Anonymous wrote:There is no such thing as a federal employee discount and you can't use federal employment for private benefit.

Huh? There are lots! We get 15% off our cell phone. We've received discounted tickets to theme parks. Hotels give us government rates. On and on.....

Hotels for leisure travel
Car rentals
Verizon

YMCA offers a discount to my agency.

My union had a deal where you got some extra stuff if you joined Costco.

Car rentals. I have saved hundreds of dollars off of regular weekly rates with Budget.

Anonymous wrote:Why should federal employees get any discounts at all?

It's not that we "should" but there are certain common characteristics - like a less risky employment situation - that certain companies find it's worth offering a discount to feds in order to up the portion of their customers who have this reliable income. Most of us have a clearance that we rely on that for our job, so we're less likely to engage in risky behaviors that would jeopardize that. So if a business wants to use employment status as a proxy measure for such things, that business is free to do so and offer discounted rates like they would to elderly, students, children, military, or any other population they're interested in attracting as customers.

No one's mentioned the discounted childcare services offered in federal buildings. Usually that is below market rate compared to the centers in non-fed buildings and employees of the host agency get priority enrollment. So I would consider that a significant "discount."

Anonymous wrote:Discounts available broadly to all federal employees are usually fine. See:
http://www.oge.gov/DisplayTemplates/ModelSub.aspx?id=1429
or: http://www.oge.gov/Topics/Gifts-and-Payments/Gifts-from-Outside-Sources/


We use one for our cell phone (AT&T formerly, not TMobile) and have used it for computer purchases (Dell and Apple).

This. I'm an ethics official. Discounts that are offered to all federal employees are permissible.

That said, the only ones I know of have been mentioned already: hotels and cell phones. Marriott has great deals for fed employees most of the time. Many of the other hotels chains specify you must be on official travel.

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the elderly discount is ridiculous. They're the ones I know with the most money. Saving + pensions + social security.

Whoa! I'm the pp who mentioned the elderly discount. I never said it was ridiculous. I pointed out that it existed.

Consider yourself lucky that the older people you know are well off. For your sake I hope your parents are in that category.

http://www.fedsmith.com/2013/09/17/website-offers-discounts-to-federal-employees/

http://www.fedsave.com/coupon/

Anonymous wrote:I agree that the elderly discount is ridiculous. They're the ones I know with the most money. Saving + pensions + social security.

I've read some really stupid stuff on DCUM but this is, BY FAR, one of the dumbest things ever written.

Hitels

Hotels..only if they offer it for leisure travel though.

I agree that the elderly discount is ridiculous. They're the ones I know with the most money. Saving + pensions + social security.

Anonymous wrote:Why should federal employees get any discounts at all?

Why should kids or old people get discounts? Or military?

It's not about "should" it's about whether the business wants to give discounts to certain groups. My DH is very outgoing and will often joke around with cashiers at checkout and say, "Too much! I want a discount!" for amounts like $3 or $5. It's always very clear he is joking, but sometimes he ACTUALLY GETS ONE. It's a special button the cashiers have in many cases. Now why do you think they have that button? I'll give you a hint, it's often labeled "police officer discount."

Why should federal employees get any discounts at all?

there's no "should," some companies just choose to offer them.

Why should federal employees get any discounts at all?

10% off at Apple Store.