Never knew this was a thing until today.
Apparently, people in these type of jobs are given discounts at various places, which are no doubt passed onto what the rest of us pay.
Are they volunteers or do they not get paid for their work?
Once the subject arose, we were swamped with tales of how relatives, friends, acquaintances, etc of anyone with such a job gets to use it as well.
Seriously p****d off now.

A family member gets the blue light discount.

The discount scheme our firm offers has exactly the same deals, just under another name.

Don't worry , I have a blue light discount card and the discounts are not that great. I've never used it because I can normally get better deals by shopping around.

CaptainKirk wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:05 pm

Never knew this was a thing until today.
Apparently, people in these type of jobs are given discounts at various places, which are no doubt passed onto what the rest of us pay.
Are they volunteers or do they not get paid for their work?
Once the subject arose, we were swamped with tales of how relatives, friends, acquaintances, etc of anyone with such a job gets to use it as well.
Seriously p****d off now.

It is not a great level of discount on some things, but what you have put is accurate. It gets them money off at stuff like Alton Towers etc.

A family member of mine who has a Blue Light Discount account (it's on an app) managed to get me, my Wife and Daughter all into Yorkshire Wildlife Park for about 30% off the price. I thought that was decent, but it's the only time I have personally benefitted from it.

Yeah loads of firms offer the same thing under various names. Again, never used it as it’s tiny

Same as the Defence Discount card. I have that as well as discounts through the Rail company I now work for. Good eh.

My Niece and her husband work for Virgin Atlantic ... My Sister and Husband (and their other 3 Children) have flown all over the place on bluelight style discounts/freebies... My wife and I got a free upgrade when we went to New York in 2003 through her

My wife had one and never used it because its crap. It's more of a promotional tool for the companies that subscribe to it. Like someone has already said - there are better deals to be had if you look around.

Anyhow, I can't understand why someone would get all seriously het up over this. Mind you, just another day in the life of UTC.

I got 2 weeks in Monaco, a free super box at the Turf and free De Vere hotels stays for life with mine!!!

The other day I saw someone feed a pay and display machine and their ticket said they could have 10% off their next KFC Meal Deal. The next person got a free eyesight test at Specsavers. All I could do was to turn away while crying silent tears of anger and rage. I hate my life.

Partner works in a good job and has one of these. Get some excellent deals at some places - sometimes 25% off food bills. Really good.

To think you lot all stood out and clapped us on a Thursday night too, now you're getting mad that we get a free slice of pizza off our bill!!

Some top breweries like Cloudwater and Siren have given 20% NHS discounts, you can save a real wedge when mixing that with an already discounted crate of beer. I know loads of people who use these and its a win/win, the taxpayer doesn’t subsidise it and the company has a lower margin but probably higher sales.

CaptainKirk wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:05 pm

Seriously p****d off now.

You can get 2.3% off Watney's Party Seven this week at Kwik Save.Make sure you take a hammer and a nail to the party to get it open.

CaptainKirk wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 4:05 pm

Never knew this was a thing until today.
Apparently, people in these type of jobs are given discounts at various places, which are no doubt passed onto what the rest of us pay.
Are they volunteers or do they not get paid for their work?
Once the subject arose, we were swamped with tales of how relatives, friends, acquaintances, etc of anyone with such a job gets to use it as well.
Seriously p****d off now.

Good fishing I nearly bit

When I was still serving in the Army I stopped at a Moto service station bought a Costa and went to get my normal 20% discount I was given the Police discount instead it was 50% I was quite impressed.

I have no issue with people getting discounts I get them from the Company I work for don’t be worried about other peoples small gains it will tie you in knots.

I have a blue light card. Very rarely use it as I don’t like people knowing what I do.

As has been said, the offers are generally matched or bettered if you shop around. I’ve used it a couple of times in Office for new shoes, and I was given 10% off.

Remarkable that it’s something you’d get your knickers in a twist about, though.

Edit- and I’m unaware of friends/relatives being able to take advantage of it? Mine certainly don’t. You need to show the card to the cashier to use it.

TsarBomba wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 10:05 pm

I have a blue light card. Very rarely use it as I don’t like people knowing what I do.

As has been said, the offers are generally matched or bettered if you shop around. I’ve used it a couple of times in Office for new shoes, and I was given 10% off.

Remarkable that it’s something you’d get your knickers in a twist about, though.

Edit- and I’m unaware of friends/relatives being able to take advantage of it? Mine certainly don’t. You need to show the card to the cashier to use it.

Online purchases tsar for friends and family

Agreed it is madness someone might be upset by a group negotiating a discount for its employees

Well, it was a bit better than footballers with names of household objects or Countries with a W in which are slightly interesting or favourite films of the last 2 weeks or discos we used to get drunk in.

It's probably less irritating than old people getting discounts at b and q just for being old and then using the card to buy stuff for other people.
Or old people getting into football on the cheap with their triple lock and final salary civil service pensions that they've not really paid for like the rest of us.
Or going on a train in the uk when you can almost guarantee that someone else on the train has paid half of what you have for the same ticket.
Or going to see an fa cup tie and finding that you've got Dale Stephens and one of the under 23 squad players in midfield up against arsenal reserves.

timshorts wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 10:52 pm

It's probably less irritating than old people getting discounts at b and q just for being old and then using the card to buy stuff for other people.
Or old people getting into football on the cheap with their triple lock and final salary civil service pensions that they've not really paid for like the rest of us.
Or going on a train in the uk when you can almost guarantee that someone else on the train has paid half of what you have for the same ticket.
Or going to see an fa cup tie and finding that you've got Dale Stephens and one of the under 23 squad players in midfield up against arsenal reserves.

And breathe tim ... deep breaths son watch your blood pressure its not good for you

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 10:56 pm

And breathe tim ... deep breaths son watch your blood pressure its not good for you

actually, I've got low blood pressure, so the countries inequities are probably good for me.
Perhaps next week we can have a thread which includes "first past the post is a democratic system" and "which scousers are most overrated, the beatles or Stephen gerrard"

You should see how the US public and companies treat their Armed Forces. That would definitely make you cry with fake outrage.

You can join club stores like Costco and get tax free purchases with the right profession. This unlike the blue light card does mean you avoid paying tax.

My wife has one and uses it all the time. You'd be surprised who does offer discounts. During the lockdown and subsequent re-opening of the high street there were some big discounts for card holders.
Agree about the US and how they treat their military. I've been asked to give 50% discount on a vacation rental because they wore the uniform. No thanks.

My missus has one and we use it regularly too. IMHO it is no different than my employee, Sky, having negotiated discounts for employees with multiple retailers. Companies who offer the discounts are doing in order to promote their business to the employees who are part of the scheme. It doesn't matter what the scheme is called.....a bit of a weird thing to get all uppity and stressed about....

We have recently bought a load of new dive gear, one retailer offered Blue Light Discount another didn't, guess who we went with...same equipment just 5% cheaper.....

Genuinely trying to work out if the OP is a parody.

My wife has one, she's a carer. We used it in Wales buying some jeans, a hat, and other stiff for me, and saved a fortune.
She'd had it a while and forgot all about it, she won't again. Lots of outlets accept it as well, so very useful, and well deserved.

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:28 am

You can join club stores like Costco and get tax free purchases with the right profession. This unlike the blue light card does mean you avoid paying tax.

How does buying from Costco stop you from paying tax?

My dad was aircrew in the RAF in the 1950s and all he got was the ability to sneak in a pineapple - if customs didn't catch him (planes from overseas would have to land at certain bases for customs checks before flying on to their home bases).

Andreshotboots wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 02, 2021 5:00 pm

To think you lot all stood out and clapped us on a Thursday night too, now you're getting mad that we get a free slice of pizza off our bill!!

It's like while we were all outside clapping, you sneaked in our homes and stole our .

I have the defence discount card, and as previously mentioned, don’t consider it to be amazing. Only ever use it online to be honest.

Colburn_Claret wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 8:19 am

My wife has one, she's a carer. We used it in Wales buying some jeans, a hat, and other stiff for me, and saved a fortune.
She'd had it a while and forgot all about it, she won't again. Lots of outlets accept it as well, so very useful, and well deserved.

Had I known you could buy a stiff, I'd have used mine more

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:18 am

It's like while we were all outside clapping, you sneaked in our homes and stole our .

And the chips

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 7:28 am

You can join club stores like Costco and get tax free purchases with the right profession. This unlike the blue light card does mean you avoid paying tax.

What professions get tax free purchases at Costco?

Backofthenet wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:20 am

Had I known you could buy a stiff, I'd have used mine more

You can if Boots accepts Blue Light

Plumbers, Builders etc anyone with their own business so they can charge tax themselves on resale.

more interested in a red light discount

brexit wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 6:40 pm

more interested in a red light discount

Plenty of them in Nelson !!

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:33 pm

Plumbers, Builders etc anyone with their own business so they can charge tax themselves on resale.

They don't get tax free purchases then, they just get tax relief, the same as any purchase any tradesperson makes at any store for their business.

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 5:33 pm

Plumbers, Builders etc anyone with their own business so they can charge tax themselves on resale.

If you mean VAT, Costco charges them VAT. The registered business then reclaims it, like in every other shop.

These discount schemes are general across most big companies and have been for years.

As others have said, they are usually offered by companies promoting their wares. They get the opportunity to showcase their product to every member of sn organisation, in exchange for offering a discount.

Never found anything worth having!

Sometimes better off trawling tourist leaflets for a 2 for 1.

I thought Costco were like a cash and carry?
Why is it that in the UK you can only be a warehouse member if you're a trade, or specific profession when in the US memberships are open to everyone?

Hipper wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 9:00 am

My dad was aircrew in the RAF in the 1950s and all he got was the ability to sneak in a pineapple - if customs didn't catch him (planes from overseas would have to land at certain bases for customs checks before flying on to their home bases).

Whereas if you are us military serving in an "raf" base in England, you don't pay vat when shopping at your nice bm store filled with lovely us products like bread, second rate peanut butter and yucky chocolate that have all been flown over without a nice greta thunberg protest. They even sell bikes there.
They get to drive on the wrong side of the road within the base, although that's presumably to avoid accidents as much as anything else.
They probably have pineapples, but I'm guessing that they are zero-rated for vat.
Given that we let them use part of our land to assist their war-mongering, the least they could do is pay a bit of vat now that we are just a few decades past ww2.

I didn't know about this either until recently, however its absolutely fantastic.
Once the person informed me they would order the item for me, I ended up getting £27.50 off my trainers, which I had no problem paying the listed price for.

Obviously they ordered them for me, and I just had to transfer then the money, literally didn't need to leave the house.

MACCA wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:58 am

I didn't know about this either until recently, however its absolutely fantastic.
Once the person informed me they would order the item for me, I ended up getting £27.50 off my trainers, which I had no problem paying the listed price for.

Obviously they ordered them for me, and I just had to transfer then the money, literally didn't need to leave the house.

It’s great isn’t it, I’ve befriended a lad just to get cheap stuff, he still hasn’t cottoned on despite me never returning his texts until I need something

superdimitri wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 3:20 am

I thought Costco were like a cash and carry?
Why is it that in the UK you can only be a warehouse member if you're a trade, or specific profession when in the US memberships are open to everyone?

UK Costco memberships are open to everyone these days.

File along with related nonsense such as banging pans and clapping.

Anything but actually paying certain professionals a wage that reflects the true importance of their role.