I bought my car at a dealership were my (step?) uncle worked. I got family pricing and I have free oil changes for life at that dealership. Too bad I moved 3 hrs away.
My Grandparents have a Feed Store/Greenhouse. We get free annual plants (Petunias, veggies etc) and if we need something like cat/dog food or a large tree (like an apple tree) we pay wholesale.
For my cupcake business my family has a 25% discount. So pretty much they just pay for the ingredients.
Post by irishbride2 on Aug 29, 2014 17:43:26 GMT -5
Depends.
My uncle is a doctor and he waives copays for all family.
My other uncle owns a restaurant and bar and he occasionally comps the bill but he doesn't make it the expectation (which is smart because we all go a lot and have a huge family).
My other uncle and REA and struggles so we try to use him but never let him comp the percent.
No one on my family owns a business but my brother is a plumber and he gives me a 'family discount' on work aka I buy parts and whatever greasy food he wants for dinner that day and he does the work for free.
I can't imagine not giving your kids at least a small discount on the cars.
Post by CajunShrimp on Aug 29, 2014 18:33:49 GMT -5
I think there is a slim margin on car sales, so maybe that is why your H didn't get a deal.
But oil changes? The markup on those are huge, and dealerships use them to point out other problems they will make the big $$$ on. That is nuts he is charging full price on them. Hell, some dealerships give oil changes for free if you bought your car there.
My mom worked for the county public schools. I got to go to school for FREE!
DHs family owned a flooring store for a while. We needed tile for two bathrooms and a small hallway and they let us raid the storage room and we paid cost. I think it was like $85.
My dad's side of the family owns a hardware store and I get anything I want from there at cost. They even ordered the washer and dryer we wanted and I paid like $700 for the set. And if it's under $20, grandma and aunt won't let me pay at all.
Post by sunnysally on Aug 29, 2014 19:30:13 GMT -5
MIL is a hair stylist, so cuts, colors, and products are free. FIL works for a shoe company so we get a 35% discount. I get many OTC products for free, so I usually hook up family and friends.
My husband had an hvac business for several years. Immediately family was always free labor-- small parts free, large at cost.
But that was siblings, parents, grandparents only. Other relatives, friends got some discounts, but we have so much family local that he just couldn't comp everybody, or he'd never have time for regular paying customers.
My dad had a Pepperidge Farm Biscuit franchise- I never bought cookies. Ever.
One of DS's friends has a grandfather who owns Chevy and Chrysler dealerships- I don't think any of his own kids ever paid for a new car. His grandkids get late model used at 16.
Post by orangeglow on Aug 29, 2014 19:52:06 GMT -5
I am part of a bike team and we all offer discounts on services to each other (HVAC, Painting, Plumbing, Woodworking, Taxes, IT work, etc, etc). We also do team events that a local car dealership sponsors. The whole team (55 people) can get a 25% discount on oil changes. Because I work at the shop and manage the team, my oil changes are free if I want. They also offered me a deal on a car, but I don't like that particular brand. So...
99% of my family is teachers or nurses, so no luck there. One uncle manages a restaurant and will often give out vouchers for free meals, or cater a family get-together.
xFIL (a farmer) used to give us all the beef, chicken, eggs, and sweet corn we could eat. Score.
I think it's really dependent upon the business. Some industries make it really tough to give discounts, and some specific companies are more strict than others. I wouldn't be bitter about not getting freebies.
Not a family member but a very close friend's husband is a plastic surgeon. He has told me I get his family discount if I ever want anything done. Which means I just pay for the materials....
If I wasn't so damn afraid of medical procedures I would get some work done.
Post by open24hours on Aug 29, 2014 20:39:27 GMT -5
FIL owns his own business as an independent consultant for supply chain management and distribution. I'm sure I'll never need his services, but there would be a discount if I did.
My other thread got me thinking. If your our your SO's family own a business, do you get a discount?
H's father owns a car dealership but none of his siblings have received discounts (unless they were working there). H apparently got a slight discount when he leased his first car, but all of the repairs and oil changes have been full price.
My friends think this is weird but I've always shrugged it off.
I think it is odd that they don't give discounts on a purchase or service. DH works for a dealership and gets discounts on car purchases and parts. He uses his discount for family members too.
My parents own a restaurant. We never pay to eat there. We bring friends and they don't pay. My parents will also bring us tons of food from the restaurant so we don't have to cook for parties and when we have tons of company coming over.
My cousin works for Michael Kors so I can get any MK item half off. My uncle works for frito-lay so I always have chips, and my mom owns an eye glass shop so I get free glasses.