Chili's and their 1% senior discount

By the way fixed income means no raises + inflation, NOT spending more
than you can afford. My husband and I haven't seen an increase in our
income in 3 years. My personal income hasn't increased in 9 yrs. That
is a fixed income. However, gas has gone up to $3.50+ a gal from
$1.36; a loaf of bread from $1 to upwards $2.50-$4 in those 9 yrs.
Many people on the so called entitlement program SS take home less
than $800 per month, yes $800 per month, that's $5 per hour and they
still take out $100 of that for Medicare. Open your eyes people, the
cost of life in America is getting out of hand. As for those of you
working in the public sector today, talk to your Congressman and have
him try to explain why minimum wage is $7.25 per hr. When I was making
minimum wage in the 70's it was $1.60 per hr. However, gas was $.25
and a new car could be had at $3,200. With that being the case: $.25 x
14 = $3.50; $3,200 x 10 = $32000 if we just used the 10x cost of
minimum wage it should be $16.00 per hour, and, believe me there are a
lot of people out here trying to make it on $8.00 per hr while Exxon
has had higher profits in the past few years than ever before. People
don't really want entitlements, they just want their fair share. Some
people have taken the "life's not fair" way out of proportion, snubbed
their nose at the working middle class and started the destruction of
the American Dream.

Most senior citizens are on a fixed income and with the government
cutbacks it has affected them by not getting a raise in their SS for
three years now. Try to pay for gas on less than minimum wage. I hate
the word entitlement. SS is not an entitlement, it is MY money that
they have been able to invest (or blow) and make more money on and
then try to default on me, by setting the date back hoping I will die
before I collect. As for the 10% being an entitlement. We should show
our appreciation to our military for protecting our country and our
freedom and if a 10% discount cuts into the CEOs million $ pocketbook
of a restaurant chain, well boohoo for the loss, many of our military
have lost their life and some their future. And the same should be
shown to our senior citizens, who have raised their children with
great sacrifice, love, patience and guidance. Unfortunately, too many
of the ones they have raised seem to appreciate nothing, are callus
and look down on everyone, have the attitude of Attila the Hun and are
only out for themselves. I think that sector of our society should be
labeled the entitlement generation, since they have traveled far
beyond the me generation to believe their parents and everyone else
owes them something and that what others have earned with their hard
work and determination deserve nothing. I happened on this blog
because I was looking for a discount at Chili's and was, quite
frankly, disappointed in what I found. I will, however, continue to
eat there, when I can, because as a diabetic their food is much better
for me. Appelbees is a diabetic coma on a plate.

they hit 1 instead of 10 by mistake

We were nailed by this absurd 1% discount yesterday in Bristol, VA as
we are heading north (we are full-time RVers). I couldn't believe it.
And what a bunch of grouches on this blog. I relayed our story to RV
buddies and someone googled and found your (Elaine's) post. We also
appreciate any discounts offered to seniors as do all of our senior
friends (we are all around the 60 mark). It is correct that a company
doesn't owe it to seniors to give a discount, but they should be
ashamed to offer 1%. That would be 50 cents on a $50 bill, which is
just stupid. Better to not offer any discount and state that they
don't offer a senior discount. I'd have preferred that. We do prefer
Applebees and choose them first when both are in the same area.

As for the grouches here who don't seem to think seniors should get
any discount anywhere, you must not be seniors. It is not a right.
We don't expect senior discounts, but do appreciate them when we get
them.

Hang in there Elaine. You got beat up pretty bad on your blog, but
we, and our RV buddies agree with you.

Peace,
Rich
http://www.roamingamerica.com
We leave for the sake of leaving
And without knowing why
We always say, "we must go.".....Baudelaire

Not every place has to have a senior discount. Just like few places
have military discounts. Almost everyone has to watch what they
spend.. should they give everyone discounts then??

Some restaurants operate on lean, mean profit margins. To offer you a
10% or 15% discount could mean that they made zero money off of your
dining there, and how fair would THAT be? Especially if they then
raised their prices so everyone else was paying a bit more to cover
YOUR senior discount?

This will fix itself. In 20 years, the new senior citizens won't have
any money for dining out anyway because they didn't save for
retirement. (A recent survey of parents found that over HALF of all
parents spend more each year on dining out than they do saving for
their children's college funds. You can be they're not funding
retirement accounts, either.)

I don't think age entitles you to a damn thing. If your meal out cost
you only $7 and that's too steep, then $5 is too steep as well. Stay
home.

When as a society did we become so entitled to things?
Should I get a discount for being a SAHM? Eating out is a treat for us
because feeding a family of 4 in a restaurant is expensive! We don't
work for Enron so the biweekly check is fixed. See, I live on a fixed
income too. If you ate at Chili's for $7, then you had an appetizer
and water. I'm sure they will be sad to lose your business.

Senior discounts are a courtesy - - not a right. And as a previous
poster stated, unless you own your own business or are independently
wealthy, we are all on a fixed income. And no - - Chili's doesn't
care if you come back or not.

The bottom line is that Chili's doesn't have a senior discount program
and Applebee's does, so eat at Applebee's.

Give the elderly the discount they deserve living on a fixed income.
Companies do not seem to under how doing something in one part of
their business can boost profits in another portion of their business
by good publicity and good word of mouth.

I know elderly people on a fixed income who have to stretch every
dollar and make choices between food, bills, or medicine. SS is a help
but dosen't go far.
Not saying every once in awhile, a meal out or two is a budget buster,
but it isn't a "need" but more of a "want". If a company offers a
discount for seniors, then by all means go for it.
This particular company does not, so the one percent on a seven dollar
meal sounds like a pittance, it's at LEAST something, something done
out of kindness , and not required of them at all.
I do understand the need to be among others, and what better way than
sharing a meal? But why not find another way? Maybe a pot luck church
supper, a senior center, or even among friends have a night at each
others home to share a home made meal or a barbecue? Maybe play cards,
or scrabble, listen to music, watch a movie, crafts, shared interests
or just enjoy some time among friends?

I feel for your situation. At the risk of sounding harsh, dining out
is a luxury not a privilage. You are no exception, if you can't afford
to dine out without the expectation of a discount, perhaps you
shouldn't.

http://www.chilis.com/

Here is a bigger discount. For every $25 gift card purchased right
now you get a $5 bonus card. A bit larger than 1% of your meal. Is
your birthday coming up or anniversary? Or can you give one for a gift
and then use the $5 bonus card for yourself one day?

I find it kind of nervy that you only ate for $7.00 at Chili's, of all
places, and still expected a discount.
What exactly did you eat (and presumably drink) for a grand total of
$7.00?
I spend more than that at Taco Bueno!

A discount is a courtesy, not a right. I'm having a hard time
figuring out what "the manager had to ok the check each time" means,
exactly, but it sure sounds as if you decided to eat there hoping that
Chili's was going to give you a discount but without a guarantee
(because, as you say, they do not have a senior discount).

So when you start griping about how you didn't get enough of a
discount, I am not struck so much with "the nerve" of Chili's as by
the pettiness of Elaine K.

If you like Applebees, go to Applebee's. If you don't want to go to
Chili's, don't go to Chili's. If you choose to only patronize
restaurants that offer senior discounts, great. Maybe that will
encourage restaurants that don't currently offer senior discounts to
start doing it.

Meanwhile, thank you for letting me know that I can get a $7 meal at
Chili's.