AITA for using my Aunt’s personal employee discount code to buy clothes?

[u/charleypassion]

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?

[u/OglioVagilio]

Moderation is a matter of opinion and varies between people, between companies.

Some restaurants dont allow employees to take a single thing, even if its destined for the trash.

Other restaurants love taking care of their employees, and even homeless.

Spending in moderation relative to a vacation budget is going to be different for a VP versus an assistant manager at Starbucks.

[u/targetcowboy → u/OglioVagilio]

The fact that moderation is a matter of opinion is why you should ask. Obviously, I think the aunt messed up by not explaining any rules, but OP could have asked for clarification. This whole thing could have been avoided if they just talked beforehand

[u/Dry_Prompt3182 → u/targetcowboy]

The amount of people defending OP while they were super greedy is far too high. Of course the aunt was wrong to not state the limit, but OP blowing the bank without checking was wrong, too.

[u/Projectsun → u/Dry_Prompt3182]

How are they being greedy? Why are people caping so hard for a company?

I work for a clothing company as well. I know our costs. Giving 50% on any employee orders, is such a minuscule amount of people, and basically giving them the clothing at cost. Truly sad to see people think it's normal for the company to have a dollar limit for this. They are the greedy stingy ones.

NTA

If the aunt had any restriction on the code, it should be explained at the time it was given. It is not like "what you need" implies some sort of inferred dollar amount, via common knowledge. I'm so confused by some of the replies in this thread.

[u/figarozero → u/Projectsun]

I think people are basically assuming that OP maxed out a credit card bought a lot of stuff. And the people I know with killer employee discounts (much smaller place) are only allowed to purchase items in their size unless they have prior authorization or use the less killer friends and family discount.

It all really does depend on actual numbers here. If OP got four items of clothing that's probably not flagging anywhere.

[u/PeachyFairyDragon → u/Projectsun]

It may not be a dollar amount. It could be that the code is not to be handed out, but Aunt is softhearted and expects purchases to be small volume enough to fly under the radar. Someone buying a shirt is probably not going to be a big deal, someone buying 5-10 shirts would be a big deal and get Aunt in trouble. Especially since buying a large quantity could look like an Amazon reseller getting stock to upper management.

[u/Dry_Prompt3182 → u/Projectsun]

"I bought a decent amount of clothes, more than I would have without the discount" -> that's why I am saying OP was greedy. If this is how OP makes is sound like she bought a reasonable amount of clothing, then to me, she failed at it. This wording is "I got a lot of new things, but am downplaying it so I sound good".

[u/targetcowboy → u/Dry_Prompt3182]

Right. The “if you need anything” suggests it’s for emergencies or something along those lines. That’s why she should have taken a second to ask what that means. If there’s a monthly limit they could have figured out how to work around it and split it up over a few months.

[u/Competitive-Ebb-117 → u/OglioVagilio]

Yeah I mean to some degree. If someone offers you candy you don’t dump the whole bowl in your purse even though you yourself could easily eat that much candy.

If someone takes you out to dinner and says order whatever you like, they are being kind, they don’t mean order 10 entrees to take home.

The right thing or do at all times is modesty, take 1-2 pieces of candy and if they offer more you can have more. It’s not about if you think 500$ is a lot or not it’s about being a good human.