I work at a place that offers special discounts for seniors. However, our "age" for seniors is 65+, instead of the usual 55+. This is posted on our many signs for admission prices, however, many people read over that and assume the age is 55+. I admit, I'm not the best judge of age, and I have a difficult time telling if some people are really seniors or not. If anyone has / works for a new home-owned business, you know that every dime matters, and we could be loosing quite a good chunk of profit with unauthorized senior discounts.
So I ask- What is the best way to go about confirming someone's age without offending them, or being to intrusive?
2007-10-09 09:11:43 · 24 answers · asked by subtleanarchy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Thanks for the help everyone! It definitely makes the most sense to just card them. Who would have thought, huh?
I work at a butterfly conservatory, so there isn't really enough repeat customers to make buttons or cards for things like that, unfortunately. This definitely helped, though, thanks!
2007-10-09 09:30:07 · update #1
Ask them for ID. They will be flattered that you think they look younger than 55.
2007-10-09 09:14:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
Well, what is the risk here? losing money?
Ok, about how many discounts do you go through in a given month? If even 10% of those were 59 and not 65, is it really such a big loss to the bottom line? Do you really want to ID every customer that looks over 55? Also, what about those people who are over 65 and don't "look it".
Are you losing money by giving people a discount, or are you making money by inviting customer loyalty?
2007-10-09 09:30:17 · answer #2 · answered by firehorsetwo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps a sign saying "seniors 65+" ?
Personally I think that most people consider seniors to mean 65+. Although there is no official age of being "senior", the long-standing use of the social security age of 65 is as close as we're likely to get. Some restaurants do offer discounts to persons younger than that, but my guess is that is an exception, or just another way to attract business.
2007-10-09 09:17:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Be sure that the Senior Discount age is clearly posted. I think that you will find that the majority of seniors are truthful, and I would not even suggest that they be carded! I think that would be extremely rude! My mother is over the age of 65 and will still never even ask for a senior discount!
2007-10-09 09:40:08 · answer #4 · answered by sorwho? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have to change the signs that say 65+ go say 65+ (Identification Required). Then when they ask for the discout you point at the sign and say: "The store requires that I see an ID for that discount-that's the policy".
yes, people will probably be upset. and you may lose some business (people who were shopping there just to get the unauthorized senior discount)
You could just start saying "i need to see some ID on the senior discount" - but that doesn't have as much oommpphh as if the sign says it too.
2007-10-09 09:16:15 · answer #5 · answered by Sufi 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Seniors love to be carded. It makes the feel young. This especially works on seniors of the opposite gender. I sell memberships at a gym, and when I give tours to seniors in the afternoon and I am with someone who is clearly over 70, I tend to point out the senior class in the pool, and tell them in a few years when they reach 55 they can join that class as well. It makes them smile, and sometimes they even give me hugs!
2007-10-09 12:48:26 · answer #6 · answered by Alyssa and Chloe's Mommy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Issue them a senior discount card and have them show their driver's license to sign up for the card. They only have to confirm their age once. And then they just have to show you the card in order to get the discount. It is hard to tell, and most places start the discount at 55 so that's why they assume it is 55.
2007-10-09 09:16:41 · answer #7 · answered by kat 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
ask for their driver license or if your state has a senior discount card like we do in ohio called the buckeye card. Seniors here have to show that before getting the discount
2007-10-09 09:59:32 · answer #8 · answered by Big Daddy R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would be good business practice to just give them the senior discount. It may be a dollar loss (or some trivial amount of money) but you will gain a customer. Are you really going to force them to prove their age just to get a small discount?
"The customer is always right"
2007-10-09 10:10:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If they demand a senior discount, and they don't look 65+, then card them. At that age, getting carded will be a compliment to them!
2007-10-09 09:14:31 · answer #10 · answered by Sakaki 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
VERY TRICKY ONE but it could be explained that isnt it awful that a lot of people who are over the age of 55 65 do not realises that they can save and put the owness on them
2007-10-09 09:16:25 · answer #11 · answered by sparky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋