To dislike store offering NHS discounts

[TryingNotToBeLate]

The store gets to look kind and generous but surly they don’t take it out of their profit but just adjust their pricing accordingly, ie regular price goes up a bit to balance out the few who will pay less.
Same with x % goes to charity - sounds nice but realistically it is the customer paying for it.

This is so miserly. People on Band 6 in the NHS get paid around 30k pa. Often they could go private with their skills and be paid double that or more (many are). But a lot of them have good hearts and want to support people who can't pay private prices. If everyone suddenly left to go private then the system would fall apart and we would be in a worse state then we already are when there is no one to help you with your health. Let them have their 10% for goodness sake.

If you're talking about prices going up to offset the discount , then what about prices going up to offset shoplifters ?

I've never shoftlifted ( apart from when I was 6yo and pinched a pack of the silver cake decorations - I know , bigtime crime )

But if someone steals to feed their family (rather than steals to fund a lifestyle) so many posters will say "Oh I couldn't begrudge someone a loaf of bread"
But we all pay .

I’m with you. It’s not just the NHS who worked on the frontline during the pandemic, plenty of people did whilst the majority got furloughed and or working from home. I’m not saying that was easy, but I worked tirelessly in a shop, couldn’t enjoy the lovely weather and got no extra perks for doing so. It’s not a race to the bottom but if anyone mentions any of the perks they get you get shot down. Anyone would think that they were all forced into working for them and did it all for free.

@thebutcherswife yes - I work in corporate management in a hospital trust and was surprised to learn this. One of the “benefits of becoming a member” is nhs discount.

Band 5 starts at 30k?! I’m band 6 and on 40ish (still appreciate a good discount though!!). Nurses don’t get paid more if they work in private hospitals though doctors can make a mint!

There are so many variables on pricing that I don’t think you would see any impact from this one (normally quite small and not exclusive) discount. Also as PP have said, revenue is likely to increase as a result so they can afford lower profit per ‘unit’ and might enable them to offset other cost increases and keep the price you pay lower.

Generalised discounts are generally a way of getting more footfall through the store. You reduce profit margin per customer eligible for the discount but the idea is that you have more customers overall so revenue and profit go up. Also, by offering discounts to "worthy" customers you may also get other people to shop at your store as they feel you are a caring business.

This is different to loss leaders which are heavy discounts on certain items below the cost price where the idea is that this increases footfall and customers buy other items that full price so that in an ideal world the revenue lost from the loss leader is more than offset by additional revenue generated by increased footfall.

At the end of the day, NHS discount schemes clearly work. You've got a direct customer base of millions of NHS employees nationwide and, with a small number of exceptions like OP, a favourable opinion of the business is generated.

Employment sector specific discounts are not new and not only NH staff can access discount schemes.

Ah, things have recently changed, just had a look and band 6 is 35k. I was mistakenly thinking back to a couple of years ago. I guess it depends how long you have been in the job right? But the point stands. I am band 7 and earn 43k staying with the nhs, I could leave tomorrow and earn 90k. I don't because it doesnt align with my morals as it wouldn't be serving the client group that needs the most help. Of course I don't need a 10% discount, but there are many trainees who will find it helpful.

I'm sure that all supermarkets will be offering employee discounts. Does that annoy you as much as the NHS discount?

I agree, OP. It must be pretty galling for retail workers on minimum wage or slightly above to have to give discounts to NHS workers who earn multiples of their own salaries. Discounts which they can’t offer to other customers who are also minimum wage workers.

DS worked in Waitrose as a student and he and I got 15% off Waitrose shopping and 25% off John Lewis, 12% off electricals at JL so shop workers do get discounts. I was quite sad when it ended.

What makes you think they don't take it out of their profits? A lot of big name chains and brands have policies where they contribute portions of profit to charities, or commit X amount to giving etc, helping with local causes etc. B&Q, Aldi, etc.

Are you in England? Seems like there’s quite a difference between England and Scotland these days. Also, where the blazes could you be earning 90k doing a band 7 equivalent post? Are you a nurse? Sorry for all the questions - genuinely interested.

Also agree that the discounts are a huge help to many in the NHS - myself included. My wages have increased a fair bit recently but I still feel worse off than I was before when you take into account how much the cost of everything else has gone up.

OP - working in the NHS can be bloody hard at times (I know other jobs can be too…). Don’t begrudge us one of the few benefits we have!

Do you get a staff discount in your shop?

I bloody love my blue light discount. It means I'm probably buying something I normally never would so surely it's a win win?

I might get a staff discount in my shop, but that’s it, my shop. Not holidays, gym membership, electricals yada yada yada.

I'm 67, and all I get is free prescriptions (which I had anyway on medical grounds), a bus pass and a small reduction in my National Trust subscription.

What else have I been missing out on, @User12376598 ?

Considering the NHS is full of well paid people who don’t need discounts while there are people with equally or more worthwhile jobs who are significantly underpaid, I agree with you.

Caravan and Camping club, National Trust, some days out places, my hairdresser, these aren't shops though but more like activities.

Blue light winds me up a bit as I worked in public services throughout the pandemic and pay is far from amazing but zilch discounts for us.

DD is on minimum wage and gets Blue Light discount.

Rather than benefitting the shop, I think most now do it because all the others do it. They know they'll lost some trade if they don't offer it rather than improving their trade if they do. When one stops, they'll all stop.

'Full of'? I'd best check my last month's payslip then, must have been a 0 missed off....

My bank account disagrees. Take home pay around £1450.

By the time ivs paid rent,.council tax, has, electric, water there is not much left.

But cheers for reminding me how well paid I am.

I have a BLC and get the odd discount.

Suck it up butter cup.

I might go back to the NHS, more pay and a BLC. It would boost my pension as well.

(Just to counter the idea that everyone could earn more outside the NHS)