MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

The “Pastor’s Discount”

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Tue, June 13, 2006
Viewed 68
(23) comments so far

I did my pastors pics last week. They turned out great. I know the family has enough money, trust me. He wanted to order all 4x6's to take to his family in another state next week, to show them and see if they wanted to order. He asked for a discount on 4x6's if he ordered them all. I gave him half off, reluctantly, knowing he has money, and I dont. (This is my business) Then again, he is coming back to place a large order when he returns home. I know it will be worth it. What if he asks for another discount? I feel dumb NPT giving him one, because he has done a lot for the family, really he has. But his "freebies" were a free sitting on the land of his home (normally $50) and a free 8x10 (normally $15). That was my gift to him. What to do? They are great people, but I have no more sittings scheduled this month, and am layed off for the summer from my job at a school.

Do you ever ask for a 'pastor's discount'? Do you know some pastors who do? (I think we've all met a pastor or two in our day that thought he was entitled to a little bit of everything because of his title). What would you do it you were this store owner?

Todd

Do you ever ask for the "pastor’s discount"? I ran across this on a message board about a photo store owner a little frazzled due to a pastor asking for a discount. What do you think?

Comments

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Randy Ehle on Wed, June 14, 2006

As I’ve read through the comments on this post, several things stand out to me. First, most of us seem to agree that asking for discounts because of our role as a pastor CAN BE (though isn’t necessarily) tacky, and that EXPECTING such discounts is even worse.

Second, there is some general agreement that ACCEPTING a discount (and maybe even asking for one) MAY BE okay at a business that you know or reasonably expect offers such discounts as policy.

What concerns me, though, is the air of pride coming through in comments like, “I can pay just like anyone else” or “I don’t want people thinking I’m cheap.” Do you use coupons at the grocery store? Ever pulled out your AARP card at a restaurant or your AAA card at a hotel? Have you ever bought in bulk for a lower price or used frequent flier miles or…? There are any number of discounts that businesses give as a matter of course and something tells me that if the business offers it, then there’s nothing wrong morally or ethically with accepting such a discount. (Please see a follow-up comment here for a sincere, related question.)

That said, know that I am right with the majority of the commenters here in saying that it would be inappropriate to ask for a discount of any type for any reason from a business that doesn’t normally offer such discounts.
Randy Ehle on Wed, June 14, 2006

Here’s a question I’d love some input on:

I’m planning on moving my family 1000 miles away to go to seminary this fall. For a host of reasons, we have had them in a Christian school for the past two years and plan to do the same there. We have some funds set aside for that from their great-grandparents’ estate, but we still need to make that stretch (they’re in preschool, 2nd, and 6th grades). The school we’re looking at offers a discount to people in full-time ministry. My intent is to work in a ministry role part-time while I am at seminary, so between those two “occupations”, I will be full-time and then some. Is there anything wrong with asking the school to extend its discount to me?
Ed Mooneyhan on Wed, June 14, 2006

Hi Randy. I think you should ask if your situation would qualify for the discount and then accept the outcome.

I don’t think you are asking for a special favor by explianing your intensions to enter into ministry and further your education.

They may look at it the same as full time ministry.

Hope this helps.

Ed.
Camey on Wed, June 14, 2006

Randy,

My husband says he does not think there is anything wrong with you asking. He just suggests though that in doing so, could you be considered asking for an “exception?” If that were the case, that could potentially open the door for others to think they are due an exception as well for whatever their reasons might be.

From my perspective, you are in full-time ministry already. I could list the reasons, but for the sake of “topic,” I won’t.

Back to the article: In regards to the store owner, I think we must be careful when thinking we “know” a pastor or whomever in a ministry position has money. Perception is not always reality. That said, neither party should be taken advantage of because of the relationship. Discounts are only bad if done out of wrong motives and/or someone gets taken advantaged of. If you offer a discount once, what would be your real reason for not doing so again? Again, motive. Do not let money come between you and the relationshp. Have a “real” conversation if need be. If you cannot, then, what was your relationship based on?

We accept or decline discounts/freebies graciously when offered depending upon each situation. We do not have a standard one-size fits all policy. There are times when we’d like to decline a discount/freebie, but are told we would be denying someone the blessing of “doing this one thing for us.” It is a fine line to walk.
Dan Moore on Wed, June 14, 2006

Wisdom. That is what is needed. In Randy’s case, it is a matter of stewardship and negotiation. I don’t see a problem with that.

We in the ministry must be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. I’m naive when it comes to the “pastor’s discount” - it does not exist in my mind. I am a retired military man so I do on occasion ask hotels or motels what their discounts are and use that as a matter of stewardship.

As a matter of practice, we as pastors should never ask for a “pastor’s discount” but if it is offered we can graciously accept it with the goal of reciprocating by sending business their way.

Bottom line is that one should never even give the appearance of evil.
Randy Ehle on Thu, June 15, 2006

Thank you to those who offered feedback on my personal situation. A little more info (intentionally withheld earlier!): the school’s discount is a new policy that we asked about initially because we knew a number of other schools that have similar policies. When we explained our situation (attending seminary), we were told to write a letter to the school board and ask about it. I would not be comfortable asking for an exception to policy, but I think it is appropriate to ask if a certain situation might be covered under a policy. The final decision, of course, rests with the school board and we will accept that.
Abbey on Thu, June 15, 2006

Randy, if I ran the school you’d get the discount. Everyone knows seminary students don’t have any money. LOL. Best of luck with the move and all.

For the first time, last year my husband, (Worship Leader) got a discount card at the Christian book store. It has honestly never ever even occurred to me that pastors would be given discounts because of their status, or that they might think they should get discounts.

We use coupons and go for the 10% discount for having multiple kids enrolled in camp.
Jack on Mon, June 19, 2006

Recently the preschool board for our church’s preschool eliminated discounts for pastors on the church’s staff. The board felt that the church’s pastors on staff now were paid well enough to no longer justify a discount. Moreover, the money saved by not giving pastors discounts is now allocated to the preschool’s “scholarship” funds for unchurched needy/single parent families coming into this preschool from the community. Sadly, there was some strong push back from a couple staff pastor families who felt they were “entitled” to a discount. And we wonder why the church and many of its leaders receive such cynical skepticism from non-believers?