, hero worshipping of key workers etc...

It's a bit difficult when someone outright asks for one. It also worries me that saying no will lose the whole sale too and they will go elsewhere. Which fortunately I can afford more now as things are starting to slowly pick up so that's less of a worry now.

My DH is nhs but not front line. We took one 10% discount from a National huge business to buy something expensive. I've not gone for any of the other nhs discounts as it doesn't feel right. He's a manager WFH the entire time. His life isn't on the line unlike many. I think it's fine not to do so. Don't stress about it

It just seems a bit rude imo, to ask when it's not offered iyswim? Especially of a small business just trying to sell a niche product. Surely it's quite obvious that these sorts of business will have struggled throughout. I feel like there are people trying to take advantage essentially of the current public appreciation for keyworkers. I was never asked before all this.

Stop the discount

I'm so fed up with this , my hairdresser are giving NHS 15% discount , and charging everyone an extra £2.50 for covid PPE for the stylists

I'm having my hair cut less often as a protest ... I mean I went for 5 months without a hair cut earlier in the year , I can go at least 9 or 10 weeks now instead of a cut and blow dry every 6 weeks

Hero worship? The vast majority are just doing their jobs. Stop the discounts.

Whilst it's nice that there were discounts offered in the spring, the truth is that we should be taxed adequately to pay public sector staff appropriately.

It just seems a bit rude imo, to ask when it's not offered iyswim?

No, I don’t think it’s rude to ask. When I was a student, I’d ask if shops did shops did student discount basically everywhere but was never annoyed if they said no. Just say politely that that’s not something you offer.

I think it's cheeky. After all, we've still got an income coming in.

I think is fine to say (or not even give a reason ) that you cant afford to give discounts.
Other larger retailers might have a bigger profit margin or more reserves to offer teacher/nhs/key worker discounts but I think us fine not to offer them.
I work for a small business. We rarely offer discounts because we try to price really competitively in the first place and dont leave much margin for discount. Someone asked for one recently and we agreed because they were spending a large amount and we didnt want to lose the sale.

I have never asked but will use discount codes from blue light card for larger businesses. Never used my badge to queue jump either! I'm a nurse and this year has been incredibly tough but I wouldn't ever dream of asking a small business for a discount!

You just have to get used to saying no if you don't want to offer a discount. For all those NHS staff working their arses off in awful conditions there are many others who are safely working from home or non patient facing.

@PurpleDaisies

It just seems a bit rude imo, to ask when it's not offered iyswim?

No, I don’t think it’s rude to ask. When I was a student, I’d ask if shops did shops did student discount basically everywhere but was never annoyed if they said no. Just say politely that that’s not something you offer.

Student discounts are very different imo. It's well known that students have next to no funds most of the time.

As much as I appreciate keyworkers and the jobs they do, surely right now they have some of the most stable income of anyone in the country?

Erm no.....
A) you’re a small business trying to survive through this, you don’t have a guaranteed (and rising) wage each month
B) not all NhS workers are frontline and can pull the ‘exposed’ line, and tbh, other keyworkers who are on less money (supermarket staff) or have been also in dangerous situations (par for course for somejobs normally) are gettinga bit peed off with the heroworship and special treatment.

Please don’t feel you have to, or bankrupt yourself out business to pander to people

Student discounts are very different imo. It's well known that students have next to no funds most of the time

Not necessarily. People ask about discounts they know exist and they’re eligible for. Everyone likes a bargain.

You’re overthinking this.

@PurpleDaisies

Student discounts are very different imo. It's well known that students have next to no funds most of the time

Not necessarily. People ask about discounts they know exist and they’re eligible for. Everyone likes a bargain.

You’re overthinking this.

Each to their own, I personally wouldn't ask a small business (small as in literally just me!) that had likely been struggling financially more than I had during a pandemic for a discount, it wouldn't feel right to me.

Sounds like you’ve given a discount at the beginning then word of mouth had others asking too, and now it’s snowballed. Some places round here did nhs discounts, but a lot don’t now, yet still get asked. Unless you’re advertising discounts, it’s very rude. Still get them queue jumping at our local B&Q too.

I can’t believe someone voted that you were being unreasonable. You’re a small business, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t have to offer any kind of discount to anyone.

I do think it's rude to ask when it's a small business. I know many disagree on the basis that asking never hurts, but I find it awkward and presumptuous.

I'd practice a polite "Sorry, no" for any requests for discounts in future, no matter who's asking.