Isn't a discount for NRA members a penalty on the rest of us?

[louis c]

I don't own a gun. I hate the NRA and believe that it is a terrorist organization.

When I fly Delta or rent a car from enterprise, I pay full freight. Yet, there were discounts of 10% for NRA members. If these businesses discontinue those discounts, that's not punishing NRA members, it's requiring them to pay the same fare or fee that I do.

What the fuck right to a discount does an NRA member deserve? I don't mind discounts for military personnel or veterans. I think they've earned it. But an NRA member? No way.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Now you're just reaching...

[California_Republic]

18. I remember the credit cards companies

Because the credit card companies take a part of each transaction then some businesses gave a discount for cash. The big credit card companies ad campaigns turned that against the businesses saying the were penalizing people for use credit card and that was unfair. It’s all in messaging

[mythology]

2. The same as any group has to negotiate a discount

Whether that's AAA or a student discount or AARP or my employer negotiating a discount with Verizon.

[Phentex]

4. No. It's a loyalty system like any other business uses...

hotels, airlines, grocery stores ETC offer discount to groups to draw them in. Ever hear of AAA? One of the perks is discounts on things you may or may not use. These are not penalties on everyone else.

[hexola]

7. right - but if the promotion ends - the market should not feel entitled.

Thats what so creepy about this.

They are acting as if their rights have been taken.

Lines blur

[Phentex]

8. Well yeah but these are the same people who think giving health care to others takes something away

from them. It's their mentality. No one can have or be perceived to have something they don't.

[Hoyt]

5. As much as I despise the NRA, these kind of discounts are offered to all kinds of organizations.

Just about every association gets them, there are discounts for college students and the elderly. You can find coupons on line, etc.

Personally, I'd like to see the car rental companies, airlines, etc., say that if you are a member of the NRA, you are probably a white wing racist gun-humper, and we don't want you using our services at all, or charging them a surcharge.

[hexola]

6. They act as if it's an entitlement

I don't care if companies have partner programs - but its up to the company to decide who they partner with.

These kind of promotions come and go - but somehow they feel entitled because they are NRA members?

Especially in the Georgia situation with United - that is just crazy fascist shit right there.

[WillowTree]

9. AARP members get discounts from a plethora of companies for all kinds of goods and services.

That's a benefit to them, not a penalty to you. Same thing.

[louis c]

12. Please read post 10

[WillowTree]

13. I was asking for the OP's take on it.

[NCTraveler]

10. No. It isn't a penalty on the rest of us.

It's good business to offer discounts to groups and associations. Groups and associations that are positive in nature. The NRA is not that group.

[louis c]

11. I don't mind discounts for deserving groups

Teachers, college students, members of the red cross, veterans, nurses etc.

These people deserve a break, because the organizations they belong to have a positive impact on society.

But, if I pay the full price, I don't want to see discounts to just any group. I certainly would be upset to know that KKK members received a 10% discount, while I paid full price. I certainly would think that I was penalized for just being an average Joe in that case.

[NCTraveler]

17. You just argued against the thought of it being a penalty.

Then go to outline it as a penalty.

It isn't a penalty in any way.

[louis c]

19. I think you missed the point of the OP

My point is that NRA members are complaining that by removing their discount, they are being penalized.

In reality, they are not being penalized, they are just no longer being rewarded.

I don't mind paying a little more by having no discount. But, in reality, if I pay the full amount and others get a discount, that discount has to be made up some place, and it's with people like me.

I don't mind senior discounts, student discounts, veterans discounts or discounts for organizations that contribute to the public good. But not every group deserves a discount so I can pay more. When I find out there is a discount for, let's say, the Klan, I get a little upset with that.

[NCTraveler]

22. You are making multiple points. Including yourself being penalized.

"My point is that NRA members are complaining that by removing their discount, they are being penalized. "

"if I pay the full amount and others get a discount, that discount has to be made up some place, and it's with people like me."

Neither are or were being penalized.

This is the subject line of your op.

"Isn't a discount for NRA members a penalty on the rest of us?"

You have clearly made the argument both ways.

You are correct. They are not being penalized. Just as you aren't when groups receive discounts.

[louis c]

24. Discounts have to be made up somewhere

If every tax payer over 65 gets a 10% rebate on their property taxes, that money gets made up by home owners who don't qualify by age. I am OK with that, but the money has to come from somewhere to make up the difference.

Every company has to reach a profit target. When discounts are offered, for any reason, the difference in that money has to come from somewhere. Now, it can be from reduced wages on labor, cheaper cars, anything.

Let's take an airline. They are usually flying at or near 100% capacity. They need to reach some money point from fares. Any discount has to be passed along to someone. Now, to my point, senior discounts, student discounts, service member discounts and veterans discounts are A OK with me. I'm a union guy, I wouldn't mind a chamber of commerce discount as long as there as an accompanying AFL-CIO discount.

But, if there's discounts for groups or organizations I disagree with, with no accompanying offset, I don't like it. For instance, if the RNC got a discount but the DNC was refused, I have a problem with that. But let's not pretend that discounts have no effect on the people who pay the full amount. You'll never convince me that they don't.

[WillowTree]

30. The "difference" is made up by the additional business the discounts attract.

".......if the RNC got a discount but the DNC was refused, I have a problem with that"

Do you have any documentation at all that the DNC or any other group that you do approve of has been denied a discount agreement by any of the businesses that have such agreements with the NRA?

[WillowTree]

14. Regardless of whether you or I see the NRA as a negative entity.......

Last edited Wed Feb 28, 2018, 12:41 PM - Edit history (1)

.......a business giving NRA members a discount still doesn't constitute a penalty on anyone else.

[NCTraveler]

16. I'm not sure I understand this sentence.

".......a business giving NRA members a discount still doesn't constitute on anyone else."

If I do understand it correctly, it doesn't seem to negate my point or hold it up. Seems to be just a side-note. Then again, I don't think I fully understand what you are saying.

[WillowTree]

21. Typing too fast again......Sorry.

I fixed it. But yes, just a further commentary. I don't get why some people think that they're losing something because someone else qualifies for a discount. I sometimes get discounts or special deals on some things through my American Express card. That's just a benefit to me (and other AmEx users) and doesn't deprive anyone else of anything. Same deal here. Just because the OP doesn't like the NRA, when a business chooses to give discounts to members a huge group like the NRA to attract the business of those individuals, it doesn't deprive anyone who isn't a member of that group of anything. As someone else mentioned upthread, it's a reach to think that way IMO.

[NCTraveler]

23. Fully agree.

Thank you for taking the time to clarify. I appreciate it.

[louis c]

25. Let's take a hypothetical to an extreme

I'm sitting on a Delta flight that's fully booked.

Every single passenger got a 10% discount for various reasons, except me.

I shouldn't feel that I'm penalized? They're not paying 10% less, I'm paying 10% more.

[WillowTree]

27. A benefit to someone else does not constitute a penalty to you.

So no, you shouldn't feel penalized. You're paying what you agreed to pay for the flight and they're paying that amount that they agreed to pay.

Apparently you would think that I would be depriving you of something if I managed to negotiate a better deal on a car than you did. But everything in life isn't a zero sum game and thinking that way is just a prescription for your own unhappiness.

[GusBob]

15. I was thinking about the FedEx discount. Consider this

Gun makers get a discount for shipping guns thru FedEx.

But I would bet health care companies or medical supply companies do not

IOW: weapons that main and kill get a discount, things that cure and save lives do not

[hack89]

20. Why wouldn't they?

usually bulk shippers negotiate discounts. Can't imagine large medical supply companies don't do the same.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Not really. Businesses often offer discounts to members of organizations

like AAA, AARP, etc. It doesn't result in others having to pay more; what it does is attract more business. So if I belong to the National Accordion Association, which negotiated a deal with Delta for 10% off and I want to fly somewhere that would normally cost $300, I will probably choose Delta over United. So even if I'm paying 10% less than full fare, Delta gets $270 and United gets $0. At the same time, though, Delta's decision to to give NRA members a discount is not punishing them, contrary to the GA politicians' claim. They aren't denying them service; they're just charging the same rate they charge everyone else.

[Fullduplexxx]

28. Yes it is a fee for not being an nra member

[flibbitygiblets]

29. Yes, but only if there are no other avenues to get discounts

I hate the NRA, and I don't think any company should give discounts to NRA members because it's a political organization, (sorry to say for the minority members who aren't rabid right wingers, based on casual observations).

It's akin to giving discounts to republicans., in this case.