Senior Discounts

There was a time when I had to ask for a senior discount.  Not any more.  When a senior discount is offered and I am unaware of it, I am often caught by surprise.  This may be in a drugstore, an ice cream parlor, a department store or cinema.

Now I must ask the question:  Why?  Why do seniors get a discount?  Even better, why should they?  Is it because they have paid retail for so long?  Is it a way of expressing appreciation for tenured persons (wrinkles and gray beards)?  Is it because so many of us are borderline cases: neither rich nor poor?  Or perhaps there have been some effective lobbyists who have paved the way.

Whatever, it can be the cause of embarrassment.  At times I cringe when I hear a blatant demand for a senior discount followed by an order to see the manager.  A request is not the same as a demand.  Not terribly long ago we heard sad tales about ugly Americans abroad.  Now we hear some sad tales about the ugly seniors at home.

Of course we live in an era when the buzz word seems to be never pay retail.  Once upon a time there were sales after a holiday.  Now there are sales before and during a holiday.  Our whole society is either thrift or sale conscious, or it’s primarily a marketing device.  Car dealers offer huge discounts with no money down.

Merchants entice us with either no interest or no payments (or both) for up to a year.  To be honest, one need not be a senior to get a discount.  All one has to do is be a little resourceful and there are discounts for any and every age.

Still there is quite a difference between being thrifty and being miserly.  There are spouses who fit the description when asked,  Dear, may I have a little money?  And he replies, Sure, how little?  Or she regales her man with her prowess by displaying her shopping wares, most of which she didn’t need or want but all at such a significant discount.

As for me, I’m finding it rather presumptuous to ask for a senior discount.  I’ll gladly take one if offered, hoping it is a gesture of appreciation for my generation rather than merely a commercial copy cat reflex.

But to expect it, or worse, demand it, seems unseniorly (if I may coin that word).  In fact, paying full price for something of quality and durability may be better than getting something for less.

The discount seems to be here to stay.  If so, the so-called senior discount may gradually become obsolete, or redundant.  If so, we may have to find another way to receive our due (if that is the case) or pay retail without compunction.