By Huang Huifen & Kimberley Lim

To some, all's fair in love and getting cheap buys - even if you are a graduate still hanging on to your matric card.

Take 27-year-old Timothy (not his real name), for instance.

Now working in the media industry, he graduated more than two years ago but still pays the discounted student price for his buffet meal at the Sakae Sushi chain.

He flashes his matriculation card - or 'matric card' - when asked to prove his student status.

None of the three local universities takes back these cards, which identify the holders as full-time students, upon their graduation. Moreover, the cards - which carry their photos - have no expiry dates.

In recent years, many retail, service, entertainment and food outlets have offered student discounts, tapping into a lucrative market.

But the 'loophole', plus the less than stringent checks by shops and other outlets, has made it easy for former students to enjoy the special deals.

About half of the 40 local university graduates contacted by The Sunday Times said they have no qualms about using their matric cards to get student discounts.

They will also flash their expired student ez-link cards, which carry their photos, if they do not have their matric cards with them.

Expired students' ez-link cards are useless when 'tapping' is required, as when using the buses and trains.

Timothy, a former Nanyang Technological University (NTU) student, said he saves at least 20 per cent when he dines at Sakae Sushi or places like Burger King, Jack's Place and Pizza Hut.

'I don't feel bad about it. If the restaurants can sell at a discount to students without incurring a loss, why should adults pay the regular price?' he said.

He admits that, with his youthful looks, he does not have problems with staff at the various outlets.

Not everyone slips through, though. Cinema company Cathay Organisation said it has stopped 'a few' graduates who tried to use their matric cards to get student movie tickets, priced at $6, for weekday shows before 6pm.

The regular price for movie tickets from Mondays to Wednesdays, and Thursdays before 5pm, is $7.50. Friday shows before 5pm cost $8.50.

When contacted, seven retailers in the food and entertainment industries told The Sunday Times their staff do look out for the expiry dates, if any, of privilege cards tendered for discounts. They also check if a customer's face matches the photo identity on a card.

Meanwhile, the bargains out there are just too irresistible for recent National University of Singapore (NUS) graduate Valerie Wong, 24. She likes the 20 per cent student discount at fashion boutique NewUrbanMale.

'I feel okay about using my matric card to buy $39.90 Havaianas slippers as 20 per cent is a huge saving,' said the financial analyst.

Ms Des Ong, manager of The Cafe Cartel at Plaza Singapura, said: 'We can guess if someone is still a student by the year of admission as tertiary education usually lasts for about four years. But if we find a customer suspicious, we usually just close one eye.'

The branch offers a weekday '1-for-1' pasta meal special for students.

None of the universities approached by The Sunday Times said they have received complaints from retailers.

Singapore Management University (SMU) prints the date of admission on its matric cards while NTU and NUS do not. But all three do not collect the cards back.

'There is no need for the university to retain the matriculation cards when students graduate. Most undergraduates also like to retain their card as a keepsake,' said an SMU spokesman.

But at least one SMU graduate, business planning executive J. Lee, 25, believes in honesty. 'Once I graduate, I shouldn't be using the card any more,' she said.

This article was first published in The Straits Times.