Discounts while Off Duty

[sacluded]

One of the cops told us that when they got the call, everyone knew exactly where the store was and who we are. So they were on scene in less than 5 minutes!

I say we got a lot of value for a few free drinks and egg rolls!

This is where a lot of problems come up, and the reason for the no gratuity policies. What happens when another business down the street doesn't get the same response time? What happens when a place that does give discounts doesn't get the response they think they've "earned" through their losses in discounts.


In my opinion a discount or gratuity is okay when it is a way of the company showing their thanks for the service of the people getting the discount. It's not okay when the people getting the discount think it's something they've earned through their service.

I work LP for Sport Chalet, we have a discount for not only LEO, but fire, EMS, and military as well. On or off duty. We just tell the officers, show the clerk your badge. I don't see this as the people asking for a discount, I just see it as them providing verification of who they are for an already existing discount.

I've told all my cashiers, if anybody refuses or says anything about they're not supposed to take the discount, remove it immediately. Not only does this keep the person from being in an awkward position, but this is a business. If you want to give us more money, we're not going to say no.

[Saym14]

and never accepting gratuities.

best answer. on or off duty.

[RedFord150]

Not LEO here, just an observation.
I had some good friends a long time ago that managed a 24 hour Donut shop (no jokes here). They gave free coffee to on duty LEO's because they felt that the frequent sight of black and whites in front of the shop kept the losers away.
They also felt they were doing a community service by keeping the guys on the night shift awake and alert and giving them a comfortable place to do paperwork and use the facilities.

[Tacobandit]

You may receive a discount on most of their games. Some popular/high demand games may not be available for discount, or have a minimal discount. I believe there is also a limit on how may games you can buy.

Last time I went every game the EA made and distributed you got for between 10-20 bucks, any games they only produced, like Left 4 Dead you paid full price for. No mention of a limit, I think I picked up 5 last time.

[tacticoolme]

I'm not uniform, never have been, but the food chains I know of that offer police discounts, I've always thought of as similar to AAA discounts, goverment ee discount, punch card discount, etc.

I just don't grasp the difference between food and products as far as the discount goes (unless policy dictates you don't ask, then of course DON'T ASK).

If you're uniform, I'd see no reason to ever bring it up, you get it or you don't.
As far as asking about it out of uniform I hadn't really thought of it as tacky (though I guess I can see that).
If your saying "I want the police discount" rather than "do you have a police discount" and accepting whatever the response, of course that's not appropriate.

You shouldn't demand, argue, etc. but to inquire "do you still have a police discount policy" I don't see as a problem. It's expectations on either side, either expecting the discount, or expecting preferential treatment for giving a discount that is the problem.

We've all heard stories about a cop demanding free coffee or abusing the discount in one way or another. That particular idiot is the problem, not the discount IMHO.

[Helius Lights]

Well here is my 2 cents we offer all law enforcement, firefights and military discounts no matter the status. But i don't think its fair blaming shops that don't but i feel as if you serve for us you should be honor in some way.

[SoCalXD]

I'm Fire.
I don't accept discounts, as I feel it compromises my integrity in an ever so slight way. Though "slight", I'm concerned it could lead to a path of ever increasing compromises for my own benefit. I.E.: If a car dealer gives you a $2k discount on a new truck, and then he calls you a few months later asking for advise on how to beat a speeding ticket from your own department... well, you understand. Wasn't that car dealer just paying a bribe forward? While I don't save any money with my level of integrity, It makes life a lot less stressful for me and allows me to maintain the moral high ground in good conscience when nessisary. I think the public expects this level of integrity from LEOS and FIRE as well, and the refusal to accept a discount publicly re-enforces that high level of integrity which USA LEOS are famous for.
- Adam Thomas, Riverside Fire

[NorCal*Shooter]

I never ask for a discount on or off duty. I usually don't have the problem since I work in plain clothes. But when I go out with my partners in uniform, the establishment staff always give a noticeable discount. As a rule of thumb, we'll accept but we'll cover the rest in the form of a tip. For example:

The meal cost 10 bucks, they charge us 5 bucks, we'll also give a 7 dollar tip.

[vintagearms]

Never ASK for a discount. They either give you one or they don't. Asking on or off duty is plain tasteless. I like the discounts, however minimal they may be, but I'd never ask for one and certainly wouldn't dream of doing it off duty.

Yup. THIS. Former LEO here and we never ASKED for discounts. If they were offered, thats one thing but NEVER asked for. Now, I consider inquiring about discounts for work related equipment a bit different.

[Mr310]

Somewhat related, but in the book "Blue Blood" by Edward Conlon, he talks about being an NYPD beat officer during 9/11 and that he had been told by his Sgt. to get sandwiches for everyone at his station. They didn't knock off one cent even though it had already been known that the NYPD had suffered tremendously that day.

[WmWhitfield]

As a non-leo I have no strong opinion on officers receiving discounts, but what is the logic of taking one if offered buy not asking for one. If the idea is that an officer can be bought for a small discount, who cares if it is explicitly requested. If the operator of a local coffee shop offers discounts or even comps local officers he is likely going to feel that he is expected to do the same for any officer that comes in whether it is requested or not. If there is anything improper in accepting a discount it is just as wrong if requested or not.

[Mark in Eureka]

A police sargent I knew was "given" a free meal. He insisted that he would pay for it. They Refused. He left twenty dollars and the meal on the counter. He went straight to the department and put that business off limits.

It has been forty years now, and I still cannot remember ever seeing an officer there.

[indyjrt]

In the past, at In N Out Burger, there was a key on the cash register and on it is written "POLICE". Is it still there, I don't know. This was years ago.

Hey it goes both ways, I never cited Nurses or Doctors.........