I travel all the time and I’m military. What you are describing is not a “military discount”. It is a “Government / Military Rate”. There’s nothing wrong with that. A discount is normally a % of the normal price. A rate is the normal charge for a specific set of conditions.
I’ve had the gov rate end up higher than the current lowest rate. I pay it without complaining though because I know, from experience, that there are plenty of times where they are charging me substantially less than they could get for the room on the open market at that time of the year.
Now, I will add that most hotels clearly have a Military/Government area where they house us. That area is normally the most rundown beat ass part of the hotel.
I don’t give a shit though. I’m just passing through.
Add to this list how home-sellers may deny buyers’ taking advantage of their VA loans, not wanting to deal with the scrutiny that accepting them entails.
Well, they aren’t but the house is. The VA home inspection requirements are pretty comprehensive, and many sellers absolutely won’t want to do the work necessary to make sure their home will pass.
Hotel rates are all over the place and it’s no use in trying to explain to the general public how they work. I worked in hotels most of my life, so I know it’s just all over the place.
This is why if a question like the OP was posed to me, I would’ve said somthing like "We have a military rate, but our BEST available rate is XXX.
Or I would’ve simply lied and said “Yes, we have one and quoted him the lowest rate.” He wouldn’t have known, as even discounted rates fluctuate.
I remember back in 1981 when I started out at Red Roof Inn (our single room back then was $11.99 a night :)) and we were among the first chains to have “senior rates.” We would have to ask people “Are you eligable for a senior rate?”
First of all when your 18 years old EVERYONE over 30 looks old enough to qualify. (They had to be be over 65 to get it).
Well this was a disaster all around. For one, I kept insulting people and second even the older people who could qualify for it were yelling “Just 'cause I’m old doesn’t mean I can’t pay my bills” or “I don’t take charity” or other such comments were very common. (remember this was 1981).
So we put a sign up saying "Ask about our senior rates, available to those over 65). It helped a bit but we still got complaints by old people saying the didn’t need special treatment and how insulting it was to them.
Can you see this happening now-a-days? I doubt it much, so I can see how that military guy was offended.
Ah. I’m not sure that counts as anti-military discrimination, then; it’s discrimination which just happens to affect servicemen. Unfortunate, but not really the fault of the homeowners.
Does the rate take into account the differences in prices in different areas? How do they deal with the fact that a hotel room in NYC will cost several times that of one in Carlisle, PA?
See, I see these comments a lot on the Dope, but typically, I know I can expect pretty reliable service from McDonalds. I always know what to expect from my food, I always know that if there is a problem, they will work with me to fix it. Also, in some places I’ve been (such as Monterey, California, not the most military friendly town ever, although definitely one of the nicer towns to be stationed at regardless), McDonalds does offer a military discount, something like 10% for uniformed military.
Which, of course, amounts to like, 50 cents, but still, it’s the thought that counts.
If a McDonalds was outright refusing service to a customer, that customer should contact a Corporate office to complain about one of their franchises not treating customers like corporate policy requires them to.
Key-rist. Is there anything more annoying than some specialist who was in the service for two years twenty years ago, but he’ll be good goddamned if you ever fucking forget about it?
Real discrimination would be something like, say, not being allowed to join or being forced out of your job because you’re gay. Right, that’s what discrimination is.
What discrimination isn’t is the existence of a usually cheaper military rate–which you are not obligated to take if there is an even cheaper rate for which you qualify–at hotels.
So, in conclusion, if you want to serve your country and see the world and get some cracking educational and mortgage benefits, join the Army. If you want deals at hotels and restaurants, get a Diners Club card.
