My aunt (F42) works for a major clothing brand in a senior position. Employees get a personal discount code (hers is usually 50-75% off) that she can use and it varies based on the position. My aunt sent me the code saying “if you need anything, here’s my employee code.”
I was excited because I love the brand and wanted to update my wardrobe and money has been tight with school and all. I ended up buying a decent amount of clothes, probably more than I normally would if I didn’t have the discount.
When she found out how much I purchased, she was angry with me. Now she’s making me feel bad for using it, like I took advantage of her. And I’m feeling guilty. She did send me the code voluntarily and didn’t say there was a limit. But if it’s her own corporate perk, maybe I crossed a line and she could get in trouble.
So AITA for using my aunt’s personal corporate employee discount to stock up on clothes? Or was it fair game since she gave me the code to use?
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My aunt (F42) works for a major clothing brand in a senior position. Employees get a personal discount code (hers is usually 50-75% off) that she can use and it varies based on the position. My aunt sent me the code saying “if you need anything, here’s my employee code.”
I was excited because I love the brand and wanted to update my wardrobe and money has been tight with school and all. I ended up buying a decent amount of clothes, probably more than I normally would if I didn’t have the discount.
When she found out how much I purchased, she was angry with me. Now she’s making me feel bad for using it, like I took advantage of her. And I’m feeling guilty. She did send me the code voluntarily and didn’t say there was a limit. But if it’s her own corporate perk, maybe I crossed a line and she could get in trouble.
So AITA for using my aunt’s personal corporate employee discount to stock up on clothes? Or was it fair game since she gave me the code to use?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> I used my Aunt’s personal discount code to restock my wardrobe. AITA because I abused her corporate perk. She voluntarily gave me the code.
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
YTA, slightly. I think it’s probably commonly understood with something like this that you don’t go hog-wild. It sounds like you went hog-wild.
You were given the code with no limits mentioned, so you didn’t knowingly cross a line. It’s understandable she’s worried about potential consequences, but guilt-tripping you isn’t fair. Maybe have a calm chat about boundaries and how to avoid problems next time.
I’ll go NTA because she could have easily have told you a limit.
ESH She should have told you to use it within reason. You should have used some common sense, the code is associated with her employment and it’s use or abuse reflects on her and may cause her a problem. The reason companies monitor, limit and eliminate these perks is because of abuse like your shopping spree.
INFO: How much?
NTA. You weren’t given a line to not cross, how are you supposed to know?
And if she’s giving out her code when she isn’t supposed to, that’s on her.
ESH. She should have given you a limit; You should have realized that you shouldn’t buy more than one or two essentials with it unless she cleared it first. Always check out any great deals before taking them so you are sure you understand what’s involved.
NTA. She literally told you you could use it. If she could get in trouble for it she shouldn’t have shared it with you. If there was a limit she should have told you that.
NTA, fashion Robin Hood. NTA.
ESH- she may not have realized you would get so much. I have an employee discount but if you spend more than $500 at a time then it gets flagged as they don’t want people buying a bunch of stuff for everyone it’s for the employee to use. Which $500 is still a lot for a single purchase I wouldn’t think too much about it. It would have been good for you to clarify before buying so much. There may not have been an explicit limit but if people abuse it you lose it type of situation
NTA. She gave you the code to use to buy clothes and you did. If there were limits or caveats she should
Have told you that ahead of time. When I was working in fashion and had a discount, it didn’t matter the quantity purchased. I don’t know why it does but if she’s upset I’d just apologize and say you didn’t mean to put her in an uncomfortable place. You still didn’t do anything wrong in my opinion, though.
Slight YTA. If you were going to buy more than 1-2 items you should have clarified it with her
ESH – I’ve never worked for a company that allowed employees to share their discounts. Sounds like your aunt was trying to be the cool aunt and you burned her.
YTA. Use common sense. It’s okay if you buy a few things here and there. But it sounds like you bought a whole new wardrobe. If you were going to do that, you should’ve asked for permission first or had her come with you. She probably could’ve bought all of your stuff and had you reimburse her. She can probably get in trouble for letting other people use her code. She could lose her discount code, face disciplinary action, or even potentially be fired. Making big purchases would definitely be suspicious. You were greedy.
NAH. She should have given you guidelines but she was trying to be helpful. You should have double checked but you took her at her word. This is what we used to call a simple misunderstanding.
soft yta, sounds like you went overboard, now your Aunt on the other hand…
NTA
You did not ask for the code.
She gave it to you of her own accord and did not say there were any limits.
I see no reason why anyone would think you should assume there were limits.
Even now, I don’t see that she told you where the limit was that you crossed, just that she feels you crossed it.
YTA she gave it to you and you totally took advantage.
NTA The Aunt shouldn’t have given her the code. Don’t most companies have a friend and family code for employees to give out? My nephew works for a big clothing company and he will give us a coupon good for 15 items at a nice discount.
Poor communication. She inferred you could use it if you would like something. Which kind of infers a thing or two. You probably should have inquired if there was a limit before you binged.
These accounts often have a limit and are monitored. Hopefully, it didn’t cause a problem. Lesson learned for both of you.
Why did you not ask her how much you may spent? YTA!
NTA. This is actually a weird reaction by the Aunt. The reason companies give out these codes are so employees and their families will wear their clothes, talk about them, and get more people to buy them. My dad worked for a car company that gave out a ton of family and friend discount numbers so that their new cars would be seen and get other people to buy them. You’re supposed to use the codes to buy lots of stuff as free advertising.
She should have set boundaries when she gave you the code.
You should have asked if there were any limits on using the code.
ESH.
YTA, if you are old enough to have Reddit you should be old enough to understand not to abuse these kinds of favors. She obviously meant you can use it to buy things you would normally buy and save some money. Not that you can go on a shopping spree using it, and probably getting her in trouble. Yes, she choose to give it to you, but she probably (wrongly) thought you were mature and responsible enough not to abuse it.
NTA. She sent you the code with an invite to use it. It was a silly thing for her to do and you obviously didn’t know there was a limit (because she shouldn’t be letting other people use it). I’d just chalk it up to experience.
NTA. How were you suppose to know the code had a limit or if it was assigned to her only. Most regular humans not in high level retail wouldn’t know companies gave out personal codes for those high employees. I didn’t know that. If her company checking how much employees spend I would return the items and wouldn’t use it again.
ESH but you more so since you spent money to update your wardrobe despite saying money has been tight. Guessing you are not an economics or finance major.
I think I’ll go for ESH. It sounds like you knew you were ordering a lot of items, so you should’ve mentioned that before ordering. But yr aunt should also have made clear there was a limit to how much you could spend.
NTA. A lot of people are saying you “took advantage.” I mean, that’s kind of the point of a discount code. If your aunt was concerned about potential repercussions, she either shouldn’t have given you the code for your own personal use, should have told a limit, or should have offered to get you some things herself.
Hard to say without knowing the company policy on this discount. Do they have an annual limit? Is there a amount you’re not supposed to go over? Those are things your aunt should have told you before giving you the code. That’s on her.
NTA. Aunt didn’t tell you the limit. She freely gave her code.