Money Moral Dilemma: Is it wrong to ask for something back for my staff discount?

silvercar

Often there are 2 discount levels. Great discounts for your own use and a small discount for friends and family.

OP is asking what people think of getting something back for legitimately using the F&F discount.

happyinflorida

I don't know the terms and conditions of your work place, but to make life easier for you - as it's becoming a nuisance and just to avoid getting into trouble, I'd tell anyone who asks in future that you've been told you can only use the discount for yourself from now on, so say sorry to them but they can't have a discount anymore.

Personally I wouldn't expect friends to buy me drinks or lunch out for doing this unless they were getting in excess of £50 off at least.

HappyMJ

silvercar wrote: »

Often there are 2 discount levels. Great discounts for your own use and a small discount for friends and family.

OP is asking what people think of getting something back for legitimately using the F&F discount.

It didn't read like that. It read as if the staff member was using the "sizeable staff discount" to buy things for F&F. I don't know what the "sizeable staff discount" is but I'm sure it's a lot more than 10%.

Normally those sort of stores you can give anyone who walks in a 10% discount just for asking. I usually present my NUS Extra student card which gives me a discount in many stores equal to the F&F discount which staff can give to whoever they like.

Revengant

Isn't what you're doing is fraudulent?

The shop has every right to sack you and take you to court for lost monies.

Thundercatsarego

Where I work, it is the person paying for the goods who gets the discount. So we are able to purchase for friends/family still.

I don't really see the issue as gross misconduct as, if the OP was purchasing an item as a gift for someone, surely this would be ok?

However, I do believe that, out of common courtesy, your friends should offer something as a thank you. It is like running a colleague to and from work who never offers you petrol money!

duchy

Thundercatsarego wrote: »

Where I work, it is the person paying for the goods who gets the discount. So we are able to purchase for friends/family still.

I don't really see the issue as gross misconduct as, if the OP was purchasing an item as a gift for someone, surely this would be ok?

However, I do believe that, out of common courtesy, your friends should offer something as a thank you. It is like running a colleague to and from work who never offers you petrol money!

Usually when you buy a gift you are paying for it yourself not expecting the recipient to pay for it- so somewhat different and not OK and yes gross misconduct.

bettyboo71

Many years ago, when I worked in a Virgin Megastore, we had 25% staff discount, and there was an assumption/acceptance that you might buy stuff for others - but we had a monthly limit of £250, so the OP could say they have introduced a limit to how much you get discount on (if the issue is that there are too many people asking, meaning too many purchases, which might start to look suspicious and land you in trouble).

CompChrissy

I agree that you can't expect 'perks' from your friends for using your discount however, the other responses that say you are not allowed to share your discount do not know your personal circumstances... I work for a big high street brand and we are allowed to share our discount with friends and family - there is no restriction other than that we cannot sell the items on and it must a genuine friend or family purchase (plus total discounted purchases for the year have to be under £7k).

If you find it a frustration tell your friends no but don't expect them to 'buy' you drinks and things to supplement the inconvenience.

jackyann

It really does all depend on the T&Cs.

Many, many years ago, I used to buy clothes from an up-and-coming designer: she had generous discounts for her staff, their friends & family, and the staff at a nearby hospital. She regarded all of these "discounted" sales as publicity, reckoning that most of her staff had stylish friends (and I think she was just nice to us NHS lot!). She pretty well saw "full price" as what she charged rich clients.

If OP worked for her, she wouldn't be abusing her discount. Me though, I'd regard the favours I was doing as banked against something in the future.

Most high street stores have very strict conditions on their staff discount cards, so more than the occasional gift would be a problem - colleagues who work for M&S / JLP can't even buy things like a raffle prize, or contributions to a charity fund raiser.

Loganberry1

I would tell friends that work are cracking down and it is getting trickier for you to get lots of staff discount. It may be a lie but it could stop them asking and if you do it too much you could get in trouble. I know people who have been questioned about how much they buy