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Some retailers and food establishments offer senior discounts all the time, others one day a week or month, and many not at all.
Restaurants, retailers, and other businesses offering discounts are promoted by articles by AARP and seniorliving.org, newspaper outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, tourism sites such as iloveny.com, and niche websites such as theseniorlist.com. The discounts generally start between the ages of 50 to 55 although many start at 65. Some are only accessible through AARP membership.
Among retailers called out for generous senior discounts are Kohl’s (15% off purchases on Wednesdays, 60+); Ross Dress for Less (10% off on Tuesday, 55+); Michael's (10% off purchases everyday using Michael’s rewards account, 55+); and Walgreen’s (20% off purchases on first Tuesday of every month for MyWalgreens members, 55+). LensCrafters offers 30% off sunglasses and 30% off non-prescription sunglasses with AARP membership.
Many grocers offer senior discounts one day a week or month. Denny’s, IHOP, Chili’s, McDonald’s, and Papa John’s are several restaurants known for offering senior discounts.
Among major retailers not offering a senior discount program are Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Best Buy.
Walmart doesn’t offer a senior discount on purchases, but offers $40 off Walmart+ Annual Membership for AARP members. Amazon also doesn’t offer a senior discount program, but offers about half-off Prime membership for those under government assistance programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, or SSI.
Kroger had reportedly offered a 10% discount on store brands to shoppers 59 and older, but began quietly phasing it out in 2017. A Kroger spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle at the time, “Over the years the marketplace has evolved. As a result, there are programs we've added, modified or ended.”
The spokesperson noted that discounts are available through coupons available in print, online, and on the Kroger app, but didn’t indicate why the program ended. Seniors talking to the Chronicle said store staff told them abuse was the reason for program ending, with one admitting that their adult children had used her Kroger ID number to secure a discount.
Kroger still offers senior discounts on certain days as part of special promotions.
Senior Discounts: A Relic (or Unfair Advantage), or a Valuable Savings for Seniors?
In a blog entry, Jeff Weiss, president and CEO of Age of Majority, a marketing agency focused on the over-55 crowd, called for ending the senior discount. He said such discounts “only serves to propagate the myth that older consumers have no money,” calling out stats that those over 55 control more than 70% of the nation’s wealth.
Weiss also said older people may be offended if a business asked them if they’re old enough to qualify for a discount. He wrote, “As we get more comfortable with our age and getting older in general, many active aging consumers don’t want to be singled out as being different. What if you were asked if you wanted a discount because of your race or religion?”
A recent “The Ethicist” column in The New York Times explored whether senior discounts are a fair perk for the aging or a "relic from previous generations, when seniors had the highest rate of poverty of any age group."
Columnist Kwame Anthony Appiah wrote that similar to younger adults only having access to free primary and secondary education, “senior discounts aren’t really poverty-relief programs; they’re benefits tied to particular life stages, available to all who reach them.”