Is a JW "discount" legal?

Open mind

Dragon Lady's thread on do-it-yourself lemonade got me thinking about the dubs and "pioneer discounts" and such.

My first thought was, what if an ex-JW had a business that included a "JW surcharge"? Of course, the dubs wouldn't go, but some folks might patronize them for their anti-JW stance. Whoa nelly! Full stop. That's religious discrimination and last time I checked, you're not supposed to do that here in the land of the free, blah, blah.

OK, follow my brain ramble a little further. How many of you knew of businesses that give "pioneer discounts" or "JW discounts"? Isn't that "discriminating" against everyone who isn't a dub?

Whatta ya think?

BTW, any legal minds out there? How about John Doe? You're starting your law studies aren't you?

Open Mind

Junction-Guy

I dont know about the legalities of the discount part, but if you were to single out any particular group and charge them extra then that probably wouldnt fly.

DevonMcBride

I would imagine that any type of "JW discount" would only be known within the JW community and therefore they would probably get away with it.

Ténébreux

In Sydney there's an ice skating rink that used to let JWs in for half price (maybe they still do). JW kids were just the sort of docile customers they wanted, so they gave them a special password which got around all the congregations by word of mouth. All you had to do was quote the secret word while paying.

Junction-Guy

let me guess, was it "1914"

John Doe

If I get my assignments done in time today, I'll do a little research on the legality of religious based discounts.

JeffT

Anti-discrimination laws apply to all sorts of things: housing, loans, employment, being served in a restaurant, but I don't think they apply to retail sales. Businesses offer discounts to all sorts of people legally: senior citizens, teachers, the boss's kids, whatever. I'm not positive, but I think a discount for pioneers is legal.

OnTheWayOut

Here's one from the ACLU about "the other cult."

Finally-Free

As a Fundamentalist Roccoist, I enjoy freedom of religion. My religion dictates that I must overcharge members of any cult that the Great Bird God, Rocco, has condemned to eternal damnation. JWs should be pleased with this anyway, as it reinforces their persecution complex, and helps to convince them that they have the "truth".

W

Open mind

WOW!! Once again, JWD is truly "food at the proper time"!

Thanks OTWO. I'd still like to hear John Doe's $.02 later if he's not charging $300/hour yet.

From the Utah situation, it sounds like it's illegal. So for dubs or Mormons to keep doing it, which they undoubtedly will, they just won't wave it about so blatantly. I think with the dubs, it's always been on the down-low anyway.

One last thing, OTWO. This just really grabbed my eye:

ACLU of UTAH.

How about you?

Open Mind

Is a JW "discount" legal?

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