Pensioner Looking/Asking for Discount

Pumpkin_rrr on 12/11/2020 - 11:13

Every now and then I see requests or posts from some pensioner and looking for "Pensioner's Rate"
This ranges from mowing the lawn to install AirCon.

What do you think about this?
From a Tradie's point of view, what would encourage them to give such discount? Are they going to do sub-standard job?
Maybe they just do it out of the goodness of their heart, as though they are working for their parents/grandparents.

When come to things like installing new AirCon or other high value items, the risk is high and the demand would be similar wont it?

Just feel sorry for Tradies sometimes….

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Xistn on 12/11/2020 - 11:24
    +1

    Most pensioners are living on a extremely tight budget as it is.

    • studentl0an on 12/11/2020 - 13:16

      Most pensioners had a lifetime of the best economy the world had ever seen. Most pensioners were able to raise 3 kids on a single income and be well off.

      Most pensioners need to realise the generations after them work significantly harder, longer and have a lower quality of life that they had.

      Most pensioners need to suck it up and not put it all on the next generations to pay for their cushy old age.

      • brad1-8tsi on 12/11/2020 - 13:40
        +6

        What a load of bull

      • GG57 on 12/11/2020 - 13:47
        +2

        Most pensioners…most pensioners…most pensioners…

        Are you just making this stuff up?
        Are you assuming that all pensioners are on the Age Pension?

        Your profile shows you are in NZ; maybe it is different there?

        • studentl0an on 12/11/2020 - 14:16
          -3

          All pensioners are on the age pension because that's what a pensioner is by definition

          I have enough in my family to see the glut of money they receive after the life they have had.

          The pension is a ponzi scheme paid for by mortgaging the youth's future.

          • GG57 on 12/11/2020 - 14:20
            +1

            @studentl0an:

            All pensioners are on the age pension because that's what a pensioner is by definition.

            You really have no idea.

            • studentl0an on 12/11/2020 - 14:21
              -1

              @GG57: You seriously saying that a pensioner isn't someone on an aged pension? I provided the definition, happy to provide the same definition from multiple dictionaries too.

              Seems you're as clueless about the pension as you are about the definition of pensioners.

              • GG57 on 12/11/2020 - 14:25
                +1

                @studentl0an: No problem, here are a few I found:

                noun: a person who receives a pension

                A pensioner is a person who collects a pension

                a person who receives or lives on a pension

                • studentl0an on 12/11/2020 - 14:27

                  @GG57: Ok, so you and those downvoting me knew I was making comments about aged pensioners when I said pensioners as all the comments were in relation to someone who is obviously old - so your argument with me is you being pedantic about the world pensioner, and not about aged pensioners being the most entitled and well off generations ever who still want more?

                  Boomers man.. just a bunch of pedant Karens who sell their kids future's to pad their retirement.

                  • GG57 on 12/11/2020 - 14:47
                    +1

                    @studentl0an: You stated "All pensioners are on the age pension…"
                    You are wrong.

                    Now, re your extremely generalist comments about (aged) pension recipients:
                    - "…a lifetime of the best economy the world had ever seen…": I suppose that includes the 1970s with high inflation, low economic growth, high unemployment. And the 1980s with the global share market crash and mortgage rates at 17%. And the impacts of the world financial crash towards the end of the 2000s. Depending on your field of work, your stage of life, your dependants, etc., all of these could have impacted on the now 'pensioners'.
                    - "generations after them work significantly harder, longer and have a lower quality of life". I would be interested in hearing which specific examples of working conditions have been eroded for later generations
                    - To receive an age pension, you have to satisfy means test requirements. If you have achieved a certain level of wealth during your working life, you don't get the pension. If someone is getting a pension, it should be assumed that their financial circumstances have been assessed and regularly reviewed. There might be a few scammers out there, but not many would have a 'cushy' life.

                    • RockyRaccoon on 12/11/2020 - 15:16
                      +1

                      @GG57: They have already said - its based on their family. Given their attitude, I guess they think their family is representative of most.

                      The old concept that the survey of one is that of many/most!

                  • Hithere on 12/11/2020 - 15:22
                    +1

                    @studentl0an: Chip, meet shoulder.

      • RockyRaccoon on 12/11/2020 - 14:02
        +1

        ROFL
        Pensioners …

        Most had 3 kids
        Most lived on 1 income
        Well off
        Higher quality of Life

        And you claim to be hard working.

        The dribble of generalisations like that, I doubt that would have taken any effort, so claiming to be hard working is a joke.

        BTW 30% of Australians were born overseas and of those over pension age, the figures also show 30% were born overseas, so there's 30% who would have had a very different life to what you claim.

        Are you in NZ to save having to complete your Study assist repayments?

  • Hithere on 12/11/2020 - 11:26
    +1

    Can't see any difference between asking for a pensioners rate, haggling, asking for a discount for cash or asking the tradie for their best price.

    I had a ducted gas central heating system installed a few years back and received a pensioner discount.

    There was no risk involved, the same tradies who install all their other systems installed mine and their work was up to a high standard and I received a certificate of installation for the gas and electricity connections.

    Don't feel sorry for the tradies giving that some charge a couple of hundred just to look at the job and then another hundred an hour with a minimum of four hours for sometimes the simplest jobs.

  • GG57 on 12/11/2020 - 11:28
    +4

    Tradies can choose to give a discount, or not to (same as they can choose to take on a job or not to). Not everyone is totally focussed on money money money, some are inclined to support others.
    They may get referral business, or just a good karma feeling in their community, but it is up to them.

    • AustriaBargain on 12/11/2020 - 11:43
      +2

      Also a job at 5% discount on labor for seniors can still be profitable if you're not booked solid anyway.

  • brad1-8tsi on 12/11/2020 - 11:28
    +1

    Generally pensioners are a bit more flexible with when the job can be done and they'll make you a cup of tea

    Anyone is at liberty to ask for a discount. We got our architect / project manager to knock $1200 off the fee proposal last week.

  • netjock on 12/11/2020 - 11:31
    +10

    Just feel sorry for Tradies sometimes….

    LOL you see the government first home owners grant, home maker grants and various other grants. If you look at the nice trade HiLux / Ranger (Landcruiser for builders) plus the OTHER car. I'd say you got a misplaced empathy.

  • AustriaBargain on 12/11/2020 - 11:42
    +2

    Used to be very common for age pensioners to have lower rates. My McDonald's near me even gave pensioners discount on food.

  • Pumpkin_rrr on 12/11/2020 - 11:55

    Love your responses Dear OzB! I have to think more broadly.
    Have a lovely day!

  • Almost Banned on 12/11/2020 - 12:07

    Maybe try asking for an Ozbargain rate next time you need a tradie? (Also known as the cheap b@stard rate).

  • pharkurnell on 12/11/2020 - 12:32

    Try living on the budget of a pensioner for a month…

    Lots of tradie work is cash, and goes well on word of mouth through old people for good work.

    Feel sorry for tradies?? for the last 20-30 I called before lockdown, 2 turned up.

  • seraphim2017 on 12/11/2020 - 13:32
    +1

    Before you have a go at pensioners rates, student rates etc, look at this guy

    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49729211#:~:text=A%20not%2Dfor%2….

    and then wonder, if you made an off the cuff keyboard warrior comment demonstrating contempt for those less well off, did it demonstrate something a bit off in your soul?

    Tradies here are a mixed bag of con men and really hard workers, problem being you never know what you'll end up with until after the fact, but it's a good if hard career path for those people with the aptitude for it. I wish I'd been a tradie!

  • the Unforgiven on 13/11/2020 - 15:50
    +3

    I am 62 and on a pension. I have been on a pension since I was 40.
    It is the disability support pension. Name a part of the body and it is stuffed.
    I am in constant pain studentl0an, and I have been on a pension since I was 40
    I have not worked full time since then, I don't have heaps of money, I live pension to pension
    and have done so for 22 years now; and I am sick of it. Sick of being broke, sick of being in pain all the time.
    I have a pensioners concession booklet to see where I can save money. but I don't have any money left over after paying the bills and buying food to find out where I cane save money on. It has sat on my counter top in the same spot for months un-opened.
    Not all pensioners are the same studentl0an, not all pensioners work all their life (so they don't have enough money to retire on),
    not all pensioners get to grow up with their family and have a happy life

  • jv on 13/11/2020 - 15:53

    From a Tradie's point of view, what would encourage them to give such discount?

    Compassion ?

  • jv on 13/11/2020 - 15:55
    -1

    Just feel sorry for Tradies sometimes….

    LOL… Most of their income is tax free…

    • GG57 on 13/11/2020 - 16:07
      +1

      LOL, I literally paid some (GST-free) cash to a tradie 5 minutes ago; he said he was off to the pub.

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