ARRL eliminates senior discount, the $3 that broke the camel’s back

While browsing the Zed this morning, I came across this post in which a user bemoans the elimination of the ARRL senior discount:

When preparing to fill out my ARRL membership renewal, I could not find the box to check for the Senior (past age 65) discount. I called HQ and was given the answer that costs have risen and additional income was needed so the discount was eliminated as of January 2008, approved by the board of directors and mentioned in QST (I didn’t see it).

…

Perhaps the junior members felt alienated because seniors had a benefit they didn’t. But, it is THIS SENIOR GENERATION THAT HELPED BUILD THE ARRL TO THE LEVEL IT IS TODAY !!!

I find this interesting, as a large portion of the ARRL membership base would have qualified for the senior discount. But that’s also why it’s so reasonable. It’s only a $3 discount, but when such a large portion of the club members qualify for the discount and club operating costs are increasing, that can be a drain on the budget.

The $3/year discount equates to less than six cents a week.

As I see it, the original poster feels he has such an entitlement, because apparently his generation is god’s gift to today’s younger amateur radio operators. The senior discount was not guaranteed for life, and nobody is entitled to it. It is an incentive for marketing purposes. And then when it’s taken away, one of them claims that it’s a sign of disrespect to senior citizens and senior citizens are the ones taking the price hit? Wasn’t it the regular members that were subsidizing the senior discount all along?

Members receiving the senior discount and regular members both receive the same services. So why does one group pay less than the rest?

While senior citizens in most cases live on fixed income, I don’t see any reason for anyone aged 65 and older to be entitled to a discount. I’m 23, living paycheck to paycheck paying rent, utilities, student loans, fuel, and other expenses… yet I ponied-up and paid the $39/year to be an ARRL member without whining about there not being a “younger citizen” I’d wager the paycheck I received today that the senior citizens living off Social Security and retirement are earning much more than I am.

Judging by the responses at QRZ, I think the responses are overwhelmingly against the original poster’s argument that senior citizens are entitled to the discount.

If there were any discounts to be given, I’d love if it were something like a paperless discount, where the ARRL doesn’t send you anything via US Mail and delivers QST Magazine exclusively electronically.