EVERYONE taking advantage of my staff discount

[LadyGarcia]

I work for a luxury British brand, and we receive a very generous staff discount. When I first joined the company, I kept this discount between me, my mum, sisters, and sister-in-law. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law couldn't keep it quiet and told her sisters. Soon enough, I started receiving shopping lists from them (SILs sisters) with all the things they wanted to buy using my staff discount, this is ongoing and I still get requests from them every now and again - just to add instead of asking me directly, they go through my sister-in-law, which is frustrating and rude.

My mum nor my sisters have ever asked me to use my discount - probably because they know anything I gift them will be from work, haha!

With my sister-in-law's loose lips, she let it slip to my cousin one day who then asked to use it, so I agreed because it was a present for her daughter. Recently, this cousin and her sister who are travelling abroad soon, asked me separately to use my discount so they could buy gifts for their friends. This really irritates me.

I'm sick a tired of people wanting to use my discount and I'm angry at my SIL for telling everyone about the discount and I get nothing in return from anyone for it.

Am I being unreasonable?

This would be a sackable offence where I work. We are allowed to use our discount to buy gifts for friends and family but are not allowed to be reimbursed by them. It's really closely monitored.

OP I've just googled staff discounts on a number of sites. Every one limited it to the employee and 1 family member/ household member.

It's madness to have contemplated doing this.

I put you're unreasonable for not saying 'NO'.

My cousin had a similar problem, she got around it by saying, "sorry we only have a limited amount per year. I'm saving mine for birthdays and christmas". That cut it all out, she only buys for herself and close family members.

They are taking advantage because you're letting them.

You next message when asked, if sorry but due to updated company policy, I am now allowed only a couple of purchases a year, which i will be to using myself.... hope you still stay loyal to the brand.

Sorry all, company policy has changed and I no longer get a discount. If you have given them your code then ask for it to be changed-say you’ve lost it. Then keep it to yourself.

YANBU but you must stop this now - for all the reasons stated above. Tell your SIL that you can't share it with friends and family anymore - didn't realise it was policy, and spend on it was monitored.

Then take what you've learnt from this going forward - you can't fully trust your SIL, and you need to be more comfortable saying no to people otherwise some will take advantage.

Me too.

I'd also tell them all that due to widespread use, it's been cracked down on and you can no longer get them anything.

I remember a poster years ago on here saying she felt that she had 'earned' the right to use her discount, and she felt that her family(?) were essentially capitalising on her hard work. It was very split in the polls!

If you say you're limited to numbers and still buy for who you want, and word gets out again, it will cause arguments. Loose lips...

That’s made me laugh - me too!

I used to have a staff discount but there was a limit on how much you could use it in a 12 month period. Can you just say this policy has been introduced and you are at your limit so no more shopping for the next 12 months?

I would tell them they've given you a verbal warning if they ask again.

Gross misconduct

You and OP!

She's not been seen since her initial post.

I haven't had your problem, but when my mum's fridge freezer failed, I called the company office that dealt with staff discounts, and asked if I could use it to buy a new one delivered to her house. The office said yes, so I did.

If you wanted to, you could email yours and ask if you could buy goods for friends. Assuming the answer is no, you could copy it to your sponging freeloaders.

Like others, I thought these staff discounts only applied to those in the employee's household?

If yours is the same it's very foolish to spread it around like this and risk your job - and if it isn't I'd probably invent some new "rules" anyway, if only to get them off your back

FGS, just tell them you cant do it any more at the risk of being sacked as they are clamping down on it.

Why haven't you told them no?

She could just say No.

I wonder how many items on shopping lists appeated on Vinted as "Brand New with Tags"?

Tbh I would be very wary if I were the OP, of drawing attention to myself with her employer.

You sound pretty wet to be honest.

Surely you can think of a way to say no?

My DD works in luxury retail and she just tells people there’s a limit so she saves it for herself and me.

All you have to do is send a text message to your extended family members/SIL
”I’ve been advised that use of my staff discount is being monitored and misuse is a sackable offence so from this moment on I’m limiting its use to safeguard my job. Thank you for your understanding”

Advice from Mumsnet but don’t tell them that obviously!

YABU if this annoys you, because actually you have the power of speech and could just say "no" , thereby leaving yourself to be annoyed by actual annoyances which leave you no choice of response.

If OP has given out the code that is sackable.

This. You would absolutely lose your job.
Tell them it's become highly restricted. And keep it to your mum and sisters.

No. She shouldn't say anything except NO. Who knows where that text / email might end up and be seen?