Businesses not offering refunds/discounts

[rennigade]

We keep hearing about companies offering discounts or refunds due to the pandemic. Which ones arent offering any sort of break?

We have friends who take their child to daycare. The child wont be there the entire month of april. Daycare provider refuses to offer any sort of refund. They told them if they want their spot saved, they have to pay. Im not 100% sure if the daycare is closed. I guess a lot of parents are really angry with how the daycare is handling this since they're in the same boat. Not sure what will come of it.

[disneysteve]

The only place I've heard of people having trouble was with airline tickets, but then the Fed stepped in and ordered them to give cash refunds. I can't think of anything else I've heard about. Most places have been giving refunds, suspending payments, and/or extending memberships and subscriptions to account for the down time.

If the daycare is closed, they shouldn't be charging people. That's ridiculous. I know a bunch of places initially said they weren't giving refunds but as the closure has dragged on, they've updated their policies. When they thought it would just be a couple of weeks, it was different than when it became clear it might be a couple of months. I'm sure when enough parents complain, they'll come around and do the right thing.

[Nutria]

Every time I read a comment like this, it reinforces the my belief that people think they deserve something for nothing, and I wonder if they have forgotten that money doesn't appear magically out of thin air. You, who has been here for 14 years, should know better than that. (Even the Feds -- meaning us -- will eventually have to pay back that $20+T debt.)

Bottom line: the daycare center has rent and taxes to pay, too, and everyone would moan if the daycare stopped paying it's workers.

[disneysteve]

Every time I read a comment like this, it reinforces the my belief that people think they deserve something for nothing,

If I'm paying you for a service and you are no longer able to provide that service for some reason, I shouldn't have to keep paying you until such time as you are able to start providing the service again. I don't think that's asking to get something for nothing.

[greenskeeper]

Depends on the contract signed with the daycare

[disneysteve]

Depends on the contract signed with the daycare

Yes and no.

Florida residents can buy their Disney annual passes with a monthly payment plan. Initially, Disney said they wouldn't suspend payments because everyone signed a contract. There was huge backlash to that decision by thousands of passholders who found themselves out of work but still having to pay for a theme park pass that was worthless since the parks weren't even open. Disney revised their policy and halted payments until the parks reopen, which is absolutely the right thing to do.

[Nutria]

Yes and no.

Florida residents can buy their Disney annual passes with a monthly payment plan. Initially, Disney said they wouldn't suspend payments because everyone signed a contract. There was huge backlash to that decision by thousands of passholders who found themselves out of work but still having to pay for a theme park pass that was worthless since the parks weren't even open. Disney revised their policy and halted payments until the parks reopen, which is absolutely the right thing to do.

Disney's got $5B in the bank. The neighborhood daycare that's a small business which might be holding on by a thread anyway??? Not so much.

[disneysteve]

Disney's got $5B in the bank. The neighborhood daycare that's a small business which might be holding on by a thread anyway??? Not so much.

I really don't see what difference that makes. A business is a business. Why should I have to pay you $2,000/month for daycare for my kids that I'm not getting because you're closed? I'm happy to support small businesses but I'm not just going to throw money at them in return for nothing. That would be ridiculous.

[~bs]

If the business is no longer able to provide the services then the contract should be cancelled or suspended. If the business still is able to provide the services, then the customer shouldn't complain about it. In disney's example, if by some means the parks were all still fully open and no risk of getting sick, then the pass holders shouldn't complain about the pricing afterwards because they're getting what they paid for.

[disneysteve]

If the business is no longer able to provide the services then the contract should be cancelled or suspended.

Exactly my point. Continuing to charge customers for a service you are no longer providing shouldn't be permitted.

[rennigade]

If I'm paying you for a service and you are no longer able to provide that service for some reason, I shouldn't have to keep paying you until such time as you are able to start providing the service again. I don't think that's asking to get something for nothing.

This. I was going to say exactly the same thing. If the daycare is closed, a service is no longer being provided. No reason to pay. If its open and friends are electing to not take child there, thats on them, and they should continue to pay.

[Nutria]

I really don't see what difference that makes. A business is a business. Why should I have to pay you $2,000/month for daycare for my kids that I'm not getting because you're closed? I'm happy to support small businesses but I'm not just going to throw money at them in return for nothing. That would be ridiculous.

And if the daycare workers aren't caring for children, they shouldn't be paid, right?

[Nutria]

This. I was going to say exactly the same thing. If the daycare is closed, a service is no longer being provided. No reason to pay.

Then why is there such a stink when companies lay off employees instead of continuing to pay them even though there's no income?

[disneysteve]

Then why is there such a stink when companies lay off employees instead of continuing to pay them even though there's no income?

No stink here. In TexasHusker's post, for example, I was one of several recommending he lay off his staff. I think employers need to do what is best for the survival of their businesses.

That said, the government stimulus programs are creating incentives like forgivable loans to businesses that keep people on the payroll. If you qualify for something like that, sure, keep paying people. Either way the actual dollars are coming from the government/tax payers so the end result is the same.

[disneysteve]

And if the daycare workers aren't caring for children, they shouldn't be paid, right?

Right. They should be collecting unemployment.