Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion?

Aug 4, 19 13:13

Post #1 of 70 (7595 views)

A friend is a vet and former pro athlete was surprised that IM asked him when registering if he is a US military veteran but then didn't offer a veteran discount. He felt IM was using his vet status in an exploitative manner. He wrote them and they confirmed that they do not offer veteran discounts.

Anyone else experience this? Any opinions?

—————-

EDIT to paste a later comment I made up front:

we as a society largely give vets discounts because, I’ll argue, we (we used as a social construct) implicitly recognize that our foreign policy has always stood to conserve and obtain resources that better our national economy on the backs and sometimes the lives of military vets. [even vets who do not partake in heroics contribute to our economy in this way, and our economy benefits for years after they exit the military]. ...

IM exploits the social contract I just explained with reference to military vets by announcing the vet at incredible volume at the finish line and in marketing material - simple appreciation would be a handshake and face to face words spoken. The emotion we feel with regard to that social contract is monetizeable, and it’s one thing for that sort of manipulation to take place in an advertisement with actors, it’s another to use real people during that exploitive manipulation, people who simply checked a box saying, ‘yes, I am a military veteran’ as innocently as checking their t-shirt size.

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Last edited by: milesthedog: Aug 4, 19 21:55

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 13:20

Post #2 of 70 (7572 views)

I wouldn’t care if they offer a military discount or not, but it is strange that they would ask if they don’t offer one.

___________________________________________________
Taco cat spelled backwards is....taco cat.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 13:28

Post #3 of 70 (7550 views)

Was it for this?

https://m.ironman.com/...y-championships.aspx

Too old to go pro but doing it anyway
http://instagram.com/tgarvey4

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [MrRabbit] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 13:30

Post #4 of 70 (7544 views)

No, Augusta 70.3

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 13:38

Post #5 of 70 (7522 views)

milesthedog wrote:

No, Augusta 70.3

Well, Dalian Wanda is an international company and athough Ironman was started by some US Navy guys, its long moved on. I'm a vet of the Royal Canadian Air Force, and I would not expect a discount at Canadian Mdot events. If they want to offer discounts to active service members, that's another things. As vets I don't see the point. Our service is done. We're integrating into the population as "regular people" and don't do anything special for our respective countries than the next guy on the start line.

But here in Canada ex Service people get discounts for almost nothing.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 13:58

Post #6 of 70 (7473 views)

thanks for your thoughtful response.

The full of my OP was that IM is asking people if they are veterans, which they announce at the finish line. your response doesn't seem to take that into consideration. It is the juxtaposition of IM asking for that information while then not providing a discount, which is a US norm in general, that was the topic of this post and the central point.

My interpretation of your response was to ignore the juxtaposition, choose one half of the topic, use this as an opportunity to bring your service (thank you for your service) to our attention, and then to defend the status quo, which is always an empowering activity, because the status quo is where the current power lies, so it's gratifying to align oneself with that power.... all while avoiding the central point of the OP, being slightly narcissistic (again, thank you for your service), but you do make an inflammatory argument regarding the debt, or lack there of, military veterans are owed after their service.

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:11

Post #7 of 70 (7432 views)

How come they don't announce the porn stars at the finish?

I don't think we should let them get off so easily for that either.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [jaretj] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:13

Post #8 of 70 (7427 views)

jaretj wrote:

How come they don't announce the porn stars at the finish?

I don't think we should let them get off so easily for that either.

brilliantly clever. wow. so brilliant... and patriotic.

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:14

Post #9 of 70 (7421 views)

milesthedog wrote:

thanks for your thoughtful response.

The full of my OP was that IM is asking people if they are veterans, which they announce at the finish line. your response doesn't seem to take that into consideration. It is the juxtaposition of IM asking for that information while then not providing a discount, which is a US norm in general, that was the topic of this post and the central point.

My interpretation of your response was to ignore the juxtaposition, choose one half of the topic, use this as an opportunity to bring your service (thank you for your service) to our attention, and then to defend the status quo, which is always an empowering activity, because the status quo is where the current power lies, so it's gratifying to align oneself with that power.... all while avoiding the central point of the OP, being slightly narcissistic (again, thank you for your service), but you do make an inflammatory argument regarding the debt, or lack there of, military veterans are owed after their service.

If we're going to get arguementative about it, I am just saying I don't think ex servicemen deserve a discount for anything...at least here in Canada we get a big goose egg once we return to civilian society and I think its fair. Active servicemen yes as they are generally underpaid for the value of their work. But once they leave, they are part of regular civilian society and can partake in all the benefits and don't deserve discounts any more than any other civilian. I brought my own service into this, to provide a bit of credibility into that position because it MAY be viewed negatively by ex servicemen who feel differently (and they are allowed to feel differently).

IM asking if people are vets, may have nothing to do with giving discounts. It may just have something to do with surveying who is in the sport. No one is forcing us to reveal our past history to a multinational.

I am not aligning myself with IM. I am just pointing out they are an international company operating in 50ish nations owned by a Chinese conglomoerate. So who should they give discounts?

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:19

Post #10 of 70 (7401 views)

social responsibility. if you profit within a particular culture, your can build your brand by treating customs and practices within that nation as duties to external stakeholders that can potentially benefit the organization (research shows there is high potential). see: the role of CSR in stakeholder theory

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:19

Post #11 of 70 (7400 views)

time to axe this program? if a guy from Israel army and another from Palestine army cross with in sight of each other...

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:19

Post #12 of 70 (7400 views)

Just FYI, I'm a vet and agree with you about IM exploiting vets.

But then again just about everyone here knows my attitude towards them. I just wanted to bring some humor to help make your point that they only promote what's good for them even though someone else may have had a breakthrough.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [jaretj] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:22

Post #13 of 70 (7393 views)

jaretj wrote:

Just FYI, I'm a vet and agree with you about IM exploiting vets.

But then again just about everyone here knows my attitude towards them. I just wanted to bring some humor to help make your point that they only promote what's good for them even though someone else may have had a breakthrough.

thanks for the humor. next time just do better.

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 14:37

Post #14 of 70 (7370 views)

I imagine if he bought, say 2 million dollars in Wanda stock or was the Prince of an oil rich country, he could probably park his private plane in the Expo.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 15:35

Post #15 of 70 (7302 views)

and in fairness as much as Slowman wants this to be an international triathlon forum with a variety of perspectives, in reality it is a US forum with some international flavour. So we have "play here" to not offend American values, and sometimes for the rest of us, those values are not totally clear (ex: expectations of vet discounts.....that's non existent in our country).

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 16:06

Post #16 of 70 (7238 views)

devashish_paul wrote:

and in fairness as much as Slowman wants this to be an international triathlon forum with a variety of perspectives, in reality it is a US forum with some international flavour. So we have "play here" to not offend American values, and sometimes for the rest of us, those values are not totally clear (ex: expectations of vet discounts.....that's non existent in our country).

The expectation of a vet discount is not what the OP was talking about. He thought it odd that IM would ask if someone was a vet and THEN not offer a discount...why ask if you're not planning on giving a discount? It's odd, and that's the intent of the OP. I don't think anyone on this thread is up in arms because IM doesn't give a military of vet discount.

___________________________________________________
Taco cat spelled backwards is....taco cat.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 16:32

Post #17 of 70 (7202 views)

Ironman do acknowledge the military at the finish and do some special things for Gold Star families.

Team Zoot So Cal

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [spot] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 16:46

Post #18 of 70 (7173 views)

It sounds like they recognize vets when announcing their name at the finish line. That's a nice gesture. Unfortunately in the U.S. there's a serious push to give veterans everything free or discounted. Not everyone that served did so in combat. There's a lot of white collar and administrative military personnel (very well paid). I don't think they should automatically be privy to a bunch of freebies. I had a buddy that served. Great guy but total goofball. Deployed to Afghanistan and rolled an ankle playing pick up basketball over there. Had to come home for surgery. Also totaled a humvee by driving it into a pond. All costs to taxpayers. Respecting service members and veterans is important but let's not get carried away thinking they're all war heroes entitled to get everything free.

spot wrote:

devashish_paul wrote:

and in fairness as much as Slowman wants this to be an international triathlon forum with a variety of perspectives, in reality it is a US forum with some international flavour. So we have "play here" to not offend American values, and sometimes for the rest of us, those values are not totally clear (ex: expectations of vet discounts.....that's non existent in our country).

The expectation of a vet discount is not what the OP was talking about. He thought it odd that IM would ask if someone was a vet and THEN not offer a discount...why ask if you're not planning on giving a discount? It's odd, and that's the intent of the OP. I don't think anyone on this thread is up in arms because IM doesn't give a military of vet discount.

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [Karl] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 16:52

Post #19 of 70 (7156 views)

Karl wrote:

Ironman do acknowledge the military at the finish and do some special things for Gold Star families.

and that’s the point: IM asks at registration if you’re a vet, and they announce it at the finish line. This may appear to be doing the vet a service, but my friend who is a vet personally believes that this announcement actually serves IM more than the vet, as the loud announcement resonates with spectators and other participants in the same way that the national anthem demands silence and unity at the start of the race - those emotions elicited by announcing the vet are monetizable by adding to the race day experience and brand experience. Thus my friend’s view that this is exploitive.

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Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [mwanner13] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 16:56

Post #20 of 70 (7143 views)

It sounds like they recognize vets when announcing their name at the finish line. That's a nice gesture. Unfortunately in the U.S. there's a serious push to give veterans everything free or discounted. Not everyone that served did so in combat. There's a lot of white collar and administrative military personnel (very well paid). I don't think they should automatically be privy to a bunch of freebies. I had a buddy that served. Great guy but total goofball. Deployed to Afghanistan and rolled an ankle playing pick up basketball over there. Had to come home for surgery. Also totaled a humvee by driving it into a pond. All costs to taxpayers. Respecting service members and veterans is important but let's not get carried away thinking they're all war heroes entitled to get everything free.

Please expand on the serious push to give veterans free or discounted.

Administrative military personal “ very well paid”

Can you define a war hero I would like to know ,I maybe one I did 20+ just not sure.

Last edited by: Constantine: Aug 4, 19 17:23

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 17:14

Post #21 of 70 (7102 views)

milesthedog wrote:

Karl wrote:

Ironman do acknowledge the military at the finish and do some special things for Gold Star families.

and that’s the point: IM asks at registration if you’re a vet, and they announce it at the finish line. This may appear to be doing the vet a service, but my friend who is a vet personally believes that this announcement actually serves IM more than the vet, as the loud announcement resonates with spectators and other participants in the same way that the national anthem demands silence and unity at the start of the race - those emotions elicited by announcing the vet are monetizable by adding to the race day experience and brand experience. Thus my friend’s view that this is exploitive.

How would you view if an ex Iranian, North Korean, Syrian, Chinese or Russian miltary triathlete enters "military vet" and crossed the finish line and they announce that person as a military veteran.

Those athletes in their own right would click that check box if they served in their countries (we can leave out for a moment where the race is being held since Ironman operates in 50 countries).

Would you want that athlete getting a discount (I say no to everyone getting a discount)
Would you be happy if that person is announced as ex miltary (I would be OK if they announce any military triathlete at an IM finish line because military athletes invented the category of military triathlete and chapeau, to Frank Day and the US Navy gang who actually partook in that bet and created the first Hawaii Ironman)

I say the above as one of the early athletes in the Canadian Military who worked quite hard to get this sport recognized as a Canadian Armed Forces official sport, with a military national team and national championships. So I have a strong link to triathlon in our military. Today our guys use 70.3 and IM Tremblant as one of their key events for national team long course selection, so I totally get the link between military + Mdot. But if the Iranian team used IM Tremblant as their selection race or we used 70.3 Astana as a points race, then I think Ironman has to welcome all or none and treat them all equally (so either ask any athlete if they are military vet or none irrespective of country).

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 17:39

Post #22 of 70 (7059 views)

That's understandable that your friend has that viewpoint. I can't disagree because I'm not a vet, so I dont really know if anyone that isn't a vet can have an "opinion" on the subject.

I'll only say that the "supporting our trips" angle is likely very low on their priority of exploiting people to make more money, and that I'm guessing has even smaller impact on everyone else's race day "experience".

But if they give the discount is all sins forgiven?

Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [milesthedog] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 17:50

Post #23 of 70 (7040 views)

In what way is IM profiting/benefiting from his veteran status by announcing it at the finish line? Perhaps they just genuinely want to thank vets for their service?

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [rjrankin] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 18:46

Post #24 of 70 (6971 views)

rjrankin wrote:

In what way is IM profiting/benefiting from his veteran status by announcing it at the finish line?

The military ethos is part of the IM branding. It was the co-founder Collins' deployment from San Diego to Hawaii that resulted in Hawaii being part of the origin story.

Quote:

Perhaps they just genuinely want to thank vets for their service?

Easy genuineness, like saying "Thank you for your service" in a grocery store and chalking it up to "I'm supporting the troops.". I agree with some others that there should be something more than lip service if you're going to leverage military veterans in branding efforts. If not a registration discount, then at least flexibility in transferring registrations. There was one vet on this forum recently saying he essentially couldn't schedule a full IM because his command couldn't guarantee specific weeks off. And he sounded like a relatively senior dude. Good luck for junior enlisted.

[disclosure: I'm not a vet, but my wife is, and I work with the military as a civilian]

Re: Ironman not offering military discounts? opinion? [trail] [ In reply to ]

Aug 4, 19 18:57

Post #25 of 70 (6937 views)

I know the backstory, still confused how they’re benefiting off vets by announcing them as such at the finish.

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