Who is responsible for discounts?

[westernrvparkow]

Is it the obligation of the business or the customer to determine whether or not that customer is eligible for a discount? We honor discounts for Good Sam members, seniors and active military. That information is clearly posted on our website and at that registration counter. Should the park question each guest as to whether or not they are eligible for one of those discounts or is the onus on the customer to tell us they are Good Sam members, over 55, or are actively serving in the military?
If you feel it is the park's responsibility, does that obligation extend to further investigating the customer's planned itinerary and pointing out they could save money by either staying longer, thus qualifying for a weekly discount, or arriving earlier or later in the year thus getting the shoulder season rate?
It is my opinion that the customer is responsible for their reservation details. Any thoughts, pro or con?

[westernrvparkow]

PastorCharlie wrote:
I notice the question and replies are addressing who is responsible to ask for a discount. Who's responsibility is it? Wrong question.

What about rather addressing the issue from a public relation aspect? If a business asks a customer if they have any of their qualifying discount the business will grow in the customers eyes and admiration. If the customer has to ask has to ask for a discount the customer feels negative toward the business in that they have to ask for a lesser price.

I remember in my high school days while studying the psychology of business that the customer felt much better toward the business, if for instant they were buying loose seeds, (that was back in the day) and the clerk measuring out the seed would make sure not to over scoop the requested amount but make sure to re-scoop a second or third time making sure to get the exact amount the customer was requesting. It made the customer feel that the merchant was an extremely honest person and desirous to make sure the customer was not cheated.

The difference was if the clerk put too much seed into the scale and then proceeded to remove some to correct the amount. It made the customer think the merchant was a stingy and cheap person.

The question for the campground owner is which image do they wish to relay to their customers? What lingering "taste" do they wish to leave on their customer's palate?

I have witnesses a lot of businesses succeed and a lot of businesses fail in my 79 years and I do not believe any failed because they were overly nice and customer oriented. There is a saying in my neck of the woods; "The customer is always right." One unhappy customer is one too many for any business.

Who's responsibility is it to make and grow a business?

I put "the customer is always right" in the same bucket as feel good sayings like "follow your dreams" and "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again". Fact is the customer is not always right, following your dreams can be stupid if you have unobtainable dreams and not everything will be successful no matter how much you try.
And thousands of businesses that were customer oriented have failed. The local pharmacy has likely lost out to Walgreens and CVS. Your local hardware store and lumber yard went kaput not because they weren't friendly but because Home Depot and Lowe's crushed them. The local cafe lost to McDonalds and goodness knows Walmart put many nice, friendly people out of business. And when was the last time the milkman delivered fresh dairy products to your back door? Customer service is only part of the big puzzle that is a successful business.

[PastorCharlie]

Double post

[PastorCharlie]

I notice the question and replies are addressing who is responsible to ask for a discount. Who's responsibility is it? Wrong question.

What about rather addressing the issue from a public relation aspect? If a business asks a customer if they have any of their qualifying discount the business will grow in the customers eyes and admiration. If the customer has to ask has to ask for a discount the customer feels negative toward the business in that they have to ask for a lesser price.

I remember in my high school days while studying the psychology of business that the customer felt much better toward the business, if for instant they were buying loose seeds, (that was back in the day) and the clerk measuring out the seed would make sure not to over scoop the requested amount but make sure to re-scoop a second or third time making sure to get the exact amount the customer was requesting. It made the customer feel that the merchant was an extremely honest person and desirous to make sure the customer was not cheated.

The difference was if the clerk put too much seed into the scale and then proceeded to remove some to correct the amount. It made the customer think the merchant was a stingy and cheap person.

The question for the campground owner is which image do they wish to relay to their customers? What lingering "taste" do they wish to leave on their customer's palate?

I have witnesses a lot of businesses succeed and a lot of businesses fail in my 79 years and I do not believe any failed because they were overly nice and customer oriented. There is a saying in my neck of the woods; "The customer is always right." One unhappy customer is one too many for any business.

Who's responsibility is it to make and grow a business?

[westernrvparkow]

We ask about Good Sam. I feel asking about senior discount could be offensive to some people. Where we have had issues is two different situations. One is where only one person comes in to register and sometime down the road they come back in wanting to collect a discount they were reminded they had coming by their significant other. I am amazed at how many people didn't know their spouses signed them up for Good Sam. This isn't a problem if they come in on the same day, we can easily fix the transaction, but if it is a few days later, the books get messy since it is a discount without a corresponding site rental for that day..
It is also a loophole an employee could use to skim money. If it was a four to six 5 day stay and the stay was paid by cash the refund due a customer who neglected to get their Good Sam Discount would be $30.00 to nearly $50.00. Therefore management approval is required in these instances and that can take time.
The other instance is with online reservations. We have check boxes for all the potential discounts. If it is a one night stay, we take payment in full. If the customer doesn't check the appropriate discount and then requests it at check in, we have to process a credit card refund (we only refund in the same manner as payment was made to avoid any potential for fraud and all online reservation deposits are card payments) Those refunds cost us a substantial percentage of the refund amount due to transaction charges on top of the percentage we are charged on the actual amount. And just like your personal credit score can effect your interest rates, how many refunds we issue can effect our final negotiated credit card rates and if we don't get the best rates due to excessive refund transactions that can amount to $1000s of dollars in additional costs in a year.

[garmp]

We were at a state park in northern Ohio. Went to check in and asked if they have discounts for disabled veterans. The lady said, yes, do your have your papers to show your disability percentage? I replied yes, here they are, rated at 100%. She said fine, turned around shuffled some papers, made a copy of my letter. Then said here your are sir. Find a vacant campsite you like, put this on the post and thank you for your service. No Charge!
Sometimes it doesn't hurt to adk.

[Bumpyroad]

Walaby wrote:

pitch wrote:
"DO you have triple A,AARP or are you a veteran?"
Practice saying that. How long did it take? was it a significant drain on your time?
Did it hurt you physically for those words to come out of your mouth?No?
Then why aren't your desk personnel trained to say those words to each and every customer?
If offering discounts has such an effect on your bottom line that you don't mention them, perhaps you need to do away with discounts all together.

Goes the other way too

Im retired military - do you offer a military discount?
I have Good Sam's. Do y'all take Good Sams?

Did that hurt you to say those few words

Let's say a campground offers half a dozen different discounts. Should the office person say

Are you AAA?
Are you AARP?
Do you have Good Sams Club?
How about Passport America
What about military, are you in the military? Retired?
Are you anything else that you think might qualify?

Geez...

Mike

yep, just post a prominent sign at check in with "special information".
bumpy

[Walaby]

pitch wrote:
"DO you have triple A,AARP or are you a veteran?"
Practice saying that. How long did it take? was it a significant drain on your time?
Did it hurt you physically for those words to come out of your mouth?No?
Then why aren't your desk personnel trained to say those words to each and every customer?
If offering discounts has such an effect on your bottom line that you don't mention them, perhaps you need to do away with discounts all together.

Goes the other way too

Im retired military - do you offer a military discount?
I have Good Sam's. Do y'all take Good Sams?

Did that hurt you to say those few words

Let's say a campground offers half a dozen different discounts. Should the office person say

Are you AAA?
Are you AARP?
Do you have Good Sams Club?
How about Passport America
What about military, are you in the military? Retired?
Are you anything else that you think might qualify?

Geez...

Mike

[mgirardo]

I feel it is the responsibility of the Customer to ask for discounts for Good Sam, AARP, AAA, etc. However, the campground should ask all customers if they are active Military if they offer a discount for Active Military. It's just a nice thing to do.

-Michael

[Bumpyroad]

I am sometimes given a senior discount at restaurants without asking. I guess there is some advantage to looking old, worn out, and drug thru the mud.
bumpy

[drsteve]

Most grocery store clerks will inquire, "Do you have any coupons or bottle return slips?" Seems like it would be trivial to have employees ask about camping discount cards.

Most folks who have campground discount memberships are going to remember, and ask anyway. But a reminder is always nice.

[pitch]

"DO you have triple A,AARP or are you a veteran?"
Practice saying that. How long did it take? was it a significant drain on your time?
Did it hurt you physically for those words to come out of your mouth?No?
Then why aren't your desk personnel trained to say those words to each and every customer?
If offering discounts has such an effect on your bottom line that you don't mention them, perhaps you need to do away with discounts all together.

[1968mooney]

Walaby wrote:
So, in all the time that I have gotten various discounts, I have NEVER to my recollection had anyone ask me if I qualified for a discount. No restaurant asking about military discount, nothing from Lowes or Home Depot asking if Im retired military, never asked by Kroger cashier if I had a Kroger card. Not from a campground asking about Good sams or military, or Passport America. Honestly can't remember if I've ever been asked up front at all.

I would not appreciate it if people lie about qualifying for a discount to save, what 2-3, 3-5 dollars? I will go on record and say Im glad SD and WRVPO ask for proof.

You should too, instead of taking offense to it. If they are willing to lie to save a dollar, what else would they be willing to lie and cheat about?

Mike

I had to provide Lowes PROOF of my Military Service, they put the info in their computer system, and I now get the discount for each purchase. That is the reason I do not have to ask each time. Lying has become so popular, most people are proud about lying. Our morals are quickly going down the gutter with our political leaders.

[Walaby]

So, in all the time that I have gotten various discounts, I have NEVER to my recollection had anyone ask me if I qualified for a discount. No restaurant asking about military discount, nothing from Lowes or Home Depot asking if Im retired military, never asked by Kroger cashier if I had a Kroger card. Not from a campground asking about Good sams or military, or Passport America. Honestly can't remember if I've ever been asked up front at all.

I would not appreciate it if people lie about qualifying for a discount to save, what 2-3, 3-5 dollars? I will go on record and say Im glad SD and WRVPO ask for proof.

You should too, instead of taking offense to it. If they are willing to lie to save a dollar, what else would they be willing to lie and cheat about?

Mike

[SDcampowneroper]

mich800 wrote:

bpounds wrote:

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
The reason we ask to see the card is to verify expiry and that names match. Cant have someone borrow uncles card. That has happened.

That's your privilege. Apparently that extra few bucks is very important to your business model. The guy down the street must be less profit constrained.

I guess I appreciate the hotels that cheerfully want to help me save a very few bucks, instead of looking for any reason to get out of the discount.

I'm sure there are folks who go around just saying they are XXX members. If your bottom line is so thin that you feel you have to weed those out, then I guess you'll need to card everyone. It's the only way to be sure.

Your business model suggests just lower the price to the discounted level for everyone. What's the point if everyone qualifies? It is easy to spot those that never had to run a business to feed their family.

its about honesty we have it, a guest who tries to circumvent those who have paid money ( GS, FMCA, Senior) or by service to country and community dishonestly are not our business model. Discounts are for the deserving and honest.
The dishonest are encouraged to take their business else where and leave us with the fine honest deserving folks.

[rk911]

westernrvparkowner wrote:


We see verifying eligibility for a discount as being responsible to the guests who qualify. Good Sam members paid for their membership so why should someone who didn't pay get the benefit? We offer an active duty discount in respect for those who are serving in the military, it would be disrespectful to those service members to offer it to someone who wasn't in the service. Or, to quote the old American Express commercial: "Membership has it's privileges."

completely agree with this. on the rare occasion when we have to stay in a hotel about half the time we're asked to produce our AAA card. we're not offended at all and happy to comply. their hotel, their rules.