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!

Nhs frontliner here. Definitely dont give discount. NHS isnt a one thing its a collection of people some of whom take the piss endlessly. (Not many but some wouldnt last in private sector). It was lovely when way back what feels like 400years ago in march /april some businesses and people said here have this pizza or whatever but as soon as i saw someone in full scrubs in sainsburys for a look at me moment (it was 7.30 am. You wouldnt wear scrubs from work (dirty) and wouldnt wear them before- possibly contamination onto ward) i thought this has gone far enough.

I use my blue light card and that's it, wouldn't dream of asking for a discount, yes, we've been rushed off our feet, but, we've still got an income, lots of others aren't so fortunate. We should be supporting small businesses to survive this dire situation

@Pomegranatespompom

Just say you are unable to offer. Or were you posting this thread as a chance to be negative about nhs staff?

No, not at all.

I'm just surprised by how many requests I seem to be getting for one.

NHS discounts are everywhere at the moment, they won't be short of other places so don't offer something you can't afford. I do admit I use my 10% discount in Morrison's but I feel to cheeky to use anything else as although I'm NHS I'm only part time admin and don't really feel I'm contributing to the pandemic. Local businesses come and give free food out in hospital a few times a week during lockdown and I felt too guilty to have some every time

Most NHS and other blue light workers know they are in a privileged financial position. Secure job, steady income etc.

I use BLC but most of the time it’s about the same as quidco or other discount codes.

Stop the discount. If anyone tries to call you out for not “helping our heroes” i’d point out that due to the massive drop in sales if you’re close to going under, and would appreciate support.

Maybe get a notice for your window so people don’t ask.

Who’s asking anyway? Just those coming into your shop?

If it’s food, offer the police and ambulance discount though. Poor buggers rarely get chance to eat and you’ll have most of the force down in minutes once word gets out

I think as others have posted, some retailers offer a discount as it generates revenue.

It's quite simple for you to say you are unable to offer a discount.

Just say NO,not possible

I was supportive of you til I read hero worshipping of key workers etc*
It’s an obnoxious sentiment.Key workers don’t want for or need hero worship.
Nor do we need to be described as over feted and hero worshipped

This is the problem, though - we are (or at least were during the first lockdown) encouraged to hero-worship NHS staff - even though all of the NHS staff were hating it and asking people not to. They were asking for adequate PPE and other considerations to allow them to get on and do their jobs - they never asked or wanted to be put on a pedestal, but they nevertheless (theoretically) were.

We're an NHS household and gladly take/took discounts from big chain stores that offer it, but would never dream of asking, especially if it's a smaller business. A lot of people can't comprehend that, if somebody has, say, a 20% margin on the price/costs to them, them giving you a 10% discount on the total cost is actually half of their operating profits, not just a tenth of it.

I agree with OP re students: a student is asking for you to do them a kind favour because they have less money to pay; an NHS worker asking for the discount has the implication that you owe it to them, as gratitude for the (professionally paid) job that they do.

This thread is the other side of the same coin as the other thread about whether you should tip certain lower-paid staff when you never would others - and indeed might well be low-paid yourself, having saved up for a special occasional treat.

The idea that somebody could be a high-up NHS manager or senior consultant and ask the owner of a small craft business or takeaway for a discount seems quite unsavoury to me.

It's a bit much to say people who are in the nhs are in a privileged financial position - some are very low earners. It's not a race to the bottom.

Honestly,the clapping,the fetishising of NHS workers it inevitably creates a oh look at them backlash

Stop the discounts, I say this as frontline NHS. I don’t expect a discount for doing my job, the appreciation is lovely but I see it that I am in one of the most secure professions there is in a global pandemic, I don’t need discounts I would rather small businesses stayed afloat.

OP. Stop the discounts, don't feel bad! I am NHS frontline and would never expect a discount, I make a decent salary and I flipping chose to the do the job I do! That doesn't mean it's not hard at times but aren't all jobs??

I hope your business is doing okay in these difficult times. xxx

Don't do it and so how do you prove they are NHS could just be chancers. I was NHS last lock down, I didn't have the time or the energy to to actually use any discounts even in shops like Morrison's because I literally just wanted to get in and out.

NHS Employee. I do ask high street chains (politely!) if they offer NHS discount. I would not dream of asking a small business, most of whom have much less security of income than I do.

I agree with the overall theme - stop the discounts!

I am nhs and course I love a discount who doesn’t, however I don’t expect one and I think you’re right not to offer given the situation and you have to earn a living. It’s rude of people to ask/expect it!!.

It's a bit much to say people who are in the nhs are in a privileged financial position - some are very low earners. It's not a race to the bottom

I am one of those low paid workers. However seeing friends and family furloughed, made redundant, their businesses closed or drastically reduced, I am appreciative of the fact that I have a steady and secure income, probably for as long as I wish.

I’m not a high earner at all but I still see myself as in a good position compared to many. My Dh is Se and has been struggling- my job, although low paid is secure and has kept us on an even keel throughout.

I don’t see how that’s a race to the bottom?

I work for the nhs and I’d never ask for a discount, especially not from a small independent business. TBH I’m usually surprised when people offer them.

I ask about NHS discounts and student discounts all the time. I've done this since before the pandemic, because lots of places have offered them for years.
I'm happy for a no, but there's no harm in asking. If I've decided to shop in a shop which may or may not offer a discount I'm entitled to, asking is common sense.
There's nothing wrong in saying no. But nor is there anything wrong in asking the question, its a question, not a demand.

I don’t think asking if you offer a discount is cheeky. I ask all the time. I used to ask Big name stores when I was a student if they offered student discount. If you do not ask you may not get to know. It’s not always widely adver
Just say no! You have a business to run. People shouldn’t be taking offence. I never have.

I certainly don't mean privileged financial position in terms of how much people earn. I mean in the sense that income is guaranteed and reliable when a lot of people's isn't right now.

Someone asked how in being asked, usually by message on social media. I don't have a physical shop, just online.

Frontline NHS and would never dream of asking.

First clap was lovely after that it was painful.

I dont want recognition for doing my job, some recognition that it has been relentless ad everyone is mentally and physically exhausted and asking us to work 7 days per week and till 2200 routinely is killing us. Morale is at and all time low and people are struggling.

Personally, I have been paid throughout and no drop in income - what I am doing is supporting both my brother and sister who have lost their jobs, so monies are tight for other reason.

I was at a very large shop just before we entered second lockdown, I was behind an NHS worker who asked if they could have a discount, the staff very politely advised them they don’t offer that, no offence was obvious on either side. You’re probably getting more requests as word has got around that you offer the discount. Like you said a lot of businesses are struggling at the moment and most people understand this, just politely say you can’t offer it right now.

NHS worker here. Stop the discounts. I worked all the way through and have been paid 100% salary all the way through. I dont have to worry about losing my job (I hope) and it was actually quieter for my dept for a long time. We were plied with free food and snacks and expensive smoothies for weeks on end. Most of our patients were much more polite than normal and went out of their way to say thanks for going to work. Our mental health wasnt shot to pieces through being stuck indoors looking at.4 walls week after week. Weve done all right.

Plus what about care.home staff, bin men, supermarket workers, food production workers, delivery drivers etc? They did no less a valuable job than we did.

We're not heroes. We went to work and got paid for it.

I'm really grateful for everything that was done for us but look after your own business

I'm not front line though so there were definitely people for whom it was harder

Not offering a discount is not a statement of lack of support for NHS. It’s just a business decision. Decline any (cheeky feckers) people who ask.

I think the size of the business you are asking makes the difference in my opinion. Asking big name brands or a large supermarket is very different to asking an Etsy seller or equally small business.